Automatic boxes use weight, infrared, or radar sensors to detect occupancy, and any detection mid-cycle should halt motion immediately; that is the core safety mechanism.
Judge sensor redundancy, whether the opening can form a shear point, and whether small kittens are reliably detected, since low-weight misreads are the main hazard.
Most makers advise enabling auto mode only above a weight or age threshold; during transition, keep it unplugged as a normal box until the cat is comfortable.
However smart the marketing, keep a backup manual box, inspect operation and dead corners regularly, and stop use for service at any odd noise or jamming.
