The 8 Best Automatic Cat Litter Boxes

• Also available on Walmart, $140, Chewy, $170, and Petco, $170

With over 21,000 reviews on Amazon, this popular self-cleaning litter box from PetSafe is the best overall pick if you're shopping for one that really can do just about everything. It self-cleans for weeks with no scooping, cleaning, or refilling necessary — and it comes with a durable plastic tray lining that creates an extra barrier of protection against potential leakage. All you have to do is plug it in, and it starts working immediately. The automatic rake system will sweep waste into the covered compartment 20 minutes after your cat uses the litter box.

While this box is fantastic at controlling odors (and many reviewers say it's the best), you can't use ordinary litter with it. Instead, you have to use the company's crystal litter. On the plus side, this litter won't stick to your cat's paws, is 99% dust-free, and is up to five times more effective at absorbing odors than ordinary litter. However, some reviewers note that the crystals have a noticeable scent of their own, which may be a negative for some. Stirring the crystals about once a day can help prevent this and keep your home stink-free.

What cat owners say: "I considered buying this for a very long time and now I wish I would have done it sooner! I'm sure all cats and households are different, but this has been a lifesaver for me. I used to be able to smell the cat litter throughout the whole upstairs and there was clay litter dust ALL over the room it was in. Now, there is zero smell, zero mess and I barely have to do any work to upkeep it. It says it can last up to 21 days, I have found that to be the max for my cat, I will probably start changing it around 18 or 19 days. Changing out the tray refill is a little nasty because that's about the only time I can smell anything bad (and it's still not THAT bad). However it is nowhere near as nasty as scooping out the litter constantly. I haven't had any malfunctions with the rake and I keep it in a dry room as directed. My cat took to it just fine, I swapped it out with the old cold turkey and there weren't any issues.In the long run, I think the refills may be a little pricier than regular clay litter, but it is 100% worth it for me.”

This self-flushing box from CatGenie is a game-changer because, while it isn't a toilet, it does flush just like an ordinary toilet would. Perfect for up to three cats per household, it requires washable granule litter (which you can buy from the company). It starts by removing and liquefying waste and then flushes clumps and dirty litter out so you don't have to do any scooping at all. It also uses a veterinarian-approved sanitary solution to wash the litter granules while the dryer function goes to work, leaving them warm and ready for the next use.

In order to get it working, you do need to set it up in your bathroom or laundry room, so if you're tight on space in those areas, this may not be the ideal automatic litter box for you. In a bathroom setup, the drain hook simply secures underneath the toilet seat, while in a laundry room, you need to insert the hose into the washing machine drain pipe. For pet parents who really care about hygiene and have the space to set this up properly, this box is a must-have.

What cat owners say: "At first, our cat was very skeptical of this litter box. However, we followed the instructions (as hard as it may be to leave a dirty litter box for a few days) and to my delight, our cat started using the cat genie. our cat is happier than ever, having a perfectly clean litter box every time he goes. And we are happy because there's no smell in the house at all."

• Also available on Walmart, $83 and Petco, $99

A true classic never goes out of style, and when it comes to this automatic litter box from Littermaid, that's definitely the case. Tough, dependable, and cleverly designed, this box comes with an automatic rake for easy cleaning and has a litter line that prevents overfilling. In addition, it includes a ramp that helps eliminates tracking as well as four waste receptacles, four carbon filters, and an adapter. It also runs via a motion sensor, which initiates the cleaning cycle after your cat uses the litter box. The litter box is designed for one cat, but multiple Amazon reviewers report successfully using it with two.

While you can buy litter from LitterMaid directly, reviewers say any clumping litter will do, which gives this budget buy a nice little edge over many other higher-end self-cleaning boxes on the market. This one doesn't have the same odor-controlling capabilities as some, but it's very effective at getting rid of waste and ensuring that your cat has a safe place to do their business.

What cat owners say: "This litter box had changed my life. Long story short, as long as I empty the waste once or twice a week, my two indoor cats are not on the bad list anymore!Simple and painless. WELL worth the initial cost. Saves a ton of litter and time overall."

• Also available on Chewy, $230 and Petco, $230

While automatic cat litter boxes reduce the amount of work you need to do to keep the litter fresh, they still require you to occasionally replace the litter. This automatic litter box from PetSafe works with disposable pre-filled trays of crystal litter so you never need to touch the litter, and it connects to an app on your phone that alerts you when you need to swap trays or buy new ones (and yes, it factors in how often your cat uses the box). The app also lets you track your cat’s litter box usage so you can note any changes of habit that might signify a possible health issue.

While the app is a major perk, this is also just an excellent automatic litter box. It automatically scoops waste into an enclosed waste bin 20 minutes after your pet leaves the box, so you don’t have to do any raking or scooping yourself. An LCD display tracks how many times your pet has used the litter box, and there is a button you can press if you want the box to rake the litter on demand. That said, if all goes well, you shouldn’t have to do more than swap out the litter tray about once a month — nothing more, nothing less.

This litter box can be purchased with or without a cover, depending on your preference.

What cat owners say: “I have 4 cats and therefore ordered 4 of these little boxes and they are awesome. Easy to set up and best of all, no litter box odor whatsoever. All of the kitties easily adjusted to the new style of litter, as well. Highly recommend.”

• Also available on Chewy, $155 and Petco, $155

Whether you have one larger cat or multiple furbabies, this self-cleaning litter box from Nature’s Miracle is an excellent choice. Designed to be used with multiple cats weighing more than 15 pounds, the extra-large box is super spacious. The high-walled litter box has a smart motion sensor that allows it to rake and scoop the litter after each use in order to keep things fresh. Four waste receptacles, each with a carbon filter, prevent stinky odors, and a paw-cleaning ramp means your cat won’t track dirty litter into the rest of the house. There’s even an LED night light feature so the litter box remains visible in the dark.

To use the litter box, plug it into a wall outlet. It shouldn’t be used with kittens under 6 months of age or under 5 pounds. Users report that the box works with standard litter.

What cat owners say: “I love everything about this box. It even has lights underneath it. Brings its own scoop and it has a come compartment for the scoop. Takes a while for the waste basket to get full which is good. The set up was Easy. Easy to understand the functions. My cat used it right away. Make sure not to overfill with litter or it won’t work.”

• Also available on Chewy, $200, Wayfair, $200, and Bed Bath & Beyond, $230

If you’d prefer not to see the interior of your cat’s litter box, you’ll want a hooded box, and a top-entry one in particular to reduce the amount of scattered litter. This automatic litter box from PetSafe has these features, plus all the perks of a high-quality self-cleaning litter box. The top-entry hood has a grate that removed litter from your cat’s paws once they jump out of their private bathroom spot, and the litter box itself does its part to eliminate any mess or smell from your home. It has automatic sensors, and you can set it to self-clean five, 10, or 20 minutes after your cat uses the box. A rake scoops any solid waste into a covered receptacle you can empty as needed. The box uses disposable trays filled with odor-resistant crystal litter that you can simply replace at the proper time — each one lasts for up to 30 days.

This litter box comes in a few different colors, and can also be purchased with a front-entry hood (or no hood) if you’d prefer.

What cat owners say: “This litter box is the best litter box I have ever purchased. The odor is eliminated and the waste is moved out of the box on a regular basis. The litter box mechanism is easily moved out of the way to change the litter as needed. I have used mine in the RV and at home. I didn't think the litter would work but after trying it, the cat loves it and I love it. I hope this litter box never stops working.”

Though it may be a splurge, this smart litter box from PETKIT is legitimately packed with thoughtful and impressive features — plus, it’s super sleek. Not only does it fight odors super effectively by spraying the waste bin with an independently-developed purifying liquid, but it also has literally 12 high-tech sensors to ensure your cat never gets caught in the box when it’s self-cleaning. This includes thermal, infrared, weight, and anti-pinch sensors that detect when your pet approaches or enters the box. These safety sensors are super important, because the box, which self cleans by rotating the drum and filtering out the litter, can be set to clean itself automatically or at scheduled times — so you want to be sure that it can shut things down when your cat needs to do their business. The litter box also connects to your smartphone and can be controlled remotely via the app, which also lets you track your pet’s potty habits and sends you reminders when you need to replace the litter or deodorizer fluid, or dispose of any waste.

What cat owners say: “You will regret not buying this unit [...] This Pura X litter box does it all with little to no effort to maintain. We have 2 cats and 2 kittens and you wouldn't even notice because there is no litter/cat urine odor at all. They'll use the Pura X litter box, the box self cleans and then it'll deodorize the waste collection bin. Done, no smell. How awesome is that? The app is great too. You can control just about every aspect of the litter box with the app. With the app, you'll be able to track usage and even the weight of your cats. Like I said, you will not regret getting this unit.”

• Also available on Chewy, $130 and Petco, $130

Unlike the other litter boxes on this list, this round litter box from PetSafe uses a conveyer system to remove waste. The spacious bowl, which can be filled with clay litter, rotates a bit every half hour, sifting the clumps out as it goes. It rotates fully every hour and a half, pushing the clumps onto a conveyer that drops them in the attached covered waste bin. The bin has a carbon filter to fight odor, and can simply be emptied when needed. An LED light lets you know when the litter box is running — it’s super quiet, so it’s helpful to have a visual!

What cat owners say: “This item is really built well and easy to set up. I no longer have to scoop out the poo any more and put up with the odor. The container that holds the poo is easy to take out for cleaning. Best of all I don't have to get special expensive plastic bags, I can re-use the plastic bags that comes from the grocery store when I bring items home. I clean it about 2xs a week right now, but I'm just getting use to it. I think I could empty once a week.”