The Best Automatic Litter Box

Proud Cat Parent

Updated March 19, 2020

A fter 10 weeks of research and extensive in-home testing with our top five products, we found the Pet Zone – Smart Scoop to be the best automatic litter box. In addition to being automatic, it’s brilliant at the basics: you can use regular litter, it has a familiar open litter box shape and is not disruptive with its quiet cleaning. Our test cats, Kit Kat and Jelly Bean, preferred its familiar, open design and we appreciated its low maintenance and efficient cleaning. Coming in as our runner-up, the highly regarded Litter-Robot III – Open Air litter box offers impressive design, but at a higher cost.

Our Top Choices

Compare the best litter boxes 1. Best automatic litter box:Pet Zone – SmartScoop 2. Runner-up:Litter-Robot III Other finalists we tested How we selected finalists to test How we tested Important features to consider The bottom line Homemade cat litter recipes

Compare the best litter boxes

Product Cost Cleaning Mech. Litter Type Overall Rating

1. Pet Zone - SmartScoop	$$	Scoop	Clumping litter	4/5
2. Litter-Robot III	$$$$$	Rotating sifter	Clumping litter	3.5/5
3. PetSafe - ScoopFree Ultra	$$	Rake	Crystal litter	2.5/5
4. LitterMaid - LM980	$$	Rake	Clumping litter	2/5
5. CatGenie (not recommended)	$$$$	Rotate, scoop, wash, flush	Plastic granules	0/5

1. Best automatic litter box: SmartScoop

This was a clear win. Even though the Pet Zone – SmartScoop did not have the flashy features of other models, it simply worked well. It can be difficult to determine what the best automatic litter box is when they all tout special features like the best cleaning mechanism or appealing design. However, the most important aspects were not whether you could flush your cat’s waste through a toilet or a counter that tracks the frequency of your cat’s litter box usage to help monitor their health: the simple and thorough cleaning mechanism wins.

Best Overall: Pet Zone - SmartScoop

A clear winner, the SmartScoop maintains a clean litter box in a familiar shape and form. This no-frills automatic litter box is easy to adapt to and cleans up consistently. Our cats preferred its open, familiar design and we appreciated its low maintenance.

The Pet Zone provided convenience with its ease of handling and simple, functional features. It can sense when a cat enters the litter box and stays for a period of time. It cleans up after the cat leaves, preventing any odor from lingering too long.

There’s enough room for even the twenty-pound Kit Kat, with a considerable litter area and without the closed space that might cause problems for bigger cats. It was not obtrusive in our room; it looks like a regular litter box and is low to the ground. The noise level is minimal, with a low whirring sound as it runs through its cleaning cycle.

Additionally, it is designed to be simple and easy for both cats and humans to use. It is a straightforward, open top litter box. Unlike some competitors, it provides a recognizable rectangular shape and allows for the regular litter your cats are accustomed to using.

The uncovered design allows for an easy entrance for any sized cat. All together, Pet Zone provided a familiar bathroom environment, so both our cats adjusted to using it quickly. It raked and scooped fairly quickly, so the noise didn’t last too long either. This was important since it never bothered or intimidated the cats from using it.

Pet Zone’s raking and scooping deflector has a pretty thorough method of cleaning. The dual system uses regular litter and ensures the clumps of litter gets raked clean to one side, which then gathers it all so it can be swept up in a scooping motion and deposited into the waste drawer. Although some clumps got stuck, it didn’t happen frequently, and only with larger blocks of waste. It came with a tool designed for the very purpose of removing clumps, so it was a painless task to just tap the scooper to unblock it.

There are no bells and whistles with the Pet Zone. It has a simple AC adaptor that you plug into an outlet, and an on/off switch. It doesn’t need to programmed since the cleaning timer was already excellent. We never had issues with either cat being in contact with the rake. The Pet Zone only needs to be plugged in, no extra setup requirements. It did its job well and thoroughly and cut back on a lot of manual cleaning.

Key takeaways:

Pet Zone – Smart Scoop’s open top and large rectangular shape allows for any size cat to use and adapt to it quickly It allows you to use regular litter so it’s familiar for your cats Pet Zone’s cleaning system ensures it is thoroughly cleaned. The waste gets deposited into a receptacle with good odor control It ran quietly and quickly and did not bother the cats

2. Runner-up: Litter-Robot III

High-end and high-tech aren’t words we would use to describe the typical litter box. However, those two qualities are found in our runner up, the Litter-Robot III. From the smooth round design and sturdy build to the impressive rotating dome sifter, this is a remarkable litter box. It even lights up inside and emits a blue glow when it’s dark.

Litter-Robot’s patented rotating and sifting system was one of the most thorough cleaning mechanisms we observed. It uses regular litter and does the most effective job in completely cleaning clumps of waste, as this method leaves no litter unturned (litter-ally). The detached globe slowly rotates to sift the clumps through to a waste drawer, then rotates back to settle the litter.

The Litter-Robot includes more settings than many of the other litter boxes, which is helpful for pet owners who want more customization. You can adjust its timer to decide how long after a cat uses the litter box to activate cleaning mode. This box comes with a programmable sleep mode as well.

Runner-up: Litter-Robot III

The highly-regarded Litter-Robot III - Open Air litter box is also an impressive feat of design and mechanics. It enables you to use regular litter, and it boasts one of the more advanced cleaning methods with its unique rotating sifting system.

The setup and waste removal were the easiest among its competitors. Like our top pick, it only needs to be plugged into an outlet to work. When it came time to remove the collected waste, you simply pulled out the waste tray underneath and dumped it out. Additionally, the waste tray is large, which cuts back on the frequency of maintaining its cleanliness to every two weeks. When it ran through its clean cycle, the noise was never an issue. That being said, it was a bit slower than the other models we tested.

A few areas in which the Litter-Robot fell short were its entrance and imposing size. While the design is remarkable, almost like a mini rocket ship, it doesn’t blend discreetly into your home decor and takes up a lot of space. The entry to the litter box was also a hindrance to our larger and older cat, Kit Kat, and made it difficult for him to use.

While Kit Kat never quite got accustomed to using the steeper vertical entrance, Jelly Bean eventually became less daunted by the entryway and used it quite frequently. However, she is a smaller and more active cat. So keep in mind, it would be less convenient for older cats. Litter-Robot does sell a separate ramp that you can place in front of the entrance to help out older cats.

Lastly, the Litter-Robot is a premium product with a premium price — more than double the cost of our top pick. It is not a cost-effective solution, especially if you want more than one automatic litter box in your home. We also would need to purchase a ramp to make the entry more accessible, which adds another $50 to the cost. That being said, if you’re able to foot the bill and can make room for it in your home, the Litter-Robot is an exceptional automatic litter box that lives up to expectations.

Key takeaways:

Litter-Robot’s impressive patented rotating and sifting cleaning system did the most thorough job of cleaning the litter It also allows you to use the clay litter your cat is used to The Litter-Robot has a remarkably easy setup, waste removal, and maintenance Its large size might be too imposing for some homes, and its entryway is difficult for older/less active cats Its price tag is highest among automatic litter box competitors

Other finalists we tested

PetSafe – ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box

The PetSafe was unique in that it used specialized crystal litter. Instead of clumping, the litter absorbs urine. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do nearly as well at covering the smell of feces. Moreover, bits would often get stuck on the rake. This was one of the quietest among its competitors, but that’s because the motor that pushed the rake was not as powerful.

It also comes with a hood that can help with its odor issues but may make the opening too small for larger cats to enter.

That being said, the PetSafe was one of the easiest boxes to clean. With its disposable litter trays, all you had to do was lift the plastic top off, remove the cardboard litter tray, throw it out and install a new one. Some nice-to-have features that add to the litter box’s value are a health counter (which tracks how many times your cat uses the box) and an adjustable timer.

LitterMaid

The LitterMaid was a pretty standard self-cleaning litter box. It uses normal clumping litter and a rake to push clumps into the waste receptacle. Carbon filters included with each of the waste receptacles kept odor under control. Clean up was as easy as throwing away the waste receptacle and replacing it with a new one.

The carpeted ramp was nice since it made it easier for cats to get in the litter box and also helped prevent litter from tracking outside of it. It also has an optional sleep timer to deactivate it at night.

However, a big issue was that feces would get stuck fairly often on the rake, although there was a scooper included that made it easy to remove. Since the track for the rake is on the inside of the litter box, sometimes litter (or even worse, feces) would get on the track. When that happened, the rake would grind very loudly as it ran, like someone sharpening a pencil. This means extra maintenance was required, which detracted from how convenient using this litter box was otherwise.

CatGenie

The CatGenie was the most unique and complex litter box. It uses biodegradable plastic granules instead of regular litter and is connected to your toilet/water line. The system rotates the granules into the scooper and emulsifies the solid waste by adding water to it. It then flushes the granules with water in its “SaniSolution,” and finally blows warm air to heat and dry the granules. The benefit of it being connected to your toilet/water line is that there is no manual disposal of waste required.

The cleaning cycle is very loud. Since it blows warm air during the drying cycle, it heats the area around it as well. The 30-minute cleaning cycle is quite long and also sounds like an open dishwasher running through a wash cycle.

In addition, the plastic granules are unfamiliar to a cat used to clumping litter. With all these factors in play, it was one of the most intimidating litter boxes for our cats to use. Due to the way it cleans, we were unable to add clumping litter to at least give it a recognizable scent. Jelly Bean used it to pee once and Kit Kat would not go near it at all.

The lack of familiar design, loud cleaning cycle and foreign litter can be a deterrent for an easy litter box transition. It also took up a substantial amount of space and its required hook-up to a water line made for an inconvenient setup and location.

How we selected finalists to test

The promise of having to scoop even one less clump of litter is enticing to any cat owner. However, these products can feel like an expensive gamble as they can be ten times more expensive than a manual litter box and have less-than-stellar reviews.

Our research brought us to many articles that only ranked the automatic litter boxes by their advertised features and consumer reviews. Unfortunately, we didn’t come across articles with any real in-home testing, so we took this opportunity to do our own discovery.

We also combed through the /r/Pets subreddit, where it seemed like many cat owners resorted to their own hacks for manual litter box clean-up since automatic litter boxes can be tricky. Finally, we read through hundreds of Amazon reviews on various automatic litter boxes to help us identify what users look for in the perfect automatic litter box.

With our hours of research and personal experience in caring for two cats, we honed in on the most important features for a good automatic litter box:

Cost Effectiveness in cleaning Impact on cat’s usage Setup and programmable features Environmental presence Odor control Frequency of maintenance

Important features to consider

Cost: The price tag for an automatic litter box can range from a minimum of $100 to $450. This doesn’t include the cost of litter and the accessories the box may require. Also, a good rule of thumb for the number of litter boxes in your house is one per cat, plus an additional one.

Effectiveness in cleaning: The whole purpose of buying a self-cleaning/automatic litter box is in its name. You want a product that fulfills its claims. It’s important to consider what type of mechanism the litter box uses to clean the waste. Does it rake? Does it scoop? Does it sift? We found that sifting did much better than raking, with scoops performing somewhere in between.

Impact on cat’s usage: Transitioning any cat to change can be a difficult undertaking. You have to be careful in not disrupting your cat’s habitat too much, regardless of how convenient it is to your lifestyle. If the design is very different than what your cat is used to, consider keeping their regular litter box around to ease the transition (and your ability to return the new box to the manufacturer if the cat won’t touch it.)

Setup and programmable features: Nobody likes reading through long pages of manuals to set up a new product. It’s also important to note what features are available with your litter box. Can it be programmed to clean at certain times? Is there an indicator for how many times your cat has used it?

Environmental presence: Your cat’s bathroom area shouldn’t be a statement piece in your home. It should be able to coexist with your living space and not be so loud that it frequently annoys you.

Frequency of maintenance and odor control: Again, automatic litter boxes should turn the litter box maintenance from a daily process to a weekly one, keeping your cat’s litter area tidy enough between maintenance sessions and controlling the smell that comes from a filthy litter box.

How we tested

When you’re trying to choose the right product, online searches can lead you down a rabbit hole of reviews and lead to reservations about spending so much on a design you’re not confident in. While the existing reviews we found only rank litter boxes by comparing features, we did the real dirty work for you.

Comfort for your cats and for you

If you’ve ever turned a printer on around a cat, you know firsthand how intrigued and surprised a cat can be about an inanimate object moving. Now imagine how they feel when their litter box comes to life.

It was a careful and calculated process transitioning Kit Kat and Jelly Bean to test out the efficacy of these litter boxes. As cats are creatures of habits, it is recommended that you keep their existing litter boxes next to or near their new ones to help ease the transition. This is a bit of an issue for the CatGenie, which had to be placed next to a toilet. Then, slowly phase their old litter boxes out once they get adjusted to the new one.

With this in mind, and our five self-cleaning litter boxes ready, we set up their new automatic litter boxes in their existing bathroom area. We kept their old litter box nearby, too. With the litter boxes that used regular litter, we stuck with our tried and true, Fresh Step – Ultra Unscented. With the litter boxes that required specialized litter, we used their respective branded products.

We observed how they reacted to the cleaning mechanisms in action and whether that scared them away from using some boxes. We also noted how easy (or difficult) it was for the cats to get in and out of the boxes.

Of course, despite our planning and adhering to litter box transition guidelines, cats aren’t robots: we had two accidents. We know that this was not an easy adjustment for them, either, so we added an Additional manual litter box nearby to help them transition. Overall, it’s important when changing anything with your pet’s surroundings to be attentive, and react when you see that they need help.

The litter box room-presence was another important aspect of Human comfort we considered. Our cats use the litter box quite often, so it was imperative that the automatic litter box wasn’t loud, as it would be running often. We also noted how each litter box looked in our living space.

Automatic cleaning mechanism

We never knew there was so much to learn about litter boxes. However, after testing out five litter boxes with particular cleaning mechanisms, we discovered the pros and cons of each method:

Scoops did a good job cleaning waste but sometimes left crumbs around the litter box. Rakes did not leave a mess but were sometimes loud and would often get waste stuck on the teeth, requiring additional maintenance. The toilet system cleaned very thoroughly but was hot and loud The sifting system also cleaned well but the turning dome could be intimidating to cats.

We rated the effectiveness of each cleaning mechanism by comparing to our usual method of manually cleaning with a scooper by hand.

It was important that the automatic litter boxes sifted through the litter, removed the waste completely and reset the litter so it was smoothed out. We also observed how each mechanism disposed of the waste and whether it controlled the odor. Odor control really depended on how well the litter type covered the smell and how each receptacle kept smells in.

Setup and additional features

We determined if the setup was easy or difficult by timing how long each litter box took to set up, whether it required additional tools, and if it required a specific location. Manuals that were simple and easy to follow also made a difference in setup time.

The setup also revealed whether there were additional things to program and what the buttons on the litter box did. It was significant for us that the litter box could sense the cat’s presence, which they all were able to do. All of the litter boxes included a safeguard to stop the litter box from running if a cat is detected in the box. Additional features were a bonus and not necessary in the effectiveness of cleaning and convenience of use.

Maintenance and cost of ownership

We noted how frequently we had to monitor the litter box for any clogs or clumps that were stuck. It was imperative the cleaning mechanism worked effectively as this influenced the maintenance of the litter box. We also observed the size of the waste receptacle and how often we had to replace or clean it out.

Some of the litter boxes required additional accessories or specialized brand litter, adding extra costs for the usage of the litter box. It also was relevant how much the litter box itself costs, as they vary greatly in price. So when you take into consideration wanting multiple automatic litter boxes, it can add up even more quickly.

Who needs an automatic litter box?

With over three million Google search results for “how often do I have to clean my cat’s litter?” you can easily surmise it’s an unpleasant chore that is often delayed. While it may stink that you need to clean it, it’s never good for your cat to have a filthy, full litter box. This could lead to a number of issues, ranging from negative association with the litter box (causing accidents around the house) to more serious health issues like urinary tract diseases. An automatic litter box can easily aid in maintaining a clean and approachable bathroom area for your cat by taking care of the cleaning process and removing waste from the litter for you.

The health benefits for your cat mostly depend on a litter box that’s clean, so let’s face it, this is just as much about what You need. A self-cleaning litter box is valuable to any cat owner wanting to add convenience to their daily routine unless you have one of those magical felines who will participate in toilet-training. The automatic box can make an even bigger difference if you have multiple cats. If you’re tired of scooping out your cat’s litter box daily, then an automatic litter box is probably something you’ve considered more than once already.

The bottom line

Sometimes simple is best. The Pet Zone – SmartScoop did exactly what it was supposed to do. It cleaned itself without you noticing. Plus, it’s reasonably priced. If you want to go for an ultra-premium option, the Litter-Robot is what you want, as long as you can get your cat to use it. But if you want something that just works, especially one that you might need multiple of, the SmartScoop takes the cake.

Runner-up: Litter-Robot III

If you want a premium automatic litter box with an assortment of features that make maintaining clean litter even more effortless, the Litter-Robot III - Open Air is a solid bet. It's pricier than our top pick, but with this upgrade you get what you pay for.

3 Homemade Cat Litter Recipes with Custom Printable Labels

It’s hard to ignore that cat litter is expensive, but it may seem like an inevitable cost that you have to endure if you have a feline friend. After hours of research with our favorite kitties, we tried out a number of homemade cat litter recipes that not only save on cost but are also eco-friendly.

Learn more about the different options for DIY cat litter and try out a few to see what best suits your cat! Once you nail down the perfect mix, print out one of our cat litter labels print it on sticker paper and adhere it to the airtight container where you keep your cat litter mix.

Newspaper-Based Cat Litter

If you have a shredder at home, you can easily make your own cat litter with three ingredients: newspaper and paper scraps, baking soda and water. Simply use your shredder to shred any scrap paper from around the house such as old newspapers, junk mail or documents you plan to recycle. Place the shredded paper in a deep bucket, and pour water over it letting it soak for around 5 minutes. Then, grab the shredded paper by hand and squeeze out all of the water, but avoid doing it over the sink as it could clog your drains. Once you make sure the shredded paper is as dry as possible, mix in baking soda — we prefer to use 1 cup of baking soda per 5 cups of wet paper shreds. Place the mixture in a single layer at the bottom of a container, allowing to to dry, in the sun if possible.

When it comes time to use your homemade cat litter, add more baking soda to the bottom of your litter box prior to using the mixture each time you replace it to keep your litter box smelling fresh.

Chicken Feed Cat Litter

Did you know that chicken feed is a common alternative to store-bought cat litter?

It’s much less expensive and is a great alternative to cat litter due to its texture. It’s recommended to use a chicken feed that doesn’t have any antibiotics or medication in it to ensure your cat’s safety. Note that chicken feed can attract bugs, so make sure you are storing it in an airtight container and change our the litter box regularly.

If the smell becomes too potent, add baking soda to the mixture to help cover up the scent.

Cedar Shavings

Although only one ingredient, we couldn’t go without mentioning the use of cedar shavings as cat litter. Not only is the material budget-friendly, but it’s known for covering up odor with a natural wood scent. There are brands that market cedar cat litter, but you can also purchase cedar chips from a local hardware store to save some money. It’s also worth noting that cedar is known to repel insects, but it’s still recommended to change it out regularly.

Essential Oil Refresher

Sometimes it’s difficult to avoid the smell of cat litter even if you change it out regularly. Although this deodorizer can’t be used as cat litter itself, it’s a great way to add a refreshing scent to your cat litter. Simply add baking soda to a jar or bag, then drop a couple drops of essential oils to it — our favorite scent to use is lavender. Shake up the mixture and let it sit overnight. Then, sprinkle it over your cat litter whenever you need a refresher.

Cats can be picky when it comes to their cat litter — something we found with our own kitties, Jelly Bean and Kit Kat. If you’re planning to transition your adult cats to a new cat litter, make sure you do so slowly. You may want to consider mixing their accustomed cat litter with your homemade version to make the transition comfortable and familiar to them. Remember that you may need to try a few formulas before you find one that sticks.

Once your homemade cat litter is ready, print out one of our cat litter labels and adhere it to the container!

Share this Review

Bryan Vu, Editor

Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with more than 15 years of experience of cooking and testing kitchen products. When outside of the kitchen, he enjoys woodworking, photography, videography and figuring out how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether it’s ingredients or equipment, and finding products that can stand the rigors of daily use.

More Reviews

The Best Cat Food

Orijen - Cat & Kitten

The Best Folding Wagon

Mac Sports - Heavy Duty

The Best Dog Treats

The Best Pet Insurance

The Best Pet Gates

Safety 1st - Bamboo Gate

The Best Outdoor Security Camera System

Nest - Cam Outdoor

Bringing a New Dog Home: Everything You Need to Know

The Best Dog Food

Castor & Pollux - Organix

The Best Pet Hair Vacuum

The Best Upright Vacuum

The Best Safety Razor

The Best Flip Chair

Your Best Digs saves you time and money with reviews of the products you need. We do extensive research and hands-on testing, so you can trust the products we recommend. All of our reviews are unsponsored, so we earn money by using affiliate links.