How To Choose A Self-Cleaning Litter Box For Large Cats

Trying To Find An Automatic Litter Box For Your Large Cat?

If you have a large cat, choosing a roomy automatic litter box is a challenge. It’s not only about your cat being comfortable when doing its business it’s also about preventing litter box accidents. When the area where your cat aims is reduced, the urine or feces most likely will go outside or on top of the box’s rim. It’s not the cat’s fault. Most manufacturers design self-cleaning litter boxes thinking only on small to average cats, and leaving out the big guys. But here you will learn how to choose an auto litter box for your large furry friend.

When A Cat Is Considered Large?

First, I want to mention that there are many types of cats, some of them are weeny little things with delicate bones and others are massive hulking bruisers.

Here I will mention what it’s considered an average domestic large cat, leaving out the extremely large and tall cats, for example, an extra large Maine Coon or a Savannah. These cats can weigh up to 25 lbs or more. As a general rule, a cat is considered large when it weighs between 15 and 20 lbs. More than that would be considered an Extra Large cat.

There are exceptions to this rule, for example, cats that weigh less than 15 lbs, but they are tall. When cats are tall and slim they have more capacity to adapt to spaces due to its skinnier bodies, still, they are considered large cats and they need a comfortable roomy area where to do their business.

Not All Automatic Litter Boxes Are Suitable For Large Cats

Automatic litter boxes are in general well designed and a good help to keep up with the litter box scooping and most of them will feature either a rake or conveyor to do their job which is collecting the cat’s waste.

So far it sounds good, but the problem is that these built-in elements will be right next to the litter bed where the cat does its business, taking space from the litter area, reducing it and making it less suitable for a large cat.

Also, the typical rectangular shape of these units limits the cat’s movements when inside. Even if the self-cleaning litter box features a circular shape, such as the CatGenie, the litter area is still rather small for a large cat and the rims are not tall enough to stop litter, urine or feces from going onto the floor.

Large Cats vs Automatic Litter Boxes

You will encounter some inconveniences if buying any auto litter box for your large cat. The most commons are:

• Your cat will not like the reduced space so he or she will do its business outside (we don’t want that).
• Your cat’s butt will hang out of the litter box and the feces or urine will go onto the mat or floor (it’s not your cat’s fault, he doesn’t have eyes there :) )
• The scooping rake will get dirty with some feces or urine on it (not much fun cleaning a poopy rake).
• The unit doesn’t have a large waste compartment to hold the clumps for more than a couple of days with a large cat.

Check List When Getting an Auto Litter Box For a Large Cat

To get your large cat the best auto litter box you must pay attention to the following points if you want to get a unit that will respond to the special needs of a large cat. A suitable automatic litter box for a large cat needs to meet ALL the following requirements if you really want to invest in something that will work for your pet:

1. The Litter Box’s Entry Needs to be Wide

Wide enough for your cat to enter smoothly but not so wide that it wont’t keep the litter from going outside when the cat starts digging.

2. The Access Needs to be Elevated

This way your large cat won’t have issues with entering the unit since it will be higher from the floor.

3. Ability to Keep Up with the Cat’s Waste

Large cats produce more waste and some automatic litter boxes simply don’t live up to this challenge.

4. Large Waste Compartment

This way the unit can hold the cat waste for several days. If you have to empty the waste compartment almost everyday because of your big kitty creating so much waste then the purpose of having an automatic litter box is defeated.

5. The Litter Bed Area Must be Wide and Deep Enough

This way your large feline will have the ability to turn around and maneuver comfortably. Also, the litter area must be free of objects that could get in contact with your cat’s butt. When cats feel something touching their butt they usually turn the other way and this could be a problem if aiming in the wrong direction.

6. The Built-in Parts Make Automatic Boxes Look Larger

Some units feature built-in scooping rakes, or parts that make the unit appear larger than it really is. However, when measuring the litter bed area which is really the important thing the litter box turns out to be small.

 What Unit Meets These Points?

There are automatic litter boxes that don’t feature a scooping arm or rake sitting next to the litter bed because their mechanism consists of filtering and sifting the clumps through a rotating Globe and a built-in screen that is part of the litter box. These units are called the Litter Robot 3 Open Air or the Litter-Robot 4, which is the latest model of Whisker. Check my review of the Litter-Robot 4 to learn how this device worked for me and my cat.

Why the Litter Robot Is the Most Suitable For Large Cats

1. Dimensions

The widest point inside the Globe’s chamber is 20″ across and the depth is 20″ front to back. These dimensions allow your large cat to accommodate inside the unit to do its business without the risk of urinating or pooping outside.

Dimensions Litter-Robot 4

Dimensions Litter-Robot 3

2. The Shaped Inside the Globe

The litter chamber inside the Globe, due to its shape, offers much more room for the cat to move and turn around. Plus any waste will go always to the litter no matter what and not outside the litter box. Inside the Globe, there are a built-in screen and the internal shield (a protective piece that stops clumps from sliding onto the “roof” of the Globe). These pieces however, don’t take much space as they follow the spherical line of the inside.

The design of the Litter Robot allows large cats to do their business without the typical “accidents” present in other auto litter boxes. Due to the Globe’s shape the cat’s urine and feces will go to the litter bed, no matter where your cat does its business, the urine will drop down to the litter in case your cat urinates above the liner (rubber) area and will form a clump that will be dumped into the waste drawer.

3. Ergonomically Designed

The Litter Robot’s oval-shaped entryway allows the large cat’s body to go through nicely. Additionally, the entryway’s oval shape gives cats confidence to get in, without that feeling of being trapped or feeling claustrophobic, but at the same time, having privacy to do their business. The upwards shape of the entry helps to contain litter scattering as well. Also, the Globe has been ergonomically designed to accommodate larger cats comfortably with no corners that block the cat’s movements.

4. Wi-Fi Smart Version For Busy Cat Owners

And now this unit is not only suitable for large cats but also for busy owners. Now the Litter Robot Open Air comes with a Wi-Fi Connect version that allows you to check the operation of the litter box from your smartphone. This is great news if you need to make sure your cat is doing its business regularly.

If you are struggling in trying to find a suitable auto litter box for your large cat, you may want to check in-depth reviews and see the largest self-cleaning litter boxes in the market, the Litter-Robot 4 or the Litter-Robot 3.