Best Automatic Litter Boxes For Cats

It Prevents Cats From Holding In Urine Or Feces

Cats develop issues with dirty litter boxes. If the litter box is dirty the cat will wait and will hold in the urine, sometimes for hours. This situation is not noticed by you. You may just see your feline walking around normally as every day and your litter box is fine in your eyes, with some clumps sitting in it. But if your cat uses the litter box right after you clean it, most likely your pet has been holding in the urine. If this happens every day for several years, your pet could develop urinary issues. Urine sitting in the cats bladder too long means toxins that dont pass, which could create sludging in the bladder. Also, if your pet holds in poop is very unhealthy for its intestine. You dont want that for your cat. A top self-cleaning litter box will keep your cat from holding in urine or poop.

A Smart Automatic Litter Box Thats Super Hands

• Also available on Chewy, $230 and Petco, $230

While automatic cat litter boxes reduce the amount of work you need to do to keep the litter fresh, they still require you to occasionally replace the litter. This automatic litter box from PetSafe works with disposable pre-filled trays of crystal litter so you never need to touch the litter, and it connects to an app on your phone that alerts you when you need to swap trays or buy new ones . The app also lets you track your cats litter box usage so you can note any changes of habit that might signify a possible health issue.

While the app is a major perk, this is also just an excellent automatic litter box. It automatically scoops waste into an enclosed waste bin 20 minutes after your pet leaves the box, so you dont have to do any raking or scooping yourself. An LCD display tracks how many times your pet has used the litter box, and there is a button you can press if you want the box to rake the litter on demand. That said, if all goes well, you shouldnt have to do more than swap out the litter tray about once a month nothing more, nothing less.

This litter box can be purchased with or without a cover, depending on your preference.

What cat owners say: I have 4 cats and therefore ordered 4 of these little boxes and they are awesome. Easy to set up and best of all, no litter box odor whatsoever. All of the kitties easily adjusted to the new style of litter, as well. Highly recommend.

Will It Need A Special Placement

You need to consider where in your home you want to place your cats litter box. Remember, it needs to be in a convenient and easily accessible location to encourage your cats to use it.

If using a manual self-cleaning litter box, this isnt an issue. You can simply place the new tray where the old litter box used to be. In fact, this is always recommended whenever you chance your cats litter tray. By placing the new box where the old one used to be, most cats immediately realize that this is their new bathroom and switch to using this litter box without any issues.

However, if your litter box is automatic and needs to be plugged in, you may need to place it close to an electric socket. When there is not a socket in an appropriate location, this can be problematic. Also, you should probably keep automatic litter boxes out of your bedroom or any other place where you will be distracted by its noise.

As a special case, the self-washing litter box CatGenie A.I. mentioned in the reviews above needs to be placed where there are a cold water line and waste drain to operate.

Again, this can be pretty limiting if you dont have an appropriate place for it. Consider the layout of your home and where your sockets/water lines are before making any purchase.

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What To Consider When Buying

When comparing and evaluating litter boxes, consider the following:

Scooping Time

The majority of self-cleaning litter boxes have sensors that activate cleaning a few minutes after your cat finishes its business.

However, if you want to schedule the scooping time, look for litter boxes with an adjustable timer.

Waste Bin

Some models are self-flushable, while others have a bin that you have to empty. Both systems are good. You just need to choose the one that suits your needs better.

Noise Level

According to many customers, this type of litter box can be quite noisy due to all its moving parts. This can be scary to cats and annoying for pet owners, especially if they dont turn off the box during the night.

Ease of Cleaning

Just because these litter boxes are self-cleaning doesnt mean you never have to clean them. Select a model thats easy to assemble after cleaning. Simpler models are usually easier to clean.

Litter Type

As we mentioned, different models require different litter. Choose a model that supports the litter your cat likes using, or you may end up with a litter box thats useless.

The Number of Cats

Never assume that a litter box can handle the waste of more than one cat. If you have two or more cats, be sure to buy a multi-cat one. These models have a bigger capacity, a larger frame, and a heavier build.

Price

Who Needs An Automatic Litter Box

With over three million Google search results for how often do I have to clean my cats litter? you can easily surmise its an unpleasant chore that is often delayed. While it may stink that you need to clean it, its 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 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 thats clean, so lets 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 youre tired of scooping out your cats litter box daily, then an automatic litter box is probably something youve considered more than once already.

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Does It Make An Unpleasant Noise

Many pet parents that are debating whether to purchase a self-cleaning litter box have concerns over noise. Now, automated self-cleaning litter boxes do make some noise as they go through their cleaning process. But the amount of noise they make varies between brands. For example, the ChillX AutoEgg is the quietest one, while the PetSafe ScoopFree can be a bit more vocal.

If you are concerned about noise, make sure you go for the quietest option on the market. On the other hand, a manual litter box might be a better option for you. As these litter boxes dont have a motor or any kind of moving mechanism, they wont make any noise.

With that said, even noisy automatic litter boxes can be used without bother if youre clever with placement. Keep it out the way and not in any room that you usually relax in, such as your bedroom or sitting room. If you think about it, you wont be subjected to it that much. Besides, a typical cleaning cycle is complete in under 1 minute, which isnt too long to bear a little noise especially in exchange for never having to scoop up poop again!

Why Should You Trust Us

Over the last two years, weve spent a lot of time figuring out what it takes to make a great automatic litter box.

Weve researched the types of boxes available, read hundreds of customer reviews, and performed real-world tests on the top automatic litter boxes. We spent over 60 hours testing these litter boxes, paying attention to key factors like thoroughness, odor control, and long-term reliability.

Based on this extensive research and hands-on testing, weve selected the following automatic cat litter boxes as the best you can buy.

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Self

Ah, the miracles of technology. With the invention of the self-cleaning litter box, you no longer have to break your back to change your cats litter! The principle is simple: thanks to a sensor and a mechanism, the cats needs are automatically placed in a bag or in a closed tank. Then, all you have to do is throw the bag in the trash or empty the tank. All without ever coming into contact with dirty litter!

Of course, you must always add litter to the box. But you dont have to scoop up your cats poop with a shovel every day. In addition, the cleaning of the bin can be a little longer. Finally, if you have multiple cats, a single self-cleaning litter box may be sufficient as the needs disappear immediately after each use.

Be careful, however, that self-cleaning litter also has certain drawbacks. For example, it is regularly prone to malfunctions or even breakdown in the event of a power failure or when the batteries are exhausted. In addition, it is often more difficult to clean than a traditional litter box. Finally, it is particularly noisy, which can be unpleasant for you but also for your cat. It could even frighten the latter and push him to defecate away from his litter box.

Encourage Your Cat To Explore It

You can guide your cat towards the new litter box with toys and treats. You can also bring her to it a while after meals, about when she would need to use a litter box. Dont force her into it though. Let her do her own exploring and sniffing. You can show her the litter by digging into the fresh litter with your hand.

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Smarty Pear Leos Loo Covered Self

Do you have a super messy feline? If so, I suggest you take a look at the Smarty Pear Leos Loo Self-Cleaning Litter Box. This litter box has a completely enclosed design. No matter how much your cat kicks its litter or sprays up the sides, it will all be contained inside the tray. There is also a step they have to climb to get in and out, which is useful in minimizing tracking.

How it works: So, this litter tray is good at keeping mess inside, but how are its self-cleaning capabilities? Youll be pleased to hear that this litter box is very efficient. Shortly after your cat leaves the litter box, it separates the waste and deposits it in an enclosed waste draw. This helps trap nasty odors and ensures the litter box is clean for its next visitor. To clean, simply open this tray and tip all of the waste away.

One thing I love about this product is the display screen in replace of a mobile app. This is located on the front of the litter tray and tells you how many times your cat has been inside. This information is useful as it gives you an idea of how much waste is in the tray, but it also gives you a better understanding of your cats toilet habits so you can easily spot changes that could indicate illnesses. The screen also displays your cats weight, further helping you monitor their health.

Pros

Ease Of Cleaning: Easy To Empty And Clean

The Litter-Robot claims to make litter box maintenance a breeze, and we have to agree. When we got a push notification saying the waste drawer was full, all we had to do was pull open the drawer, tie up the bag of waste, and throw it away. From there, we just lined the drawer with a new bag, hit the button to reset the waste gauge level in the app, and that was it. The whole process takes a few minutes, requiring no scooping. The brand says the drawer will need to be emptied around once a week, but we often didnt get a notification that the drawer was full for 10 days or more.

According to the manufacturer, this system reduces litter usage by up to 50 percent compared to scooping, making each box of litter last longer.

To properly maintain the Litter-Robot, the brand recommends cleaning the inside of the globe every one to three months and giving the unit a deep clean twice a year. Thankfully, the unit breaks down into several easy-to-clean pieces. The bonnet is the top piece that holds the globe in place, and it popped off easily when we depressed the two buttons on the side. The globe and waste drawer also come out and can be rinsed with a garden hose or soaked in soapy water.

You shouldnt get any of the electrical components wet, so keep water away from the base and bonnet and make sure the pieces are dry before reassembling.

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Great Automatic Litter Boxes Allow You To Monitor Your Cats Health Status

Your cats litter box activity is one of the best indicators of their health status, and when their box does the work for you, youre missing out on an opportunity to evaluate their wellbeing.

Some automatic litter boxes make up for this shortcoming by incorporating use counters or other means of monitoring your cats box usage.

Testing The Health Monitoring System

Fortunately, my cats urine seemed to be within the healthy pH range throughout the testing process.

Because I wanted to see how the litter would respond to different pH levels, however, I ran an experiment using three different solutions:

After pouring the solutions into separate containers of Pretty Litter, I noticed the colors changing and deepening over time. They achieved their deepest color a few minutes after pouring.

Here is what the different colors indicate:

• Red May indicate a Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder , kidney stones, bladder stones, bladder inflammation, kidney disease, or clotting disorders. In rare cases, it may also indicate bladder cancer or internal injury.
• Orange May be a sign of metabolic acidosis, kidney tubular acidosis, or calcium oxalate crystal formation.
• Blue or Dark Green May indicate certain types of urinary tract infections and an increased risk for crystal/stone formation.
• Dark Yellow/Olive Green Indicates urine within the typical pH range.

Its important to note that Pretty Litter is a tool that provides insight into your cats health but should not be used as a replacement for medical diagnostics or veterinary care. If the product indicates a potential health problem, take your cat to the vet.

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A Quick Comparison Of Our Favorites

The best overall cat litter for your automatic cat litter box is the Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Slide Litter Multi-Cat litter. Its available in four package sizes from 14 38 pounds and is dust-free. Its a clay litter that features powerful clumping and it doesnt stick to the litter box, making it a fantastic option for automatic litter boxes. With Arm & Hammer, you know youre getting a name you can trust, and this litter uses special rapid clumping technology to help with odor control, no matter how many kitties are using the box. No matter what type of box you have, this litter should not stick to it, making cleanup a breeze. It features a fresh scent that is released every time your cat digs in it.

This litter is a clay litter, which is not an environmentally friendly product. The current packaging may be difficult for some people to use because the entire top of the box comes off when you open the litter, so once its open, theres no carry handle.

The best cat litter for automatic boxes for the money is the Frisco Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Clay Litter, which is available in two package sizes. Its a great value, even for small budgets, and is formulated to be low dust and low tracking, helping to keep your house free of tracked litter. It features odor neutralizing technology and is made for multi-cat homes. Its hypoallergenic and contains no dyes, perfumes or fragrances, or plant proteins.

How Often Do I Need To Clean It Out

Self-cleaning litter boxes do the job of daily scooping, taking control of this unpleasant task and giving you time back into your day. However, even self-cleaning litter boxes require a little cleaning and maintenance! Youll still need to replace the used litter with a fresh batch at regular intervals.

If the litter box does a thorough job of scooping, the litter will keep clean for a longer period. If not, you may need to replace batches more often. Therefore, how frequently you need to clean the box and empty the waste depends on the model you use. This period may vary between 1-2 weeks to a month, which is something to consider.

Bear in mind that if the litter box is used by multiple cats, then the litter needs to be changed more frequently. Therefore, any periods provided by the manufacturer need to be made proportional to the number of cats you own. So, if a single cats litter box requires a litter change once every 20-30 days, the litter box of two cats will require a litter change of 10-15 days, and so on.

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