The open litter box pros and cons come down to one trade: cats like the room and the airflow, and you pay for it in tracked litter and less odor containment. That trade gets easier when the box scoops itself, which is why we put two automatic open-top models head to head, the Mimfam Automatic Self Cleaning Litter Box and the UBPET Open Top Automatic Litter Box.
Below you’ll find the full pros and cons list, an open versus covered comparison, a checklist for deciding if your cat is a good fit, and a spec-level look at both boxes. Short version: the UBPET wins if you want an app and health data. The Mimfam wins if you want quiet and zero setup.
This article is part of our indoor cat litter box guide and our complete open litter box guide. If you’re still deciding, read how to choose an open litter box next.
⚡ Quick Verdict
The UBPET wins for owners who want health data. Its app and four weight sensors give you visit counts and durations, and the Mimfam can’t match that. The Mimfam is the better pick if you want a 32dB box with no Wi-Fi pairing and no app. Both give your cat an open top. Choose UBPET for data. Pick Mimfam for plain, dependable automatic scooping.
List of Open Litter Box Pros And Cons
An open litter box, sometimes called an uncovered or open-top box, has no lid, hood or door. Your cat walks in, does its business and walks out. That sounds basic, and it is. The upside and the downside both come from that simplicity.
✅ Open Litter Box Pros
❌ Open Litter Box Cons
Do open litter boxes smell more than covered ones?
Usually, yes. A lid holds some odor in. An open box doesn’t, so waste smell reaches you sooner. Airflow helps the litter dry, though, and a box that’s scooped every day often smells less than a covered one that gets ignored. Here the scooping schedule matters more than the box shape, and that’s the main argument for an automatic open-top model.
Does an open litter box cause more litter tracking?
It does when the walls are low. Cats flick litter over the edge while they dig and cover. Higher sides, a bigger footprint and a litter mat outside the entry all cut it down, but none of them stop it completely. If a spotless floor is your top priority, an open box will frustrate you.
Open vs Covered Litter Box: How They Compare
Covered boxes look tidier and keep dogs out. Open boxes win on cat comfort and ease of access. Neither is better for every home.
| Factor | Open Box | Covered Box |
|---|---|---|
| Cat comfort | More room, good visibility | More privacy, tighter space |
| Odor | Escapes quickly | Partly contained |
| Litter tracking | Higher | Lower |
| Dog or child access | Easy to reach | Harder to reach |
| Senior or arthritic cats | Easier with a low entry | Depends on the door height |
| Spotting health changes | Easy, you see inside | Need to lift the lid |
| Looks in the room | Obvious litter box | Looks more like furniture |
Is an Open Litter Box Right for Your Cat?
Run through this list before you buy. If you tick most of the first group, an open box fits.
An open box is a good fit if:
- Your cat is a kitten, a senior, or has stiff joints and needs a low step.
- Your cat refuses hooded boxes or backs out of them.
- You have a large cat that feels cramped in a standard box.
- You live with several cats and want them to see each other coming.
- You’d rather wipe one open surface than take apart a lid and flap.
Think twice if:
- A dog raids the litter. An open box won’t stop it.
- You have a crawling baby or toddler.
- The box has to sit in a living area where odor or looks matter.
- Your cat is very shy and always picks hidden spots.
Cat count and sizing basics
Vets and cat welfare groups commonly suggest one box per cat plus one spare, and a box roughly 1.5 times your cat’s body length. That second rule is why an open box with a big footprint is popular with large breeds. Put it in a quiet corner away from food bowls and loud appliances.
Analysis: Mimfam Automatic Litter Box
Best for owners who want a quiet automatic box and no app. It has infrared safety sensors, an open top and a big waste bin, and it suits multi-cat homes that just want scooping handled.
The Mimfam AS11 has a top entry of 16.33 by 15.35 inches. That’s roomy enough for bigger cats to step in and turn around without feeling hemmed in. Because the top is open, air moves freely and cats can dig the way they’d like to.
Safety comes from four pairs of infrared sensors plus three hall sensors. If the box detects a cat, it stops. It only restarts once the cat has left. That layered approach matters most in homes where cats wander in and out all day.
Build Quality & Design
The exterior is grey with a smooth finish, and the open top lets you check the litter without lifting anything. A removable waste bin takes disposable liners, which keeps disposal tidy and helps hold odor in. A litter mat comes in the box to catch stray grains. It feels sturdy and stable.
Performance & Speed
Noise is rated at 32dB, which is quiet enough that a nervous cat shouldn’t flinch. The cleaning cycle runs gently, and waste separates soon after each visit. The 10L bin is rated for up to ten days with one cat. With more cats, expect to empty it sooner.
Features & Functionality
You get infrared safety sensors, a large bin and disposable liner bags. There’s no app, and that’s deliberate. If you don’t want another login, another Wi-Fi device or another notification, this is the point of the box. The flip side is no usage data at all.
User Experience
Assembly is minimal. Day to day, you swap the liner and empty the bin. Controls are basic power functions. Cats tend to accept open designs quickly, and you never have to download anything to run it.
Value for Money
We don’t list a price here because Amazon pricing changes often, so check the current listing. What you get for the money is a liner supply, a mat and a large bin. The ongoing cost to watch is the liner bags, since you’ll keep buying them.
✅ Advantages
❌ Disadvantages
Analysis: UBPET Automatic Litter Box
Best for owners who want health tracking. It pairs weight sensors with a Wi-Fi app, has an open top that fits cats of any size, and adds a deodorizer gel for odor control.
The footprint is 27.6 by 18.9 inches, which is big. A 7.6 inch step-in keeps the entry low for senior or arthritic cats. Inside, there’s plenty of room to dig, and several cats can share it without crowding.
Four weight sensors detect a cat’s entry and pause cleaning straight away. Nothing moves while your cat is inside, which guards against pinching and trapping. The app also pushes alerts if something looks off.
Build Quality & Design
A Teflon-coated non-stick surface makes wipe-downs quick. Three motors drive a dual-rake system, and a silicone scraper picks up small particles. The look is clean and modern, and it holds up to daily use in busy homes.
Performance & Speed
The dual rakes sift litter smoothly, and a built-in deodorizer gel handles smell between cycles. The waste drawer holds 1.85 gallons, roughly 7 liters, and the app tells you when it’s full. That’s smaller than the Mimfam’s 10L, so heavy multi-cat households will empty it more often. The maker lists the noise as low but doesn’t give a decibel figure.
Features & Functionality
The app tracks how often and how long your cat uses the box, and it alerts you when the drawer fills. It works with regular clumping litters such as bentonite. Skip long-stick formulas, which don’t suit the rakes.
User Experience
Setup means pairing the box with your Wi-Fi, which takes longer than plugging in the Mimfam. Once it’s running, the app shows your cat’s weight and habits and sends alerts about anything unusual. The open design makes visual checks easy, and the non-stick surface keeps cleanup short.
Value for Money
It likely costs more than a no-app box, so check the current price. What you pay for is health tracking and a surface that’s easier to clean. Because it takes ordinary clumping litter, you aren’t tied to a proprietary refill.
✅ Advantages
❌ Disadvantages
Major Factors to Consider When Buying an Automatic Open Litter Box
Start with your cat, not the spec sheet. Size, age and temperament decide more than any feature. Then weigh how much tech you actually want, what you’ll spend over a year of liners or litter, and how bad a missed scoop smells in your home.
Performance
Look at how well the rakes or sifter separate waste, and whether sensors stop the cycle when a cat steps in. A box that jams or leaves clumps behind sends you back to hand scooping, which defeats the purpose. Check owner reviews for jam reports with your litter type.
Speed & Efficiency
Cycle time and noise both matter. A loud cycle can scare a cat off the box for good. Quick waste sealing also keeps smell down, which an open top needs more than a covered one.
Price & Value
Add up the upfront price and a year of liners, filters or deodorizer. Smart models cost more but give you data. Basic models cost less and give you nothing to look at. Pick the one you’ll actually use.
Build Quality
Sturdy walls and a stable base stop the box from shifting when a big cat hops in. Non-stick coatings help with cleaning, and plastics that don’t hold smells age better. Read the warranty terms before you commit.
Design & Aesthetics
An open box sits in plain view, so footprint and look matter. The UBPET measures 27.6 by 18.9 inches, which needs real floor space. Measure your spot first.
Durability
Motors and sensors are what fail first in automatic boxes. Scratch-resistant surfaces keep the box looking decent after a year of digging. Multi-cat homes put more cycles on the motors, so durability matters more there.
Feature Comparison
The big split is smart features. The UBPET has an app and weight sensors. The Mimfam has neither, but it has infrared sensors and liners. “Not listed” means the maker doesn’t state it, not that the feature is missing.
| Feature | Mimfam Automatic Litter Box | UBPET Automatic Litter Box |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Self-Cleaning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open-Top Design | ✓ | ✓ |
| App Connectivity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Health Monitoring | ✗ | ✓ |
| Infrared Sensors | ✓ | ✗ |
| Weight Sensors | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quiet Operation (under 40dB) | ✓ 32dB | Low noise, dB not listed |
| Large Waste Capacity | ✓ 10L | ✓ about 7L |
| Non-Stick Surface | Not listed | ✓ |
| Disposable Liners Included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deodorizer Gel | Not listed | ✓ |
Specifications Comparison
Dimensions decide where the box fits. Capacity decides how often you empty it. Note the unit mismatch: one maker lists liters and the other gallons. 1.85 gallons works out to about 7 liters.
| Specification | Mimfam Automatic Litter Box | UBPET Automatic Litter Box |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Type | Top Entry (16.33×15.35 in) | Step-In (7.6 in height) |
| Waste Capacity | 10 Liters | 1.85 Gallons (about 7L) |
| Noise Level | 32 dB | Low Noise |
| Sensors | 4 Infrared Pairs, 3 Hall Sensors | 4 Weight Sensors |
| Cleaning Mechanism | Automatic, liner bin | Dual rake, 3 motors, silicone scraper |
| App Control | No | Yes (Wi-Fi) |
| Surface Material | Not listed | Teflon-Coated |
| Dimensions | Not Listed | 27.6 x 18.9 in |
| Power Source | Electric | Electric |
🏆 Winner: UBPET Automatic Litter Box
Score Breakdown
The UBPET wins on smart features. Visit counts and durations in the app can flag a health change before you’d notice it yourself, the weight sensors add a second layer of safety, and the non-stick surface cuts wipe-down time. The Mimfam is quieter on paper and holds more waste. If you don’t care about data, it’s a fair call to pick the Mimfam instead.
Choose Mimfam Automatic Litter Box If…
You Don’t Want Another App
The Mimfam has no Wi-Fi pairing, no login and no notifications. You plug it in, it runs. If your phone already has enough on it, that’s a feature.
Your Cat Spooks Easily
At 32dB the cycle is quiet, and the infrared sensors hold everything still until your cat leaves. Nervous cats tend to adapt faster to a box that doesn’t make noise.
You Have Several Cats and Hate Emptying the Bin
The 10L bin is larger than the UBPET’s roughly 7L drawer. Fewer emptying trips adds up in a busy house.
You Like Liner-Bag Disposal
Liners keep the mess contained when you lift out the bin. The tradeoff is buying liners for as long as you own it.
Choose UBPET Automatic Litter Box If…
Tech-Savvy Pet Owners
You like looking at numbers. The app shows usage patterns and lets you check on the box remotely, which suits anyone already running a smart home.
Multi-Cat Households
The 27.6 by 18.9 inch footprint gives several cats room. Weight sensors register each visit, which helps when you’re trying to work out which cat is going more often.
Health-Conscious Guardians
Visit frequency and duration are logged, and alerts flag anything unusual. For a senior or a cat with a history of urinary trouble, that early warning is worth the extra cost. It supports a vet visit. It doesn’t replace one.
Ease-of-Cleaning Seekers
The Teflon-coated surface resists sticking, and wiping the interior takes a minute. The dual rakes do the sifting between your deeper cleans.
Senior or Stiff-Jointed Cats
The 7.6 inch step-in is low. A cat that has started skipping a high-sided box may use this one again.
How to Cut Odor and Litter Tracking With an Open Litter Box
Odor and tracking are the two real complaints. Both are manageable.
Odor fixes, in order of impact
- Remove waste daily. Twice daily is better, and an automatic box does this for you.
- Use a good clumping litter. Clumps are easier to pull out before they dry and smell.
- Skip heavily perfumed litter. Strong scent can put cats off the box.
- Empty the bin or change the liner before it’s overfull.
- Do a full litter change and wash the box with mild, unscented soap every few weeks.
- Keep the box in a ventilated spot, not a sealed closet.
Tracking fixes
- Put a textured litter mat at the entry. The Mimfam ships with one.
- Pick a bigger box so your cat can turn without flicking litter over the edge.
- Don’t overfill. A couple of inches of litter is plenty.
- Try a larger-grain litter if fine granules are escaping.
- Sweep or vacuum the mat area on a schedule, not when you’re irritated.
Switching your cat to an automatic open box
- Set the box up in the same spot as the old one if you can.
- Leave the power off for a few days so the cat can get used to it.
- Turn the cycle on once your cat is using it normally.
- Watch the first few cycles from a distance.
- Keep the old box nearby for a week in case your cat hesitates.
Watch for health signs
Straining, frequent trips with little output, blood in the urine or crying in the box need a vet call quickly. In male cats, a blocked urethra is an emergency. With an open box you can see these changes. That visibility is one of its real advantages.
Open Litter Box Buying Checklist
- ☐ Measured your floor space against the box footprint.
- ☐ Checked your cat’s length against the box (about 1.5 times body length).
- ☐ Confirmed the entry height works for a senior or small cat.
- ☐ Decided if you want an app or want to skip it.
- ☐ Checked what litter type the box supports.
- ☐ Priced the ongoing cost: liners, filters or deodorizer.
- ☐ Planned a spot with ventilation and low foot traffic.
- ☐ Planned a litter mat for the entry.
🎯 Final Recommendation
Buy the UBPET if the app and weight data matter to you, or if you have a senior cat that needs a low step. Buy the Mimfam if you want a 32dB box and a bigger 10L bin with no setup beyond plugging it in. Either way, you’re accepting the open-box tradeoffs: more tracked litter and faster odor spread than a covered box. Scoop on schedule and add a mat, and those drawbacks mostly stop mattering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main pros of using an open litter box?
Open boxes give cats more room and a clear view of their surroundings, which helps anxious cats feel less cornered. They’re easier to clean because you can reach every surface, and manual versions usually cost less than covered ones. They also let you see changes in your cat’s litter habits right away.
What are the primary cons of an open litter box?
Litter gets kicked and tracked out because nothing contains it. Odor also spreads faster without a lid. There’s no privacy for the cat, which stresses some shy ones, and dogs or toddlers can reach the litter.
Do open litter boxes smell worse than covered ones?
Often they do, because a lid holds some odor in and an open top doesn’t. Airflow helps litter dry, though, so a box scooped daily can smell better than a covered one left alone. Daily scooping and a good clumping litter do most of the work either way.
Are open litter boxes suitable for all cats?
No. Cats that want privacy, or live in busy homes with dogs or children, may avoid an open box. Older cats and cats with stiff joints usually do better with the low entry and room to move.
How can I minimize litter tracking with an open box?
Put a litter mat at the entry, choose a larger box so your cat has space to turn, and keep litter to a couple of inches deep. A larger-grain litter also tends to scatter less than fine granules.
Is an open or covered litter box better for multiple cats?
Open boxes work well because cats can see each other and avoid ambushes. Add one more box than you have cats, and spread them out. A large open box like the UBPET also gives more than one cat room to share in a pinch.
Is an open litter box good for senior or arthritic cats?
Usually yes, as long as the entry is low. The UBPET has a 7.6 inch step-in. Tall-sided boxes and covered boxes with a high door are harder for stiff joints.
Are automatic open-top litter boxes safe?
Both boxes here pause the cycle when a cat is detected. The Mimfam uses four pairs of infrared sensors and three hall sensors. The UBPET uses four weight sensors. No sensor system is perfect, so watch your cat during the first few cycles.
Do cats like open litter boxes?
Many do. Others prefer a hidden spot. Watch your cat: if it eliminates outside the box or hesitates at the edge, try a different style or location.
How often should you clean an open litter box?
Scoop at least once a day. Do a full litter change and wash every few weeks with mild unscented soap. An automatic box handles the scooping, but you still need to empty the bin and wash the box.
Which is better, the Mimfam or the UBPET?
The UBPET if you want app tracking and weight sensors. The Mimfam if you want a 32dB box, a 10L bin and no app. See the comparison tables above for the full spec list.
Related Open Litter Box Guides
Disclosure: some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Specs come from the manufacturers’ listings and can change, so confirm them on the product page before you buy. This article is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your vet.
Written by Mishu
A passionate cat lover and indoor living enthusiast, Mishu is the founder and voice behind Indoor Living Cat – a go-to resource for cat owners who want to create the happiest, healthiest life for their feline companions indoors.
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