How to Get a Cat to Use an Automatic Litter Box
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An automatic litter box can save you a lot of scooping, but only if your cat agrees to use it. A box that moves, hums and changes shape is a big change for an animal that cares a great deal about where it toilets. Most cats can learn to use one if you take it slowly. This guide covers where to put the new box, how to introduce it switched off, why to keep the same litter, when to turn on the cleaning cycle, what to do with kittens and small cats, and the toilet signs that mean you should call your vet straight away.
How we wrote this: the advice comes from Battersea’s guide to the best litter tray set-up, Best Friends Animal Society’s page on medical reasons a cat stops using the litter box, and Whisker’s Litter-Robot 4 page, which includes its tips for helping a cat get used to the box. Other product facts come from our product pages, which cite the makers and reviewers. We put their advice in our own words and mark our own tips with “in our view”. All were checked on 2 November 2026. We did not test any litter boxes for this guide, and we do not show prices or ratings.
Why some cats are wary of automatic boxes
Battersea says cats like to toilet somewhere quiet, private and safe, with room to turn around, dig and cover. It warns that a smelly, noisy or tight tray can make a cat avoid it, and names self-cleaning boxes in particular: the sound, the motion and the smell can all bother some cats. That does not mean your cat will refuse one; it means the introduction matters.
In our view, the goal is to change one thing at a time: first the box, then the movement, while the litter and the location stay familiar.
Step 1: check the box suits your cat
Before you start, check the maker’s limits on cat size and litter type. Three boxes from our catalog, with the limits our product pages list:
- Whisker Litter-Robot 4: a globe that rotates to sift clumps into a drawer. Whisker says automatic mode is for cats of at least 3 lbs, and that it works with standard-weight clumping clay litter.
- PETKIT PuraMax 2: a rotating drum for cats 6 months and older, weighing 3.3 to 22 lbs, that works with most clumping clay, tofu and corn litters. Our product page notes a low 8 in entry, and that a reviewer’s cats over about 10 lbs avoided it.
- PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart: a low, open-style box where a rake sweeps waste into a covered trap. It uses crystal litter in disposable trays only, and PetSafe says to leave it unplugged for kittens under 6 months.
Battersea’s rule of thumb is a tray one and a half times as long as your cat, measured from the nose to where the tail starts, and a low entry for kittens and older cats. In our view, measure your cat and compare it with the inside of the box, not just the outside size. Our best automatic litter box guide compares these boxes in more detail.
Step 2: put it where the old box was
Whisker’s tip is to set the Litter-Robot up in the old box’s spot and keep the two close together for a while. Battersea’s advice on location applies to any box: somewhere quiet, away from food, water and resting places, always accessible, and not next to a large window where outside cats can look in. It also warns that a utility room with a washing machine or dryer can be stressful for a cat because of sudden noise and vibration.
In our view, set the new box right beside the old one, so your cat can choose. Do not take the old box away yet. In a multi-cat home, Battersea advises a tray for each cat and then one more, so the automatic box should be an addition while your cats get used to it.
Step 3: start with it switched off
Whisker says the Litter-Robot can stay switched off until your cat has used it once. In our view, that works for any automatic box: for the first days, treat it as an ordinary litter box.
- Fill it with litter, leave it unplugged or switched off, and scoop it by hand.
- Let your cat explore it in its own time; do not place your cat inside.
- Once your cat has used it a few times, start making the old box a little less appealing, for example by scooping it less promptly, while keeping it clean enough to use.
If your cat sniffs and walks away, give it time. Whisker says most cats begin using the Litter-Robot within a few days to a week, though every cat is different.
Step 4: keep the litter the same
Battersea lists a different brand of litter among the changes that can unsettle a cat. In our view, the easiest start is to use the litter your cat already likes in the new box, if the maker allows it. If the box needs a different type, such as crystal litter for the ScoopFree, make that change slowly and separately; our guide on how to switch cat litter shows how to mix old and new over time.
Step 5: switch on the cleaning cycle
Once your cat uses the box reliably while it is off, turn on the automatic cycle. Whisker notes that its cleaning cycle does not start until minutes after your cat leaves, and that nervous cats can be given a longer wait, of up to half an hour. In our view:
- set the longest delay your box allows for the first week,
- run the first cycles while you are home, so you can see how your cat reacts,
- if your cat is startled, go back to manual mode for a few days before trying again.
When your cat is using the running box without fuss, you can remove the old box. In our view, wait at least a week of steady use first.
Kittens and small cats
Follow the maker’s weight and age limits exactly. Whisker says kittens under 3 lbs should use the Litter-Robot with the power off, in what it calls semi-automatic mode. PetSafe says to leave the ScoopFree unplugged and scoop by hand for kittens under 6 months, and PETKIT lists its box for cats 6 months and older. Battersea suggests starting kittens with a small, low-entry tray. If your kitten is still learning, see how to litter train a kitten before adding an automatic box.
Keep it clean and running well
An automatic box still needs looking after. Battersea warns that bleach and other harsh-smelling cleaning products can put a cat off its tray. In our view:
- empty the waste drawer or tray before it is full, so the sensors and cycle keep working,
- top up the litter to the maker’s fill line; too little or too much can upset the cycle,
- deep clean the box on the maker’s schedule with a mild, unscented cleaner,
- keep it on a firm, level floor, as uneven flooring can affect weight sensors.
Our guide on how to deep clean a litter box covers the cleaning routine.
Keep an eye on toilet habits
An automatic box means you scoop less, so you see less. In our view, check the waste drawer and the box regularly anyway, and use the app if your box has one: Whisker’s app logs visits and cat weights, and PetSafe’s logs visits and sends unusual activity alerts. A sudden change in how often your cat goes is worth noticing.
When to see a vet urgently
Best Friends says the first step whenever a cat stops using its box is a vet visit, because urinary problems can be life-threatening for cats. Battersea agrees that any change in a cat’s toilet routine should be checked by a vet, since pain or another health problem may be the reason it is avoiding the tray.
Call your vet straight away if your cat:
- strains in the box, or goes in and out many times with little or nothing produced,
- cries or seems in pain when it toilets,
- passes no urine at all, or there is blood in the urine,
- suddenly starts going outside the box, or hides and seems unwell.
A cat that is straining and producing no urine needs a vet the same day; do not wait to see if it settles. Do not assume a cat avoiding a new automatic box is only being fussy until your vet has ruled out a medical cause.
FAQ
How long does it take a cat to get used to an automatic litter box?
It varies. Whisker says most cats start using the Litter-Robot within a few days to a week. In our view, plan on at least one to two weeks, with the old box still available.
Should I keep the old litter box when introducing an automatic one?
Yes, at first. Whisker suggests keeping both nearby for a short time, and in homes with several cats Battersea advises a tray for each cat and then one more.
Can kittens use an automatic litter box?
Only within the maker’s limits. Whisker says kittens under 3 lbs should use the Litter-Robot with the power off, and PetSafe says to keep the ScoopFree unplugged for kittens under 6 months.
Why is my cat afraid of the automatic litter box?
Battersea notes that some cats dislike the sound, motion or smell of self-cleaning boxes. Go back to using it switched off, set a longer cycle delay, and check with your vet if your cat stops using any box.
More on litter boxes: how to switch cat litter and our best automatic litter box picks.