Neakasa M1 Open-Top

The Neakasa M1 Open-Top addresses a genuine gap in the self-cleaning litter box market: many cats simply will not use enclosed globe-style units, and the open design removes the primary barrier for these cats while retaining the core benefit of automated waste removal. The back-and-forth sifting motion rather than full rotation is gentler than globe alternatives and less disorienting for cats already nervous about automated appliances. The sensor array — five infrared pairs and four weight sensors — is among the most comprehensive available, pausing operation immediately at any detected movement inside the drum. The 11-liter waste capacity is the largest of any model in this comparison, and the pull-and-wrap disposal system seals the waste bag before removal, minimizing odor exposure during maintenance. An important update for 2026: Neakasa has confirmed that two safety incidents were reported with M1 units and addressed through a firmware update released via the companion app. Forbes, which was planning to include the M1 in its self-cleaning litter box round-up, noted this publicly, and Neakasa's support team confirmed the fix on social media. Buyers must verify and apply the latest firmware before enabling automated operation. A secondary concern flagged by some long-term owners is IR sensor degradation — contaminated or failing sensors can cause the drum to stop mid-cycle in an inverted position, which requires manual intervention to reset. This appears more likely to affect units with heavy use after six to twelve months without regular sensor cleaning. Maintaining clean sensors on a weekly schedule appears to significantly reduce this risk. For households with cats that specifically resist enclosed designs, the M1 remains the best-positioned open-top option available — but the firmware update is non-negotiable before first use, and the long-term sensor maintenance schedule should be followed consistently.