CATLINK Open-X Self-Cleaning Automatic Cat Litter box review

A common disadvantage of automatic litter boxes is their bulky, enclosed litter trays. Although some cats prefer covered litter boxes, most prefer open areas where they can see their surroundings.

The Catlink Scooper Open X has a 17″ open litter tray for easy switching from traditional litter boxes. Complete with a large waste bin, cat-safe design, and several safety sensors, it’s a great alternative to your regular self-cleaning litter box.

I tested the Catlink Scooper Open X for over a month in my multi-cat home. Below is my honest review.

Why You Trust Us

I tested various automatic litter boxes on one publication, which allowed me to get a feel for how they work, the features they should have, and the safety hazards to be aware of. I’ve also been a cat owner all my life, so I know how difficult it can be to learn every day and how game-changing litter boxes are when your cat is going to use them!

When I review self-cleaning litter boxes, I pay attention to my cats’ comfort with the product and how easy it is for me to meet and use on a day-to-day basis. I spent over a month testing the Scooper Open X with my cats, and below are my honest thoughts.

Scooper Open X & Catlink Overview

Catlink was founded in 2017 with the goal of designing technology to help pet parents monitor the health of their cats. Although they started with self-powered litter boxes, the company now sells other pet technology such as automatic feeders and water fountains.

The Scooper Open X is a new release with an open design that comes in two sizes: one for medium-sized cats and one for large cats. This design is also easy to clean, compatible with all types of litter you collect, and monitors the activity of multiple cat litter boxes using the Catlink app.

Features of Scooper Open X

Catlink’s Scooper Open X is a great choice for those looking for an automatic open top litter box. It’s affordable compared to other self-cleaning litter boxes, has an easy-to-use design, and tracks the littering habits of most cats.

Compatible with all types of waste and has a large waste bin. That being said, a trash can does not have a strong seal and may cause odors in the home if not emptied regularly.

The simple yet smart design keeps your cats safe and makes deep cleaning a breeze. The drum does not rotate fully, and multiple sensors prevent cats from being caught or pinched by the machine as it moves. The only caveat I found is that there is no counter sensor on the back of the litter box, so a curious cat may be stung during the littering process. I would recommend watching while the litter tray is emptying, just in case.

The Catlink app is clean and easy to navigate. It tracks your cat’s litter habits including how often they visit, how long they stay, and their weight. Settings include night mode, soft waste burial (waste is covered before discharge), and continuous cleaning (each cycle runs twice to get a very clean waste tray).

If you choose not to use the app, there are also buttons on the device itself to select, remove, and change cleaning modes. These can also be locked, so small children and pets can’t push them around.

What we like

• The open style is loved by many cats and is easy to keep clean
• Since the drum doesn’t seal, cats can’t get trapped inside—and multiple safety sensors work to prevent pinching.
• It allows tracking the health of multiple cats, as long as they have a weight difference of 0.9 kilograms or more
• The Catlink app is clean and easy to navigate, with several settings to customize

What we don’t like

• Waste disposal should be noted, as it seems there aren’t as many safety sensors on the back of the machine as there are on the front.

What Do Our Test Cats Think?

The Catlink Scooper Open X was easy to assemble and connected to the app quickly. I couldn’t get it to fit properly at first, but I soon realized that I had installed the safe the wrong way round.

If you have the same problem, know that there is a tab in the middle where the safe needs to sit in front of. If it is caught behind it, the lumps will be filtered but will not fall into the waste stream, instead going straight back into the waste tray. Fortunately, this was an easy fix and the machine otherwise worked well.

As with all automatic litter boxes, only my little cats were willing to explore it. However, they seemed to like the open design more than some of the heavy-duty boxes we tried, and used it more often than I expected.

It seemed to be their favorite of the litter boxes I tested by far, so I would buy them again. And I prefer the open style, as my cats look comfortable inside it and it’s very easy to clean.

What Do Customers Think About Scooper Open X?

Good Review

“I’m impressed with the CATLINK Open Top Self Cleaning Cat Litter Box. After using it for a few weeks, I can confidently say it’s one of the best pet purchases I’ve made. It’s incredibly eco-friendly, uses less litter overall and reduces waste.” – Wendy mak on Amazon

“This litter box combines automation, app connectivity, and safety features to make cat care easier—especially in busy homes or multi-cat households.” – Princess on Amazon

Since Scooper Open X is a new product, there aren’t many updates yet. So far, customers like that it has an open deck, is easy to deep clean, and has a simple setup process. Some reviewers note that they had issues with the litter box at first, but that Catlink has great customer service and resolved their issues quickly and professionally.

Negative Reviews

“Small volume and doesn’t seal well. The silicone liner came off while we were away for the weekend. It kept throwing up all the trash and the cats had to squat on the floor next to it. Big disaster.” – xiangningzeng on Amazon

“My cat loved it until she saw that she was cleaning herself and now she doesn’t come close. I had to dig her old cat out of the trash so she wouldn’t pee on the floor. I hope I can find one that I can give her.” – Amazon Customer on Amazon

The Scooper Open X has only a small number of negative reviews so far, but a few customers have complained that the litter tray is too small, the device doesn’t work properly, or their cats don’t use the litter box. In addition, some positive reviewers say they had technical issues with the device that were resolved by customer service.

Similar brands of Automatic Litter Box

Looking for other automatic cat litter boxes like the Scooper Open X? Check out our other reviews.