How BISSELL Created a Safe Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Adam shares some of the key decisions that went into creating this new cat-approved automatic litter box, from technical safety innovations to incorporating feedback from the BISSELL Pet Care Advisory Board, which includes veterinarians and animal behavioralists.

Safety, first and always

The biggest safety concern around self-cleaning litter boxes is the presence of pets and people around moving parts. However, there are no industry safety standards for self-cleaning litter boxes. So the BISSELL team created their own to ensure the litter box is safe for cats ages 6 months and older – from unpredictable and energetic young cats to slow-moving seniors.

Comprehensive testing happened long before the litter box was ever introduced to an actual cat. This included precision measurements in the laboratory and targeted use case analysis to ensure the litter box design and sensors covered potential hazards.

The result was a litter box designed with multiple layers of overlapping and redundant sensors that provide not just extra security but resilience for the life of the product. In the unlikely event that one sensor fails, another one is ready to provide safety input to the product.

"A radar sensor looks for motion around the drum and stops it from moving – that's kind of a protective shield over the entire litter box," says Adam. "And there are infrared beam sensors to detect if there's a cat in the drum and sensors and software to detect if a small kitten somehow got inside the waste bin. We've carefully considered potential hazards on a product like this and come up with solutions.”

From the start, this automated litter box was designed with safety as the top priority, especially around the moving drum. For instance, the team created a flexible pinch sensor that can feel even the lightest contact. To demonstrate its effectiveness, an egg was placed in the “pinch point.” The drum sensed it, stopped, and backed away, leaving the egg intact. When the test was repeated on other self-cleaning litter boxes on the market, the egg broke, demonstrating just how sensitive – and protective – the CleanWell™ litter box technology really is.

This level of safety is industry leading for a product like this.

How the CleanWell™ self-cleaning litter box controls odor by trapping up to 20 days’ worth of waste

It's hard to say which is the worst part of a traditional litter box: the frequent scooping or the persistent foul smell. Both ranked as top concerns when BISSELL surveyed cat owners before embarking on its new pet care line.

In the CleanWell™ Self-Cleaning Litter Box, these issues are solved via a waste bin with OdorVault™ Technology, which is designed to store up to 20 days of waste for a single cat, odors and all.

To come up with this solution, the team started by designing a right-sized receptacle for all that waste. After gathering data around typical litter box use (a job that required lots of scooping) they landed on an XL slide-out drawer ample enough to hold nearly three weeks of waste for a single cat. The waste drawer comes with plastic liners that do double duty as waste bags – just tie off the top and put it out with the trash.

What required more work was devising a way to keep the inherent odors from escaping.

"As any cat owner knows, if you don't clean a litter box, it will continue to accumulate and smell," says Adam. "But the airflow is actually what transmits the bad smells to our noses. If we inhibit the airflow, then we can reduce the smell significantly."

To fully close off the waste bin the team designed a magnetic seal that engages between the bin and the drum. This unique solution stops the air from flowing in and out of the waste bin so odors stay inside.

"For today's pet parents, it's not just about convenience – it's about creating an environment that supports natural feline behavior," says Dr. Danielle Bernal, DVM, BISSELL Pet Care Advisory Board Member. "Quiet, automatic cleaning paired with odor control helps ensure cats continue to use the litter box consistently, which is critical for their health."

There are tough customers, and then there are cats

Once the CleanWell™ automatic litter box proved its effectiveness and safety in a lab, it was time for testing with actual cats. Because cats can take weeks to accept a new litter box – self-cleaning or not – the experts on the BISSELL Pet Care Advisory Board stepped up with helpful hints. (For more tips, read “Selecting the Best Litter Box Placement” and “How Many Litter Boxes Should I Have Per Cat?”)

To create a realistic "unboxing" experience the litter boxes were given to cat parents close to the project to take home and set up. Then, the waiting and watching began.

"Once we began fielding the units with actual cats in homes, we saw firsthand that cat acceptance is a really big deal – cats are notorious for being wary and 'cat-like' around new things," says Adam.

Watching the cats investigate, explore, and test the litter box also inspired improvements in the product. . For example, the team noticed that drum movement during entry disturbed cats so minor design improvements and software changes were able to keep the drum locked, , which the cats preferred.

"Next-generation pet parenting means paying attention to the details cats care about most, like noise, cleanliness, and scent," says Dr. Bernal.

This test-and-learn approach for pet care mirrors the way BISSELL® floor care products are created. "We're still learning, and we continue to be very consumer-focused, listening to consumers and having excellent consumer care," says Adam. "But we've already learned quite a bit, which sets us up for the future as we continue to launch pet products created with safety and acceptance from pets and their people in mind."

The bottom line: is the BISSELL® CleanWell™ self-cleaning litter box worth it?

If you're looking for an automatic litter box that prioritizes cat safety, long-lasting odor control, and a design cats will actually accept, the CleanWell™ Self-Cleaning Litter Box will be a good purchase for you and your cat. Its industry-leading sensor system, OdorVault™ Technology, and real-world cat acceptance make it a meaningful step forward for cat parents who want less mess, less smell, and more peace of mind.Shop the BISSELL® CleanWell™ Self-Cleaning Litter Box →