Top 4 Self Cleaning Litter Boxes in 2020

Unpleasant though it may be, it’s a fact of life that everyone poops, and cats are no exception. Thankfully, in this age of technology, there are now self-cleaning litter boxes that offer high tech solutions to handling this unpleasant chore.

Automatic self-cleaning litter boxes detect when your cat has used them and do the cleaning for you — eliminating the need for daily scooping. If this is one of your most-hated chores, or it's something you simply don't have enough time for, automatic litter boxes can be well worth the money.

Today we mainly discuss some of the most popular automatic self cleaning litter boxes on the market.

List of the Top 4 Self Cleaning Litter Boxes in 2020:
  • Petree Litter Box
  • Litter Robot III
  • Cat Genie
  • ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning
Brand Petree Litter Box Litter Robot III Cat Genie ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning
Cleaning Scooping Efficiency High High Medium Low
Odor Management Great Great Poor Very Poor
Suitable for Multiple Cats Yes Yes Yes No
Ease of Installation Easy Medium Hard Easy
Possibility of Urinary Tract Infection For Cats No No No Yes
Possibility of Malfunction Low Low Medium High
Possibility of Clogged Drain No No Yes No
Price $369  $662  $460  $170 
Tips for using self-cleaning litter boxes:
  • Empty the waste receptacle regularly, and occasionally clean and maintain the rake and other parts of the cleaning mechanism, as required.
  • To help your cat get acclimated, add a small amount of your cat’s waste taken from another litter box to the new self-cleaning one to help your cat identify this box for its use.
  • If your kitty is skittish or easily startled, leave the power disconnected from the new box and manually scoop the litter for a few days until your cat is regularly entering and using it. Once your cat is comfortable, reconnect the power so the mechanism automatically cleans the litter box.

Petree Litter Box

  • Simple Design, Sturdy Built: Compact Size, Spacious Interior
  • Low Entrance Pedestal: Easily Accessible For Cats Of All Breeds and Age
  • Whisper Quiet < 40 decibels: Minimal noise emission. Suitable for the most timid of cats
Specification:
Name: Petree Litter Box
Weight: 16lb
Material: PP resin
Voltage: 12V
Power: 5W
Max Weight Range: 44lb
Max Cat Litter Quantity: 8.8lb
Precision: 0.011lb
Trash Bin Capacity: 135oz
Features:
Design: Low CG design keeps the system stable and upright. Prevents toppling over even with heavy weight shift.
Safety Stop: Globe stop rotation if sensor detects a cat entering the globe during mid cycle 
Pet Proof Cable: Durable micro-braid power cable built to withstand pet bites and chewing.

Litter Volume Indicator: Allows user to check their litter level and refill as necessary

Elevated Sifting System: Petree’s patented sifting system funnels waste clumps to the back waste bin.
Raised Pedestal: Raised pedal keep loose litter within the litter box minimising litter tracking
Waste Bin: Waste is funnelled to back of globe and housed in a 4L covered waste bin
Odor Control: Activated carbon filter and Waste Bin Lid prevent litter odor from spreading out into the open
Electronic Display: Easy to operate single button electronic display

Petree Litter Box strongly recommend using clumping clay as the only litter choice. Any other type of cat litter including non clumping clay, silica gel crystals, pine etc is strictly forbidden. When you use non clumping clay, It’s difficult for an automatic self-cleaning litter box’s scooping mechanism to catch all the waste, and wet litter can cause a mess in the machine’s inner workings.

Steps to use the Petree Litter Box
1. You need to put litter in the self cleaning litter box first before you start initiating the machine.
2. Only cats that are 3 month older can use Petree Litter Box.
3. After you clean up the dumpster, you need to reset the machine to restart.
4. Don't put anything on top of the litter box to avoid misguiding the gravity sensor
Reviews:
Boris Mac said:
Super cool new self cleaning litter box!
Very impressed with this PETREE litter box. I used to have a litter box with no cover and the smells get very strong if I did not clean it timely. The PETREE innovative design makes it easy to clean. It has bags to line the receptacle, so that you can clean the box more frequently then just pick up the bag and throw away. I love the modern look of the box, and the fact that there is a carbon filter to eliminate odor. This is cute and doesn't look like a big ugly box, it looks like a little space capsule. I love this litter box. It is super cool! Overall this is the best cat litter box I have ever had.
Kori L said:
So far so good
We bought this A couple of weeks ago. It seems to be working properly so far. Easy maintenance, no smell and low voice, best of all of our cats love it. Will come back in a few month and update.

Litter Robot III


Specifications:

  • Power: 15 Volt DC
  • Entryway: 10.25" x 15.25"
  • Weight (Empty): 24lbs.
  • Footprint: 24.25" x 27"

Pros: Although it might take a while for your cat to adjust to this unique box (more on that below), this was the most human-friendly litter box I tried in terms of overall cleanliness and ease of use. The regular cleaning cycles kept odor under control and the litter looking clean. I loved being able to use the app to see how frequently my cat was using the box. Emptying the box is easy, too: Just press a button and the box runs a normal cycle, only instead of sifting litter through the filter, it pushes all of it into the waste bin.

Cons: Cats used to an open box (or even a standard enclosed one) will probably be intimidated at first. Mine was. The loud sound of the cleaning cycle was also a bit jarring for her. Each time it went off, she’d stare at it with wide-eyed shock from across the bathroom, and it took her a few days to realize it wouldn’t start moving while she’s inside. Also, the entrance to the box is a few inches off the ground, so it’s not ideal for kittens or older cats with mobility issues. Finally, at $662 it’s very expensive for a litter box.

This self cleaning litter box sifts and deposits your kitty's waste into a drawer after every use. It's an ideal option for multiple cats and suitable for felines of all sizes (5 lbs and up).

The Litter-Robot III Open Air comes with a notification system to alert you when the waste drawer is nearly full, and in the meantime controls unpleasant odors.
The product looks adorably futuristic and affords your feline the privacy she needs to do her duties.

Reviews:

fair judge said:
Works well, cats love it
We love the fact that we no longer have to sift through the litter several times a day and that it's keeping our house free of any odours from the kitty wastes. Our cats love to watch the cylinder rotate. They use the robot and then sit in front of it for about 6 minutes till it starts rotating, at which point they stick their heads in for a closer inspection :). but to us, Expensive.

Normand L. said:
This product is as advertised. It does the job exceedingly well. My cat took to it on the very first day (I put the old cat litter into the litter-robot so it was familiar with the smell and then changed the litter after 2 days of use with fresh litter). Like other buyers have said, this does an incredible job at keeping the litter box clean and the air scent-free. So why 3-stars? Only because of the price. This is way overpriced in my opinion. Currently there is absolutely nothing better on the market and the company is probably exploiting that fact for now. I expect this price to drop once competition is introduced.

Cat Genie

The CatGenie Self-Washing Cat Box is less a litter box and more a cat toilet, which, once installed in your bathroom, will save you buying or scooping cat litter ever again.

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 17 inches
  • Power: Plug-in to electrical outlet (also requires drain and waterline hookup)
  • Litter Compatibility: Doesn’t use litter at all. Instead, uses washable granules

Pros:
Self-washing
Never touch, scoop or buy traditional cat litter again •
Sanitary
Green
Suitable for single, multiple or large cats

Cons:
Requires cold water supply line and drain hookup
Professional installation may be required to waterline
Pricey
Not suitable for cats under 6 months
Requires SaniSolution and granule refills

The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a long-term solution to never touching cat litter again and have the space in your bathroom, the CatGenie Self-Washing Cat Box is the obvious choice.

Some Disadvantages & Things to Consider

  • The CatGenie does require a cold water line, drainage, and outlet in order to work, so installation can be a bit of a hassle
  • Users have noted that sometimes the waste drainage system can get clogged up with kitty hair—but consider it one more incentive to maintain a regular grooming routine for your furball (especially if she's longhaired)
  • It's normal for there to be a foul odor emanating from the unit during the cleaning cycle (consider installing the unit away from high-traffic areas in your house)
  • It's one of the more expensive models

Reviews:

Crystal said:
My cat genie is plugged into an outlet down stream from a light controlled by a switch. This mean it is constantly having power outages when we turn the lights off and on. This probably isn't good ,It is running without using detergent which I much prefer.

ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning

This ScoopFree self-cleaning cat litter box uses a highly absorptive crystal litter that dries out solid waste and absorbs urine to avoid leaks. A rake cleans out the disposable tray thanks to an automatic timer (which has 3 settings to choose from), and dumps the cat waste right into a closed compartment.

Specifications:

  • Product Dimensions: 72.4 x 52.1 x 29.2 cm ; 8.87 Kg
  • Shipping Weight: 10.6 Kg

Pros:

This litter box comes with an attachable hood, so it works for cats (or owners) who prefer open or closed boxes. Compared to the Litter-Robot, ScoopFree isn’t quite as loud and didn’t seem to scare Lovey, who was basically indifferent to the machine while it was cleaning. Even though the instructions suggest using ScoopFree’s crystal litter, I still used the litter my cat is used to, and it worked just fine. The box worked great for controlling odor.

Cons:

There’s no permanent base, just the disposable plastic trays, and that feels a little wasteful. (There is an option to buy a reusable tray for an additional $50, however.) The cycle counter lets you know how frequently your cat is using the box, but you’ll have to manually reset the counter each day (or at the end of whatever time period you want to track). You’re going to have to record this information yourself, too, since there’s no accompanying app.

Reviews:

David said:
The ScoopFree says the litter is good for up to 1 month, emphasis (UP TO). I only have one small cat and the litter box gets quite smelly after about 2 weeks. This can make it very expensive over time. I will try to find a better litter to use in the box.

Clinton said:
Seems to be working well, horrible documentation, need more information on maintenance and how to get product to lengthen crystals. Unsure if I should be removing anything daily?

After comparing these Top 4 Self Cleaning Litter Boxes, You should have a deeper understanding of how to choose the litter box. I hope this article can help your kittens.

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