The Best Self Cleaning Litter Boxes
As a cat owner, you've spent plenty of time scooping kitty litter. It's a thankless job but an essential part of being a cat parent. If you're ready to hang up the kitty litter scoop, self-cleaning litter boxes can help. They do the hard work for you, scooping up the poop and helping eliminate the unpleasant odors often associated with open litter boxes. With that in mind, we've rounded up some of the best self-cleaning litter boxes the internet has to offer.
What to Look For
We recommend keeping the following questions in mind when searching for an automatic litter box: Does it work with a variety of litter? Does it have adequate safety mechanisms to ensure it doesn’t operate while your cat is inside? Is it the right size for your home? Our top pick was the self-cleaning litter box from Petkit, which works with multiple litter types and features a deodorizer to neutralize odors. We were also impressed by the self-cleaning litter box from Hillpig, which operates quietly and uses a UV sterilization system to kill common bacteria. Read on to learn more about our top picks and discover the best one for your cat.
Petkit Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Efficiently effortless
With an array of features to ensure your cat’s litter is clean and fresh, this self-cleaning litter box from Petkit will save you time and make your life easier. The app-controlled litter box features two modes: auto and scheduled. If you select auto, it’ll clean up waste as soon as your cat exits the litter box. That’s not all; it provides you with an array of information on your kitty’s health, including how much they weigh, when they go to the bathroom, and how much time they spend hanging out in the litter.
Pros:
- Effectively controls odors
- Runs quietly
- Waste tray holds up to 10 days of poop
- You can track your cat’s health using the app
Cons:
- It can be challenging to clean
Hillpig Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Spick and span
This automatic litter box from Hillpig will help you keep your cat’s litter clean without much effort on your part. The circular dome gives your cat privacy while they do their business and keeps debris from spilling onto the floor. It comes with an app that gives you a host of data points, including letting you know when the litter box is at capacity and how often your kitty uses it. It has several built-in safety features, including emergency braking to protect your feline friend.
Pros:
- Health monitoring through the included app
- Rotating filter keeps poop from sticking together
- LED safe alerts to let you know its operating status
- Footboard to help cats get in and out
Cons:
- It’s heavy and hard to move around once it’s full
PetSafe Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Sparkly clean
If your cats are trained to use crystal kitty litter, this self-cleaning cat litter box from PetSafe is worth a closer look. For one, it uses a sensor to detect your cat’s presence in the cat box. The rake is activated 20 minutes after your kitty finishes using it, moving waste into a separate basket. Since crystal litter absorbs urine and other smells, the litter box stays fresh and clean for long periods. One tray lasts about a month, making clean-up a snap.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Does an excellent job of controlling odors
- Compact and doesn’t take up a lot of space
- Rim’s sensors detect when a cat is in the box, activating the rake 20 minutes later
Cons:
- Some cats don’t like crystal litter
Smarty Pear Leo’s Loo Too Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Total control
The Smarty Pear Leo’s Loo Too self-cleaning litter box stands out for its intuitive app and smart home functions. You can control the litter box from the Smarty Pear app and sync it with Alexa or Google Home to operate it using voice commands. If you’re concerned about bacteria and viruses, you won’t have to worry about them with this litter box since it uses UV sterilization to eliminate most germs and odors. It also has a waste drawer that’s large enough to go a week or more without emptying.
Pros:
- Operates quietly
- Syncs with Google Home and Alexa
- Large waste basket
- Available in multiple colors
Cons:
- Dimensions may be too small for very large cats
KungFuPet Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
Keep it fresh
This self-cleaning litter box is an excellent option for homes with multiple cats. Its large capacity supports cats weighing up to 25 pounds. The front of the litter box has an elevated step with a grill that captures any loose debris clinging to your kitty’s paws when they exit the litter box. It works with various types of litter, giving you the flexibility to choose what works best for your feline friend.
Pros:
- One-touch cleaning using the app
- Garbage door closes automatically, trapping odors
- UV light helps control odors
- Door closes while it scoops, minimizing dust and odors
Cons:
- You can only add litter through the entryway on the front of the litter box
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do you need to clean a self-cleaning litter box?
Although a self-cleaning litter box will significantly decrease the amount of work you have to do to keep your cat’s litter clean, you’ll have to do some upkeep cleaning from time to time. How often you clean an automatic litter box depends on how many cats use it. Emptying the waste drawer once a week should be more than sufficient if you only have one cat in your home. If you have a multiple-cat household, you’ll probably need to empty the waste drawer a couple of times a week.
How do I get my cat to use a self-cleaning litter box?
Your cat may need a little time to warm up to an automatic litter box, so don’t throw away the old litter box immediately. Instead, let your kitty choose which litter box they want to use for at least a week. You can sprinkle some catnip in the litter tray of the self-cleaning box as an incentive to get them to use it. During the training period, leave it unplugged and don’t run it. Once your cat is used to it, you can run it two or three times daily. Be sure to give them a great when they use it. Soon, the automatic litter box will be part of your feline friend’s routine.
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