Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes For Cats

What we like

• Never have to touch cat waste
• Eliminates the need to replace litter
• Manual and automated options

What we dislike

• Needs access to cold water and waste line
• Strong odor when the box is cleaning solid waste
• Many features not available without Wi-Fi access

This litter box goes beyond self-scooping. It eliminates the need to empty the litter box altogether. It’s basically like a toilet designed for your cat.

The CatGenie A.I. flushes away your cat’s solid and liquid waste. After eliminating your cat’s waste, it washes and air-dries itself clean. You can use the CatGenie app to set a timer for the product to clean itself at the same time every day, or you can let its AI sensor figure out when your cat has used the bathroom for an automatic clean.

Some reviewers noted that while the installation was easy, the gasket sent to connect the cat box to the wastewater line was the incorrect size or leaked. If you buy this product, you may need to be prepared for some DIY problem-solving if you have this issue. Because of the need for a cold water and waste line hookup, you can only keep this unit in a bathroom or laundry room.

It’s expensive, but a two-year warranty protects your purchase. You also won’t have to purchase cat litter regularly anymore, but you’ll need to eventually replace the re-washable granules exclusively from CatGenie. You’ll also need to replace the cleaning cartridges — another expense.

Litter type: Reusable granules

Weight: 25 lbs.

What we like

• Has a night-light setting
• Works for multi-cat households
• Affordable price

What we dislike

• Rake requires frequent cleaning
• Charcoal deodorizer might not be super effective
• Plastic trays aren’t eco-friendly

Nature’s Miracle’s self-cleaning litter box is a lower-priced solution for making litter changes less labor-intensive. Its narrower size makes it great for the multi-cat household that tends to keep the litter box stowed in a bathroom. (Remember, though, you’ll need access to an outlet to keep it plugged in.)

This is one of the more affordable options on the list, and the low price is reflected by the limited features of this litter box. There’s no app or Wi-Fi connectivity, and reviewers said the product requires more oversight than some other automatic litter boxes.

This litter box empties into plastic trays, and only four of these trays come with your purchase. The cost of these trays adds up, but you may be able to simply place a garbage bag underneath the litter box to replace the need for them. It’s not an elegant solution, but it may do the trick.

Additionally, Nature’s Miracle offers a 90-day money-back guarantee or one-year warranty for any product defects.

Litter type: Any hard clumping litter

Weight: 14.15 lbs.

What we like

• Strong odor control
• Crystals don’t stick to cat’s paws
• Reduces how often you have to change the litter

What we dislike

• Crystal litter trays are more expensive than clumping litter
• Some reviews expressed safety concerns

This PetSafe ScoopFree litter box is a great option if you’re looking to decrease the amount of time you spend swapping out litter. Crystal litter trays are great for odor control, and there aren’t granules for your cat to spread all over the place. Simply grab the tray from the box and discard when it’s time for a clean one.

One thing to note is that this litter box can only be used with crystal litter trays, which PetSafe advises purchasing directly through its site. Some reviewers noted that you might actually need to add a little bit of regular litter to ensure the waste doesn’t leak through the litter tray — although the product description advises against using anything but the brand’s own trays.

This box doesn’t get high marks for safety, and it’s not entirely scoop-free. You’ll sometimes need to clean the rake when it gets sticky. Also, since this box is on the smaller side, it might not be a good solution if you have multiple cats or one heavier cat who weighs more than 15 pounds.

Litter type: Crystal litter trays

Weight: 16 lbs.

What we like

• Deep enough for multiple cats over 15 pounds
• Lightweight
• Ramp for cats to climb in and out

What we dislike

• Rake may be difficult to clean
• Charcoal deodorizers might not be very effective
• Plastic trays aren’t eco-friendly

The LitterMaid Multi-Cat litter box is specifically designed for people who have more than one cat. It’s relatively narrow, making it easy to keep in smaller areas of the home, like your bathroom. It also comes with a ramp that leads in and out of the box, which is great for older cats who aren’t as nimble.

This self-cleaning litter box is very similar to the Nature’s Miracle self-cleaning litter box (mentioned above) and the price point is similar, too. But the LitterMaid model doesn’t have a place within the unit to store your scoop, a feature some germ-conscious cat parents really like.

The most important thing to know about this litter box is that it shakes waste down into plastic trays. Only four of these trays are included with the unit. The trays aren’t eco-friendly and add an additional cost of use to this litter box. Some users report simply putting a garbage bag underneath the unit to eliminate the need for these plastic trays entirely.

Like the Nature’s Miracle unit, this product comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee or 12-month limited manufacturer’s warranty.

Litter type: Any hard clumping litter

Weight: 14.15 lbs.

What we like

• Once a week litter replacement for a single cat
• High marks for odor control
• Keeps record of your cat’s litter box activities

What we dislike

• Quite expensive
• May be too high for some cats to jump into
• Litter may spill out

The ABRCT Automatic Cat Litter Box is especially handy if you’re frequently traveling. You may still need a cat sitter to refresh your cat’s water and add some kibble to their bowl, but you won’t always have to ask them to clean out the litter box.

You may even return to a fresh-smelling home: Reviewers said this litter box is effective at controlling odors. The device actually collects data on your cat’s bathroom activities and adjusts its level of odor control accordingly.

An app lets you know how often your cat is using the litter box, so you can check in even when you’re away. This product also comes with a one-year warranty.

Litter type: Any clumping litter

Weight: 30.86 lbs.

What we like

• Easy to disassemble and clean
• Extra large litter capacity
• Advanced safety features

What we dislike

• Expensive
• On the heavier side
• May be difficult to empty

The PETKIT Pura Max is bigger than many other self-cleaning litter options, designed to have space for larger cats and multiple cat households. If you only have one cat, the litter will only have to be changed every 15 days. At the same time, if you only have one cat, you might not want a self-cleaning litter box that takes up this much space.

The PETKIT app keeps track of several pet health metrics, including your cat’s weight and how long they spend using the litter box. Less pricey models of self-cleaning litter boxes have sensors that may fail to detect a cat while they’re using it, creating a dangerous situation for your pet. The Pura Max has multiple safety measures in place and will notify you via the app if anything malfunctions. There’s even an emergency exit.

Occasionally, you’ll have to empty all the litter, clean the container drum, and recalibrate the device. This is true of most litter boxes, but the Pura Max is big and heavy, which can make this process difficult.

The Pura Max is available in large and extra-large dimensions. If you don’t snag this litter box on sale, it can cost upwards of $800. There is, however, a one-year warranty included with your purchase.

Litter type: Any clumping litter

Weight: 22 lbs.

What we like

• Rake effectively scoops larger clumps away
• Lighter weight than competitors
• Easy to clean

What we dislike

• Not the best at odor control
• Plastic bin liners are not eco-friendly
• Rake sometimes leaves waste behind

If you aren’t ready to shell out hundreds of dollars for a self-cleaning litter box, you might want to try this more budget-friendly option from Pet Zone.
Thirty minutes after your pet uses the litter, an automatic rake combs through the box. Waste is then scooped back into a disposal bin covered by a plastic liner. You toss the liner when the bin is full.

Reviewers recommend that you use a lighter-weight clumping litter with this product because the rake can get sticky and have trouble combing through the litter. Additionally, the sound of the rake was too loud for some customers, and some reviewers even expressed concerns that the motor would burn out before a year of regular use. Just in case, this unit comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the safety features for your feline friend aren’t as advanced when you opt for a more budget-friendly automatic litter box.

Litter type: Any clumping litter

Weight: 9.3 lbs.

What we like

• Sleek and unobtrusive design
• Ramp makes it easy for cats to get in and out
• Cuts down on the amount of litter you’ll use

What we dislike

• Expensive
• Heavy
• Not the best for odor control

The Litter-Robot is a great choice for the cat parent who wants the convenience of a self-cleaning litter box but doesn’t necessarily want an obtrusive eyesore. The appliance is egg-shaped and looks futuristic without being fussy. It’s available in beige or gray.

The new-age features extend beyond this litter box’s aesthetic. An app monitors your cat’s litter box use and keeps track of how full the waste bin is. Reviewers noted that compared to other similar apps, the Litter-Robot is pretty basic.

This product comes with a one-year warranty covering anything that could go wrong with the device.

Litter type: Any clumping litter

Weight: 28 lbs.

What we like

• Cuts down on how much litter you use
• Sleek, streamlined design
• Cleaning cycle is very quiet

What we dislike

• Poor odor control
• On the expensive side

The Petree Self Cleaning Cat Litter Box is easy to assemble and use. If noise is a concern for you, you might move this one to the top of your list, as the self-cleaning cycle is quieter than some competitors.

The Petree app doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it’ll track how often your cats are entering the litter box and will notify you when the waste bin needs to be emptied.

Some customer reviews expressed hoping the litter box would do a better job with odor control, considering how expensive it is. It’s also on the larger side, which can make giving the box a deep-cleaning an unwieldy task. Like many automatic litter boxes, this product comes with a one-year warranty.

Litter type: Any clumping litter

Weight: 22.44 lbs.

What we like

• Compatible with Google and Alexa
• Runs quietly
• Effective, eco-friendly odor control

What we dislike

• Heavy
• Cats may track litter in and out
• Works best on hard floors

Smarty Pear’s Leo’s Loo Too is meant to be the next generation of self-cleaning litter box technology. If you get excited about having a smart home and gadgets that work together to make your life easier, this litter box is for you.

A built-in scale tracks your cat’s weight, and there are multiple safety features to keep your cat from getting trapped inside while the device is cleaning. A large waste drawer means you can go longer without emptying it. The deodorizer is a UV light that kills odor-causing germs, and reviewers confirmed it actually works.

If you do need to take the product apart to clean, it might take some effort, since the unit is quite heavy. And, if you need to return it, customers reported having some issues shipping it back to the company.

Litter type: 100% clay clumping litter

Weight: 37.4 lbs.