The Neakasa M1 self-cleaning litter box caught my attention because it has an open-top design, which felt more approachable than many automatic litter boxes I had seen. I liked the idea of keeping the litter box cleaner between full changes, but I also knew Stevie can be particular about new things. I wanted to see whether the Neakasa M1 would make litter box maintenance easier in our home without creating a new problem in the process.
At the time, I was already happy with the ease of cleaning our current litter box, so I was not necessarily looking for a replacement. What interested me most about the Neakasa M1 was the open-top design. Many automatic litter boxes are enclosed and bulky, almost like a little space pod, and I was not sure Stevie would be comfortable with that. The M1 felt more approachable because it still gave her an open space to step into.
Setting Up the Neakasa M1
The Neakasa M1 was simple to put together, but I did learn one thing right away: follow the instructions in order. I thought the setup looked easy enough to wing it, but I kept getting a flashing red light related to leveling. The issue was that I had not added the litter first.
Once I went back and followed the steps properly, the setup was straightforward. You insert the legs, pop out the trash bin, install the trash bag, add the litter, connect the app, and then calibrate the litter box. Calibration is important because different types of litter have different weights, and the unit needs to recognize what is inside.
This is also where the app becomes helpful because you can clean, level, and calibrate the litter box directly from your phone.
What Type of Litter Works With the Neakasa M1
The type of litter was one of my biggest questions before using the Neakasa M1. I did not want to switch to a special litter just to use an automatic litter box, and I do not use traditional clumping litter.
I use Micro Crystal Litter, which is very lightweight. Because of that, I was not sure if the Neakasa M1 would recognize it correctly. Thankfully, I did not have an issue with the unit detecting the litter I use.
The general recommendations are still worth paying attention to. Clumping or scoopable waste litter is a better fit for this type of litter box. Highly absorbent, non-clumping, loosely clumping, newspaper, or wood pellet litters are not recommended. Since I was already using a lightweight crystal litter, I was glad it worked during our use, but litter choice is something I would pay close attention to before buying.
Features I Liked Most
The open-top design is what made the Neakasa M1 stand out to me. It feels less closed in than many other automatic litter boxes, which I thought might make it easier for Stevie to adjust to. The litter box itself is large, but that seems to be true of most self-cleaning litter boxes. You do need enough space for it, especially once you factor in the area around it where your cat gets in and out.
The features I liked most were:
- open-top design
- self-cleaning function
- quiet operation
- app controls
- large capacity
- automatic cleaning after use
- usage notifications
I especially liked knowing that after Stevie used the litter box, it would clean itself and leave her with a fresh space the next time she needed it.
Using the Neakasa App
The Neakasa app was one of my favorite parts of using the litter box. From the app, you can clean, level, or calibrate the unit, but it also lets you keep track of when your cat uses the box.
Because Stevie can be scared but curious about new things, I was not sure whether she would use it. I turned on the notifications so I would know when she tried it, and that made the transition easier to monitor.
The app records helpful details, including the time of each event, how long your cat was in the litter box, what your cat did, when the box cleaned itself, and even your cat’s weight. The weight appeared to be fairly accurate for Stevie.
Some of the app settings include:
- automatic cleaning
- litter leveling
- calibration
- litter level tracking
- cat use notifications
- pet profiles
- silent mode
- child safety lock
- reminders for cleaning, emptying, and buying new litter
I like products that make routine tasks easier without feeling like they add more work, and the app did make the Neakasa M1 feel more practical.
How My Cat Adjusted
For the first part of testing the Neakasa M1, we left both the traditional litter box and the self-cleaning litter box in the room. I wanted Stevie to have the choice instead of forcing her into a completely new setup. To my surprise, she did use the Neakasa M1, and at first, she seemed to choose it over her other litter box. That was a good sign because I was not sure how she would feel about the movement, sound, or size of an automatic litter box.
The issue was not getting her to use it, but how she got out of it. Stevie is a small cat, and she does not have a tail, so she does not jump quite as gracefully as other cats. She could get in and out of the Neakasa M1, but when she jumped out, she often brought a lot of litter with her. Even though the unit came with a litter mat, it did not catch enough of the litter to make the mess manageable for us.
Additional Accessories for the Neakasa M1
The Neakasa M1 has additional accessories available, including replacement trash bags and the Cat Litter Ramp Step. I was especially interested in the ramp step because I hoped it would help Stevie get in and out more easily.
The ramp step is designed to give cats an easier way to enter and exit while also helping collect litter. For our situation, it seemed like the logical solution. Since Stevie was jumping out and scattering litter, I hoped the step would encourage her to walk out instead.
Unfortunately, Stevie would not use it. Because she continued jumping out of the litter box, the litter tracking remained a problem. The accessory may work well for cats that are willing to use it, but it did not solve the issue in our home.
The Biggest Downside: Litter Scatter
The biggest downside of the Neakasa M1 for us was the amount of litter that scattered when Stevie jumped out. The open-top design makes the litter box feel less closed in, which I liked, but the box itself is still fairly tall. Because of that, getting out is more of a jump than a simple step down.
That may be one of the trade-offs with an open-top automatic litter box. Even though the unit came with a litter mat, it did not catch enough of the litter to make the mess manageable in our home. I tried the Cat Litter Ramp Step, hoping it would make getting out easier and help reduce the litter scatter, but Stevie would not use it.
For us, that became the biggest drawback. The self-cleaning function worked, and I liked many of the features, but the litter mess from jumping out outweighed the convenience.
Would I Recommend the Neakasa M1?
I would recommend the Neakasa M1 self-cleaning litter box for someone who wants an open-top automatic litter box and has a cat that gets in and out easily. The app features are useful, the cleaning function worked well, and I liked that Stevie had a fresh litter box after each use.
For us, the problem was not whether Stevie would use it. She did. The problem was the amount of litter that ended up on the floor when she jumped out. We tried the ramp step, but she would not use it, and without that, the tracking was too much for our home.
So my honest review is that the Neakasa M1 has a lot of good features, but it was not the best long-term fit for Stevie. For the right cat and the right setup, I can see the appeal. In our home, we went back to our traditional litter box because it simply worked better for the way Stevie moves and uses the box.