ConsFirst / Self-cleaning litter boxes

Neakasa

Neakasa M1 / M1 Plus Open-Top Self-Cleaning Litter Box: the downsides first

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#5 of 8
$$RotatingScore 3.2/5
21%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)This is the M1 Plus listing (4,632 ratings), which may include ratings from older M1 versions. A separate base-M1 listing (B0DP8XYYKC) has only 43 ratings (11%). No Amazon 'Customers say' summary was shown.

Tom's Guide's cats used this roomy open-top box far more than any other, but Wirecutter dropped it as a pick after reports of cats being injured when the drum over-rotated. Neakasa has since updated the firmware and removed teeth from the gear. It also flings litter, and its main Amazon listing has a high 1-star share.

Top complaints

  • Reported over-rotation injuries

    Wirecutter says there were a few safety incidents where cats were reportedly injured when the drum over-rotated and trapped them, so it moved the M1 out of its picks. Neakasa updated its firmware and removed teeth from the gear in its new model; Wirecutter advises M1 owners to install the latest firmware and contact the company for a new gear.

    Source: Wirecutter
  • Litter flung outside the box

    Tom's Guide says the open design scatters more litter when cats dig and exit, so the reviewer still needed to vacuum around it, even with the included netted mat.

    Source: Tom's Guide (cat-tested robotic litter boxes)

What owners love

  • Cats' favorite in testing

    Tom's Guide's cats used it 51 times in one week, more than the Litter-Robot 4 (30) or Leo's Loo Too (11); the reviewer suspects the open design makes cats more comfortable.

    Source: Tom's Guide (cat-tested robotic litter boxes)
  • Dislodges stuck clumps, big bin

    Tom's Guide says it flips the whole container upside down, which helps knock loose stuck-on clumps, and it has one of the largest waste containers (11.23 L listed).

    Source: Tom's Guide (cat-tested robotic litter boxes)
  • Easy access to monitor and refill

    Wirecutter says the open top makes it much easier to keep an eye on your cat and to add litter.

    Source: Wirecutter
Good for
  • Cats that dislike enclosed globes
  • Multi-cat homes needing a big waste bin
  • Owners who will keep firmware updated

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • Tom's Guide: Best robotic litter box overall (2025-04-12), based on how often the cats chose it; its only listed con is litter scatter.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Former pick, moved to the competition (2026-06-01) after reported injuries from over-rotation. Wirecutter plans to retest the updated M1 Plus with the toothless-gear safety fix.
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If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked self-cleaning litter boxes whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in self-cleaning litter boxesWhisker Litter-Robot 4

Wirecutter's top pick: it has one of the roomiest globes, it is the easiest to deep-clean, and its safety sensors never failed in testing. But it costs about $700, its sensors can be finicky, and Amazon owners are split on how long it lasts.

Its catch: finicky sensors and glitches#2 in self-cleaning litter boxesCATLINK Scooper Open-X Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Wirecutter's budget pick: an open-top box that cleans reliably and has the same anti-trap gear design as pricier models, for about a third of their price. But the app is glitchy to set up, the warranty is only one year, and some owners report breakdowns and odor from the loosely sealed bin.

Its catch: glitchy app setup#3 in self-cleaning litter boxesPETKIT PuraMax 2 Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box

A popular mid-priced box on Amazon that Cats.com picks for odor control. But its interior is one of the smallest Wirecutter tested, deep-cleaning is tedious, and Amazon owners are split on odor and durability.

Its catch: small interior

See all 8 self-cleaning litter boxes ranked →