# How We Research & Score Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes > How Self-Cleaning Litter Box Guide researches self-cleaning litter boxes: where specs come from, how we treat safety claims and weight limits, and how the… - Source: https://selfcleaninglitterboxguide.com/how-we-research/ - Markdown version: https://selfcleaninglitterboxguide.com/how-we-research.md --- - [Home](https://selfcleaninglitterboxguide.com/) - How we research # How we research and score self-cleaning litter boxes We'd rather tell you exactly how our recommendations are made than imply something they aren't. Here's the process behind every guide, review and tool on Self-Cleaning Litter Box Guide. ## What we do (and don't do) Self-Cleaning Litter Box Guide is a research-based buyer's guide. We haven't tested these boxes ourselves, and our reviews are not hands-on tests. Where a test result appears, we name the outlet that ran it. For every box we: - **Start from the maker's own specs, FAQs and manuals**: mechanism, minimum and maximum cat weight, minimum age, cats per box, entry size, footprint, litter requirements, waste capacity, sensors, app and warranty. - **Read the Amazon listing** for the exact version sold there, because listings sometimes differ from the maker's site (weight ranges, warranty terms, bundle contents). - **Cross-check with named hands-on reviews**, chiefly WIRED's long-running automatic litter box guide, Tom's Guide and Cats.com, and note where their experience differs from the claims. - **Look for safety reports**: documented incidents, maker safety notices, counterfeit warnings and recalls. On November 12, 2026, a search of the CPSC recall database for "litter" returned no self-cleaning litter box recalls. - **Flag uncertainty.** When a spec is missing or sources disagree, we say so. "Not confirmed" means we couldn't verify it either way. Each product page lists the sources we relied on. ## How the 10-point score works Every box gets four sub-scores, each out of 10: - **Cat safety (35%)**: whether the entrance stays open through the cycle, how many kinds of sensor watch for the cat, the minimum weight and kitten guidance, documented failures or trapping risks, and counterfeit risk. - **Cleaning & odor (25%)**: how reliably it separates waste, drawer sealing and capacity, odor control and what named reviewers report. - **Ease & reliability (20%)**: setup, refilling litter, emptying, app quality, false cycles and "ghost cat" errors, noise, and long-term reports. - **Value (20%)**: price for what you get, including running costs such as proprietary trays, liners, filters and subscriptions. The overall score is the weighted average, rounded to one decimal. A 9+ is exceptional, 8–9 is a strong buy for the right home, and under 7.5 means real compromises. A box whose design can trap a cat scores low on safety no matter how well it cleans. Newer models with few owner reviews are scored cautiously and can move as the record builds. A higher score doesn't mean it's right for your cat. A 25 lb cat can't use a box rated to 19 lb, and a kitten shouldn't use any box in automatic mode below its minimum. That's why we built the [cat safety checker](https://selfcleaninglitterboxguide.com/tools/cat-safety-checker/) and the [litter box matcher](https://selfcleaninglitterboxguide.com/tools/litter-box-matcher/). ## Prices and running costs Prices are typical US street prices at our last update, shown as ranges and as price tiers ($ to $$$$), with the source and date on each product page. When we updated this guide on November 12, 2026, Amazon's product pages were returning bot checks to our checker, so we took prices from maker stores and from dated retailer price boxes in named reviews, not from live Amazon pages. Always check today's price. Running costs in the [cost calculator](https://selfcleaninglitterboxguide.com/tools/litter-box-cost-calculator/) use each maker's own consumable prices where we could confirm them; where we couldn't, the calculator says so and lets you enter your own. ## Safety information Our safety guidance summarizes maker instructions and published veterinary guidance (the AAFP and ISFM's house-soiling guidelines and the MSD Veterinary Manual). It isn't veterinary advice and doesn't replace your box's manual. When in doubt, follow the manufacturer and ask your vet. ## Editorial independence Brands cannot pay for placement, and we don't accept free products in exchange for coverage. We earn a commission when you buy through our Amazon links, at no extra cost to you. ## Updates and corrections We review our main buying guides at least quarterly and whenever a significant model launches. Each page shows its last-updated date. Spot an error? [Tell us](https://selfcleaninglitterboxguide.com/contact/) and we'll fix it.