Everyone wants to live in a comfortable, clean home and has the smell of fresh air. Our feline friends are no exception, and having a self-cleaning litter box can make a huge difference in how fresh and clean your home feels.
In this guide we explore the best self cleaning litter boxes and explore whether they are really worth it.
What to Consider when Buying a Self-Cleaning Litter Box
There are many choices of self-cleaning litter boxes, and although these boxes may have been expensive when they first came to market, the prices have come down substantially. There will still be some waste to remove, but self-cleaning boxes make that very easy. Here are some things you should consider when buying a self-cleaning litter box:
- The size of the unit – some are very large and unsightly
- The amount of time needed between waste removals
- The ease or difficulty of disposing of the waste
- Safety features to protect your cat
- The amount of litter the box can hold
- Length of time your cat will be left alone
- The number of cats using the litter box
- Will your cat stop using the box if it is only “scooped” infrequently?
- Is the self-cleaning box a good value for your money? Are they worth the money?
Self-Cleaning Litter Box Reviews
We have reviewed each of the best self cleaning litter boxes available in the UK.
1. PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The Ultra is our top pick, and is the newer model of the Original PetSafe ScoopFree litter tray (which comes 2nd in our list). The Ultra tracks how many times the box has been used and can be used to schedule cleaning a set time after your cat has used the tray. The tracking feature can help to identify possible health problems with your cat.
It’s quiet and keeps odours well under control. This model is entirely hands-free, which is considerably more hygienic, as well as convenient for your cat, yourself, and your family.
Key Features:
- Easily dispose of the used tray every few weeks or up to a month at a time.
- The rake setting can be altered to work 5, 10, or 20 minutes after the cat leaves the box.
- Ideal for cats over six months old.
- Hygienic to use because you won’t handle waste – put a lid on the tray and throw it away.
- It always looks clean.
- It has a hood, making it discreet.
2. PetSafe ScoopFree Original Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The PetSafe ScoopFree Original has an appealing feature of lasting about 30 days between litter changes. This box is good for a multi-cat household and is good for keeping odours at bay. This box comes with a two-year warranty, which shows that the company is confident in its products.
This self cleaning litter box used to be our top pick, but has been superseded with the Ultra model, that simply is a step up from this model. If you’re on a smaller budget, this model still does a great job and outperforms the rest of the market.
Key Features:
- The motor is nearly silent, making it less frightening for nervous cats.
- Self-levels, the litter between uses.
- A “forever” tray is available that can be used with regular crystal litter.
- Reduces odour.
- Tracks how many times the rake has been activated.
- Litter tracking is kept to a bare minimum.
3. Jlxl Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The Jlxl is the ultimate luxury for any cat owner. It is an attractive litter box that keeps your home fresh. This box is fully enclosed, which is suitable for shy cats. It is ideal for larger cats, and it holds up to six litres of litter. The waste bag needs to be replaced roughly every two weeks, and the unit does everything else intelligently.
The outside needs to be wiped with a cloth, and that’s all that is required in order to keep it clean. This box is at the high end of the price range, but it is also the most attractive of them all. The box helps to contain odours and leaves your home smelling fresh.
Key Features:
- Looks good – it can add to the décor of your home.
- Gives the cat privacy and comfort.
- Excellent for large cats.
- Has a backup battery for power outages.
- Intelligently senses and cleans after use.
4. Omega Paw Roll’n Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Summary:
The Omega Roll’n Clean is not electric – which means that it will keep your costs down. To operate, you roll the tray onto its top, remove the waste tray, empty it, and you’re done. Many users caution that this cannot be done with force, as the box is somewhat fragile.
Key Features:
- Most users said the design was excellent.
- No expensive liners to buy.
- No electricity or cords.
- Better for homes with fewer cats.
- Uses less litter.
5. ModKat XL Litter Box
This litter box isn’t ‘self clean’, but it did have to make it onto our list. This attractive litter box uses liners which are made to sit inside the litter tray which make cleaning it a breeze. This cat litter box allows for both side and roof entry making it excellent for containing any stray cat litter.
To clean the litter box you simply remove the liner, empty it and replace it. You can wash the liners for reuse and to make it more economical. The design is a lot prettier than the others on this list, and the simplicity of the clean makes it a great contender.
Key Features:
- At 21″ L x 16.5″ W x 17″ H, the Modkat XL is perfect for cats of all sizes and multi-cat households.
- The liners it uses are reusable and can last approximately three months.
- This one will require scooping and is not self-cleaning, but the fact that all of the litter is contained in the box means your home will feel cleaner.
- Even finicky cats have been seen to go straight to this and start using it right away.
- There are liner pads and liner refills on the market.
Benefits of having a Self-Cleaning Litter Box
There are many benefits to having a self-cleaning litter box, even though the initial costs may be high – the benefits for many pet owners are worth the price. No one wants to deal with pet waste any more often than they must – a self-cleaning box can cut that chore down tremendously. Review after review of the self-cleaning models said their homes smelt fresher and that alone may be worth the price.
Here is a quick list of the top benefits of owning a self-cleaning litter box:
- Your house will smell cleaner. Fewer people will notice any smell at all with most of these choices.
- Self-cleaning boxes mean it is less likely for your cat(s) to decide that their box is too dirty to use, which often happens with normal boxes.
- Several of these are attractive, and that’s always a plus when adding a litter box to your home.
- Many of these litter boxes, even those that are not entirely contained, make the litter box less of an eyesore or completely keep it out of sight.
- Your cat(s) will not track litter with several of these boxes, which means that your house will be cleaner and you won’t need a cat litter mat.
Buying Guide for Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
It can be easy to think that a self-cleaning litter box is a gimmick, but some cat owners can’t get enough of them. Personally, we don’t think they quite offer enough value for money to take the plunge – we have opted for an odour control cat litter box instead.
Buying a self-cleaning litter box is not as simple as it might look, but we have put together a buying guide to make the process a little easier for you.
Consider the size of the box your cat will need
If you have more than one cat, a larger box is a good idea. But you may not need the biggest size unless your cat(s) are very large themselves. The largest box that we reviewed is the Jlxl. But if you are in a very tiny living space, you may not be able to spare the square footage.
Price points can vary widely
All auto cleaning litter boxes are pretty expensive. When buying one you need to look at the value you will get out of the product and how long you are likely to be able to use these items as well. Companies that offer a two-year warranty certainly show that they are confident in the staying power of what they’ve manufactured.
Consider the litter box’s appearance
A few of these litter boxes look like something you might bring into your home on purpose – rather than something that you have to deal with. You may also find that the ability to make it a top entry rather than a side-entry may also make it more appealing for you and your cat(s).
