People love their pets and are always looking for ways to make pet care more convenient. Technology is catching up fast to this demand, with smart litter boxes being one impressive development. These self-cleaning litter boxes offer many benefits that appeal to cat owners—but they can be challenging to stock.
Businesses hoping to capture a part of this market should understand why pet owners want smart litter boxes and should be aware of the key features to look for. This article will explore exactly that, giving retailers everything they need to know to stock the best smart litter boxes in 2025.
Table of Contents
3 benefits that make smart litter boxes a good buy
1. Convenient & time-saving features
2. Smart home integration & remote monitoring
3. Health tracking & preventative care
7 factors to look at when investing in smart litter boxes
1. Size and comfort
2. Safety features
3. Self-cleaning mechanism
4. Odor control
5. Smart monitoring & app integration
6. Multi-cat accommodations
7. Maintenance and ease of cleaning
Wrapping up
3 benefits that make smart litter boxes a good buy
1. Convenient & time-saving features
The biggest reason why anyone would want a smart litter box is convenience. These boxes offer hands-free maintenance that solves the daily scooping hassles of traditional options. Pet owners will spend less time cleaning and more time doing other things (or hanging out with their pets).
2. Smart home integration & remote monitoring
It’s no secret that people often leave their pets at home. For this reason, many pet owners are moving toward smart pet care technology to keep an eye on them—and automatic litter boxes are a perfect fit for this trend. These devices have features that update owners on what their pets are doing anytime, any day.
3. Health tracking & preventative care
What if pet owners are not that perceptive of their cat’s health? A smart litter box can fill that gap with real-time weight sensors and usage tracking. These features can give valuable insights into the pet’s health and overall well-being. Owners will see any changes in weight and litter box frequency and catch any irregular usage patterns, which can point toward potential health issues.
7 factors to look at when investing in smart litter boxes
1. Size and comfort
Cats can be very picky about their litter setup. A cramped cat might refuse to use the box, leading to bigger problems for the owner. That’s why the first real decision revolves around the box size—retailers have two options: large and regular.
Large smart litter boxes often have enough room for bigger breeds, like Maine Coons or Ragdolls, allowing them to move around comfortably. They may come in dome-like forms, also great for multi-cat families. Other features common with large smart litter boxes include high walls and extra-large waste bins.
On the other hand, regular-sized smart litter boxes are more compact. They’re great for single-cat households (or smaller cats) since they provide enough room for the pet to do business without wasting precious limited space. Although owners will maintain them more frequently, it’s still more convenient than traditional variants.
Note: The best option depends on the consumers’ available space, lifestyle, and cat’s needs. So, it’s better to stock both options to cater to a broader audience—or choose one size to be more specific.
2. Safety features
Safety while using smart pet care devices is a top concern for any pet parent. They may worry that a motorized system might accidentally start rotating or raking when the cat is still inside. However, retailers can ease their worries by explaining the built-in safeguards that protect the pet (and even kids). Here are the top safety features to ensure smart litter boxes have before selling:
- Infrared or weight sensors: These pause the smart litter box’s cleaning process if they detect a cat entering or still inside.
- Child or pet locks: Look for boxes with safety doors or auto-lock features to keep curious pets (and kids) from tampering with the interior while the smart litter box is running a cleaning cycle.
- Error alerts: Stock smart litter boxes that will send an alarm or push notification if something jams or a sensor misaligns. This feature is helpful for both safety and troubleshooting.
3. Self-cleaning mechanism
The cleaning system is at the heart of every smart litter box. Smart litter boxes can either rotate the entire chamber to clean the waste or use a rake to push it into a covered bin. No matter the approach, the goal is to remove clumps before they sit around and stink up the room and reduce the need for manual scooping.
It also helps to know whether the product has specific litter recommendations (like if it is compatible with clay, silica gel, pine, corn, walnut, and paper-based litter). If a manufacturer claims the smart litter box is “universal,” does that hold up in practice?
And how about daily usage? If the device cleans after every visit, does it need a large waste bin so it doesn’t overflow after multiple uses in one day—especially in multi-cat homes? Remember to factor these points in when deciding which boxes to carry.
4. Odor control
Odor management is a big selling point for many shoppers. People love their cats, but that doesn’t mean they like the stench of a used litter box. So, how do smart litter boxes handle odor?
High-quality litter boxes have airtight sealing systems and active ventilation that help trap and destroy odors. They may also come with activated carbon filters or built-in deodorizing systems that help maintain an odorless environment.
Note: Some smart litter boxes rely on quick disposal for odor control. This involves clumps landing in a sealed bag owners can empty with minimal contact.
5. Smart monitoring & app integration
Many smart litter boxes have companion apps that let owners track how often their cat visits the box, whether the bin is nearing full capacity, and whether the cat’s weight changes over time (as mentioned in the benefits above). This feature is perfect for pet owners who travel frequently, as getting a smartphone alert is reassuring if something goes wrong or if it’s time to empty the waste drawer.
Note: Ask if the manufacturer charges subscription fees for advanced features and ensure the app is user-friendly with fewer glitches.
6. Multi-cat accommodations
Large smart litter boxes, thanks to their roomy interiors or enhanced capacity, are the perfect solution for multi-cat households. A good idea is to look for models that can track individual cats by weight or microchip ID, which is especially useful for owners wanting to keep an eye on each pet’s bathroom habits.
Although these premium features can push the price up, they also present a strong case for cat owners who don’t want to juggle multiple boxes around the house. If a single device can do the trick while controlling odor and providing usage stats per cat, it’s an easier sell—despite the higher investment.
7. Maintenance and ease of cleaning
Smart or not, every litter box still needs occasional manual upkeep. What matters is how easy it is to pull off. Avoid designs that need frequent deep cleaning because of crevices. Instead, stock options that let consumers remove the waste drawer, remove the bag, and replace it in a few minutes to save a lot of hassle.
Retailers should also confirm if the model has readily available replacement parts (filters, liners, or motor components). They can also make these accessories available in their stores, so consumers consider them a one-stop shop for everything related to their smart litter box.
Wrapping up
Smart litter boxes aren’t going away soon. They’re here because of a genuine need—people want solutions that make pet ownership easier and more hygienic. When retailers weigh the designs available, they should consider the different buyer personas they encounter: the busy professional with one cat, the family in a suburban home with three cats, the tech enthusiast who loves getting real-time pet data, and so on. Stocking a range that covers these varied scenarios can broaden their appeal and boost their overall sales in the pet care category.
