The 9 Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Whisker Litter-Robot 4

$799 at Amazon $699 at Chewy View on Litter-Robot

The Whisker Litter-Robot 4 is not merely an iterative improvement on its predecessor, the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, but a comprehensive upgrade. In fact, it's the best litter box we've ever tested. In lab testing and throughout weeks of follow-up testing with real cats, our testers expressed repeated admiration for various features, design improvements, and their overall experience using the Litter-Robot 4.

It's hard not to boggle at the Litter-Robot's high price, but Whisker has pulled out all the stops to justify the premium cost with a premium user experience. It begins with an incredibly easy setup, as the Litter-Robot 4 arrives fully assembled in the box. All you need to do is plug it in and download the Whisker app, which is synced using a QR code on the back of the device.

But the first thing you're likely to notice about the Litter-Robot 4 is its design, which stacks a wide-open, circular entrance atop a more square base. The entrance to the litter box looks inviting, even intriguing, with our home tester confirming that cats are more than willing to interact with the futuristic-looking device: "My three cats took to it very quickly after the initial fear and confusion about it seemingly coming to life on its own!"

The Litter-Robot 4 is also an improvement over its predecessor in noise—it's much quieter according to our testers. Although, it's not silent, of course.

The Litter-Robot 4 works by maintaining a supply of litter atop a heavy-duty fabric hammock. After your cat uses the bathroom, the interior sphere performs a slow barrel roll, dumping the litter through a sieve that pulls out solid waste and returns the clean litter to its original position. The clumps of kitty litter are then dumped into a reservoir tray underneath.

It's weird to say that an automatic litter box was a joy to use, but the Litter-Robot 4's comprehensively thoughtful design, right down to the built-in night light, impressed us at every step. Our testers found that it also helped free up their time for more fun activities. “I don't have to clean it daily, which makes traveling easier,” said one tester. “We went on a week-long trip during testing, and our cat sitter loved that she didn't have to worry about the litter, which left more time to play with our cats.”

Sensors in the entrance track both motion and weight, ensuring that the Litter-Robot never begins a cleaning cycle with a cat inside. This allows it to measure how much waste is sifted, and even create custom data for multiple cats, since it can differentiate them by weight. The only precaution needed is for kittens under 3 pounds, but you can disable the automatic sifter and instead use a button to manually clean until your cat is big enough to register on the scale.

The control panel on the Litter-Robot 4 features big, colorful buttons, though the wide variety of settings and cleaning options can make for a bit of a learning curve. It's pretty intuitive, but a little overwhelming at first—one tester mistakenly emptied all of the litter, rather than initiating a standard clean.

Cleaning the Litter-Robot 4 was also a cinch. The bags used in the reservoir are tall enough that even an over-stuffed reservoir is easy to empty—simply lift up the edges of the bag and use that extra height to tie it off.

We did note a few downsides to the Litter-Robot 4, most noticeably the increased potential for unpleasant smells. While the Litter-Robot 4 has several features that tamp down odors, by sifting your cat's waste out of the main cylinder, you're also separating it from the kitty litter that contains so much of the smell in a traditional litter box. We've found this to be an issue with most automatic litter boxes, which pull waste out into a separate tray, losing your litter's scent-absorbing qualities in the process.

The Litter-Robot 4 also shares with its predecessor a very large silhouette. Anyone living with cats in a small apartment should measure first, and have a good sense of whether they have enough room to accommodate the Litter-Robot.

The Whisker Litter-Robot 4 is available in both white and black. You can opt for a slotted "handle" on the front or an optional step for easier climbing. In addition to the 1-year warranty, there's also a 90-day trial period, where you can test out the Litter-Robot 4 in your own home, risk-free.

_{Dimensions: 29.5 x 22 x 27 inches | Entry: 15.75 inches | Weight: 24 pounds | Colors: White, black}

Litter-Robot 4 Bundles on Sale Now

These bundles (plus more!) are on sale for a limited time. Prices below reflect the current price.

• Litter-Robot 4 Warranty Bundle ($699 with discount)
• Litter-Robot 4 LitterHopper Bundle ($849 with discount)
• Litter-Robot 4 Clean Bundle ($912 with discount)
• Litter-Robot 4 Kickstart Bundle ($764 with discount)
  

Best for Large Cats

Neakasa M1 Open-Top Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box

$600 $450 at Amazon $600 $500 at Petco View on Walmart

In a world of automatic litter boxes that resemble enclosed globes, the Neakasa M1 is a welcomed option. Don’t be fooled by the images of this open-top automatic litter box. It may look large and bulky, but it measures about average. We tested this litter box with three siblings, one 8.5-pounder and two 16-pound kitties (including one Maine Coon). 

Our tester noted that the assembly of the litter box was a cinch and they only needed to attach four feet and pop out the litter tray—no special tools or skills needed. The app, however, was a different story and required Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing. They said it wasn’t difficult, but it took some time.

It also took some time for their cats to take to the litter box, which they attributed to the high 13.77-inch entry level. Because of the high-entry level open top that provides more space for big boys and girls, and the 33-pound weight limit of this litter box, we think it’s best to use for larger cats. However, our tester noted that the actual area of the litter well seemed to be a little small for their Maine Coon, so it’s probably best for just one large cat, not multiple cats. 

They also noticed about the same amount of tracking as with the regular litter box, even though there is an included litter mat. This was attributed to the height of the entry and the fact the cats were likely jumping out from the box after use. 

Our tester found the litter box fairly easy to clean—a simple wipe down the outside and inside the bowl with disinfectant did the trick—though it would've been trickier to get into cracks and crevices to clean bigger messes since the unit doesn't actually come apart. The waste receptacle was fully lined, which also made it very easy to clean. While the receptacle did a better job of concealing odor than a standard litter box, it does not completely control odor since it's not sealed.

^{Dimensions: 20.02 x 17.09 x 23.26 inches | Entry: 15.75 inches | Weight: 22.81 pounds | Colors: Dark gray}  

Best Budget

Pet Zone Smart Scoop Litter Box

$166 at Amazon $166 at Chewy View on Walmart

The Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box senses when your cat has used the litter box, and then cleans it 30 minutes later. It operates using a rake, which scrapes across the box and then scoops whatever clumps it catches into a reservoir. One tester summed it up, noting that the Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box "doesn't dazzle with bells and whistles, but absolutely does the trick."

The Pet Zone is also surprisingly quiet, raking across the box in a slow cycle that does a good job of catching most waste. The rake itself is also designed well and doesn't get gunked up easily (a cleaning tool is included, too).

The machine comes with six plastic bags to get you started. They're easy to install and remove once the compartment is full. It also includes a carbon zeolite filter, which fits into a bracket on the underside of the waste reservoir lid.

We initially noted this litter box's mediocre plastic construction and worried about long-term durability; however, our machine was still going strong after months of use.

One downside is the relatively shallow litter box, which doesn't leave much extra litter for cats that like to dig and bury. We also wish there was a place to store the included scoop.

While overall we found the Pet Zone Smart Scoop to be light on features, everything included works well, right down to the odor filter—our tester didn't notice any smells throughout weeks of use.

_{Dimensions: 26.5 x 16.88 x 7.63 inches | Entry: Open | Weight: 9.3 pounds | Colors: Gray & green}

Still Worth It?

Litter-Robot 3 Connect Cat Litter Box

$549 at Amazon $549 at Chewy View on Litter-Robot

The Litter-Robot 4 is a substantial improvement over its predecessor, but after nearly three years of continuous testing, we still feel confident in the quality of the Litter-Robot 3 Connect.

We have tested four different Litter-Robot 3 Connect models over the years, so we have extensive long-term experience with the product. Of the four, we encountered a relatively common "bonnet" error with one, where the machine erroneously registered its top panel as open. Litter-Robot customer service was responsive, with both troubleshooting advice and an offer to replace the device.

We also tested the Litter-Robot 3 against the popular Leo's Loo Too in the same household, and our tester came away preferring the Leo's Loo Too. Her cats did too, consistently opting for it over the Litter-Robot 3. But the Litter-Robot 3 does come with a price advantage, costing over $250 less than Leo's Loo Too.

Overall, the Litter-Robot 3 is larger (more than two inches wider), less aesthetically pleasing, and slightly louder than the Litter-Robot 4, but the reduced price might make this previous Litter-Robot model worth considering.

Best Smart Home Ready

Casa Leo Leo's Loo Too

$800 at Amazon $700 at Chewy $700 at Petco

The Casa Leo Leo's Loo Too follows the classic design of automatic litter boxes, with a rotating barrel passing through a grate, leaving behind solid clumps, which are dumped into a lower reservoir. Our two tester cats immediately adjusted to using Leo's Loo Too, thanks in part to its very quiet and unobtrusive cleaning cycle.

The app is less fun to use than the slick Whisker app, but what makes the Casa Leo automatic litter box stand out is its wide smart home compatibility. Capable of syncing with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, the Leo's Loo Too is the best option for anyone looking to activate their litter box using voice controls. The Leo's Loo Too's app was easy to set up, too.

It's also an excellent pick for anyone concerned about microbes, since the Casa Leo litter box utilizes UV sterilization, blasting its waste drawer with light rays that kill most bacteria and viruses. Frankly, this seems like overkill since waste is contained in plastic bags, but it's likely to be an appealing feature for some.

Odor control was also excellent with the Leo's Loo Too, even with the large waste drawer, which enables you to go a week or more without emptying. However, the reservoir is likely to fill quickly in a multi-cat household—our tester with two large cats had to change the bag every 48 hours or so. Multiple cleaning customization options let you set the Casa Leo to clean after each use, so your cats will come to a fresh litter box every time.

The Casa Leo Leo's Loo Too is available in four colors—Avocado Green, Baby Blue, Leo Gray, and Pretty Pink—and comes with a 90-day free trial.

_{Dimensions: 24 x 22 x 27.5 inches | Entry: 8.5 inches | Weight: 27.5 pounds | Colors: Avocado Green, Baby Blue, Leo Gray, Pretty Pink}

Best with Crystal Litter

PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Litterbox

$200 $160 at Amazon View on Chewy View on Petco

We reviewed an older version of the PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box in 2020, and much of what we had to say then still holds true. The main determination you'll need to make is whether or not your cats are ready for crystal kitty litter, which uses non-clumping silica beads that absorb liquids rather than hardening. Crystal litter has several advantages, including strong odor-absorbing capabilities and a lack of dust or grit, but not every cat likes crystal litter, so there may be an adjustment period—plus, it tends to be more expensive.

But if you know your cat is ready for crystal litter, then the PetSafe Scoop-Free Self-Cleaning Litter Box is one of the best ways to take full advantage. The automated box rakes through the litter 20 minutes after your cat is done using it, moving solid waste to a separate compartment. Meanwhile, the silica crystals absorb urine and other smells.

Once a month (for a single-cat household), you simply slide out the entire tray, put a lid on it, and throw it away. The automatic self-cleaning is remarkably quiet and the comb slowly passes through the litter to weed out solid waste. You never have to touch—and you barely even have a chance to spot—the waste your cat leaves behind.

Of course, this means buying a whole new tray of crystal litter every month, or even more often. So while the PetSafe ScoopFree is much more affordable than our Best Overall automatic littler box, the cost of using the same expensive litter each month will add up fast. Although it's possible to dump out the waste reservoir without completely replacing the litter tray, our tester found this to be an unwieldy task, requiring lifting away the entire upper assembly of the device.

In a home setting, we found the PetSafe ScoopFree to be effective at both self-cleaning and odor control. Plus, unlike the Litter-Robot 4, the PetSafe won't take up a ton of space in your home, so it's a great option for apartment dwellers. There's also a "smart" version, which comes with a hood and a Wi-Fi-enabled app.

_{Dimensions: 27.6 x 19.1 x 15.7 inches | Entry: 8.7 x 9.3 inches | Weight: 19.3 pounds | Colors: Gray}

Best App Controls

Catlink Self-Cleaning Litter Box- Scooper Luxury Pro-X

$469 $369 at Amazon View on Catlinkus.com

Our tester was a big fan of how easy it was to install, set up, and link the app for this litter box, and it gets extra points for having an intuitive design. But it doesn’t stop there—the app is packed with features and data points that go beyond the standard usage stats and clean cycle options. You’ll also be able to check how full the waste bin is, the humidity and temperature inside the box, and litter levels—plus the app works with Alexa and Google Home.

This litter box does have a larger footprint than our tester was used to, but they said it was so good at eliminating odor that they felt it could easily be placed in areas that would otherwise be off-limits because of smell with a regular litter box. Odor is neutralized with a carbon filter, UV sterilization light, and a rechargeable purifier. 

In addition to the odor control, the litter box operates at a low 30 decibels, or about as loud as a nearby whisper, making it one of the quietest picks on the list. Our tester mentioned that it was fine for her normally nervous kitty. Some other standout features include the button panel lock (which prevents pets or kids from accidentally pushing a control button), the large two-week waste bin capacity, and the two safety sensors that detect when your cat enters the litter box and halts operation.

You can also use this box with several different types of litter, instead of just clumping clay, thanks to the two included sifter grates. Unfortunately, there’s one key element that is not included (but sold separately): an anti-tracking ramp. Since the litter box entry is close to 14 inches off the ground, it would be nice to have the ramp included, not only to trap litter upon exit but to aid smaller or elderly cats access the entry. 

^{Dimensions: 27.95 x 23.62 x 27 inches | Entry: 10.92 x 12.99 inches | Weight: 26.45 pounds | Colors: White}  

Best Tracking Prevention

PetSnowy SNOW+ Self-Cleaning Litter Box

View on Amazon View on Walmart View on Petsnowy.com

We tested the PetSnowy SNOW+ Self-Cleaning Litter Box in a multi-cat household with four cats, all between the ages of 2 and 7 years old, and used Target clumping clay litter. Cats enter the litter box through the front via a recessed oval window on the right-hand side into a pre-litter area with a removable litter mat. After your cat uses the toilet, this pre-litter area, along with the stepped recess design of the entry window, helps to trap more loose litter from your cat’s paws before it hits the ground running. 

As you might imagine, four cats sharing one box have the potential to get a bit smelly, but our tester said the SNOW+ controlled odor like a pro, even with the lid off.

None of the cats had previous experience using an automatic litter box, and our tester had to remove the top half of the box for all of their cats to use the litter box—which did produce an error message in the app but didn’t disable it.

One of the coolest things about this litter box is that the waste tray has self-sealing bags. To replace a bag, you just pull out the drawer—a game-changer! The bags also help seal in odors, prevent spillage, and prevent contamination. Since each part comes apart, it's also easy to clean the box thoroughly with disinfectant.

Where could this litter box improve? Our tester found the app’s connection a bit sticky and unreliable, and they wish they could access a history of usage data instead of just the day of data. 

^{Dimensions: 20 x 25.6 x 29.5 inches | Entry: 14.9 x 9.05 inches (ramp opening) |  Weight: 45 pounds | Colors: Classic (brown and cream), cream} 

Best Litter Box Accessory

Petivity Litter Box Monitor

$85 at Amazon $85 at Chewy View on Walmart

If you aren’t ready to make the jump to an automatic litter box just yet or have picky cats that may not accept a new type of toilet, the Petivity Smart Litter Box Monitoring System is a good option. We tested this litter monitoring accessory in a multi-cat household with two senior cats, ages 10 and 11.5, including one with a history of constipation. Our tester said they really appreciated having access to information concerning her cats’ weight and bathroom habits, and knowing that the app would send an alert through if any changes warranted vet notification.

They also noted that the setup was simple and fairly intuitive. The initial setup requires you to fill in a bunch of health information about your cat on the app, but most of the interaction you have with the device after setup is via the app. 

This device works kind of like a scale. The litter box is placed on top, and the Petivity is powered by either the included batteries or an AC plug. Insights include things like weight, frequency, and length of time using the litter box, and whether the elimination was pee or poop. You can view usage history easily with charts and reports, and these can even be printed out for your records or to show the vet.

Each Petivity monitor can sort and track information for up to five cats. Keep in mind that if you’ve got multiple litter boxes, you’ll need a separate device for each, otherwise, you won’t be getting a full set of data. You’ll also want to make sure litter boxes are within the maximum size of 21-by-16 inches, and it doesn’t work with automatic litter boxes. 

^{Dimensions: 19 x 14 x 2 inches | Entry: N/A | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Colors: White}