5 Best Automatic Litter Boxes for Cats in 2026, Recommended by Vets
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All products in this article have been reviewed by our trusted vets and experts. PetMD is owned by Chewy.
When it comes to cleaning the litter box, there's no reason to do more work than necessary. Investing in a self-cleaning litter box, which either rakes or sifts out waste automatically after your cat goes to the bathroom, can help make litter box duty a breeze.
The best automatic litter boxes can monitor a cat’s bathroom habits, are safe and reliable, are accepted by your cat, effectively and frequently clear cat waste, and are easy for pet parents to deep clean, when needed. Newer, high-tech models have added benefits like accompanying apps that share insights into your cat's health.
To help make your purchasing decision easier, our panel of veterinary experts selected their top choices among several different types of automatic litter boxes.
What To Consider When Buying an Automatic Litter Box
Choose a self-cleaning litter box based on your available space, cat’s size and preferences, budget, number of cats, maintenance needs, litter compatibility, and desired health-monitoring features.
- Your space: Most self-cleaning litter boxes are fairly sizeable, so measuring the space where you plan to place it will help narrow down your search immediately.
- Your cat’s size and mobility: How easily can they get in and out of the litter box? Do they have arthritis or other joint issues or are they currently overweight?
- Your cat’s personality and preferences: A timid or fearful cat may be more willing to use a quiet automatic litter box, whereas others may prefer an uncovered box.
- How much you want to spend: Automatic litter boxes on our vet’s best-of list range in price from $199 to $799 with several options in between.
- Number of cats: Multi-cat households will benefit from an automatic litter box that cleans waste quickly and frequently to limit odors and prevent cats from urinating elsewhere. Some can also differentiate one cat’s habits from one another.
- Maintenance requirements: Daily waste removal is handled, but you still need to deep clean the machine about every month—some machines require more care and others less, so consider how easy that is or how hands-on you’re willing to be.
- Litter compatibility: Some automatic litter boxes require clumping litter, crystals, or another specific type of litter.
- Ability to monitor your cat’s bathroom habits: Do you want all the bells and whistles of the latest models that offer accompanying apps to give you data on the box’s usage and your cat's health, or will a simple-yet-effective self-cleaning litter box do the job just fine?
How We Selected the Best Automatic Litter Boxes for Cats
This list of the best automatic cat litter boxes was meticulously curated by a panel of veterinary experts who are employed by Chewy, the publisher of PetMD. They were asked to choose the best self-cleaning litter boxes in their honest opinion, across multiple categories, based on the following:
- Safety and sensor reliability
- Size and accessibility
- Litter cleaning method and effectiveness
- Ease of deep cleaning for the pet parent
- Cat acceptance and design
- Ability to monitor elimination
Opinions and product recommendations in this article belong solely to the review panel of vets and vet techs. Manufacturers and vendors cannot buy placement in Vet Verified content or exert influence on our panelists as they evaluate products.
Our sole goal with this program is to provide pet parents with the information they need to make the best decision for their pets.
Automatic Litter Box FAQs
What automatic litter box do vets recommend?
Our panel of veterinary experts recommend the Whisker Litter-Robot 4 with Step & Core Accessories Kit as the overall best automatic litter box because it works for nearly any cat or multi-cat household. Plus, it not only has all the features you’d expect in the best self-cleaning litter box, such as safety mechanisms, a reliable and effect cleaning system, and odor-control elements, but it also has the ability to monitor your cat’s habits and health.
Are automatic litter boxes actually worth it?
Automatic litter boxes can be worth it for cat parents who struggle to keep up with daily scooping, since they remove waste automatically and help keep the box cleaner. Just remember that they don’t eliminate maintenance entirely: You’ll still need to empty the waste receptacle, replenish litter, and deep-clean the unit regularly.
Do cats prefer closed or open litter boxes?
Some cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes because covered boxes can make some cats feel trapped or vulnerable, while an open box allows them to see their surroundings and escape easily. That said, litter-box preference is individual to every cat, so it may take some trial and error to find what works best for your cat.