The best self-cleaning litter boxes of 2024: Expert tested

Pros

Cons

This automatic litter box changed the game for me after using it, and I will never go back to a regular litter box. It's much quieter than other robot litter boxes I have seen, and the free compatible app provides excellent insights into your cat's health and routine. 

Review: Whisker Litter-Robot 4

The Whisker app lets you know when your cat is in the box when a cleaning cycle is happening, and when a cleaning cycle is complete. It also provides an entire history and your cat's average usage. I also love the intelligent scale built into the Litter-Robot 4, which automatically records your cat's weight each time it uses it so that you can keep track of any dramatic weight gain or loss.

I also noticed I smell my cat's litter much less--if at all--with this litter box, which is refreshing. Overall, 92% of Best Buy customers who reviewed this litter box said they would recommend it to other cat owners and gave it an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Just keep in mind that the app can be buggy and slow, and it takes a while to show data, especially if you're interested in seeing weekly data, it's extremely slow and sometimes won't even load. 

Whisker Litter-Robot 4 tech specs: Dimensions: 29.5 x 22 x 27 inches | Power: 15 Volt DC | Weight: 24 pounds | # of cats: Up to 4

Pros

Cons

As you can guess, automatic litter boxes can be costly due to the technology involved. But if you're looking for a more straightforward solution that won't break the bank, this option from PetSafe is a great budget pick at $280. Using sensors, it automatically removes waste after your cat does its business. When it's time to clean the box, you throw out the disposable tray. 

The disposable trays that come with the litter box are filled with crystal litter, which helps control odors and reduce dust tracking. In addition, a built-in health counter tracks how many times your furry feline uses the box to detect any abnormal bathroom behavior.

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ZDNET managing editor Alison DeNisco Rayome has been using this litter box for years and highly recommends it as a budget option. "The counter works accurately, and is helpful for reminding us when we need to change out the tray (for our one cat, it's about once every 3-4 weeks)," she said, adding, "You do need to buy the crystal litter, which is pricier than regular litter. But to me, it's well worth not having to do any scooping."

Customers who have used the PetSafe litter box also agree that this model is the #1 best seller on Amazon in the self-cleaning litter box category. 

PetSafe ScoopFree Litter Box tech specs: Dimensions: 20.38 x 7.13 x 28 inches | Power: N/A | Weight: 16 pounds | # of cats: 1

Pros

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If you're looking to forgo dealing with your cat's waste altogether, the Catgenie AI Automatic Cat Box is a great option. It is a flushable litter box, meaning you hook it up to a drain hook in your bathroom or laundry room. It will liquefy solids and flush away the waste while washing itself clean. It's even shaped like an actual toilet.

The litter box has a four-step process, including scooping, washing, flushing, and hot-air drying after each use. To clean, choose between automatic or manual settings depending on your preferences by the accompanying app. 

The CatGenie app gives insight into when your cat goes to the bathroom, provides access to customer support, and even uses artificial intelligence to analyze your cat's bathroom behavior to recommend optimizing your settings and maintenance habits for peak performance and comfort.

Pet owners who have used the CatGenie Deluxe say that you might have to buy drain extensions to make it fit your setup, but once it is installed, it's as easy as cleaning a human toilet.

CatGenie AI Deluxe Automatic Cat Box tech specs: Dimensions: 24.5 x 19.25 x 21 inches | Power: 120-volt AC | Weight: 35 pounds | # of cats: 1-2

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Smarty Pear's Leo's Loo Too is the best solution for your automatic litter box if you have a smart home. The mobile app allows complete control of the device, or you can ask Alexa or Google to start a cleaning cycle. It uses UV sanitation to remove bacteria. Like the Whisker model, this robot litter box has an accompanying app for activity and weight tracking. 

It comes in fun colors like green, blue, and pink. Plus, bamboo filters keep odors inside the litter box's built-in waste drawer, so you don't have to worry about unfavorable smells filling up the room. 

Those who have purchased this litter box at PetCo praise the customer support, which helps with issues like connecting with Amazon Alexa, Wi-Fi issues, and more. 

Smarty Pear Leo's Loo Too tech specs: Dimensions: 24 x 22 x 27.5 inches | Power: N/A | Weight: 27.5 pounds | # of cats: Up to 2

Pros

Cons

This Whisker model is a little cheaper than the Litter-Robot 4 but still has much of the same technology. Plus, Whisker offers tons of accessories for your litter box, such as stairs to help older cats reach the box, a litter trap mat, a camera mount to keep an eye on your kitty, and even cleaning spray and wipes. 

Like the Litter-Robot 4, the automatic sifting process removes dirty litter from the clean, keeping foul smells out of your home. You also have the option to control the litter box from the Whisker app. 

The main difference between the Litter-Robot 3 and the Litter-Robot 4 is that the 4 has an enlarged waste drawer, a wider opening, and a quieter sifting cycle. 

Even though this model isn't as quiet as the Litter-Robot 4, customers noted they were not bothered by the sound even if placed in a prominent place in their home and that, overall, they saved money on having to buy litter since using the Litter-Robot 3.

Whisker Litter-Robot 3 tech specs: Dimensions: 24.25 x 27 x 29.5 inches | Power: 15 Volt DC | Weight: 24 pounds | # of cats: Up to 4