The Best Automatic Litter Boxes To Keep You & Your Cat Happy

Automatic litter boxes offer a wealth of benefits for the busy cat owner. Let’s take a look at the main ones below:

Never Scoop-Poop Again.

As much as you love your cat, cleaning up their waste is a pretty unpleasant chore. Grabbing a plastic scoop and scraping feces from their litter is often enough to make you gag, or at least put you off your dinner. Dust and odors get stirred up, contaminating the room with nasty smells which take time to subside, and litter almost inevitably scatters across the floor as you try to transfer all the lumps into the trash bag.

Using an automatic litter box is a great way to avoid this stomach-turning task. These smart devices sift or rake through dirty litter, collecting all the clumps and depositing them in an easy-to-remove waste compartment. Once filled, simply open the compartment and empty the content into the trash. The most innovative of devices, such as the CatGenie, will even remove the waste for you by flushing it down your household waste pipe.

Saves Litter Costs

If you manually scoop your cat’s litter box, you already known how much litter your cat goes through. Scooping the box often results in a high quantity of waste, as much of the clean litter ends up getting thrown out alongside the dirty. Good-quality, clumping litter isn’t cheap, and over time the cost of your cat’s toilet visits will mount.

One of the main benefits of an automatic litter box is that they help you save on litter costs. The clever raking and sifting systems remove waste clumps only, leaving the clean litter behind. Therefore, each fill of the litter tray lasts much longer and you won’t need to visit the pet store every week.

Perfect For Weekends Away

If you like to get away for the weekend, or often head off on business trips for a couple of days, an automatic litter box offers peace of mind when you’re not at home. Unlike regular litter boxes, automatic litter boxes don’t need daily attention. As long as your cat has enough water and food for the time you’re away, you can rest at ease that they’ll be clean and comfortable during your absence. This also means you can look forward to a fresh-smelling home on your return, without any overflowing, stinky litter trays, or out-of-the-box accidents with which to deal.

More Hygienic than Standard Litter Trays

By their very nature, litter boxes aren’t known for being hygienic. This isn’t so much of an issue if there are only adults in the house, but can be a cause for concern if you have small children around. Curious kids may mistake the litter tray for a fun-filled sandbox, putting both their health, and your sanity, at risk. Automatic litter boxes offer a sanitary solution to the issue of cat waste in the home. Your cat’s deposits are quickly removed and stored in a sealed compartment away from potentially inquisitive hands.

Reduced Odors

Unless you scoop your litter box every time your cat makes a visit, odors are an unfortunate fact of life. Even the best odor-control cat litter will struggle to contain smells immediately after your cat has used it. Not only is this unpleasant, but it makes keeping your home fresh a difficult and time-consuming task. By removing waste moments after your cat has relieved themselves, automatic litter boxes are a great way to keep nasty odors under control. The waste compartments often include special carbon filters, too, which trap and absorb smells so that they can’t leak out into the room. If you struggle with general pet-related odors in your home, an ozone generator may help.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the best litter box for you and your cat. Some of the most important features to bear in mind when making your decision include:

Size & Capacity

Perhaps the most important aspect to consider when choosing an automatic litter box its the size and capacity. If you have more than one cat in your home, you’ll need to ensure the waste tray is large enough to hold waste from multiple cats. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself having to empty it more often than desired. The overall size of the litter box is also important. Some automatic litter boxes are large and bulky, due to the mechanisms inside them. This means you’ll need a room with plenty of space in which to place it. Also, bear in mind that ‘self-flushing’ models will require a location close to water inlet and outlet pipes.

Required Supplies & Cost

Unlike standard litter trays, automatic litter trays often require the use of additional supplies. Some models must be used with manufacturer-specific products, such as specially designed litter, refill trays, cleaning solutions, and waste receptacles. Therefore, when choosing an automatic litter box, you should pay attention to the cost of these products and how often you’re going to need to buy them.

Noise Levels

Due to their mechanical processes, automatic litter boxes can be quite noisy when operating. Therefore, if you live in an apartment or have a small home, it may be difficult to escape the noise generated while it’s working. This could be an issue if, for example, you’re a light-sleeper or work from home. If this sounds familiar, you’ll be better off choosing a model that features a whisper-quiet motor, such as the PetZone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box.

Your Cats’ Personality & Habits

Quirky personalities are one reason we love cats, but these quirks can throw up some issues when considering an automatic litter box. For example, if your cat has a thing about pooping right at the edge of the litter box, rather than in the middle, there’s potential that it’ll get missed by the rake mechanism or be flicked out of the tray altogether.

Alternatively, a nervous or skittish kitty may be freaked out by their new ‘robot toilet’ and simply refuse to use it, while an enthusiastic litter kicker will throw their waste all over your floor if the sides are too low. Therefore, when considering an automatic litter box, you must keep your kitty’s quirks in mind. These motorized trays are rarely a one-size-fits-all solution, so you’ll need to choose a model compatible with your cat’s behaviors.

Chances are that you’ll need to spend some time introducing your kitty to their new toilet before they’ll use it. Below, we offer some top-tips on training your cat to use an automatic litter box:

1. Once you have purchased your new automatic litter box, don’t throw away the old one. Instead, leave the old one in place and put the new one next to it. This will help familiarize your cat with the new device and associate it with toilet time.
2. If the new litter box requires a special litter substrate, such as crystal litter, you’ll need to give your cat time to adjust. A great way to do this is by slowly adding the new litter on top of the litter in their current litter box, so they can gradually become accustomed to the new smell and sensation.
3. Once your cat has had a few days using the new litter, you can try removing the old litter box, leaving them with only the new one. Don’t switch it on just yet, instead, wait a few days until your cat has gotten used to using it. If you catch your cat using the new box, make sure to give them lots of fuss and treats.
4. When you’re confident your kitty has grown to love their new litter tray, you can switch it on. Keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not worried by any unusual noises, and continue to reward them with treats when they use it for a few days.

PROS:

• Easier maintenance – One surefire advantage of automatic litter boxes is the fact that they are much easier to clean, and require no scooping – unlike regular litter trays. All of this amounts to much less maintenance on the pet owners part, and also means that the litter lasts longer!
• Reduces odors – Automatic litter boxes are more hygienic than regular litter trays, and therefore lead to a reduction in bad odors.
• Easy to use – Automatic litter trays, as their name implies, are automatic. This means they are very easy to use.

CONS:

• Can be noisy – While having a machine clearing our your cats litter tray has its bonuses, it does mean that the process can be noisy. While only a minor irritation, noise level is something to be aware of.
• May not suit all litter – Some litter trays may require their own litter, rather than regular off-the-shelf brands. This means refilling the tray could be an added cost.
• May frighten some cats – We all know that cats can be nervous creatures, so there is no guarantee that a strange poop-scooping robot won’t frighten your feline friend.

• What kinds of litter should I use in an automatic litter box?

• Unless otherwise specified, all automatic litter boxes should be used with good-quality, clumping cat litter. This is so your cat’s waste can be easily trapped and removed by the mechanical rake or sifter. Some automatic litter boxes must be used with a particular type of litter, usually made by the same manufacturer and often available in pre-filled trays that fit that specific model. Should you use non-clumping litter or other substrates, cat urine will simply be stirred up by the automatic mechanism. Not only is this ineffective, but it will also lead to nasty odors over time.

• How do I clean an automatic litter box?

• Ease of cleaning is the main benefit of automatic litter boxes. For the vast majority of models, waste is sifted, collected and stored in a special container at the back of the unit. To empty, all you need to do is open the lid and lift or tip out the waste. Of course, you will still have to give the litter box a deeper clean once in a while. The best way to do this depends on the design and mechanics of the particular model. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer closely, and avoid getting any electrical connections wet.

• Are automatic litter boxes safe?

• Yes. So long as they are used correctly and you (or your cat) doesn’t tamper with the mechanisms, automatic litter boxes are safe for your cat. The electrical parts of the machine are kept out of reach, while the built-in sensors ensure the cleaning process doesn’t start if your cat is still in the box.

• Where is the best place to put an automatic litter box?

• The best place to put your automatic litter box is the same location as your old one. This ensures your cat isn’t confused by the sudden change. If the box won’t fit, however, or the mechanism is quite loud and disturbs you in its current location, you may need to move it to a place where it will be less intrusive. Most importantly, you should make sure that you place the litter box somewhere your cat will feel safe and secure. A quiet, low-traffic location is best, as this enables your cat to have some privacy during toilet time.