The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes, According To Extensive Testing

Any feline owner will tell you that cats are practically perfect in every way—but the one thing that would actually make them perfect is if they could scoop their own litter. While that’s never going to lớn be a reality—truth be told, even if they were capable of doing it, our feline friends would probably refuse the task—there is a just-as-great solution: automatic litter boxes. The best self-cleaning litter boxes are futuristic devices that sense when your cát has finished their business and respond accordingly by raking, sifting and sometimes even flushing the waste away sánh you don’t have to lớn scoop anything yourself. After a whopping 5 months of testing, I selected the Litter-Robot 4 as my overall best pick for 2023, but the PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box was a close second; I rated it as my best value pick. Meanwhile, the Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too was a winner in its own right: I’ve deemed it the best option for design-conscious pet owners, thanks to lớn its sleek, aesthetically pleasing exterior.

Investing in one of the best self-cleaning litter boxes is a game changer for life at trang chính with your ... [+] favorite feline.

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The following is a list of all the winners from my testing process:

Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box Overall: Litter-Robot 4
Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box For Design-Conscious Pet Owners: Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too
Best Value Self-Cleaning Litter Box: PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Because these machines lập cập pricey and are considered once-every-decade investments, I knew it’d be important to lớn test as many devices as possible in order to lớn compare their performance and features accurately. After a lengthy research period, I narrowed my contenders down to lớn nine, of which I ended up testing seven and excluding two. (For more on how I conducted my testing process, refer to lớn the bottom of this article.)

Litter-Robot

Litter-Robot 4

Footprint: 22 x 27 x 29.5 inches | Weight: 24 pounds | Power source: Electric

Best for:

Those interested in excellent, top-of-the-line odor control
Anyone intrigued by ultra-quiet operation
Discerning shoppers who prefer American-made products

Skip if:

You don’t have the space for a genuinely massive device

Is the Litter-Robot 4 worth it? It’s a question that’s asked by cát owners time and time again. After testing both the Litter-Robot 3 and 4 (believe it or not, I owned both models prior to lớn beginning this official testing process), I can answer that question with a confident “yes.” I know that spending $699 on a litter box can feel absolutely ridiculous—I’m not even sure I’d spend that on a toilet for myself. But I consider the Litter-Robot 4 to lớn be more of a “cat poop assistant” than thở a “passive kitty bathroom.” If you want a top-of-the-line smart machine, there’s simply no comparison.

While either Litter-Robot model is, in my opinion, worth it, the newest version—the Litter-Robot 4—is the best choice for several reasons. First, this newly redesigned automatic litter box has a much bigger opening; according to lớn Jacob Zuppke, president and CEO of Whisker, the company that makes the Litter-Robot line, this decision was really about making the cat’s experience better. “What if you went into a port-a-potty that was too small for you to lớn get in and turn around? You wouldn’t want to lớn touch anything in there,” he says. “Why would we not make a cat’s litter box large enough for the cát to lớn get in and turn around?”

What’s more, my cats really did love it. Not only could these big boys get in and turn around, but they were also able to lớn effectively back up and cover their waste with litter when they were done doing their business. (And note that I’m not exaggerating when I Call them big: My largest cát is 15 pounds.) Because this same turn-around technique wasn’t an option for them in some of the other self-cleaning litter boxes I tested, they just left the waste uncovered, which I can assure you didn’t result in a great smell.

There’s also an upgraded laser sensing system in the Litter-Robot 4, which works very, very quickly. I have curious kitties that lượt thích to lớn watch their poop disappear, sánh I appreciated how fast the new sensor system reacted—it shut the rotation cycle off immediately. That said, there were times I thought it was too sensitive. For example, if litter piled up a little on the mini fence, the sensors read it lượt thích something was in the way and wouldn’t rotate. At the over of the day, though, I’d much rather this be too sensitive than thở not sensitive enough.

I’ll add that the Litter-Robot 4 has an extra-large waste drawer and better odor control than thở its predecessors—there’s an odor lock system right above the drawer. In other words, you don’t have to lớn empty it as often. What’s more, it was far and away the “smartest” machine of all the devices I tested. It connects to lớn a miễn phí phầm mềm that monitors litter and waste levels, and it will send you notifications when it finishes a cycle and/or the drawer needs emptying. And get this: The device can even track your cats’ weight sánh it can identify which cát is using the box in a multi-cat household. Finally, this self-cleaning litter box was also the quietest of all the models I tested; you can barely hear it when it’s running through a cycle.

It’s also worth noting that the Litter-Robots are manufactured in the U.S., and Whisker has full control over the supply chain. There’s a testing protocol for each litter box, sánh you know you’re getting a machine that’s safe for your cát, according to lớn Zuppke, and the brand also employs its own engineers who are constantly working on and deploying firmware updates that improve the way the litter box works.

So, what’s not to lớn love about the Litter-Robot 4? Its size. As far as litter boxes go, it’s not inconspicuous in the slightest. And since the chamber is sánh large, you can see right into it, which certainly isn’t ideal when there’s some cát business in there that hasn’t gone through a cleaning cycle yet. If you have the extra space (and the extra budget), though, the Coastal Credenza is a great way to lớn hide the entire device.

One more con: Deep cleaning is a pain here, too. Still, this is pretty much par for the course when it comes to lớn self-cleaning litter boxes. You’ll have to lớn take all of the pieces apart and wash them thoroughly; I actually took them outside and used my pressure washer. The whole process takes about 30 minutes, but you’ll also need to lớn let the components dry completely before putting them back together, which takes another couple of hours. The good news: If you keep the litter box clean with daily maintenance, you’ll only have to lớn repeat this deeper clean once every few months.

Footprint: 24 x 22 x 27.5 inches | Weight: ‎27.5 pounds | Power source: Electric

Best for:

Anyone in the market for a truly beautiful device (that also works well)
Those looking for advanced odor control
Smaller cats—the chamber opening here is a bit tighter

Skip if:

You prefer the quieter operation of the Litter-Robot 4
You might mind the minor but noticeable elbow grease required to lớn fill this device with litter

Let’s face it: Litter boxes don’t exactly add to lớn the aesthetic value of a trang chính. If you have a dedicated laundry room or an extra bathroom where you can tuck one away, then you certainly don’t need to lớn worry about this as much. But if, lượt thích bủ, you’re working with limited space, you probably don’t want a massive automatic litter box to lớn be the statement piece in, say, your living room. The Leo’s Loo Too by Casa Leo solves this problem—at least as well as it can feasibly be solved. Yes, it’s still larger than thở your traditional litter box, but the design is actually quite appealing, and it looked much less out of place in my trang chính. Available in four modern hues (gray, green, xanh rì and pink), you can choose the one that blends in best with your decor.

Note that the chamber entrance is considerably smaller than thở the Litter-Robot models. This is both a positive and a negative: It’s a pro in that you can’t see into the device as clearly, sánh you’re able to lớn effectively hide the litter and any waste that hasn’t cycled yet. Also, though I initially thought the smaller chamber would be a problem for my large cats, they had no problem getting in and out of it. Still, the size did present a problem in that it was trickier to lớn fill the box with litter. I use Scoop Away cát litter, which comes in 25-pound boxes that don’t fit into the chamber, sánh I had to lớn have my fiancé tip the machine back slightly as I poured it in. At the over of the day, this isn’t a huge khuyến mãi, but it made filling the box feel lượt thích more of a project than thở I would have liked.

As for performance, I was highly impressed. The litter box cycled lượt thích clockwork, and I never received a single error message in the accompanying phầm mềm. The cycle time is also faster than thở the Litter-Robot’s—it cycles in one direction, while the Litter-Robot rotates one way and then has to lớn reverse direction to lớn complete its cycle. That said, all in all, it’s louder. It’s not obnoxiously loud, but you can definitely hear it when it’s running. My crew wasn’t bothered by it at all; more skittish cats might be.

I’ll add that the waste drawer here is smaller than thở the Litter-Robot’s, but I still got almost 2 weeks out of one bag with three cats and two other litter boxes in the house. And even when letting the waste drawer fill up completely, there weren’t any odors thanks to lớn integrated charcoal filters.

And more about that app: It actually lets you control the rotations per cycle and automatic time delay (you can phối it for anywhere from 6 seconds to lớn đôi mươi minutes after your cát leaves). You can also turn off automatic rotations and schedule cleaning sessions instead—this might be a good option if you’re worried about it running while you’re not trang chính. The phầm mềm also tracks how often your cats use it and, lượt thích the Litter-Robot, it can differentiate between cats in a multi-cat household by judging their weight. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls.

Deep cleaning it was a pain, but it’s the same process as the Litter-Robots: You have to lớn take apart all the components, wipe them down, then wait for them to lớn dry before putting them back together. Casa Leo recommends deep cleaning every 4 weeks, but if you regularly maintain the box by wiping down the components when you add litter, you can probably stretch this a bit longer.

I didn't know that I would become a full-on cát paparazzo in the process of testing these machines, ... [+] but here i am.

Lindsay Boyers

ScoopFree

ScoopFree by PetSafe Self-Cleaning Second Generation Litter Box

Footprint: đôi mươi x 7 x 28 inches | Weight: ‎18.6 pounds | Power source: Electric

Best for:

Those on a budget
Anyone who isn’t bothered by slightly more frequent emptying requirements
Cat owners who are simply looking for an upgrade to lớn the traditional litter box

Skip if:

You prefer more bells and whistles

Before jumping into the merits of the PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box, I want to lớn be very clear: If you’re going to lớn go the value route, you need to lớn manage your expectations. This litter box does not compare to lớn the bells and whistles of the more advanced Litter-Robot 4 or the Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too, but it’s not meant to lớn. It’s really intended to lớn be more of an upgrade from the traditional litter box.

The PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus uses a rake system and crystal litter trays. To operate it, you load the pre-filled disposable tray into the bottom of the litter box and plug it in. From there, it automatically senses when your cát has used it, and an auto-cleaning cycle kicks in đôi mươi minutes after your cát leaves (so as not to lớn startle them). The rake moves from the back of the litter box to lớn the front, sweeping waste into a covered trap that sits at the front of the machine. During testing, this timeline was incredibly reliable. The litter box was able to lớn sense when the cát left the litter box, and the cycle would kick in exactly đôi mươi minutes later.

Note that this litter box is compatible only with crystal litter, which doesn’t clump together lượt thích clay litter. Because of this, the rake often moved through the urine and the litter absorbed it, rather than thở pushing a clump of it into the waste drawer (note that this is, in fact, what’s supposed to lớn happen per the device’s manual). That being said, the odor control was great—I could see the urine in the box, but I couldn’t smell it. And quickly scooping the urine was a lot less time-consuming than thở cleaning the whole box.

It’s also worth noting that the waste trap is smaller on this machine than thở the other litter boxes I tested, and when it fills up, you have to lớn change out the whole litter tray since the two components are connected. I ended up having to lớn change trays out every 7 days or sánh, even if there was litter left behind. (Keep in mind, though, that I have three cats, sánh you might get much more use out of it.)

As for the PetSafe model’s own bells and whistles? There really aren’t any. That’s fine, though—again, it’s not supposed to lớn be a futuristic device, and the lower price tag confirms as much. What’s more, with less functionality, there’s also less that can go wrong. You’ll simply see a basic control panel, which allows you to lớn trigger the rake manually, alongside an LED display that counts the number of times your cát has used the litter box. (There’s also a reset button if you want to lớn bring the counter back to lớn zero.)

That being said, there is a smart, app-connected option available as well (I tested the regular version). That model retails for about $70 more, and it gives you feedback on your cat’s bathroom habits via a litter-cycling tracker. So if you’re looking for more of a middle-ground option, it could be worth checking out.

One last positive aspect here: Cleaning this box was a breeze compared to lớn the others I tested. I just had to lớn throw the disposable tray out, wipe the litter box down with a disinfectant spray and put a new tray in—then, it was ready for the next round of bathroom breaks.

During testing, the rake-through timeline was incredibly reliable: The PetSafe litter box was able ... [+] to lớn sense when the cát had departed, and the cycle would kick in exactly đôi mươi minutes later.

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Lindsay Boyers

Other Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes I Tested And Researched

After a lengthy research period, I narrowed down the automatic litter box market to lớn just nine models that I believed to lớn be worthy contenders for testing. Upon further consideration, I weeded out another two of those models—I’ll explain why below—and ended up testing seven. The following is a list of all the non-winning models that I either considered or tested.

Litter-Robot 3 Connect: The Litter-Robot 3 Connect got high marks during testing, but it ultimately got pushed out by the upgraded Litter-Robot 4, my best overall winner. This model has a smaller waste capacity sánh it needs more frequent changing, and it doesn’t contain odors quite as well. That said, if you’re phối on a Litter-Robot and want to lớn save a little cash, you’ll be perfectly happy with this older version of my top pick.

CatGenie A.I. Self-Washing Cat Box: I decided against testing this model simply because it requires an extensive installation process (it hooks up to lớn a laundry drainpipe or toilet) that might not excite a substantial percentage of trang chính users. That said, it’s a highly coveted, well-reviewed model by which I’m very intrigued; it flushes waste through your plumbing, sánh you don’t even have to lớn empty a waste drawer. I plan to lớn test it for a future update of this story.

LitterMaid Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box: This litter box was one of my initial best value contenders, but due to lớn relatively poor customer reviews, I decided against testing it in the first round. I’ll consider revisiting it down the line.

Catlink Self Cleaning Litter Box (Young Version): This Catlink device is reminiscent of the Litter-Robot models, but in my testing process, it didn’t hold up as well in performance or convenience. The waste drawer is small and needed frequent emptying, especially if you, lượt thích bủ, have multiple cats. It’s also fairly clunky, and I found that waste frequently got stuck on the top of the chamber.

Petkit Pura X Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box: I wanted to lớn love this litter box because I thought the design was cool, but my cats simply didn’t take to lớn it lượt thích the others. The opening is a lot smaller, for starters, and they looked a bit cramped and uncomfortable when using it. If you have smaller cats, this could be an option, but it’s a no-go for my big boys.

Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Cat Litter Box: I tested this as a potential value pick, but I was unimpressed. It’s a messier option all around as it requires near-constant emptying, especially if you, lượt thích bủ, have multiple cats. In fact, it felt lượt thích it was almost more of a hassle than thở just quickly scooping a regular litter box.

How I Tested The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes

Since I couldn’t actively test the self-cleaning litter boxes myself (that would be weird, no?), I enlisted the help of my furry crew: Alfred, Harvey and Bruce, three feline brothers who have no problem vocalizing their disdain for certain litter boxes or, well, anything else, for that matter. If it wasn’t up to lớn their standards, I assure you—I would know immediately.

I allowed the cats to lớn use each litter box for 3 weeks, but I made sure to lớn test several at once, placing more than thở one model in my house during the same 3-week period sánh I could also monitor whether one was more preferred than thở another. For each 3-week-long round of testing, I phối up two of the three to-be-tested litter boxes upstairs and one downstairs. (Because I have three cats, this is how many litter boxes I normally have in my house, sánh the cats weren’t being deterred by a box in an unusual place.)

During testing, I evaluated performance, ease of cleaning and litter usage. I also paid attention to lớn how well, or not, my cats took to lớn the new litter boxes. Here’s what we—meaning my cats and I—looked at:

Performance: I monitored how well the litter box worked after my cats used it, considering whether or not it successfully removed waste, if it got stuck during a cycle and if it properly connected with the phầm mềm (when applicable). I also considered whether or not litter got thrown from the box and onto the floor (my pet peeve) or if clumped waste stuck to lớn the roof of the chamber and had to lớn be scraped off.
Odor Control: For this test, I left waste in the drawer for 1 week to lớn see how well the litter box contained the odor. The only exception here was if the waste drawer was not big enough to lớn accommodate this, as was the case with the value picks. I used the same litter in all the boxes I tested, with the exception of the PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box, which required crystal litter, to lớn create somewhat of a controlled experiment. It’s worth noting that carbon or charcoal filters can lose effectiveness over time. For this round, I wasn’t able to lớn test each litter box to lớn its recommended filter life, but I’m planning on updating this if necessary for the winners.
Ease Of Cleaning: I gave the litter boxes daily wipe downs with litter box wipes, noting how easy they were to lớn clean and whether or not I could reach all of the machine’s parts. After the testing period, I followed deep clean instructions for each box, timing how long the process took and noting how convenient (or inconvenient) it was to lớn go through all the steps.
Litter Usage: I filled each litter box up to lớn their max fill lines, noting when they needed a refill and how long it took to lớn go through a full box of litter. Each litter box is a different size, sánh this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, but this was a good way to lớn factor litter usage into the overall cost of the machine.
Extra Features: This didn’t apply to lớn all boxes, but I tested each machine’s extra features and noted how well they worked. This meant connecting to lớn an phầm mềm and setting up alerts, or using automatic cleaning functions on the less tech-heavy machines.
Subjective Cat Test: Cats are finicky, and they aren’t always willing to lớn use every litter box. Granted, every cát is different, but I paid attention to lớn whether or not my cats took to lớn the litter box or if they tried to lớn avoid it and/or were scared of it. After all, they will be the ultimate judges of which litter box they think is best.

I also took size into consideration. I didn’t think it was fair to lớn judge a self-cleaning litter box on this alone because they’re all really large, but it’s something to lớn keep in mind, generally. Finally, I factored price and warranty into my final decisions. If you’re going to lớn be investing several hundred dollars into a litter box, you want to lớn make sure that investment is protected.

How To Choose A Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Cats can be finicky, sánh you want to lớn make sure you’re doing all the right research when picking a self-cleaning litter box. While they can help make your life easier, it’s also important for your cát to lớn lượt thích the model you choose; otherwise, they likely won’t use it. Here’s everything you should consider when picking an automatic litter box.

Size Of The Box

Size consideration is twofold here since you have to lớn think about both your human needs and your cat’s needs. Self-cleaning litter boxes are significantly larger than thở your typical litter box, unless you’re opting for a value model. They also need access to lớn a power source, which means you have to lớn be more strategic with where you put them. Because of this, you really need to lớn think about how big the litter box’s overall footprint is and where you can put it in your trang chính.

Many companies make litter box furniture that’s large enough to lớn accommodate an automatic litter box, but this makes the footprint even larger, sánh it’s something to lớn think about. You’re definitely not going to lớn be hiding these away as easily as other litter boxes.

The other considerations here are the size of the opening and the waste drawer. If you have larger cats, you want to lớn make sure the opening and chamber are large enough to lớn comfortably accommodate them. Zuppke likens it to lớn using a port-a-potty that’s too small for you: If you walk in and you’re touching the walls, you’re probably going to lớn turn around and get right out.

Joey Lusvardi, a certified cát behavior consultant I interviewed for this article, agrees that cats may appreciate a larger area. “Generally, cats prefer larger boxes and a larger surface area to lớn vì thế their business on. They may also lượt thích to lớn bury their waste after using it, which, while unnecessary in self-cleaning boxes, is a normal instinct for cats. Many self-cleaning boxes (and actually many commercially available regular litter boxes) are a bit too small for what cats prefer. Picking a larger box will be better for your cát,” he says.

Waste Drawer Size

The size of the waste drawer determines how often you’ll have to lớn empty it. If you have one cát, you’ll probably only have to lớn empty a small waste drawer twice a month. If you have multiple cats, you’ll want a larger waste drawer, unless you’re planning to lớn empty it at least once a week.

However, there’s the odor to lớn consider, too. “Keep in mind that boxes that require less frequent emptying will allow odors to lớn build up, sánh it may be less pleasant to lớn empty the waste container if you wait too long,” says Lusvardi.

Litter Compatibility

Some of the magic of a self-cleaning litter box is in the litter. According to lớn Zuppke, clumping litter is superior because the clumping process is what effectively traps odor. Non-clumping litters often use fragrances and heavy scents to lớn try to lớn cover the smell, but this can only go sánh far (as you may know if you’ve ever used an inferior litter).

Clumps are also more easily removed from an automatic litter box. When the Litter-Robot 4 rotates, for example, it passes the chamber’s contents through a grate that sifts out smaller particles and directs the clumps to lớn the waste drawer. If the litter doesn’t clump effectively, then liquid waste can get left behind.

Consider this when choosing your automatic litter box. Ideally, you want one that’s compatible with a clumping litter or a litter that you use now and are comfortable with. Most automatic litter boxes Call for regular clay clumping litter, with the exception of crystal-based boxes.

While the crystal litter was effective at trapping odor during my testing, it doesn’t clump, sánh liquid waste isn’t as effectively removed as with the clumping litter.

Safety

Since self-cleaning litter boxes are automated machines, you also want to lớn think about safety. “Robotic litter boxes vì thế carry a risk of injury to lớn your cát. If it goes off at the wrong time, your cát could be hurt either physically or psychologically. Pay close attention to lớn what features it has sánh your cát doesn’t get caught in the box as it’s operating. This may include a delay in starting a cleaning cycle or an tự động shut-off feature should it detect a cát has entered the box during a clean cycle,” says Lusvardi.

App And Connectivity

A corresponding phầm mềm and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connectivity aren’t a requirement when buying an automatic litter box, but it’s something to lớn think about if you’re looking for a smart machine. The Litter-Robot phầm mềm can alert you when the waste drawer is full, when the litter level is low and when your cát uses the bathroom—but it does sánh much more than thở that, too.

It helps you identify patterns in your cat’s bathroom behavior, sánh you’re more likely to lớn notice if something’s off and your cát needs to lớn go see the vet. There have been many anecdotal reports of pet owners who were able to lớn identify issues, lượt thích urinary tract infections or blockages, with the help of the litter box’s phầm mềm.

“One of the disadvantages of self-cleaning boxes is you don’t get to lớn observe your cat’s waste for changes that may indicate they need to lớn go to lớn a veterinarian. You could miss something lượt thích blood in their waste or a change in frequency of using the litter box. Self-cleaning boxes that alert you when they vì thế use the box can help mitigate at least some of this, sánh it’s better to lớn find a box that has these features built in,” says Lusvardi.

In my opinion, it’s worth the upgrade to lớn a machine that has a useful corresponding phầm mềm. If you decide you don’t want to lớn use it, you can always turn it off and operate the litter box manually from its control panel.

Noise

All self-cleaning litter boxes make some noise—they are electronic devices, after all. But Lusvardi recommends quieter options for skittish cats. “Louder boxes are going to lớn scare cats, making it less likely that they’ll want to lớn use them. Cats have more sensitive hearing than thở us, sánh even if it’s not overwhelmingly loud to lớn you, your cát may not lượt thích a noisy machine,” he says.

Warranty

At the over of the day, automatic litter boxes are electrical appliances that can break down over time. They’re also hefty upfront investments, sánh you want to lớn make sure you’re covered should anything go wrong prematurely. Check the warranty on the model you’re considering, and make sure you’re covered for at least a year. Often, manufacturers will give you the option to lớn purchase extended warranties that increase the coverage period to lớn 3 years or more. If you want the added peace of mind, this might be a good option for you.

My Expertise

I’ve been an expert product tester for 5 years. Before landing at Forbes as an executive editor, I tested pet and trang chính products for publications lượt thích The Spruce, CNET, CNN Underscored and Insider. But perhaps more importantly, I’m cat-obsessed. I currently have three Siberian cát mixes, and I have owned and loved cats my whole life.

For this story, I leaned on my product testing background and personal experience as a cát mom. I know that even though cats are mostly perfect, figuring out a good solution for managing their waste can be tricky. To help gain some insight into specific product features and things to lớn look for, I also spoke with Jacob Zuppke, president and CEO of Whisker (the parent company of the Litter-Robots) and Joey Lusvardi, an IAABC certified cát behavior consultant and founder of Class Act Cats, a cát behavior and training service in Minneapolis.

Do You Have To Use A Special Litter In A Self-Cleaning Litter Box?

It depends on the litter box. Many self-cleaning litter boxes require clumping clay litter but don’t have stipulations on which type you need to lớn use. You can find this litter anywhere, and for a fairly budget-friendly price. Others require more specialized varieties, lượt thích crystal litter. This can be a more expensive option, but many swear that it’s much more effective at controlling odors.

How Many Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes Do You Need?

The Humane Society recommends one litter box for each cát in the house, plus one extra.

That means if you have one cát, you’ll need two litter boxes. If you have two cats, you’ll need three. They don’t all have to lớn be self-cleaning litter boxes, though. You can supplement one self-cleaning litter box with other, regular litter boxes if you prefer. Regardless of which type of litter box you choose, it’s vital that you keep all litter boxes clean to lớn prevent your cát from doing their business where they shouldn’t be.

“Your cát isn’t going to lớn want to lớn use their litter box if they walk in to lớn find it filled with waste. Unfortunately, that may mean they decide to lớn go on your floor or your couch. It ultimately benefits you to lớn keep your cat’s litter box clean, as it’s much harder to lớn clean up urine around your trang chính than thở it is to lớn keep a litter box clean,” says Lusvardi. “Keeping a clean box is also the most effective method for controlling litter box odors. By regularly removing waste, replacing the litter, and doing a thorough cleaning, you won’t need to lớn worry about it causing a stink.”

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Do Cats Like Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes?

Any cát owner knows that felines can be finicky. If they’re used to lớn a regular litter box and you suddenly present them with a self-cleaning litter box—which looks a lot different and can be noisier, too—they might not take to lớn it right away. The majority of cats eventually get used to lớn a self-cleaning litter box, but you have to lớn be strategic about the switch.

Introduce the self-cleaning litter box, but make sure you leave your cat’s normal litter box in place, to lớn give them a tried-and-true option. Don’t plug the self-cleaning litter box in right away either—let your cát get used to lớn it without the surprise of a sudden cleaning cycle first. Once your cát starts using the automatic litter box consistently, you can turn it on and let it vì thế its thing. Many cats get used to lớn the new litter box in a day or two, but it can take several weeks for extra-cautious kitties to lớn adjust. Be patient and don’t force your cát into it.