An Iot-Enabled System For Monitoring And Alerting Cat Litter Tray Cleaning Based On Fill-Level Detection

Abstract

Timely cleaning of cat litter trays is crucial for maintaining hygiene and ensuring the well-being of both pets and owners. However, manual monitoring is often inconsistent, leading to unpleasant odors, health risks, and behavioural issues in cats. This study presents the design and development of an IoT-enabled system that monitors the fill level of cat litter trays and sends automated reminders for cleaning. The system employs ultrasonic sensors to detect the accumulation of waste in the tray and transmits real-time data to a cloud-based platform via Wi-Fi-enabled microcontrollers. A mobile application interface is developed to notify users through alerts when the tray reaches a predefined fill threshold. Experimental validation demonstrated over 90% accuracy in fill-level detection and effective user notification under various usage conditions. The proposed solution offers a low-cost, scalable, and user-friendly approach to pet care automation, making it suitable for households and small pet-care facilities.