Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box : The Top 5 Automatic Litter Cleaners
Contents of Article
If a person only has one cat, then they can probably get away with cleaning their litter box every couple of days or so.
The issue that folks normally run into if they have more than one kitty is how much time it takes out of their week to scoop out constant waste and replace dirty, smelly litter as it is needed.
They love their cats, but at the same time they don’t want their house to begin to have that bad odor. So, they have to stick to a regular routine in order to keep their home’s living environment free of the foul aroma that comes from ignored, soiled litter.
Those who are pressed for time or who become sick of the mundane task of scooping litter eventually look to simplify their life and consider getting a self-cleaning automatic litter box.
What is the Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box?
Why Cat Owners Like Self-Cleaning Automatic Litter Boxes
These automatic cleaning litter boxes can help to eliminate standing odors in your home. Still, although the used litter is cleaned more regularly, it is not the only thing that you need to do to keep the unwanted smell down. For one thing, you could make sure the litter box is in a ventilated area, near a window or a screen door whenever possible. But, the thing that has the most effect on odor is always going to be the choice of litter you use. If it doesn’t clump up well and close in the smell, a self-cleaning automatic litter box won’t help you much.
Also, if you are the type of person who leaves home for long periods of time, then a self-cleaning litter box will greatly compliment your lifestyle. There is no comparing the terrible mess you will come home to when using a regular litter box, which will always be harder to clean up, especially if you are gone for several days. Having one of these automatic ones will also make it easier to find a person to watch your cat, being that maintaining the automatic box is much easier.
How Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes Work
Some people are skeptical about getting a self-cleaning automatic litter box, because they have probably never used one before, and may wonder whether the box may begin cleaning while their pet is still inside. These boxes normally have a fail-safe function that will not allow the machine to operate while a cat is in it. There are also sensors that time out how long it has been since a cat has used the litter box, and that is what determines the cycle in which the cleaning takes place.
What will happen is, your cat (or cats) will go do their business inside the box, and leave as usual when they are done. One of the most basic kinds of automatic litter boxes has a rake that will then go across the litter and push your cat’s waste into a container that then closes and holds in the smell. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still get high-quality kitty litter in order to have the best results when using one of these boxes. And, in order to preserve the containers that catch the poop, you will always do better to use liners for easy clean up.
Cats that have always used ordinary litter boxes and never automatic ones may be confused with what is going on when they initially hear the litter box cleaning itself, and the noise will have them staring at it cautiously in the beginning. The best automatic cleaning litter boxes have high walls and quality rakes that will catch 95% or more of the cat’s waste when cleaning. And, in most cases, the only problem you will have will be one or two clumps in the rake, or a little waste-litter on the inside walls, which is easy to clean.
Self-cleaning litter boxes can save you a lot of money, and are a life saver for cat owners who have previously had to clean multiple regular litter boxes several times a week. You will go from cleaning almost daily to not having to worry about it for multiple days, depending on how many cats you have and how good your kitty litter is. Speaking of litter, you won’t have to buy it as frequently when using an automatic box, because you won’t be wastefully dumping out so much of it simply because of the way it smells.
The litter itself has to be some that can be used with the particular self-cleaning litter box you choose. If you get the wrong kind it can mess up the cleaning cycle, and some of them don’t use litter at all, they use crystals. This is why it is not safe to assume that the litter you have is good enough, and to always read the directions carefully. If you take care of your new self-cleaning automatic litter box, it will take care of you, and save you a lot of headaches, time and energy in the future.
5 Best Automatic Litter Boxes
Quick Look : Top 5 Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
Where To Buy 
ScoopFree Original Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
If you are tired of having to battle unpleasant cat litter odor on a regular basis, then you may want to give the PetSafe Scoop Free a try.
How It Works
This box has a rake that comes through the crystals at a set time, and pushes your cat’s waste into a container. It will remove solid waste, but not the urine. The crystals that the machine uses soaks it up and absorbs the odor. All you have to really do is plug it up, add the tray and crystals, and let it do the rest of the work for you.
Recommendations
This self-cleaning automatic litter box comes with crystal litter and a cardboard tray that is disposable. But, many people who want to save money over time will invest in a reusable plastic tray. You only have to replace the crystals (and tray if you decide to keep using the cardboard ones) every few weeks, so this PetSafe model will eliminate a lot of the time you previously spent cleaning. This model also has a timer that cleans every 20 minutes that cannot be changed, but not to worry. There is a sensor that will not allow the box to clean if your cat is inside of it. – Buy It
Pros
- Cats take to the crystals easily
- Reduces cleaning from every few days to every couple of weeks
Cons
- To save money on trays, you will have to buy a plastic one
Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box
This Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box is one of those boxes that is great for the most demanding cats who will meow and complain after using a regular litter box, because it’s still going to be dirty the next time they go to use it.
Filters Smell Well
The charcoal filters are easy to apply, and all you do is stick them into the roof of the back canister where the waste goes. If you dump it every few days, you will have virtually no odor around the litter box. It also comes with bags for the back canister, but, if you run out, even regular old grocery bags will work just fine!
Other Recommendations
The best type of litter to use with this Pet Zone model is clumping, for the smell as well as so that the rake scoops it all up easily. When operating, the rake moves from back to front and carries the back canister with it. When reaching the furthest point that it can go forward, it lifts up the waste, opens its own lid, dumps it into the canister, closes, and moves back into its regular position. It does this about every 15 minutes after your cat has done its business. – Buy It
Pros
- The automatic cleaning rake rarely clumps
- Barely does any waste stick to the inside walls
Cons
- Big cats may move around some of the litter to the outside of the box, so using a rug underneath it is recommended.
Cat Genie Self-Flushing Cat Box
Want a cat litter box that flushes like a real toilet? If so, you should try out the Cat Genie Self Flushing Cat Box.
Uses a Real Home Water Line to Flush
The hardest part about setting up the Cat Genie is putting the splitter in place, which is not that difficult at all. It comes with hose adapters because, for it to operate, the box requires that you have a line for cold water coming in, and a sewer line going out. Most folks decide to use a faucet for the incoming cold water because it’s just really simple to twist it onto one and Y-split it. But, you could also tap into where your washing machine’s cold water comes in.
Accessories it Comes With
The entire back motor and bowl attach easily together, and this cool flushing automatic cat box comes with a sanitizer pack that keeps everything fresh as well as washable granules. This is the fake kitty litter that is non-disposable, and washes over and over in the system. The scoop hangs into the cat litter bowl as the litter goes around and picks up the hard waste your cat leaves behind. It scoops it up, and automatically dumps it into the back of the bowl to be grounded up. – Buy It
Pros
- Virtually eliminates any hand cleaning
- Bowl is very large
Cons
- You may need some help setting up if you are not familiar with water lines
The Litter Maid Automatic Self Cleaning Litter Box
The Litter Maid Automatic Self Cleaning Litter Box is one that is great if you have one or multiple cats at home. After each raking, the litter is smooth and ready for the next feline who has to go.
Portable
One of the best features about this litter box is that you can use it whether there is an outlet around or not. There is a place for batteries, so if there is a power outage you always have backup. Or, if you decide to take your cat with you on, say, a long car trip, you can actually take the litter box with you and not have to worry about your cat pooping or urinating around your car. Setup is also very easy with this model. There are only three pieces that snap together, and it’s ready to go in just a matter of minutes.
Great with Eliminating Odors
This particular model has the rake-type cleaning tool, and uses regular kitty litter, not crystals. The rake pushes the waste into a receptacle that you can easily dump when it is full, and for best results you should use a liner inside to make cleanup easier. The top cover also has a carbon filter on the inside lid to help keep the odors maintained. The raking happens about 10 minutes after each time your cat has used the litter box. – Buy It
Pros
- Affordable
- Is very easy to set up
Cons
- Wastebasket is small, and will fill quickly if multiple cats use the litter box
PetSafe’s Simply Clean Automatic Litter Box
This PetSafe Simply Clean Litter Box is one your cat will get used to in no time, and is suitable for multiple feline use.
Minimal Cleaning Necessary
This automatic litter box is great if you have had to previously clean out litter boxes every other day for your cats. The rake inside of it makes a full rotation each hour, and scoops up waste onto a sort of conveyor belt-like system. The only maintenance you really have to do is empty the trash can at the back, and how many times per week depends on how many cats will be using the litter box.
Virtually Noiseless
There are some automatic litter boxes out there that may regularly jam or have waste that gets caked up onto the rake, but this one hardly ever does at all. Also, there is barely any noise at all that comes from it as it cleans, so your cat will not be scared of the litter box in the beginning, and will use it almost immediately. For best results, keep the old litter box close to it for about a week. After this period, your cat will prefer to use the new PetSafe model, because it will be much cleaner. – Buy It
Pros
- Makes hardly any noise
- Cleans consistently with hardly any maintenance from you
Cons
- The sides are not very high, so a rug around it is recommended
