Neakasa M1 (automatic litter box with a removable waste bin): our review

The cat heads towards the tray just after tea, and you would quite happily leave the scoop where it is. The Neakasa M1 has a waste bin capacity of 11 L, a large drawer that may allow longer gaps between emptying. That is its strongest practical attraction: more room for collected waste before you need to carry it out.

Storage buys breathing room. It does not set a timetable. How quickly the bin fills depends on your cats and the litter used, so a household sharing the tray should keep an eye on its contents rather than settle into a fixed routine immediately.

Would fewer interruptions to your evening make the difference? We think that is a sensible reason to consider this model. The removable waste bin gives you a component you can take out for emptying. Your cat can retain its supervisory role.

The litter tray capacity is 6.5 L. That is the space allocated to the litter your cat actually uses, separate from the storage for collected waste. Keeping those jobs distinct matters: room in the waste bin does not tell you how much usable litter remains in the tray.

Think of a Sunday evening with the washing drying and tomorrow’s packed lunch still to organise. A quick look at the litter level belongs in that household routine. Automatic cleaning does not refill the tray. We would keep replenishment and waste removal as separate checks, especially where cats share access.

A detachable globe is another useful provision. It gives you a part that can be removed for cleaning, although we would not turn that fact into a promise about effortless washing. We like removable components because they give the upkeep a practical starting point. There is still a cleaning job attached.

The stated noise level is 50 dB during the cleaning cycle. If the tray will live near the room where you watch television, that means allowing for appliance noise while it works. The figure does not tell you how noticeable the cycle will be from your sofa.

In a flat where the litter tray lives in the bathroom, sound may matter beyond the bathroom door. We would leave room for an audible cleaning cycle in your expectations. Think about how much appliance noise you normally tolerate nearby before deciding where this tray belongs.

The manufacturer states presence detection. That is a useful provision to recognise, although it is no guarantee of your cat’s safety. It also does not establish a particular stopping sequence. We would keep expectations tied to the feature the manufacturer actually names.

Does your older cat take raised edges more cautiously these days? The M1 has an entrance threshold of 35 cm, a high step that an elderly or stiff cat may find harder to manage. Access comes before the appeal of fewer trips to the waste bin.

The UBPet C41 is better suited to an older cat, with a lower entrance step of 20.3 cm. That makes the alternative relevant to the cat that approaches a tray carefully, rather than simply to the person managing its contents.

The UBPet C41 has a lower waste bin capacity, at 6.7 L, so its easier entrance comes with less waste storage. Choose around the cat’s movement first. For a cat that comfortably manages a raised entrance, the M1’s substantial drawer remains an appealing reason to keep it on your shortlist. For a hesitant climber, access carries more weight in our recommendation.