What Tray, Cartridge and Refill-Ring Litter Boxes Cost to Run

Crystal trays, cleaning cartridges and self-sealing bag rings turn a one-off purchase into a recurring bill. For 6 of the 9 boxes below, the maker publishes both a price and a usage rate, so the monthly figure is worked out from the maker's own numbers, taking the longest consumable life it states; the lowest per cat is the PETKIT Purobot Ultra. The others need a consumable their makers do not cost out.

How this list is ordered: Every box that needs a proprietary consumable, ordered by monthly cost per cat at the maker's published price and usage; boxes whose maker publishes too little to work it out come last. 9 of the catalog’s boxes qualify.

  1. PETKITP9903Rotating drum

    1PETKIT

    ~$800

    PETKIT Purobot Ultra

    Unlike PETKIT's other drums, the Ultra bags its own waste: each full load is heat-sealed from a refill ring, so emptying means lifting out a closed bag.

    Per month
    ~$16/month for one cat, at the longest life the maker states
    Type
    Rotating drum
    Automate from ~3.3 lb / ~6 months
  2. PETKITP9905Crystal tray

    2PETKIT

    ~$200

    PETKIT Purobot Crystal Duo

    This is PETKIT's answer to the ScoopFree: an open crystal tray, but with a camera that watches urination patterns and a 7-inch entry sill.

    Per month
    ~$20/month for one cat, at the longest life the maker states
    Type
    Crystal tray
    Automate from ~3.3 lb / ~6 months
  3. CatGenie Whoosh self-cleaning litter box

    3CatGenie

    ~$469

    CatGenie Whoosh

    The Whoosh swaps the A.I.'s reusable granules for a flushable litter made from soybean pulp, and sends everything down the drain.

    Per month
    ~$43/month for 2 cats, at the longest life the maker states
    Type
    Flushing
    Automate from 6 months (no weight published)
  4. PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Pro Legacy self-cleaning litter box

    4PetSafe

    ~$130

    PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Pro Legacy

    PetSafe still sells the 2020 redesign that made the health counter standard across the line, now under the Legacy name at about $130 uncovered.

    Per month
    ~$23/month for one cat, at the longest life the maker states
    Type
    Crystal tray
    Automate from 6 months (no weight published)
  5. PetSafePAL00-18016Crystal tray

    5PetSafe

    ~$200

    PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Plus

    The current open-tray ScoopFree adds a light that tells you when the crystal tray is spent.

    Per month
    ~$23/month for one cat, at the longest life the maker states
    Type
    Crystal tray
    Automate from 6 months (no weight published)
  6. PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Pro self-cleaning litter box

    6PetSafe

    ~$230

    PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Pro

    Take the Crystal Plus, add a removable hood and a digital counter that logs how often the box is used, and this is the result for about $30 more.

    Per month
    ~$23/month for one cat, at the longest life the maker states
    Type
    Crystal tray
    Kitten threshold not published
  7. PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Classic self-cleaning litter box

    7PetSafe

    ~$100

    PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Classic

    At about $100 on sale, the cheapest motorised box in the catalog is also the most limited.

    Per month
    Not published
    Type
    Crystal tray
    Automate from 6 months (no weight published)
  8. PetSafePAL00-16807Crystal tray

    8PetSafe

    ~$270

    PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Smart

    This is the app-connected member of the crystal-tray family, sold open or with a front-entry hood that brings it to 15.6 inches.

    Per month
    Not published
    Type
    Crystal tray
    Automate from 6 months (no weight published)
  9. CatGenie A.I. self-cleaning litter box

    9CatGenie

    ~$499

    CatGenie A.I.

    Nothing here gets emptied: the A.I.

    Per month
    Not published
    Type
    Flushing
    Automate from 6 months (no weight published)

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