The answer is: it depends on some elements we will mention here. If you haven’t decided between the Litter Robot, CatGenie or ScoopFree yet, I will give you the best information you need to make a good decision. The following comparison will give you a good idea about how these automatic litter boxes work and which is more suitable for you and your cat. If after analyzing these units you still need more options, there are more top automatic litter boxes on the market that may fit your budget better.
First you will see basic information, cleaning cycles, what supplies they need, issues you might have with each brand and troubleshooting, to name some.
Litter Robot vs CatGenie vs ScoopFree Comparison Chart
| ITEMS | #1 | #2 | #3 |
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| Litter Robot 3 Open Air Review
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ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box Review
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CatGenie Self Washing Self Flushing Cat Box Review
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| STARS RATING * | |||
| Overall Rating | 4.6 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| GENERAL | |||
| Dimensions | 29.2″ x 24.1″ x 26.7″ | 27.5″ L x 19″ W x 7″ H | 19.25” x 24.5” x 21” |
| Item Weight | 24 lbs | 22.5 lbs | 26 lbs |
| Power | 120-volt outlet – 15 VDC | 120V 60Hz adapter | 120V AC |
| Made In | USA | USA or imported | Israel |
| SYSTEM | |||
| How It Works | 3-7 or 15 min after the cat leaves the litter box a special rotating mechanism drops the waste into a drawer. | Waste and urine go into a disposable tray located underneath the box. | Urine is disposed of through a waste/water drain. Clumps scooped by a rake then liquefied and disposed through a waste-water drain. |
| Requirements to Install | 1) A level surface 2) electric outlet | 1) Surface free of humidity 2) electric outlet. | 1) Cold water line 2) wastewater drain 3) electric outlet |
| CLEANING CYCLE | |||
| Minutes Delay Before Cycle | 3-7-15 minute delay (adjustable) | 20 minutes (“Ultra” version is adjustable to 5-10-20 min). | 10 min. for 1 cat; 30 minutes for multiple cats |
| Safety Mechanism | Rotation stops if a cat re-enters the litter box and resets for another 3-7-15 minutes. | It resets to a 20-minute delay if a new cat enters (the “Ultra” version is adjustable to 5-10-20 min). | It resets to a 10-minute delay if a cat re-enters (30 min in Cat Activation mode). |
| MAINTENANCE (ONE CAT) | |||
| Frequency of Scooping | No scooping | No scooping | No scooping |
| Frequency of Cleaning | Wash the Globe ideally every month | Every 2-3 weeks replace disposable tray (see note 1). | Clean the impeller once or twice a month. Clean the unit every 2-3 months |
| SUPPLIES (ONE CAT) | |||
| Doesn’t Require Branded Refills |  |
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| Litter | Premium clay clumping litter | Disposable trays with crystals. | CatGenie washable granules |
| Other Supplies | Any 8-13 Gal trash/carbon filter | NO | CatGenie Sanisolution, CatGenie Maintenance cartridge. |
| OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES | |||
| Optional Accessories | Ramp | Hood (Forever Tray & Litter Bagger are complements but not part of the ScoopFree brand) | CatGenie Dome, Sidewalls. |
| COST BY MONTH (ONE CAT) ** | |||
| Cost Approx. in US$ | 12 US$ to 15 US$ (see note 1) | 20 US$ to 40 US$ (it depends on the cat). | 12 US$ to 15 US$ |
| POSSIBLE ISSUES & SOLUTIONS | |||
| Possible Issues You May Have | 1) Kicked litter outside the box 2) The Globe doesn’t complete a rotation because of too much litter in it. | 1) Tray leaking 2) smelly crystals 3) waste compartment too full before time to change tray | 1) Tracking granules over the floor 2) clogs on waste drain line or impeller (not always) 3) bad smell during cleaning cycle |
| Solutions | 1) Get the Litter catcher mat 2) Fill the litter up to the full line indicator or a little less (approx. 12-13 cups of 8 Oz) | 1) Stir the litter around every day. Get an alternative solution as the Forever Tray 2) Place the unit in an area with circulating air 3) Scoop the waste compartment | 1) Get the sidewalls 2) Disassemble and unclog it. Brush your cat often to avoid hair from going into the impeller. Clean the impeller periodically. 3) Set the unit away from living areas |
| SUITABILITY | |||
| Type of Cat | 5 lbs up to 20 lbs | Average-sized cats that don’t eat byproducts. Or cats with no kidney disease or diabetes. | Approx. 5 lbs up to 10 lbs |
| Kittens | Only if used manually | From 6 months age | From 6 months age |
| Multi-cat | YES | YES (better with one cat) | YES (Better if used by 2 cats max) |
| GUARANTEE/WARRANTY *** | |||
| Guarantee | 90 days money-back | 90 days money-back | 90 days money-back (Except purchases to 3rd parties) |
| Warranty | 18 months | 1 year limited (replacement or repair of defective pieces). | 2 years limited |
| BOTTOM LINE | |||
| Ideal Solution For | People who want to forget about the cat’s litter box for several days with minor maintenance.
Litter Robot also has a Wi-Fi-powered version, the Connect model. |
People who are willing to spend money on disposable litter trays to change them every 2 or 3 weeks (see note 1) to keep the house odor-free from the litter box. | People that have a 2d bathroom (ideally the garage or a laundry room away from living areas) to install it. |
| Check The Lowest Price |  |
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1) Depending on the cat you may need to change the tray every week. 2) Depends on the brand of clumping litter you use (*) Ratings are based on customers’ reviews and they could change in the future (**) Costs are approximate and they could change anytime. (***) Check details of the warranty policy with the manufacturer or distributor.
What to Consider When Choosing an Automatic Cat Litter Box
The success or failure of an automatic cat litter box depends on 4 elements we would like you to know and keep in mind when searching for information:
1. Number of Cats | 2. Your cat’s age and personality to adapt | 3. Your cat’s health | 4. Your budget
1. Number of Cats
Very important element if we consider that one cat is already enough work in scooping the litter box, so if you have 2 or more cats you need a system able to handle the extra use. This is especially critical if you are away most part of the day and your cats use the box throughout the day. You need a very reliable system that won’t collapse. So what do you have to search for in this situation? An automatic litter box that:
- Has a high capacity to collect the waste.
- The whole process has to be automated.
- Not so expensive that it will break your budget but not so cheap that won’t serve its purpose. However, if you want to avoid contact with your cat’s litter box you may want to go for the higher price.
If you have multiple cats and don’t know what particular features to search for in order to get the best performer, check how to choose a multi cat auto litter box so you don’t waste your money.
How Each Brand Works with Multi Cat Use
If you have several cats, this is what eventually might happen with each brand:
Litter-Robot
If you have more than one cat you will need to empty the bagged waste more often. Let’s say, you have 3 cats, instead of emptying the waste drawer every 10 days, you will need to do it every 3-4 days or more, depending on how much your cats eat and what type of food they eat. Cats that eat food made from by-products produce more waste than cats that eat better quality food.
Regarding clumping litter, the Litter Robot allows you to save up to 50% on litter due to its rotating Globe with a built-in screen that sifts after 7 minutes of delay, avoiding the waste from sitting too long in the litter bed, preventing the clean litter from getting soiled.
When the Litter Robot 3 is used with a single cat you can forget about the litter box for up to 10 days and more (yes, I am not kidding). You can check my experience with this unit here where I created an in-depth review. If you like the Litter-Robot get it here and apply $50 off.
CatGenie
With more than one cat you will need to set the cleaning cycle with 10 minutes delay so each cat can go to do its business in a clean litter box or 30 minutes delay if they can use it dirty. With the 10-minute delay, you will have the machine cleaning more often, and with the 30-minute delay, you will have the clumps sitting in there for 30 minutes.
It seems like the CatGenie sometimes gets clogged (after 4 months or so) with the cat’s hair or other particles that go through the system. However, this does not happen always and it depends on how often people clean the unit. If you have more than one cat using the CatGenie and you don’t clean the unit very often, you will probably experience clogs. I must mention that there have been cat owners who haven’t experienced this at all.
ScoopFree Ultra
If you have more than one cat you will have to spend more money on pre-filled trays. According to customers’ experiences with one cat, you have to change the tray every 7 to 20 days, depending on how much your cat urinates and defecates. If your cat urinates 3 or 4 times a day, most likely you will need to change the tray every week. Actually, the manufacturer recommends using this system only on cats that are healthy and that means they don’t have urinating problems, diabetes, or creamy feces.
What Brand’s the Best for Multi-Cat Use?
When it comes to multi-cat use, the Litter Robot is reliable for up to 3 cats. The CatGenie also can handle 3 cats, but the cleaning cycle takes 45 minutes vs 2 minutes of the Litter Robot. This means with the CatGenie one of the 3 cats most likely will have to wait its turn to use the litter box at some point.
2. Cat’s Age and Personality to Adapt
The success of one of these automatic cat litter boxes will depend on how well your cat adapts to the new system. Age and personality are important elements of this. For example, kittens are more willing to adopt new systems while old cats are more reluctant to try new things; they usually stick with the old-fashioned regular litter box. Of course, this is not the rule, every cat is unique. Regards personalities, this might happen with your cat with each brand:
Litter Robot
The previous versions of the Litter Robot 3 may not be good for cats with claustrophobia, but the new Litter Robot Open Air provides plenty of space and room for cats so they don’t feel too enclosed due to its ergonomic wide entryway.
CatGenie
Maybe shy cats won’t like the cleaning cycle, but very good for cats that like to dig.
ScoopFree Ultra
Some cats adopt the crystals instead of regular litter while others don’t.
What Brand is Easier to be Adopted By Cats?
The Litter Robot 3 is the easiest to be adopted by cats, actually, 99% of cats adopt this automatic litter box. The CatGenie with the loud cleaning cycle may scare some cats who eventually will get used to it, but this may take a little longer if you have a skittish cat. Regarding the ScoopFree, cats with sensitive paws or that have been declawed might reject the crystals.
3. Cat’s Health and Diet
If your cat has urinary tract disease or diabetes you have to pick a system that can handle urine. The Catgenie is a good option here. If your cat has digestive problems and defecates very soft stools or diarrhea, any automatic system could have trouble collecting the waste, so in this situation, there are not very many good options and it is better to use a regular cat litter box.
If your cat has a diet including by-products, it will tend to create more waste making it difficult for any automatic mechanism to contain all the waste. Think of systems with no trays to contain the waste in this case. With a healthy cat that creates solid stools, you should not have problems with any of these 3 best automatic feeders.
What is the best brand to manage urine and feces?
The CatGenie and Litter Robot 3 have a good capacity to handle urine from a single cat or with multi-cat use. Regarding feces, the Litter Robot, due to its rotating mechanism has the ability to manage softer feces better than the CatGenie or the ScoopFree. The CatGenie soft feces get caught on the arm creating a bad smell when doing the drying cycle and the ScoopFree gets some soft feces stuck on the rake.
4. Your Budget
How tight is your budget in the short and long term? With the top 3 automatic litter boxes in the market, the choices are:
Litter Robot
Big investment in the beginning, but you won’t be trapped having to buy the Manufacturer’s supplies to make it work. The Litter Robot works with any clumping litter and kitchen bags.
CatGenie
Medium investment in the beginning and you will have to buy the brand’s supplies to make the unit work and make sure to never run out of supplies.
ScoopFree
Not so a big investment in the beginning and you will have to buy pre-filled trays and change them as much as it takes to keep the system clean and odor-free (check the excellent tip given by a reader in a comment below. He explains how to make the Scoopfree a much less expensive alternative by buying the Forever tray and the crystals in bags).
What’s the most Budget Friendly?
The ScoopFree has the lowest price of the 3 best automatic litter boxes, costing less than $150. Regarding which brand provides the most value for money the Litter Robot 3 is a large investment, but in the long run, you save money on litter and you don’t need to buy special supplies to make the system work. Only clumping litter and kitchen/trash bags.
Whatever you decide, make sure to consider all these elements before making a purchase and decide what’s the most important for you.
Bought the Scoopfree Ultra. It works very well. I use a permanent tray for crystals and buy them for $4.50 every 4 pounds from Wal-Mart. The brand is MiMi but fresh step crystals will work too. The brand is not expensive to maintain if you buy that reuseable tray for $50 and stop buying rereplacements. Another worthy investment is the litter mat for it. I love those crystals because they don’t make my floor crumby but it will track a bit. The mat definately works.
Thanks Kristopher for your good contribution. I am sure your information will help people who want to buy the Scoopfree but are reluctant because of the replacement trays.
The for.info…….where did you buy reusable tray?
Just want to say I was a huge advocate for the scoop free. Absolutely loved it. That is until one of my cats started having less than super solid poops. Then it became of nightmare. The rake would turn into a ‘rake cake’. I had 3 cats and was literally changing the trays every 3 days. The whole process became so disgusting that I had to prepare myself with gloves, trash bags and a make-shift gas mask. I really wanted it to be the solution of my dreams but it ended up starting out strong and being and utter failure.
Hello Christina, thanks for your comment. As you say, ScoopFree it is suitable for cats with solid feces and to use it with two cats at the most. Automatic litter boxes in general perform poorly with soft feces and especially the ones that collect feces with a rake. With multiple cats, it can get really bad as your experience. My suggestion is trying to adjust the diet of your pets or get a manual solution which is not the perfect, but at least you will be able to scoop some attached waste from the box’s walls and not from a rake. Good luck Christina and thanks for your contribution.
I have one CatGenie and 4 cats and have minimal problems. I make sure to run the needed cleanings every 3 months. They give you directions on how to clean it properly and it takes no time at all. Absolutely love this box. Best investment I ever made, but definitely never run out of litter! You’ll regret it.
I will be investing in the Litter Robot next month and will see how well it compares. I only have one bathroom and my laundry room is not connected to my house so i can’t get a second CatGenie. Although, I’m excited to get a box where I can run to the store and get litter in the cases that I run out rather than ordering online and waiting for it to arrive.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Crystal!
I’m a first time cat owner (two kittens). This was an incredibly helpful comparison. We are going to try the Little Robot.
Hello Boone! I am happy I could help you with my comparison!
Just thanking you for the helpful comparison! I purchased a Litter Robot several months ago, for five cats, and am very, very happy with the purchase. I do have to sweep the area daily (even with the fence installed we have some spillage) and occasionally the kitten will mess with the unit enough that it shuts down (red blinky light) and requires an unplug/reset, but it’s otherwise completely trouble-free and an ingenious design. I should also mention that Litter Robot is manufactured in Wisconsin.
I am happy this comparison helped you Jenn!
I’ve had a litter robot for about 9+ years now and LOVE IT. It’s only had to have a really thorough cleaning twice but now sadly is acting up and I think it’s time for a new one – two cats have been using it for the last 9+ years so I think it’s earned a rest! I was disappointed to see the price jump from $375 when I bought it to $452 (plus tax, I assume) but I guess that’s to be expected. It’s a big outlay but I have never regretted my original purchase, it was a bit of work convincing my husband to spend that much but the reviews convinced me. Now I will find the $$ to replace our original because it’s totally worth it.
Your review is exceptionally thorough and well done….bravo!!! I initially bought the Cat Genie only to discover the absolutely amazing odiferous byproduct of the cleaning cycle:((((( There wasn’t a place in my house that could escape. In addition, my son decided to “program” the unit and cleaning solutions that should have lasted a month, were exhausted inside of a week. It becomes VERY expensive when this happens. When the unit became clogged for whatever reason, it was a chore to remedy. I have since bought the Scoopfree Ultra for my two little love bugs and have put the Cat Genie in the garage! I can safely go at least two weeks before changing the litter tray that is filled near capacity. I may consider the permanent tray option in the future but for now, the original pre filled crystals fit the bill. FYI….my little lovebugs eat Orijen, a by-product free kibble that results in minimal, yet solid waste. My only “wish I could change” shoutout is the purple trim. However, I’ll get over it:)
Thanks for your commment. Some people have not experienced clogs with the CatGenie while others, have. It depends on the maintenance and the cat’s fur. ScoopFree is a good solution for cat owners with one cat that does not eat by-products foods. With two cats become a little more expensive but I am happy yours last for 2 weeks, that’s impressive!
I have two CatGenie use to love it , but it gets expensive to run and i have been having problems with the cartrige for the past years , the cartrige Light say that I need to change it but …it is a brand New one ,there is defenetly a problem with it but I cant seem to solve it, im thinking of changing for the robot.
I caller the CatGenie company they told me the cartrige is empty, sorry sir but I Just opended it, the problem is not solve I am pi…… Off
Hi Diane! thanks for sharing your experience. I hope you get a solution from their Customer Service since you have 2 units and have been a loyal customer. If not, you can try the Litter Robot which is a very good solution since you can use any clay clumping litter. Thanks again!
I’ve had 3 scoop free ultra’s for nearly 10’years to take care of my two cats. Wanted to address a couple of earlier comments.
The forever tray is a must, makes everything cheaper and easier.
Wet stools are not that big a deal because of the crystals which immediately turn them into fossils, but I’m only talking like a few days monthly
I clean mine very 3.5 weeks with a baby wipe and have never had a problem, the rakes are as clean as day 1
Thank you very much for your comment. I am happy your experience with the ScoopFree Ultra has been excellent for so many years.
How do these three compare to the Littermaid brand? That’s the only brand of automatic litterbox we’ve tried so far, and I think it was the first one, so I’m a little surprised you don’t even mention it.
Aha, never mind. I hadn’t seen the complete page of automatic litter box reviews when I wrote that, just this “top three” page, and I see you do have a review of the Littermaid.
I have the cat genie 120 and have had it for 3 years. I have had two issues over the time, both caused by human error (too much litter in the box led to too much in the hopper, nd 2nd instance was someone pinched off the end of the drain hose -_- ) I LOVE my genie, but husband hates it. *Too noisy and hoses prevent us from completely closing water closet door* I have disassembled my product for cleaning twice in two years (much under the recommendation) and almost never need to touch the machine. The cartridges last me about 2 months each with 2 cats. It is my only litterbox. Cat genie recently released their AI model, alas, it is priced well above the 120 (which I paid $180 for) and I see no reviews for their AI. I wish someone would write about the new one saying cycle time is shorter and drying is quieter so I can convince my huband to uograde to the AI. Looks as though through my husbands insistance we may be swapping to litter robot 3 instead …Too many positive reviews for the litter robot and too many others.complaining about *possibly* the best machine I have ever owned :( I will miss my lowest maintenance machine ever and cross my fingers for luck with the overpriced space egg. If anyone can tell me about the newest version of the Cat Genie AI, it would be appreciated!
I think with any appliance purchase, you have people who experience zero problems and swear by their appliance and others who end up not having the same positive experiences for whatever the reason. I’ve always been a dog person and had zero experience with automated litterboxes until my last dog passed away and a stray kitten showed up a few months later that I ended up keeping and another one showed up 2 years later. It took me about 3-4 months of scooping litter to decide I needed an automated litterbox. After checking out the reviews on multiple products, I decided to purchase the Litter Robot 3. Review wise, it had the least complaints. It’s made in the USA and the design is simple and ingenious. I’m a former Marine and now in law enforcement and got teased a lot by coworkers (mostly the women) for spending $500 on a litterbox, but for me it was well worth it and no different than spending $$ on any other appliance these days. Is it perfect? No. Sometimes the urine clumps in large pieces and clogs the opening or gets stuck or stops in a cycle. Sometimes they poop and pee so much it overloads the waste drawer. Many times I put too much litter in the rubber hammock and it’s too heavy for the unit, so that’s an operator issue. I’m not sure I’m saving money on kitty litter. I have two females 3 & 1 yrs old) and I go thru about 25 lb box in 1.5 weeks but since I don’t have any prior experience with buying litter, I don’t know if that’s a lot or not. Overall, the Litter Robot is more tech oriented, and more modern than the other systems that are either cheap in design or require significant bathroom space and I’ve extremely happy with it and happy that my cats have no issues with it
For those that worry about whether their cat(s) will accept/adapt to the Litter Robot… I was extremely fortunate. My girl Ester is very curious and brave and checked the machine out thoroughly to the point of riding inside it as it sifted and on top as it moved, without any issues. The younger one Elle followed suit. I’ve read reviews of people whose cats won’t accept the Litter Robot and they had to return it, so I feel fortunate. I see the issue as similar to people who prefer cushioned toilet seats vs. wood or plastic.
Hello Mike, thanks for your testimony, I haven’t had any issues with my unit maybe it’s because I have a single cat but to me, it’s the best invention ever. My cat also took to the Litter Robot in no time and she is a very skittish cat. Thanks again for sharing your experience.