Smart litter boxes
Neakasa M1 Open-Top review
Published 20 June 2026
The answer for cats that refuse enclosed boxes. Its open-top sieve design and wide 43cm opening win over nervous cats and large breeds that avoid globe units. The trade-off is weaker odour control and more litter tracking.
Best for: Anxious cats and large breeds that refuse enclosed boxes
From £399.00 checked 20 Jun 2026
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What works
- Open top nervous cats accept
- Widest opening for large breeds
- Easy to maintain
- Good cleaning
- Quiet
What falls short
- Weaker odour control
- More litter tracking
- Open design less contained
How it scores
We rate every product in this category on the same criteria, weighted by how much they matter in daily use. Each score is out of 10.
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning reliability | 20% | 8.0 | Open-top sieve sifts clumps reliably; cleaning results among the best on test |
| Safety | 20% | 8.5 | Open design with anti-pinch sensors; the open top itself reduces entrapment risk Confirm on your exact model before relying on it. |
| Odour control | 15% | 6.5 | Weaker odour control, as the open top lets more smell escape |
| Noise | 10% | 8.5 | Quiet auto-clean cycle |
| Capacity and cat suitability | 10% | 9.5 | 43cm wide opening, the best choice for Maine Coons, Ragdolls and anxious cats |
| App and health monitoring | 10% | 8.0 | App with usage tracking |
| Ease of cleaning and maintenance | 10% | 8.5 | Open design is easier to maintain than enclosed globe units |
| Value | 5% | 7.5 | Fair price for solving the enclosed-box problem |
| Weighted total | 8.1 |
How we score: each rating combines the manufacturer specification with the weight of feedback from owners and independent reviewers. We do not copy other reviews. The score is our own synthesis, and we show the reasoning so you can judge it yourself.
See how the Neakasa M1 Open-Top ranks against other smart litter boxes
Key specifications
| Design | Open-top sieve |
|---|---|
| Opening | 43cm wide |
| Safety | Anti-pinch, open design |
| Best for | Large breeds and nervous cats |
| Trade-off | More odour and tracking |
| App | Usage tracking |
Common questions
Why choose an open-top litter box?
Many cats, especially large breeds and anxious ones, refuse the enclosed globe design of most automatic boxes. The Neakasa M1's open top and wide 43cm opening win them over, often on day one.
What is the downside of the open top?
More odour escapes than from a sealed enclosed unit, and there tends to be more litter tracking around it. It is the trade-off for a design cats will actually use.
Is it good for large cats?
Yes, the 43cm wide opening makes it the best choice here for Maine Coons, Ragdolls and other large breeds.
Looking at something else? See our automatic cat feeders