Hello again, Skye Blake here, discovering what your cat wants you to know about sifting litter boxes.
While they’re a type of “self cleaning” box, they’re different from rotating ones (like Litter Robot™).
Let’s discover more…
The information here is for general knowledge… always see your vet with questions about your cat’s individual needs.
Who Is Skye Blake?
Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not a veterinarian) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, studies their information, then passes it on to you!
Sometimes there’s not enough evidence for easy answers, so Skye gives you all sides and explains the situation as thoroughly and clearly as possible, linking you to experts on each page.
All sources are given at the bottom of each page so you can do more snooping.
What’s a Sifting Litter Box?
Sifting boxes do exactly what their name implies… they sift like a colander to separate pee clumps and poop lumps so you can easily scoop or dump the soiled parts and reuse the good litter.
This is done either automatically or manually.
Automatic sifting boxes have rakes that push soiled litter out while keeping unused litter in the box.
You then open the tray and dump what’s in it.
Manual sifters are sieves that you shake to allow unused litter to fall to the bottom.
The clumps and waste left on top are thrown away.
Sifter boxes come either open or covered and often use only certain types of clumping litter, usually clay or silica.
Some sifter boxes are large, so check the dimensions to be sure it’ll fit where you want it.
Automatic ones have to be near an electrical outlet.
Some also have weight sensors underneath to sense when your cat gets in and out of the box.
This means the box should either be on a hard floor or mat (if on carpet).
Some sifting boxes come as both manual and automatic, so you have both options when you want them.
Some require liners, waste receptacles, carbon filters and/or other accessories, as well as litter.
Keep this expense in mind when deciding if these boxes are financially workable for you.
The Breeze litter box system is similar to sifting boxes but has some differences.
Discover more about them at “Breeze Litter Box“.
I make a small commission on some of the links below… and I get to share profits with qualified cat rescues!
Check descriptions and reviews carefully for any products you wish to buy… quality, sizes, colors, etc., can’t be guaranteed by anyone but the manufacturer.
List of Automatic Sifting Litter Boxes & Accessories
ChillX AutoEgg Self-Cleaning Litter Box (offers new and reconditioned units)
List of Manual Sifting Litter Boxes
I make a small commission on some of the links below… and I get to share profits with qualified cat rescues!
Check descriptions and reviews carefully for any products you wish to buy… quality, sizes, colors, etc., can’t be guaranteed by anyone but the manufacturer.
If you’re interested in other types of litter boxes, check these…
Types of Litter Boxes & Accessories
Related Pages of Interest
Sources
Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.
Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.
Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.
Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.
However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.
When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.
List of Sources
Disclosure
I make a small commission on some of the sources listed below if you choose to purchase them from here.
Some products listed link to companies that sell them, whether or not I make any money.
“16 Stand-Out Cat Litter Box Furniture Options to Fit Your Style”, The Dog People
“77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat“, by Susan M. Ewing, Fox Chapel Publishers International, Ltd., 2018
A-K
“The Best Kind of Litter Box for Longhaired Cats“, by Jet Perreault, Petful, Dec 5, 2014
“Cat Speak“, by Bash Dibra with Elizabeth Randolph, New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., New York, NY, 2003
“The Cat Whisperer“, by Mieshelle Nagelschneider, Bantam Books, The Random House Publishing Group, New York, NY, 2013, www.bantamdell.com
“Cat Wise“, Pam Johnson-Bennett, Penguin Books, an imprint of Random House LLC, New York, NY, 2016
“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting & Owning a Cat“, by Sheila Webster Boneham, PhD, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., New York, NY, 2005
“Decoding Your Cat” by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, editors: Meghan E. Herron, DVM, DACVB; Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, DACVB; Carlo Siracusa, DVM, PhD, DACVB, DECAWBM, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, New York, NY, 2020
L-Z
“Litter Box Happiness for Cats of All Ages”, Dr. Sophia Yin, CattleDog Publishing, January 25, 2017
“Litter Box Solutions for Aging Cats”, Litter Robot
“Litter Training”, Kitten Lady
“The Special Needs of the Senior Cat”, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Feline Health Center
“Total Cat Mojo” by Jackson Galaxy with Mikel Delgado, PhD, Tarcher Perigree, Penguin Random House, LLC, New York, NY, 2017
“Think Like a Cat, How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat – Not a Sour Puss“, by Pam Johnson-Bennett, Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Penguin Books, Penguin Group (USA) Inc, New York, NY, 2000, 2011
“What’s the Best Litter Box for Senior Cats”, FitSeer.com
“What Your Cat Wants”, by Francesca Riccomini, Thunder Bay Press, Octopus Publishing Group, San Diego, CA, 2012, www.thunderbaybooks.com
Product Sources
Updated February 20, 2023