How we analyse and score

Our evidence trail

1. 1Exact model numberThe full model name, variant and market. Two versions of the same product are never treated as one.
2. 2Published dataManufacturer specifications and retailer listings for the exact model, recorded on a specific date.
3. 3Comparison across the rangeEach value is compared with every other model on the same scale.
4. 4Verdict in contextWho the model suits, and when to choose an alternative.

Missing data stays missing. We never guess, substitute an average or count it as zero.

How to compare automatic litter boxes

These criteria are set for the whole category and applied in the same order to every model. This lets you compare two reviews line by line, instead of reading two opinions that cover different things.

• Waste bin capacity higher is better · l
• Unit weight lower is better · kg
• Equipmentdocumented features tracked for this category: the more there are, the higher the score

A criterion is only scored if its specification is documented for the model. Across the site's 31 scored analyses: Waste bin capacity out of 14, Unit weight out of 12, Equipment out of 30.

That's why each product page shows between 1 and 3 scores. Under “Our scores explained”, each page lists any criteria left unscored and explains why.

Outside the current scoring framework, an older score still appears on some product pages: Device weight (1 product page). It is not included in the criteria count.

A model isn't marked down for a feature it never promised. We assess it against its price and intended users, using criteria relevant to its category.

How the score is calculated

The score out of 10 is the average of individual scores, one for each criterion above. Each score reflects more than an impression: it shows themodel's ranking across the entire rangeon that scale. That's why each line includes supporting figures, such as “210 min, ahead of 80% of models in the range”. You can check these yourself.

When we lack data for a particular criterion on a model, the line makes this clear: it is shown as anassessment based on published specifications, rather than a measurement. The page clearly distinguishes between the two.

What we never do:

• fill in a missing specification with a guess;
• score two models using different approaches;
• declare a universal winner when the result depends on your needs;
• publish a score without enough data to support it.

A score reflects our assessment at a given time. It is relative to the catalogue: whenever we update scores, every product is reassessed against the current catalogue, so scores can change as new models are added. Scores last updated: 22 October 2026.

Complete or partial documentation

Next to the overall score, each product page shows whether the category's 5 key specifications are confirmed by a verified source (an archived retailer page or manufacturer documentation): Waste bin capacity, Unit weight, For which animal?, Cleaning, Tray type. It shows “Documentation: complete” when all are confirmed, or “partial” otherwise, with missing details shown on hover. In the specifications table, any of these 5 specifications that are not confirmed are marked “unverified”; other rows in the table are not covered by this check.

Partial documentation does not lower the score: a criterion with an unconfirmed value is not scored and is excluded from the average. The only exception is a score assigned when the analysis was published, which is retained while the product page has fewer than 3 verified criteria; the page's “Our scores explained” section highlights this.

Currently, 0 product pages have complete documentation and 31 have partial documentation.

Our sources and how we weigh them

1. Manufacturer documentationOfficial pages, manuals and spec sheets. These establish what is claimed. A manufacturer's claim is always presented as such.
2. Retailer listingsThese confirm the exact model, included accessories and recorded price for the relevant market. A limited-time offer is never presented as a permanent price.
3. Customer feedbackWe look for recurring themes, rather than isolated comments, taking account of mixed variants and sample size.
4. Published specialist analysesThese help us compare claims with observations. We don't copy their verdicts or average their scores.

When sources disagree, we flag it rather than force a conclusion.

Prices

We don’t display prices next to retailer links. A price checked once soon becomes outdated, and an incorrect figure next to a buy button lets down the reader it was meant to help. Prices in our comparison tables and filters show where a model sits in the range and help you filter by budget: the actual price is the one displayed by the retailer when you buy.

Independence and affiliate links

No brand pays to appear in our picks or improve its score. Some retailer links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission,at no extra cost to you.

Whether we earn a commission, and how much, plays no part in our criteria. Affiliate revenue funds the site; it doesn't determine our rankings.

Updates and corrections

We update a review when the model changes, when data proves incorrect, or when new models change its ranking across the range. The date of the latest update stays visible on every page.

This site's content is written and checked by Romain Brunel. Spotted an error, outdated information or a missing model? Let us know so we can update the page.