Compare Our Picks<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Others We Tested<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/68227de19049547eae0a5e9e\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Best-Automatic-Cat-Litter-Boxes_Elspet-Orbitie_Photo-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\nPhotograph: Kat Merck<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\nEls Pet Orbitie for $240<\/strong><\/a>: This is one of the least expensive automatic litter boxes, but it functions much like the more expensive models, with an internal 65-liter-capacity orb that rotates and catches clumps with a plastic grate, depositing them into a bag-lined box below. The opening is a generous 12 by 12 inches\u2014plenty big enough for my two 7-year-old cats, who took to it almost immediately despite never having seen anything but a traditional litter box. The accompanying Orbitie app doesn\u2019t offer an extensive amount of information; it tells the user the volume of litter and what step of the cleaning phase the box is currently in, as well as how many times the box has been used and at what times. The first test unit I received was faulty\u2014it sent multiple phantom alerts to the app, letting me know it had cleaned itself as many as 36 times a day, which I knew for a fact was not true. The replacement unit, however, works just as intended, though the bin beneath fills up fast (about every other day with my two cats), and it occasionally needs to be disassembled and cleaned, as tiny pieces of cat litter have a tendency to get in the gears beneath the orb (and make a loud grinding noise). However, this isn\u2019t an unusual occurrence even with pricier boxes. Online reviews panned an earlier version of this box, but Orbitie says this is an improved version. Thankfully, like the bigger brands, Orbitie also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee if you\u2019re on the fence. \u2014Kat Merck<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\nFurryTail Automatic Litter Box Pro for $400<\/a>:<\/strong> I was surprised at how quickly and easily my cats took to this device\u2014even my larger cat, who hates change, quickly started using it. Setup was super easy, and the box comes with a year’s supply of waste bag liners, an additional grate attachment, and a mat to reduce litter tracking. Similar to many models, the circular orb rotates, sifting dirty litter into a waste bag, which on this model is on top of the machine rather than below. The box has both a manual display and buttons on the machine, as well as an app to adjust settings. I’d include this model in our top picks because of how easy it was to set up and use, as well as how much my cats liked it, but the app was basically useless. Through the app, you can adjust settings like timed cleanings and do-not-disturb modes, manually clean, and monitor waste levels. However, the app never tracked usage or weight, and for the majority of the time, didn’t clean when I manually instructed it to. The sensors would sense ghost cats and refuse to clean, with the device not automatically cycling for the majority of the day (which sort of defeats the purpose). This automatic box has tons of potential, but I can’t fully recommend it until the kinks (especially in the app) are ironed out.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nCasa Leo Leo’s Loo Too Automatic Litter Box for $800<\/strong><\/a>: This automatic litter box was a top pick for a long time, but it’s pricey and a bit cramped for some cats. We still like it, but think the options above are better for most people (and cats). There are four weight sensors inside the barrel to detect when a cat is still inside (it needs just 1 pound of weight to detect your cat), an anti-pinch sensor (for fingers and paws), and a radar system that detects when anyone, feline or human, is near it. For extra cleanliness, it also uses ultraviolet light<\/a> for extra sanitation. The Smarty Pear app (on iOS<\/a> and Android<\/a>) alerts you when the drawer is full (about once a week), records the times your cat used it, the cat’s weight, and you can set it to automatically clean six seconds to 20 minutes after your cat uses it. You can start a cleaning session manually from the app or use your voice if you connect the box to Alexa or Google Assistant. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano\u2019s biggest struggle using the Loo Too was pouring new litter into it, which can be tricky because of the small entry hole. The barrel is also pretty cramped, especially for her 12-pound cat.<\/p>\n
PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin Self-Cleaning Litter Box for $399<\/strong><\/a>: This basic automatic litter box is around half the price but has a similar design to more expensive models. This futuristic-looking pod on legs has a rubbery bottom, a weight detector that sets off the cleaning cycle a few minutes after your cat has done its business, and a slide-out tray in the bottom. After they\u2019ve been, the body rotates, and a mesh catches the clumps and deposits them in the tray, where there\u2019s a bag with a wee deodorizer unit that smells like watermelon. You can connect it to Wi-Fi and review your cat\u2019s toilet visits in the app on your phone, where each entry displays the time they went, their weight, and toilet trip duration. This self-cleaning box was easy to build and works surprisingly well, even though it feels kinda cheap. Ultimately, as a relatively affordable self-cleaning device, the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin is worth a look. \u2014Simon Hill<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n
<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\nPhotograph: Kat Merck<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n Els Pet Orbitie for $240<\/strong><\/a>: This is one of the least expensive automatic litter boxes, but it functions much like the more expensive models, with an internal 65-liter-capacity orb that rotates and catches clumps with a plastic grate, depositing them into a bag-lined box below. The opening is a generous 12 by 12 inches\u2014plenty big enough for my two 7-year-old cats, who took to it almost immediately despite never having seen anything but a traditional litter box. The accompanying Orbitie app doesn\u2019t offer an extensive amount of information; it tells the user the volume of litter and what step of the cleaning phase the box is currently in, as well as how many times the box has been used and at what times. The first test unit I received was faulty\u2014it sent multiple phantom alerts to the app, letting me know it had cleaned itself as many as 36 times a day, which I knew for a fact was not true. The replacement unit, however, works just as intended, though the bin beneath fills up fast (about every other day with my two cats), and it occasionally needs to be disassembled and cleaned, as tiny pieces of cat litter have a tendency to get in the gears beneath the orb (and make a loud grinding noise). However, this isn\u2019t an unusual occurrence even with pricier boxes. Online reviews panned an earlier version of this box, but Orbitie says this is an improved version. Thankfully, like the bigger brands, Orbitie also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee if you\u2019re on the fence. \u2014Kat Merck<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n FurryTail Automatic Litter Box Pro for $400<\/a>:<\/strong> I was surprised at how quickly and easily my cats took to this device\u2014even my larger cat, who hates change, quickly started using it. Setup was super easy, and the box comes with a year’s supply of waste bag liners, an additional grate attachment, and a mat to reduce litter tracking. Similar to many models, the circular orb rotates, sifting dirty litter into a waste bag, which on this model is on top of the machine rather than below. The box has both a manual display and buttons on the machine, as well as an app to adjust settings. I’d include this model in our top picks because of how easy it was to set up and use, as well as how much my cats liked it, but the app was basically useless. Through the app, you can adjust settings like timed cleanings and do-not-disturb modes, manually clean, and monitor waste levels. However, the app never tracked usage or weight, and for the majority of the time, didn’t clean when I manually instructed it to. The sensors would sense ghost cats and refuse to clean, with the device not automatically cycling for the majority of the day (which sort of defeats the purpose). This automatic box has tons of potential, but I can’t fully recommend it until the kinks (especially in the app) are ironed out.<\/p>\n Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too Automatic Litter Box for $800<\/strong><\/a>: This automatic litter box was a top pick for a long time, but it’s pricey and a bit cramped for some cats. We still like it, but think the options above are better for most people (and cats). There are four weight sensors inside the barrel to detect when a cat is still inside (it needs just 1 pound of weight to detect your cat), an anti-pinch sensor (for fingers and paws), and a radar system that detects when anyone, feline or human, is near it. For extra cleanliness, it also uses ultraviolet light<\/a> for extra sanitation. The Smarty Pear app (on iOS<\/a> and Android<\/a>) alerts you when the drawer is full (about once a week), records the times your cat used it, the cat’s weight, and you can set it to automatically clean six seconds to 20 minutes after your cat uses it. You can start a cleaning session manually from the app or use your voice if you connect the box to Alexa or Google Assistant. Former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano\u2019s biggest struggle using the Loo Too was pouring new litter into it, which can be tricky because of the small entry hole. The barrel is also pretty cramped, especially for her 12-pound cat.<\/p>\n PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin Self-Cleaning Litter Box for $399<\/strong><\/a>: This basic automatic litter box is around half the price but has a similar design to more expensive models. This futuristic-looking pod on legs has a rubbery bottom, a weight detector that sets off the cleaning cycle a few minutes after your cat has done its business, and a slide-out tray in the bottom. After they\u2019ve been, the body rotates, and a mesh catches the clumps and deposits them in the tray, where there\u2019s a bag with a wee deodorizer unit that smells like watermelon. You can connect it to Wi-Fi and review your cat\u2019s toilet visits in the app on your phone, where each entry displays the time they went, their weight, and toilet trip duration. This self-cleaning box was easy to build and works surprisingly well, even though it feels kinda cheap. Ultimately, as a relatively affordable self-cleaning device, the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin is worth a look. \u2014Simon Hill<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
![\"Pet](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/6822672ca8f79fb1a4379186\/4:3\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/PetSnowy-Snow+-Self-Cleaning-Litter-Box-empty-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Molly-Higgins.jpg\"\/)
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