Neakasa M1 specs
| Brand | Neakasa |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | Open-top |
| Cat weight (automatic mode) | 2.2–33 lb. Neakasa recommends 2.2–33 lb and says the open top has almost no hard weight limit. |
| Cats per box | The maker gives no number |
| Kittens & small cats | Under 2.2 lb: turn off automatic cleaning and use Kitten Mode (Neakasa). |
| Safety sensors | Infrared, Weight. M1: 5 pairs of infrared sensors and 4 weight sensors. M1 Plus: 6 infrared pairs (Neakasa). |
| Entrance during cleaning | Stays open. Open-top design: there's no hood or door to close. |
| Litter | Clumping. Bentonite or clay clumping litter (WIRED); Neakasa sells its own mineral litter. |
| Waste drawer | 11.23 L. up to 14 days for one cat (maker claim) |
| Entry | 17 × 16.5 in. Open top; WIRED measured the M1 Plus opening at 17 × 16.5 in. |
| Footprint | 23 × 21 in |
| Unit weight | 22 lb |
| Noise | 50 dB (maker claim) |
| App / Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Odor control | Sealed waste bin; WIRED could smell waste after about five days. |
| Consumables | Drawstring bin bags (Neakasa or third-party 27 × 13 in) and clumping litter. |
| Warranty | The base M1 listing gives 1 year; the M1 Plus listing title advertises a 2-year protection plan |
| Price tier | $$ Mid-range ($300–$549). M1: $379.99 on Amazon (listing snapshot), $359.99 in Tom's Guide's price box. M1 Plus: $429.99–$450 (Amazon table, WIRED Nov 2026). |
- Noise: Neakasa lists about 50 dB; a bundle page says 48 dB.
- Neakasa lists the entry height as 13.86 in (352 mm). WIRED's 17 × 16.5 in figure is for the M1 Plus opening.
- Neakasa published a notice (updated June 22, 2026) warning about fake M1 listings; check the seller before you buy.
Running costs: with our defaults, consumables for one cat come to about $4.30 a month plus litter. See the full breakdown in the cost calculator.
Versions and bundles
Each option is a separate Amazon listing. Prices, where shown, are dated snapshots, not live prices.
| Option | What's different | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Neakasa M1 Lite (about $332) | No bottom gate, no mat included | Check price |
| Neakasa M1 (about $380) | Our pick: 5 IR pairs + 4 weight sensors, 11.23 L bin | Check price |
| Neakasa M1 Plus (about $430) | 6 IR pairs, upgraded odor-sealing brush strip, improved app (WIRED's best open-top) | Check price |
Specs are compiled from manufacturer pages, Amazon listings and independent reviews and can change between production runs. Confirm the weight range and what's in the box on the Amazon page before buying.
Neakasa M1 Open-Top Self-Cleaning Litter Box video review
Video by Mark's Tech Vlogs on YouTube. Independent creator content, shown as a reference. It is not part of our scoring.
We haven’t tested the Neakasa M1 ourselves. This review draws on Tom’s Guide, whose cats used the M1 more than three hooded rivals over a week, and on WIRED, which named the M1 Plus its best open-top box but declined to recommend the original M1. Specs come from Neakasa and the Amazon listings.
The Neakasa M1 is an open-top bowl that rotates to sift clumps into a large sealed bin. Without a hood, a big cat never has to squeeze through an entry, and Neakasa rates it for 2.2–33 lb. The M1 sells for about $380 on Amazon (a listing snapshot showed $379.99 against a $399.99 list price), and Tom’s Guide’s price box had it at $359.99. Check the price, and make sure Neakasa is the seller.
Who it’s for (and who should skip it)
It’s for very large cats and for cats that refuse hooded boxes. Neakasa says the open top has almost no hard weight limit. In Tom’s Guide’s test, the cats used it 51 times in one week, more than the Litter-Robot 4, Leo’s Loo Too or ELS PET Orbitie.
Skip it if litter on the floor bothers you. Both Tom’s Guide and WIRED found the open sides fling litter. Skip it if you need multi-cat history in the app, too, which WIRED says it lacks. If you want an enclosed box with an open entrance and a strong track record, compare the Litter-Robot 4 in Neakasa M1 vs Litter-Robot 4. For a cheaper open-top, see the Lesure.
The original-M1 controversy, and counterfeits
Be clear about this before you buy. WIRED says the original M1 drew controversy over safety, faulty sensors and counterfeit models, and it didn’t recommend that version. Its pick is the M1 Plus, with an improved app and Kitten Mode. Neakasa itself published a notice, updated June 22, 2026, warning about fake M1 listings from fraudulent sellers.
The video on this page, “Important Neakasa M1 Safety Announcement” from Mark’s Tech Vlogs, covers the same subject. Weigh it alongside WIRED’s verdict and Neakasa’s notice. In practice, buy from Neakasa’s own Amazon storefront, check the seller name at checkout, and keep your receipt.
How it cleans, and how safe it is
The M1 uses five pairs of infrared sensors and four weight sensors, according to Neakasa. The M1 Plus has six infrared pairs. Because it’s an open-top design, there’s no hood or door that could close while it cycles. When the bowl rotates, Tom’s Guide found it flips the container to dislodge stuck clumps.
The minimum is 2.2 lb, lower than the Litter-Robot’s 3 lb or PETKIT’s 3.3 lb. Under that, Neakasa says to turn off automatic cleaning and use Kitten Mode. Check your cat’s numbers with the cat safety checker, and read are self-cleaning litter boxes safe? for the wider picture.
Living with it
Litter and mess
Use bentonite or clay clumping litter (WIRED). Neakasa also sells its own mineral litter. The bowl holds 7.17 L of litter. WIRED found wet litter stuck to the back grate, so plan to scrape it now and then. Tom’s Guide noted the netted mat that comes with the M1. The M1 Lite doesn’t include one.
Emptying and odor
The 11.23 L bin holds up to 14 days for one cat, according to Neakasa, and Tom’s Guide called it a large container. WIRED could smell waste after about five days, so in practice you may empty it sooner. Our odor fixes guide covers ways to stretch it.
App, noise and size
WIRED found the app poorly translated, with no multi-cat history, though it credits the M1 Plus with an improved app. Neakasa lists about 50 dB, and a bundle page says 48 dB. The footprint is about 23 × 21 in, the unit weighs 22 lb, and Neakasa gives the entry height as 13.86 in.
Running costs
The M1 takes standard drawstring bags, Neakasa’s or a third-party 27 × 13 in size. Our cost model uses Whisker’s $1-per-liner price as a stand-in at about one bag per cat per week, plus Dr. Elsey’s Ultra at $22.99 for 40 lb from Chewy, at 10 lb per cat per month.
That’s about $10 a month, or roughly $121 a year, for one cat. Over five years, with the box at $360, we estimate about $963 for one cat and about $1,566 for two. A 120-count roll of third-party bags will usually cut the bag cost. Change the inputs in the cost calculator.
What you’ll need beyond the box
- Litter: Neakasa mineral litter, 17.6 lb, sized for the M1’s grate, or Dr. Elsey’s Ultra unscented clumping clay.
- Bags: 27 × 13 in bags for the Neakasa M1, 120 count. The fit claim comes from the bag seller, so measure your bin first.
- Mat: a Gorilla Grip 40 × 28 in mat. Open-tops throw more litter, so go big.
The tiers matter. The M1 Plus (about $430) is WIRED’s pick, and its listing title advertises a two-year protection plan. The base M1 listing gives one year. The M1 Lite (about $332) drops the bottom gate and the mat.
Bottom line
The Neakasa M1 is the open-top box to buy, and the one we’d pick for a very large cat on a mid-range budget. There’s no hood, the range runs to 33 lb, and Tom’s Guide’s cats chose it over three hooded rivals. The trade-offs are litter scatter, a weak app and the original M1’s history. Spend the extra on the M1 Plus if you can, buy from Neakasa directly, and put a big mat down. More options in best open-top self-cleaning litter box and best for large cats, or check the Neakasa M1 price.
Litter and supplies for the Neakasa M1
Litter, liners, odor refills and mats sold on Amazon that fit this box. Check the listing confirms your exact model before you buy.
- LitterNeakasa mineral cat litter, 17.6 lb, for the M1Official Neakasa
Neakasa's own clumping mineral litter, sized for the M1's sifting grate.
- LitterDr. Elsey's Ultra unscented clumping clay cat litter, 40 lbCompatible, third-party
Unscented, hard-clumping, standard-weight clay: the type Whisker recommends and most globe and drum boxes are tuned for. Not for ScoopFree crystal trays. Check your box's sifter: PETKIT asks for granules under 0.5 in.
- Liners & bagsCat litter box bags for Neakasa M1 and PetPivot AutoScooper, 27 × 13 in, 120 countCompatible, third-party
A 120-count roll costs less per bag than branded refills for the M1's large bin. Third-party fit claim; measure your bin before buying.
- Litter matGorilla Grip cat litter mat, 35 × 23 inUniversal fit
Big enough to catch scatter from most globe boxes; textured backing stays put.
- Litter matGorilla Grip cat litter mat, extra large, 40 × 28 inUniversal fit
The size we'd put under open-top boxes, which both WIRED and Tom's Guide found fling more litter.
- Litter matiPrimio jumbo cat litter trapper mat, 32 × 30 inUniversal fit
Honeycomb two-layer mat with a waterproof layer, for cats that kick litter far.
Compatibility checked November 2026. More in our litter and supplies guide.
Featured in our guides
- The 8 Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes of 2026, Ranked for Safety and Value
- The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box for Large Cats in 2026
- The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box for Small Spaces, by Real Footprint
- The Best Budget Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes Under $400 (2026)
