Neakasa M1 Plus Review: The Open Top Automatic Box
A Neakasa M1 Plus review covering the open top design, the six array infrared safety system, the 3.3 to 33 lb range and why open beats enclosed for many senior cats.
An automatic box a cat can see out of, which matters more to an old cat than to a young one.
The verdict: The M1 Plus is the automatic litter box for cats that will not go inside a globe, and a great many cats will not. Buy it if your cat refuses enclosed boxes or you want automatic cleaning without asking an old cat to enter a tunnel. Skip it if odour containment is your main goal, because an open top will never seal as well as a closed one, and the specification says so honestly by talking about sealing rings rather than about elimination.
Neakasa M1 Plus Automatic Cat Litter Box with 2 year protection plan
~$400
An open top self cleaning litter box with a six array rotary infrared safety system, composite sealing for odour, support for cats from 3.3 to 33 lb and a dedicated kitten manual mode.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Design | Open top, aligned with cats' preference for visible surroundings per Neakasa |
|---|---|
| Safety | Six array rotary infrared system with multi angle scanning |
| Sealing | Brush strip seal plus an upgraded composite sealing ring |
| Cat weight range | 3.3 to 33 lb |
| Capacity | Up to 3 cats, with a kitten manual mode below 3.3 lb |
| Included | Two year protection plan |
Specifications above come from Neakasa's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Open top is the right answer for a lot of cats, and particularly for older cats who dislike being unable to see what is around them while they are vulnerable.
- A six array infrared system with multi angle scanning is a more thorough safety approach than a small number of fixed sensors.
- The weight range starts at 3.3 lb, which covers frail cats that some automatic boxes exclude.
- A two year protection plan included with the purchase is unusual in this category and worth real money on a motorised appliance.
Where it falls short
- An open top cannot contain odour the way a sealed globe does. The sealing ring helps during the cycle; it does not make an open box smell like a closed one.
- Open also means more litter tracked out, so a mat is not optional.
- It still has a raised threshold, so a severely arthritic cat may still need a low pan instead.
- Neakasa is a newer brand in litter boxes, so long term parts and support are less proven than Whisker's.
What owners report
Published owner reports repeatedly describe cats accepting this box faster than enclosed automatic ones, which is exactly what the open design is for. The safety sensors draw favourable comment, and the included protection plan is mentioned as a reason for choosing it.
Criticism centres on odour and on litter tracking, both of which follow directly from the open design and neither of which is a defect. A few reports mention noise during the cycle, which for a nervous older cat is worth considering.
Who it suits
- Cats that refuse enclosed or covered boxes.
- Older cats who are uneasy in confined spaces.
- Households wanting automatic cleaning with a lower purchase price than the flagship boxes.
Who should skip it
- Anyone whose primary complaint is smell in a small flat.
- Cats with significant arthritis, who need a genuinely low entry pan.
- Owners who want the deepest support network, which Whisker has.
Alternatives worth considering
PetSnowy SNOW+ Self-Cleaning Automatic Cat Litter Box with TiO2 Odour Control
~$530
A hundred and thirty dollars more for sealed waste liners and a photocatalyst odour system. The right trade if smell rather than cat acceptance is the problem you are solving.
Check price on AmazonSuhaco Low Entry Litter Box for Senior Cats, extra large
~$54
An eight centimetre entry and an open top for around fifty dollars. If your cat's issue is getting in rather than the scooping, this is the product that actually solves it.
Check price on AmazonWhisker Litter-Robot 4 with Step and Fence
~$699
Three hundred dollars more for weight based cat identification, better odour containment and the strongest parts and service network in the category.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Covered vs uncovered litter box
- Automatic vs manual litter box
- Best cat litter mats
- PetSnowy SNOW+ review
- Suhaco low entry litter box review
- Best litter boxes for senior cats
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats prefer open or covered litter boxes?
Research on litter box preference is mixed and cats are individuals, but a meaningful proportion clearly prefer open boxes, and older cats often more so because they are less able to escape quickly. Our covered versus uncovered comparison sets out what is actually known rather than what is asserted.
Is an open top automatic box safe?
Neakasa uses a six array rotary infrared system to detect a cat before the cycle runs. As with any powered appliance around an animal, watch the first few weeks and make sure the unit is positioned so a cat can always leave freely. Any automatic box near a frail cat deserves supervision at first.
Will it smell more than an enclosed box?
Somewhat, yes, and that follows from being open. The sealing is designed to keep odour contained during and after the cycle, not to make the box airtight. If your cat will use an enclosed box, an enclosed box will smell less. If she will not, an open box that gets used beats a closed one that does not.
Does it track litter everywhere?
More than a closed box, and a large mat in front of it is essential rather than optional. Our page on cat litter mats covers what actually catches litter rather than what merely looks like it should.
Can my 20 pound cat use it?
Neakasa specifies a range from 3.3 to 33 lb, which covers a large cat comfortably. Bear in mind that a cat over about 15 lb has an increased risk of arthritis and diabetes, and weight management in an older cat is a conversation for your vet rather than a shopping decision.
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