3 Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes, Tested and Reviewed

We tested the the Litter-Robot 4 in homes with multiple cats, and the felines took to it with minimal suspicion. It has excellent odor control, works smoothly and is easy to maintain and set up. An especially good self-cleaning litter box for multiple cats, this option works with any quality clumping litter and is ideal for cats of any size. With previous models, kitties less than 5 pounds didn't always trigger the sensor, but that's been fixed with Litter-Robot 4.

While its footprint is similar in size compared to other covered litter boxes, the Litter-Robot is substantially taller at just under 30 inches. That's because its cleaning mechanism is different from most other automatic boxes: The entire globe quietly rotates after use and deposits clumps into a lined bin below. Then the globe moves back into place, covering the bin and its odors, clean and ready for the next customer.

"I was initially put off by the Litter Robot because it stands tall, is expensive and just seemed way more than you need. But it’s a fantastic machine that works brilliantly," says Lynn Redmile, a contributing product analyst for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Because a cat going to the bathroom too often (or not often enough) is usually the first indicator that there are health concerns, the corresponding app is beneficial in helping you track your cat’s bathroom habits. "It records the weight of each cat that uses it, so you can tell which cat is which in a multi-cat environment," Lynn says. "The app also reminds you to empty the waste receptacle — and when you get out of the habit of daily scooping, the reminder is very helpful." If you want to make dumping the bin a fast and easy process, consider the brand's waste drawer liners.

Bells and whistles include an adjustable night light, sleep mode and a customizable cycle timer (for instance, you could opt to have the box clean itself twice a day instead of each time the cat uses it). Although the Litter Robot 4 can be used without the app, if you'd prefer no app connectivity at all, we also like the previous model, the Litter-Robot 3. It can't connect to the app and is only for cats who weigh 5 pounds or more, so it's $200 less.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: The Litter-Robot 4 Makes Daily Scooping Obsolete

The open-top ScoopFree Complete Plus is about the size of a regular litter box and is meant to work with the PetSafe brand of crystal cat litter. Plug it in and a sensor reads when your cat has entered and left. Twenty minutes after your cat's departure, the rake moves the solid waste to the bin, while the crystals absorb your cat's urine.

With crystal cat litter, there are almost no tracking problems and no dust. This model is easy to set up and doesn't connect to an app (a plus for those tired of needing their phones for everything). For those who love an app, check out the app-enabled version of this box.

With over 9K five-star Amazon reviews, this system can be a game-changer for squeamish cat owners who want to see as little poop as possible. The tray has a lid that you can clamp down when changing so you barely have to glimpse the gross stuff. It's useful for people with limited mobility who can't bend down to scoop a box every few days. It's also a more affordable self-cleaning box for pet owners who travel a few nights at a time and want to ensure their kitty's box stays clean. Plenty of people also sing the praises of the lightweight crystal litter being a nice break from 14-pound boxes of heavy, sandy clumping litter.

That said, there were a few issues with this product in our tester households — for the people, not the cats, who were completely fine using this box. The ScoopFree uses disposable trays, but only comes with one. You need to subscribe for regular delivery of extra trays sold in three packs that are about $70. Between throwing out the crystal litter and the disposable trays, this system creates a lot of waste — and requires ongoing expenses. PetSafe says you only need to swap out the tray and litter every 20 days for a one-cat household, but we were testing with two-cat households and had to change everything out weekly or every 10 days.

Also, we (and many online reviewers) had trouble with the crystals not hiding odors. It's less of a problem with solid waste, which gets raked into the covered bin, but it can be an issue if your cat pees a lot, since the moisture gets absorbed but not contained. Still, other online reviewers say they never smell this litter box, so for some, it provides odor-free relief. Also the noise from the mechanical rake was minimal for our testers. PetSafe marks this as best for cats under 15 pounds, so it's not suitable for larger felines. It's also not for kittens under 6 months.

The CatGenie A.I. eliminates the need for litter completely. This litter box uses special granules, which are rotated through a sifter to remove solid waste, then rinsed with a sanitizing solution and blown dry, so your cat has clean fresh litter every day. The granules are made from natural materials, which get broken down by bacteria in a landfill or septic tank, making them septic safe. The washable granules and SaniSolution need to be replenished a few times per year.

To function, this box not only needs an electrical outlet but a cold-water hookup so it can drain and flush the waste. The instructions are aimed at consumers, so there's no plumber necessary. If you have space in your laundry room, this can be connected to the washing-machine drain. In a bathroom, it can be connected to the toilet's waste drain. You can select, through the app or via the control panel, what times of the day you want the cleaning to take place. The cleaning cycle takes between 40 minutes and an hour so you'll want to pick a time when your cat is reliably napping and not using the box; this is easiest if you have only one or two cats with easy-to-identify routines.

Many online reviewers sing the praises of the CatGenie dome for keeping the granules contained. Without it, some say, the cats might track them or the rake that scoops the poop might accidentally fling some out. The CatGenie app allows you to set the delay time for when the rake goes to work after your cat leaves the box. You can also use the app to monitor the frequency of your cat’s bathroom visits and see status updates on the cleaning cycles. If you don’t need the app, the CatGenie 120 is a lower-cost option.