A new entry in the house: Ivy, our four-month-old Siberian kitten. As a tech lover, of course I wanted an automatic litter box, and in January 2025 I spent two weeks testing the POPUR, which the company sent me for free while leaving me free to say what I really think.
Setup and a curious kitten
It's our first automatic litter box. Ivy was all around me while I was putting it together, curious rather than scared. She was probably a little startled the first time I triggered the cleaning cycle, but once I moved her usual litter sand into it, she understood straight away it was her potty. She played, kicked some sand out (kittens always do), and within a couple of hours she was using it.
Connecting it to Wi-Fi was extremely fast: I downloaded the app from the QR code in the manual, and it powers by USB.
The app and the cat sensor
The app sends a notification every time your cat uses it. I've been getting them at work, so I know how many times this little girl went to the toilet. You can set the delay between the cat leaving and the cleaning cycle (3, 5 or 10 minutes) and schedule cleaning cycles during the day. A built-in cat sensor detects when she's inside (even a hand triggers it) and resets the timer, so it never cleans with the cat in it. I also love that it levels the sand after each cycle.
No smell, less waste
Usually the waste goes into a cardboard box, but I had the plastic one, and my suggestion is always to choose plastic because it seals better. It sat in our living room for 10 days and I never noticed any smell, even though kittens go more often than adults. After 10 days the bag wasn't even a quarter full, because it only removes the clumped parts. The better your litter, the less you waste.
The best review came from my daughter. Scooping the old tray was her job (that was the deal when we promised her a cat), and she told me it was working really well. She checks it and finds nothing left behind, and she's happy she doesn't have to do it anymore.
My verdict
From what I read, POPUR started with a Kickstarter campaign and began production in 2021. Even though it looks small, I've seen owners using it with very big Maine Coons, and the brand says it can serve up to 12 cats (you'd have to empty it more often). It costs at least 40% less than the bigger brands. It's hassle-free, it frees my time, and I would definitely recommend it.