Last updated Apr 15, 2025
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box, is a self-flushing, artificially intelligent litter box from the CatGenie family. This unit replaced the CatGenie 120 model and is currently the only self-flushing litter box on the market
Ratings
- Ease of Cleaning – 4.5/5
- Odor Control – 3.5/5
- Appearance – 4.5/5
- Construction – 4.5/5
- Price – 3.5/5
Overall Score: 4.1/5
This one of a kind self-flushing and self-washing litter box promises to be the cleanest, smartest and easiest litter box system. But at $429, does the CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Litter Box do what it claims to, and is it worth the price?
After weeks of thorough testing, we’ve concluded that the CatGenie A.I. is a good performer in all key areas and stands high above the rest when it comes to its apps abilities and effective cleaning. However, there is a lot to consider, depending on your personal needs and how many cats you have in the home.
Why Trust Cats.com
Mallory Crusta, our head of content, tested the CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box over the course of several weeks with her two cats, Wessie and Forest. In this article, we provide you with an overview of her experience as well as everything you need to know about this self-flushing litter box in order to make your own decision.
Specifications
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie A.I. Automatic Litter Box is a large, round litter box designed for use in a laundry room or bathroom. It measures 19.25″ wide in front, 17.5″ wide top, 21″ high, and 24.5″ deep, allowing for hoses. It needs to connect to a cold water line and a standard GFCI outlet using an 8′ long water supply hose and 10′ long drain hose.
The CatGenie A.I. comes with the adapters needed to attach the hose to your water line and to set up the waste line into a toilet or a washing machine drain. However, if your water hookup is unusual or if you have a fixed water line, you may need to make some adjustments when installing the unit.
How To Set Up the CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box
You will need to connect the CatGenie to a cold water line using the supplied T-Adaptor and share drainage with the toilet or washing machine. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie A.I. requires a little more work when setting up when compared to other self-cleaning litter boxes. While it’s not difficult to install, it does need a decent amount of space, a water supply, an electrical outlet and a place to drain the waste. The cord is only 6 feet long, so this is something you will also want to consider.
You will need to connect the CatGenie to a cold water line using the supplied T-Adaptor and share drainage with the toilet or washing machine. The drain hook secures under the toilet seat to pass waste into the toilet. Cold water is shared with the toilet. In a laundry room setup, the drain hose is inserted into the washing machine drain pipe, and the cold water line is shared with the washing machine.
There is a Sanisolution cartridge that must be installed before use. This can not be refilled, and the unit will not function if it is not in place.
How Does The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box Work?
A cleaning cycle takes about 30 to 40 minutes to complete. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie is a self-flushing, self-washing litter box that gathers waste and rinses it with water and SaniSolution, so it can be flushed down the toilet or a drain. The CatGenie uses washable granules instead of traditional litter, which can be cleaned and reused.
The CatGenie washes, scrubs, scours and purifies the washable granules and litter box. The granules are very small and fine, so they look and feel like clay litter, but they are biodegradable and septic-safe.
During the cleaning cycle, the CatGenie has a scoop that drops down into the litter tray and collects the solid waste. The waste is deposited into a compartment where it is softened and then mixed with water and the SaniSolution before being flushed away.
CatGenie then uses hot air to thoroughly dry the granules at the end of each cycle, leaving them completely dry for the next use.
The CatGenie app allows you to set to detect your cat’s presence (Cat Activation Mode) and it will clean after your cat exits the litter box. You can also keep it in Manual Mode and set a scheduled cleaning time. A cleaning cycle takes about 30 to 40 minutes to complete.
Cat-Friendliness
The CatGenie is cat friendly in general and you are able to purchase an optional cover if that is how your cat prefers to use the litter box. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box needs to be in a bathroom or laundry area to operate. These may be rooms your cats do not use or like being in. Our cats did not want to use this litter box even when it was replacing another one they used in the bathroom initially. They warmed up to it after about a week.
The CatGenie is cat-friendly in general, and you are able to purchase an optional cover if that is how your cat prefers to use the litter box. It does make some noises which could make nervous cats hesitant to use it.
Our biggest issue with cat friendliness is the lengthy cycles for cleaning, which may take up to 40 minutes and could leave the little box inoperable many times a day. This is a bigger issue for multi-cat homes.
Odor Control
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box does not control odor at all between cleaning cycles. When it does perform a cycle and cleans the litter, then applies the Sanisolution, it does smell better.
If, during the cleaning cycle, it misses pieces of feces, those will go through the washing and drying process. When the hot air kicks on to dry the litter, it may create more odor heating up those feces.
There can also be build-up of solid waste in the macerator portion of the CatGenie. This makes regular cleanings important.
Tracking & Scatter Control
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie’s Washable Granules are small and lightweight, which makes them highly trackable, and the litter box doesn’t do much to prevent scattering.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning the CatGenie can be cumbersome because of all the water and hoses involved. Lifting the parts out to clean can get messy because everything is wet. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
Cleaning the CatGenie can be cumbersome because of all the water and hoses involved. Lifting the parts out to clean them can get messy because everything is wet.
The CatGenie should get a deep cleaning every six months. They sell a machine-washing soak and cleaning cartridge to help in this area.
Other than cleaning out the hopper, topping off the washable granules, and adding a new SaniSolution cartridge, there isn’t a lot of regular maintenance required.
The CatGenie App
The CatGenie App is great because it enables you to track usage, set cleaning schedules, and even order supplies directly. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie app can determine how frequently your cat uses the litter box each day, how frequently the SaniSolution cartridge needs to be changed, and when maintenance should be performed.
You are able to activate a cleaning cycle manually, set it to cat activation mode, or set a timer for when you want it to clean routinely. There is even a do not disturb button you can switch on and it will not activate a cleaning during that time.
The CatGenie app sends you an alarm message when it’s time for a full cleaning. The app also allows you to set up individual profiles for each of your cats.
How Much Does The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box Cost?
It does come with a 90-day money-back guarantee as well as a two-year warranty. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box sells for Out of stock, but keep in mind the cost of the Washable Granules and SaniSolution cartridges.
If you consider an average of 3 cleaning cycles per day, a box of Washable Granules ($24) and a single SaniSolution cartridge ($25) will need to be replaced every 3 months.
It does come with a 90-day money-back guarantee as well as a two-year warranty. CatGenie also has an excellent customer service department that is available 7 days a week.
What Do Customers Think of CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box?
Positive Reviews
“This is probably the best investment I’ve ever made for myself and my cats!!! Easy to hook up, and never have to mess with cat litter again!! It’s pricey but it’s worth it!!”-Kayla Hawkins on Amazon
“I have used cat genie before, but I had to go away from it when I no longer had the space for the machine….i wish I never had to stop using one. It was super easy to set up in my extra bathroom that I now have , I am just waiting for my new washing machine to determine if I will buy a second one for the house. I love that I can set it for multiple cats and honestly I have never had a smell.”-Kristen Hunter on Amazon
“The Seller is Wonderful!! The Cat Genie is NOT!!! Have had nothing but trouble with it for the past 7 months since purchase!!! It sucks down the Sani solution very quickly which is not cheap!! Plus it has a shipping cost of $5.99 on top of product cost of $25.99 unless you purchase 3 at $72.99 with one shipping fee of $5.99. You can only get replacement items from Amazon! I HATE this thing!!! I have had drainage problems repeatedly causing my house to stink badly!!! The return window was only 30 days which did not allow enough time for problems to surface. The cleaning process time is lenghy which has caused my cat to go elsewhere!!! I bought an 18 month warranty with it. Hopefully it will help me recoup some of my loss!!! When it runs the cycle, the noise is a bit much!!!k Wish I had Never purchased it!!! It is not the seller’s fault that this thing is a Bust.”-C, Ewert on Amazon
Negative Reviews
“This thing will be amazing for a month or two, then afterwards you will get baked poo smell and then all sorts of other issues down the road. There is a glass rod that supposedly you have to clean and that thing always gave me issues down the road. It’s a pain in the ass to clean and just a nightmare overall. You do more work cleaning it and ending up having to reclean due to it erroring right when you put it back together. Do not buy.”- Justin Nicholas on Amazon
“The Seller is Wonderful!! The Cat Genie is NOT!!! Have had nothing but trouble with it for the past 7 months since purchase!!! It sucks down the Sani solution very quickly which is not cheap!! Plus it has a shipping cost of $5.99 on top of product cost of $25.99 unless you purchase 3 at $72.99 with one shipping fee of $5.99. You can only get replacement items from Amazon! I HATE this thing!!! I have had drainage problems repeatedly causing my house to stink badly!!! The return window was only 30 days which did not allow enough time for problems to surface. The cleaning process time is lenghy which has caused my cat to go elsewhere!!! I bought an 18 month warranty with it. Hopefully it will help me recoup some of my loss!!! When it runs the cycle, the noise is a bit much!!!k Wish I had Never purchased it!!! It is not the seller’s fault that this thing is a Bust.”-C, Ewert on Amazon
Our Experience With The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box
We found it to be well designed and innovative. While this unit may require a little more time in setting up, the maintenance is minimal. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
After trying the CatGenie A.I. for several weeks and evaluating its cleaning performance, app, and cat-friendliness, we found it to be well-designed and innovative. While this unit may require a little more time to set up, the maintenance is minimal.
It does come equipped with all the connectors needed for installation, which is pretty simple and straightforward.
The CatGenie App is great because it enables you to track usage, set cleaning schedules, and even order supplies directly.
Our biggest issue was with the monthly cleaning procedure, which can be quite messy and tedious. There are a lot of pieces to remove carefully and a lot of water to deal with.
In addition, the Washable granules do seem to need to be topped off more often than expected. A lot of it gets washed away during the cleaning cycle. You will also find a lot of the Washable Granules tracked on the floor because they are so small and lightweight.
Is The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box Worth It?
The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box, can get messy if there is a blockage and this is a common complaint we see among reviews. Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
Overall, the CatGenie A.I. is a consistent, well-made product and has an outstanding app, but it really depends on your needs. It is best for people who have plenty of space in their laundry room or bathroom to connect the unit to a water line and drain or toilet.
This litter box is a bit of an investment, but it has the power to save you a lot of time and hassle. However, it does require some maintenance and is best for single cat homes.
The CatGenie A.I. Self-Flushing Automatic Litter Box can get messy if there is a blockage and this is a common complaint we see among reviews. This can mean pulling the unit apart and dealing with a mess on rare occasions.
Overall, the CatGenie is a good investment if you want to take cleaning litter manually out of the equation and do not mind occasional maintenance.
I feel like the staff and designers have completely given up on customer service or the idea of improving what could easily be a five-star product.
First, they have outright ignored my inquiries through their site regarding the messy granule situation and whether they’re working on a design that doesn’t stick to my cat’s paws like glue. That alone speaks volumes about their commitment to improvement.
Second, the technology could be vastly improved. Just look at the flimsy little device we’re all using to write reviews like this. There are countless minor tweaks that could take this from frustrating to fantastic, yet nothing changes.
And that’s where this company really loses me. I can’t help but feel they’re content with granules tracking all over people’s homes—after all, that just means customers will need to buy more sooner. Worse, they’ve designed the machine to “punish” users for running a no-scoop cycle by doubling the amount of sanitizer solution used. Why not develop a waste detector instead?
One of my biggest frustrations is that when my cat pees (which, let’s be honest, most cats don’t do at the same time as #2), the scooper still comes down and flings wet granules into the back of the hopper—wasting them. I’ve even found them in my ear.
To work around this, I installed a camera above my unit and set the longest “cat sensor mode” available (30 minutes) to allow urine to drain. Then, I check the camera to see if my cat only peed. If so, I manually run a no-scoop cycle through the app to save granules. But even then, they get you—the machine doubles the sanitizer solution usage when you skip a scoop cycle.
The moral of the story? This company is more interested in selling refills than improving the user experience. They expect you to buy the supplies, shut up, and be happy with it. That’s why this is my second review—because they never posted my first one—and why they continue to ignore these issues.
Beware of overly happy reviews that don’t mention the granule problem. It is a problem, and it’s not going anywhere.
As for installation, I rated it “difficult” because even if I had space next to my toilet, I wouldn’t want it there. My laundry room wasn’t an option either, so I had mine plumbed to drain into my utility room floor drain. Who wants a giant litter-cleaning machine next to their toilet or washing machine? If that’s your thing, great. But I wanted it out of sight.
If I had to do it all over again, I’d stick with a dust-free, modern clumping litter and be much happier—both in terms of cost and cleanliness.
I purchased the Cat Genie 1 1/2 months ago. Very happy with it. We have 4 cats, I’ve got it set to a 4 hr time activation. I wish it had a larger diameter bowl and taller dome. There is little to zero odor between cleaning’s. This has been a huge time saver for us. With a regular cat box ($45 month), cleaning 2X-3X daily, it was difficult to keep up with the smell, disposal & maintenance. There is a setting in the app that allows for No Scoop-Just wash, so if you have a kitty with diarrhea, it will wash without scooping supposedly reducing the mess. We’ll see if/when that happens. Our cats have gotten use to it & if it is in the middle of the cleaning cycle, they appear to line up for it to finish. They haven’t figured out that it will stop cleaning if they go in & resume cleaning after they leave. Honestly, I do think it’s a fair price for the amount of time that I’m saving & our homes comfort for all of us. The phone app is helpful, we can adjust cleanings remotely & lock them so our fur toddlers don’t reset them. Their ages ranges are: 7 – 16 years old
I purchased the Catgenie over 5 years ago. So I should say I have the ancient model compared to the new one. I have only had to replace it one time and that was because the older model just broke. But I have to say I wouldn’t use any other kind of cat box then this one. I have had issues in the past with the cleaning process. It overflowed while cleaning so now I just get rid of the waste with a scooper myself while I let the CatGenie wash and clean the granules. It is hooked up on my laundry room and uses the big sink I have in the back to flush out the drain. I only have one cat and she took right to using it. I did buy the dome cover for her privacy along with her scratching the sides when trying to bury her waste in the litter. Yes the granules track ALL over the house. I have wood floors and her litter goes everywhere! But like I said I love the Catgenie and will never go back. I have a fixed income or I would purchase the newer model but I cannot afford one. Too bad because I would love it!
Nice! Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have had 3 cat genies in 9 years. I have two cats. The concept is great but they are not worth the money. The ai one lasted about 1.5 years. They started out about 250 dollars now they r over 500. That is too much for a machine that does not last. The quality has gone down in the past 10 years. I will not be buying any more in the near future.
Glad to get your experience and perspective on it, Dorie.