Updated September 2026

Neakasa M9 Litter Box

Neakasa M9 open-top self-cleaning litter box: TiltSafe rotation, PureTower, 7 L litter, 6 L bin, $400 pre-order, and who should wait versus buy the M1.

The Neakasa M9 is Neakasa’s new open-top self-cleaning litter box. We have not lived with a unit. Neakasa lists it as a pre-order: US orders are expected to ship on October 9, 2026, at a sale price of $399.99 (regular price $549.99). This page is the fit check for people searching the name before independent reviews exist.

What the M9 adds

It stays in Neakasa’s open-top lane, which is the design we already prefer for nervous cats and apartments. The new pieces are a wider open-view cabin, TiltSafe rotation (the drum tilts through a more open path instead of closing fully during the cycle), and a separate PureTower odor module — about 1.6 lb of activated carbon plus desiccant, replaced every 3–6 months when the filter turns black.

The box we already recommend for most homes that want something shipping now is still the Neakasa M1 Plus.

Specs that matter

• Litter capacity 7 L; waste bin 6 L. Neakasa says 7–10 days for one cat. Two cats will fill it sooner — check the multi-cat calculator before you trust a “week away” claim.
• Footprint about 2.7 sq ft. Dimensions 26 × 22 × 25.7 in. Weight about 21 lb.
• Entry height 10.2 in. Neakasa says the cabin fits large breeds such as Maine Coons and Ragdolls.
• Noise listed at 45 dB or below. Power 12 W.
• iOS and Android app for habits, litter level, and modes. The cycle keeps the last settings if Wi-Fi drops; the app just stops updating.
• In the box: PureTower filter, 16 waste liners, a kitten fence, power adapter, and 5 emptying bags.

Litter

Neakasa wants uniform 2–4 mm bentonite or mineral clay. Do not use crystal, tofu, or mixed litter. That is the same constraint as most sifters, including the M1.

Safety and kittens

TiltSafe is a structural claim, not a promise that sensors catch every problem. Kittens under 4.4 lb, shorter than about 10 inches, or under 4 months are supposed to use the included kitten fence. Give any cat about a week, and keep the old box nearby. The open-top vs enclosed tradeoff is the same one we cover in open-top vs enclosed.

Who should pre-order

• You specifically want the newest Neakasa open-top, and waiting until October is fine
• You have a large cat and the M1 cabin has felt tight
• You care about a dedicated odor cartridge more than a proven track record

Who should buy the M1 instead

• You want a box that ships now, not a first production run
• You are comparing price against Litter-Robot 4 today — start with Neakasa M1 vs Litter-Robot 4
• You do not want to be the test household for a model with no long-term owner reports yet

Neakasa lists a 2-year limited warranty and a 30-day return window. Confirm both at checkout; pre-order terms can differ from in-stock orders. Ranked picks that are actually shipping: best automatic litter boxes.