The 6 Best Automatic Litter Boxes Vetted by Cat Lovers

Automatic litter boxes are revolutionizing the lives of cat owners everywhere. Not only do they scoop the poop for us, they decrease nasty smells typical of open litter boxes. They teach us about our cats and help us monitor health data. The best automatic litter boxes do all of these things—and, somehow, more. If you’re considering switching over to the world of self-cleaning litter boxes, take a look at our list but remember: The best litter box is one your cat uses. That said, our personal take on the best overall automatic litter box would be the Whisker Litter-Robot 4 ($699)—we explain why below.

• Safety Features: First and foremost, make sure your automatic litter box of choice has a safety feature that prevents the self-cleaning mechanism from going off while your cat is inside. Cats, in case you hadn’t noticed, startle easily. One scary encounter with a litter box can completely deter them from future use. Aside from emotional and mental health, you want your cat to be physically safe, too! Getting caught in the rake or rotation of an automatic box could hurt them, so test the box a few times before letting your cat into it. 

• Size: Consider how big your cat is before buying an automatic litter box. Many models don’t recommend use for kittens under one or two pounds. Very large breeds may not enjoy enclosed boxes at all, in which case you’ll want to give an open or top-entry automatic box a shot instead.

• Your Cat's Behavior: Several boxes on our list claim to work well in multi-cat households. This, of course, varies depending on how many cats you have and how often they use the box. The general rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, then add another box. While this rule changes with the addition of a self-cleaning box because it refreshes itself on a regular basis, you will still need to empty the waste drawer more frequently. Basically, don’t clean based on the box’s suggestions alone. Clean based on your cat’s behavior.

Take in to account the type of litter your cat is used to and how well they adjust to change since your automatic littler box may require a certain time. Two boxes on our list use crystal litter, which is less common than clay clumping litter. It may take a few weeks to get your cat acclimated to a different sensation on their paws. Gently ease them into this new world by adding litter from their old box into the new box for a while.

Finally, observe your cat as she uses her automatic litter box. If she likes it and continues going back, hooray! It’s a keeper. If she doesn’t like it, begins going to the bathroom outside the box or sticks to her old box exclusively, it may be a bust. Scooping litter is just one part of cat life; if an old-fashioned box is what kitty wants, an old-fashioned box is what kitty should get. 

Pro tip: Don’t get rid of your old box until your cat totally accepts the new box!

Curating the best automatic littler boxes available in 2023, we tested some of the products extensively with our own cats, scoured real-person reviews and took into account features like footprint, litter use, and extra features like apps and, of course, price.

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