9 Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes for Your Cat
Finding the right litter box for your cat is important. Your kitty needs somewhere they can feel safe and secluded for them to do their business, and you need something that you can trust to contain everything until you’ve time to clean it.
And time’s so precious that a self cleaning litter box can really help. There are various different types of litter boxes available that help take away some of the chore of cleaning, which can give you more time to handle everything else in life (or just spend quality time with your kitty).
You might have seen an automatic litter box advertised on TV. The circle self-cleaning litter box is one example. Not all self-cleaning options are automatic though, so there’s usually one to suit whatever budget you’re working with.
Benefits of Self Cleaning Litter Boxes:
The obvious benefit of a self cleaning litter box is that you don’t have to spend quite as much time cleaning it. While clumping litter does make it easy already to clean out your cat’s litter, having something which can filter it out and collect it in a waste bin or waste drawer makes it much easier when you do need to empty it.
The other major benefit is odor control. Almost all self cleaning litter boxes have a separate compartment where clumped litter and waste is collected, helping to seal off much of the odor that would normally resonate around the area. And again, almost all of them are a covered litter box, which just helps to keep everything inside – there’s less chance of litter scatter around your home, or accidental urine sprays missing the tray.
Things to Consider:
Firstly, a self cleaning litter box doesn’t mean you never need to attend to it. You’ll still have to empty out the waste receptacle, usually every few days. It’s not completely hands-free but it does cut down on the effort involved.
Secondly, think about your budget. An automatic litter box can be pricey but they’re often considered to be worth the expense for their convenience and extra features. Cheaper self cleaning options are available, which you may need to consider if you have multiple cats that don’t want to share, although most can be shared if you encourage it.
Most importantly though, you need to make sure your cat is comfortable using whichever type of self cleaning litter box you choose. Many cats will like the idea of a covered litter box as it gives them extra privacy and a feeling of being safe. However if you have a large cat then you need to check they’ll fit. A lot of self-cleaning boxes aren’t ideal for Ragdolls for example as they’re just too small for the cat to comfortably use.
Also, think about your (and your cat’s) preference for their litter bed and the choice of litter. You’ll need a clumping litter for most of these to work – if your cat prefers crystal litter or another form of non-clumping litter then your options will be limited.
Self-cleaning Litter Boxes:
Litter Robot 3
I love the Litter Robot, and I know a lot of other Floppycatters do too. It’s fully automatic, starting a cleaning cycle seven minutes after a cat has used it (but pausing the cycle if it senses a cat climbing inside again), so it’s simple to clean. It rotates the internal scoop, dropping clumped litter or solid waste into the receptacle at the bottom which you can easily empty when you need to.
The design of the door is nice and big so larger cats have no problems getting inside, and it’s just really well made overall. You can also upgrade to a Connect (either buy a Connect model outright, or upgrade the Litter Robot 3 yourself with an upgrade kit) if you want to monitor how often your cat uses the litter tray from the smartphone app.
Purchase the Litter Robot 3
Cat Genie AI Self-Washing Cat Box
While the other litter boxes on this are self-cleaning, the “self-washing” Cat Genie AI takes this all a step further. Instead of litter it uses washable granules that aren’t absorbent. So urine drains to the bottom of the appliance where it is collected. At the same time, solid waste is scooped out. Then, everything is flushed away, either into your toilet or down your laundry waste pipe.
Once that’s done, the granules are washed with water and a vet-approved solution, before being dried with hot air, leaving a fresh tray. The AI model is another smart one, letting you know if there are any problems with the litter box, how often your cat’s using it, and when you need to top up the granules.
This one does need more work since you need to plumb it into your home, but it is popular with some customers. Others have said that their cats really aren’t a fan of it, or that the scoop doesn’t capture smaller solids, which means you might still have some manual work to do.
Purchase on Amazon.
LitterMaid Single Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The LitterMaid more closely resembles a classic ‘tray’ in design, but it has a rake at one end. Once your cat has used the litter box, the rake will move through the tray, pushing any clumped litter or solid waste into a receptacle at the end. The receptacles have carbon filters to help with odor control.
The tray has high walls to stop litter from scattering, and the rubber ramp cleans paws to stop tracking around the box. While some reviews are positive, others complain that the rake is inefficient, and doesn’t reach the corners or the bottom of the litter.
Purchase on Amazon.
Nature’s Miracle Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The Nature’s Miracle looks almost identical to the LitterMaid, and works in exactly the same way. The key difference is that while the LitterMaid is intended for single cats weighing up to 15lb, this one can handle multiple cats over that weight.
One neat feature is the night light, which they say helps cats to find it better at night. However there are similar complaints from customers around how effective it is, with some saying that clumped litter just sticks to the rake, which takes even more cleaning than a normal litter box would.
Purchase on Amazon.
Circle Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The Circle Zero litter box is another fully automatic cat litter box that’s quite similar in style to the Litter Robot 3. It uses a motion sensor to detect when your cat has entered the litter box, and then waits 7 minutes to start a cleaning cycle.It has two different scoops too, for different types of clumping litter. It started as an Indiegogo campaign and can now be bought from selected retailers online.
Like the Litter Robot Connect, you can use your smartphone to keep an eye on when your cat is using the Circle. However it’s not designed for larger cats, with a smaller entry, so it might not be suitable for many breeds.
Purchase on Amazon.
Omega Paw Roll ‘n Clean
The Omega Paw Roll ‘n Clean litter box is an ‘almost self-cleaning’ option that just requires a little bit of manual work, instead of being automatic.
It’s designed so that, once your cat has used it, you simply roll it over, and then back again. It works by filtering the litter through a grate, separating the clean cat litter from any clumps. Those clumps then fall into the removable waste tray, which you just need to slide out and empty. There’s no scooping involved, you just roll it over slowly, and then back again before emptying.
However, while it’s a low-cost option, there are a lot of people who’ve left negative reviews once they’ve bought it. Some people say that rolling it breaks up litter clumps, leaving everything dirty. Other owners have spoken about how it’s too small, or that litter and pee just sticks to the sides. And some have said that it’s just a cheap product that doesn’t last, so bear that in mind.
Purchase on Amazon.
Litter Spinner Cat Litter Box
The Litter Spinner works in a similar way to the Omega Paw, except that it has a circular design. Simply fill it with either standard or premium clumping litter and, once your cat has used it, rotate it once. This filters the kitty litter and captures all of the cat waste in a drawer, which you can then empty at your convenience. It’s a simple system that again means you don’t need to scoop anything yourself.
Purchase on Amazon.
PetSafe Simply Clean Automatic Litter Box
The PetSafe Simply Clean is a rotating litter robot that constantly cleans itself. The litter tray rotates slowly and constantly, completing one full rotation every hour. Clumps of litter are then carried up away from the litter pan along a conveyor belt into a waste bin, where they can be disposed of quite easily.
It does only work with clumping clay litter and you will need to keep it topped up, as the litter can’t be removed if the line is too low to reach the conveyor. Otherwise it’s another solid option for your cat’s litter box if you want something that helps with odor control and creates less work for you.
Purchase on Amazon.
PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Another option from PetSafe is the ScoopFree litter box – the only automatic one on this list designed to work with crystal litter. It’s similar to the LitterMaid in that it uses a rake that automatically pushes through the litter box, moving any solid waste into a trapped compartment at the end.
Unlike the LitterMaid, urine is absorbed into the crystals, which are included in the tray refills you can buy – you can just replace the entire tray at once, instead of having to scoop out the used crystals (hence the name). I’m not a fan of crystal litter but if you and your cat are, then this may be a good option to consider.
Purchase on Amazon.
There is also a Smart version of this litter box. It works in the same way, but connects to an app on your smartphone so you can keep tabs on when your cat is using the tray, so it’s a lot easier to notice any change in their habits. It also makes it easier to know when you need to order replacement trays, as it tracks how many times the tray has been used.
Purchase on Amazon.
Do you have a self cleaning litter box that you would recommend? Or does your cat just like a traditional litter box? Leave a comment with your (and your cat’s) preference.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
I have two cats who were rescued when they were 4 weeks old. They are 5 years old now, but one of the two definitely has more trust issues. She wouldn’t go in the Litter-Maid box when I got it a few months ago. No problem for her sister. I’m sure it’s the motor sound. When I first installed it, underneath a counter with a curtain, she just stared at the noise coming out. I also changed the litter to walnut cause it clumps better. I did a little research and found ways of introducing the new litter and new box – I put both the old box with the old litter and the Litter-Maid, unplugged, with the new litter. She still wouldn’t use the new box. I’m afraid I will have to go back to the more-work-for-me old box unless you can recommend something. Thanks!
PS: I saw your review of PetFusion’s litter box. It looks like the lining makes scooping less work for me.
Hi Sandy, I do not know on the Litter-Maid – but on the Litter-Robot they recommend NOT EVER turning it on in front of your cats UNTIL they use it. Because if you do it before, it’s always a threat. You could try to feed her by it to see if she warms up to it or play with her by it? Sounds sort of gross on both accounts =)
wow! SUPER PAWESOME & FABULOUS post, Jenny honey! TYSVM for such a comprehensive list and all the great info! Very well done! Appreciate it very much! 🙂 <3
I don't really have any self-cleaning litter boxes to recommend. Although, I have used ones very similar to the Omega Paw Roll ‘n Clean in the past but with Miss PSB I am using ONLY the NVR Miss Litter Boxes (which is my all time fave litter box!). She seems to love them and so do I as I scoop them multiple times daily with The Amazing Litter Lifter (my very fave litter scooper of all time!)! 😉 <3
Big hugs & lots of love & purrs!
Patti & Miss Pink Sugarbelle 🙂 <3 <3 <3
Hi Patti, I am working on a video of the Top 5 Litter Boxes – and include the NVR Miss, but also mention in that video that the best litter box is the one that works for you and your cat….and that could vary depending on the cat.