WARCAT Self-Cleaning Litter Box Review: We Tested It With 5 Cats

Annie Butler / Cats.com

The WARCAT Open-Top Self-Cleaning Smart App Control Cat Litter Box is designed to simplify daily litter box upkeep. Featuring a clean, modern design, this model focuses on basic automation, quiet performance, and odor control.

We tested the WARCAT Open-Top Self-Cleaning Smart App Control Cat Litter Box to see how well it performs and how it compares to other automatic litter boxes on the market.

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Ratings

Ease of Cleaning – 3/5
Odor Control – 4/5
Appearance – 5/5
Construction – 5/5
Price – 3/5

Overall Score: 4/5

Why Trust Cats.com

Annie Butler / Cats.com

Annie Butler / Cats.com

As a longtime cat owner and member of the pet industry, I enjoy testing different products with my cats to find ones that make life easier for other cat parents like me.

For this review, I tested the unit in my five-cat household, with adult cats and foster kittens ranging in age from 7 months to 17 years. I evaluated the setup process, how quickly the cats adapted to the design, how the cleaning cycle performed, and how well the app provided usage data and alerts.

WARCAT Open-Top Self-Cleaning Smart App Control Cat Litter Box Overview

Annie Butler / Cats.com

WARCAT is a relatively new U.S.-based company known for its self-cleaning litter boxes. The company’s goal is to build high-quality solutions that take care of the dirty work, giving you more time with your furry family member in a clean, comfortable space. The engineers behind the products are cat lovers themselves, so safety and simplicity are top priorities.

This model uses an automatic separation system that sifts waste after each use and deposits it into a 10-liter waste drawer that can last up to 10 days for one cat. It works with bentonite, mineral, and mixed litters, so you don’t need to deal with any specialty litter, and it includes a scented gel cartridge (which is cute because it’s shaped like a cat’s head). The removable liner and the waste drawer are easy to manage. The interior will occasionally need a quick wipe to remove litter or any waste that might have gotten kicked around, but the maintenance is pretty minimal.

Safety is a priority, so the litter box features gravity sensors and high-precision infrared detectors that monitor the surroundings in real time and shut the box down when a cat is nearby or moving. The Tuya Smart app is easy to use—you get alerts any time a cat has entered the litter box and when the waste drawer needs emptying.

The unit is also quiet, so it’s not annoying to humans or frightening to cats.

WARCAT Open-Top Self-Cleaning Smart App Control Cat Litter Box Features

Feature	Details
Footprint	21.7″ L × 21.7″ W × 20″ H
Inside Drum Size	90-liter capacity (suitable for cats weighing from 2.2 to 24.2 pounds)
Entryway Size	Top entry
Waste Drawer Capacity	Up to 10 days / 10 liters
Unit Weight	Approx. 17.2 pounds
Minimum Cat Weight	2.2 lbs
Maximum Cat Weight	24.2 lbs
Sifting System	Rotating drum with waste separation screen
Safety Features	Gravity sensors and infrared motion detectors detect your cat in or near the box
Odor Control System	Sealed waste drawer with deodorizing design
Peak Noise Level	35 dB (ambient level)
App	Yes—Tuya Smart app (cleaning controls, alerts, basic monitoring)

The WARCAT Open-Top Self-Cleaning Smart App Control Cat Litter Box is designed for cat parents who would like a clean litter box area without a lot of extra work. The open-top design is easy for cats to get into, and the automatic sifting system separates waste after each use, depositing it into a sealed 10-liter drawer.

It works best with standard clay litter, and the included scented gel cartridge along with the airtight cover keep odors to a minimum.

If a cat attempts to re-enter the box (or even goes near it) during the cleaning process, gravity sensors and infrared detectors immediately stop the rotation until the area is clear.

The Tuya Smart app is easy to use, and you can manage cleaning cycles, set schedules, track usage data, and receive full-bin alerts through the app on your mobile device.

While it’s bigger than a traditional litter box, the convenience makes it a practical solution.

Annie Butler / Cats.com

What We Liked

Works with standard clumping litter
Quiet operation
Tuya Smart app offers remote cleaning control and usage logs
Reliable sensors pause the cleaning cycle when the cat is near the box
Sturdy and stable

What We Did Not Like

Might be a little too tall for kittens or elderly cats (although getting a very short stool to put in front of it can help)
Could be too small for large cats
Waste clumps occasionally get stuck on the litter box liner
Interior needs more cleaning if you have a cat that’s overexuberant in the litter box or has digestive issues causing messy poop
Sometimes the box doesn’t detect that the cat has left the box and you need to press the cleaning button yourself

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

Annie Butler / Cats.com

The WARCAT design is modern and simple, and it was easy to set up, including connecting it to Wi-Fi and pairing it with the Tuya app.

My two 7-month-old foster kittens “helped” with the setup and jumped inside as soon as it was ready to go. One of them even decided to use it as a lounging spot for a few minutes. Both of them use it regularly, along with my senior cat. My other two cats don’t seem interested at all. I don’t know if they’re afraid of it or just prefer using a traditional litter box.

Changing the waste bag is a breeze. Because at least three cats were using it, I had to replace it every few days.

The box includes a small brush that you can use to sweep away any scattered litter that gets caught in the crevices, as well as a litter mat with a waffle weave to trap any loose litter once your cat leaves the box. One problem we encountered was the occasional waste clump getting stuck to the liner, which meant using a litter scoop to loosen it up. If you have a cat with digestive issues resulting in loose stools, you’ll need to clean the sifting screen at times. The interior sometimes needs a quick cleaning to remove spots of litter that get stuck to the sides. If you have a cat that’s overexuberant in the litter box, the interior will need more cleaning. But all of these were minor inconveniences.

It also wasn’t as big as I thought it would be. While my senior cat fit into it, it was a bit of a squeeze—but that hasn’t stopped her from using it. So it may not be a good fit, so to speak, for larger cats.

Theoretically, the box will start the cleaning process once it detects your cat is out of the box. But sometimes it doesn’t register that the cat is out, and you need to push the cleaning button yourself. But again—it’s a minor inconvenience.

The app is very handy, and it tells you when a cat is in the box, when it’s cleaning, and when the waste bin is full. I was impressed with the safety features that stop everything when a cat tries to go back into the box while it’s cleaning or is even anywhere near it.

Overall, the box did its job. There were a few mishaps with waste not being completely removed, but I didn’t have to manually remove waste on a daily basis. I still have traditional litter boxes in my home, but the convenience of having one that didn’t need daily scooping was nice.

What Do Customers Think?

Because the brand is somewhat new, it hasn’t received the same number of reviews as older, more established automatic litter boxes. But early feedback from customers has been mostly positive, with the product receiving 4.0 stars on Chewy based on 103 reviews. Cat owners like its convenience, odor control, and the app-based controls.

Positive Reviews

Buyers appreciate the open design, which helped their cats adapt to the box quickly. They also liked the size and capacity, and that it’s quiet during the cleaning cycle. Several cat parents called it a game changer.

“I didn’t realize how much time I was spending cleaning the litter box until I switched to this one. The app feature is really useful–I can check everything remotely and don’t have to worry when I’m out for the day. My cat adapted quickly, probably because of the open design. She seems comfortable using it, which was my biggest concern before buying. Overall, it just makes life easier and keeps things cleaner around the house.” – by Daniel reviewing on Chewy Apr 8, 2026

“We’ve been using this litter box for about a week and it’s been such a nice upgrade. It looks really clean and modern, keeps odors under control (way better than our old box), and saves me so much time scooping. My cat got used to it pretty quickly, too.” – by Mo reviewing on Chewy May 20, 2026

“I’ve been really happy with this litter box so far. I like the open design because my cat can get in and out easily. The self-cleaning feature is very convenient and saves me from scooping as often. I also like being able to control it through the app. It’s been a nice addition to our home and makes keeping the litter area clean much easier.” – by Yanaisy reviewing on Chewy Aug 21, 2026

Negative Reviews

While early feedback for the WARCAT automatic litter box was mostly positive, customers raised a few concerns, including occasional technical issues, clumps getting stuck to the liner, and the unit being too small for larger cats.

“I think this is a really good, budget-friendly litter box. It was shipped and packaged well, and was very easy to assemble. The app was also user-friendly. But I don’t think it is suited for larger cats as it says. My boys are 12 and 14 pounds, and this was too small for even the 12-pounder.”– by Neena reviewing on Chewy Jul 11, 2026

“I love this litter box, except the sensors quit working, and I have to manually get it to clean.” – by Stephanie reviewing on Chewy Jun 30, 2026

“It was great at first because it cut down so much on cleaning and the smells. After about two months it keeps getting stuck in the cleaning position, preventing the cats from being able to use it.” – by Dolores reviewing on Chewy Jun 29, 2026

Overall, Is the WARCAT Open-Top Self-Cleaning Smart App Control Cat Litter Box a Good Choice?

The WARCAT Open-Top Self-Cleaning Smart App Control Cat Litter Box mainly focuses on straightforward automation. There are no cameras or health-monitoring features, but it’s perfect for cat owners who just want to cut down on daily litter box upkeep. And the app helps with that by alerting you when it’s cleaning and when the waste bin needs to be emptied.

For the most part, the litter box is dependable and does what it’s supposed to, although some minimal manual scooping and cleaning might be necessary.