Are Automatic Litter Boxes Worth It? Our Take, After Rigorous Testing

While putting your cat in a carrier comes close, routine litter box maintenance might be the chore that cat owners dread the most. But, there is a solution: automatic or self-cleaning litter boxes do just that—clean themselves—but the best models cost up to $700. So, are self-cleaning litter boxes worth it? After testing popular models like the Litter-Robot 4, we think they are—and here’s why.

Automatic litter boxes are large and expensive—but they also allow you to have minimal contact with your cat's waste, which is why many pet owners think they're worth the investment.

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Are Automatic Litter Boxes Worth It?

After rigorously testing seven models for our best automatic litter boxes (and choosing three winners), we’ve learned the ins and outs of these high-tech machines—and yes, self-cleaning litter boxes really work. While they don’t automate the entire cleaning process, they do most of the dirty work for you: They separate waste from clean litter, emptying the clumps into a sealed compartment that doesn’t need to be emptied every day. “From a lifestyle perspective, having a Litter-Robot makes things easier for pet parents. It keeps the litter box constantly clean, which many cats prefer and which can encourage regular use," says Dr. Anna Foster, DVM. "Plus, it takes a daily chore off your plate, which gives you more time to focus on enjoying your cat, rather than managing the mess.”

Benefits Of Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes

Thinking about tossing out your litter scoop and investing in one of these automated machines? Here are the main benefits self-cleaning litter boxes offer, based on our experience testing them over the years.

Easier Maintenance

No one likes getting their hands close to their pet’s waste, which is unavoidable with a standard litter box. Most vets recommend scooping your cat’s litter once or twice a day, as well as washing the box and refilling it with all new litter once a week. While you still have to throw away your cat’s waste on a regular basis with self-cleaning models, they reduce how often you need to do this—and there’s no scooping involved. Every time your cat goes to the bathroom, the machine captures the clumps and dumps them into a sealed waste drawer or bin, which can sometimes hold up to two weeks’ worth of messes. Then, you should only have to deep-clean the machine every few months; if you have one cat, Litter-Robot recommends tackling this chore every 90 days.

It’s also worth noting that some cats won’t use a litter box if there’s any waste in it, and you don’t want to disincentivize your pet from using the bathroom—holding in pee can lead to serious health issues involving the urinary tract. So if you sometimes struggle to keep up with routine maintenance, a self-cleaning litter box can also be an investment in your cat’s wellbeing.

Odor And Bacteria Control

Even if you stay on top of scooping, litter boxes can get stinky—fast. While not all models offer this, many advanced ones have waste bins equipped with filters to combat odors. The Litter-Robot 4, for example, relies on a carbon filter. One of the best-designed models we’ve tested, the Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too, uses a bamboo filter—plus it has a UV light, which helps sanitize the fully contained waste drawer.

Just keep in mind that filters don’t last forever and need to be replaced from time to time. For example, Litter-Robot recommends changing the carbon filter once a month, and a replacement costs $12.

Bathroom Habit Tracking

Just like smart cat water fountains, which can help track your pet’s hydration habits, some advanced automatic litter boxes are capable of monitoring metrics that can speak to your pet’s overall wellbeing. The Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too and the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and 4 are all Wi-Fi–enabled and can detect when your cat is using the bathroom. In fact, if you have multiple cats, the Litter-Robot 4 can tell which cat is in the box, based on their weight—though it sometimes gets it wrong. “It registers my 10-pound cat as weighing 7 pounds," executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers, who’s tested a handful of top-rated models, writes in a story comparing the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and 4. That said, “it’s still a useful tool for tracking the bathroom habits of each of your pets,” she adds. If you start to notice that your cat is peeing much less frequently, for example, they might be suffering from a urinary tract infection, which demands immediate action and a trip to the vet.

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A Few Drawbacks

As popular as automatic litter boxes are, though, they aren’t without a few drawbacks. We’ve reported on the potential disadvantages of automatic litter boxes, but here they are at a glance:

• Bulky: These machines take up much more space than a standard litter box.
• Expensive: Self-cleaning litter boxes from reputable brands cost between $200 and $700.
• Malfunction risk: Any tech-based device can malfunction. With automatic litter boxes, this could mean anything from delivering inaccurate information (via app) to faulty sensors that allow a cleaning cycle to begin while your cat is still in the box.
• Missed health cues: The hands-off daily cleaning makes it more difficult to monitor your cat’s bathroom habits, and you could miss warning signs.
• Routine maintenance: You’ll still have to empty the waste bin every few day, and up to two weeks (depending on size), and deep-clean the unit every three months or so. Also, some models require the use of certain kinds of litter, like crystal litter.
• May scare skittish cats: Felines that are sensitive to unexpected movements or noises may need more time to get accustomed to the self-cleaning litter box—or refuse to use it altogether.

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

Forbes Vetted’s editorial team knows a thing or two about pets—not only do a multitude of our writers and editors own cats and dogs, but we regularly review pet products to help keep furry friends happy, healthy and nourished.

• Most relevantly, we’ve tested the best automatic litter boxes and cat water fountains, but we’ve also researched and tried out everything from raw dog food to dog harnesses and leashes.
• The author of this article, former senior home and kitchen editor Amanda Arnold, has personally tested cat water fountains and cat foods (with crucial help from her 8-year-old cat, Paulie).
• To better understand automatic litter boxes, we spoke to Dr. Anna Foster, DVM, who also serves as the veterinary advisor for Whisker.
• This story was reviewed by resident pet expert Emmy Favilla, an avid pet rescuer and activist. She also oversees Forbes Vetted’s “Pet Peeves” column.