The Best Cat Litter Boxes

February 19, 2024

Updated:

February 20, 2024

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The Best Cat Litter Boxes — (Left) IRIS Top-Entry Cat Litter Box (Right) Modkat Flip Litter Box (Illustration by The Epoch Times, Amazon)

If you explore the market, you'll find that cat litter boxes come in dozens of models, shapes, and sizes. You might wonder why. What’s the deal with this seemingly simple equipment?

Yes, a cat litter box may appear straightforward, but finding the perfect match can be overwhelming. If you’ve had a feline friend for a while, you probably know this already.

Litter boxes can be messy, smelly, and not the ideal match for your furniture! They can also bother your fluffy friend. So companies try to provide solutions for the various issues a cat litter box can cause.

Choosing the right cat litter box depends on you and your cat’s special needs and situations. This means you have to decide for yourself. But we are here to walk you through and help you pick the best cat litter box.

Stay with us throughout this cat litter box guide and make a wise choice. We are going to get you familiar with all aspects and the key points and take a thorough look at 8 popular litter boxes.

The Breakdown:

So Phresh Corner Litter Box

Here is what makes So Phresh Corner litter box special. It is designed for the corners! Yes, useless corners of your room. Although this model takes up minimal space, it is still large enough for bigger cats.

Putting the litter box in the corner has another benefit. It avoids the mess. The corner litter box has three sides, instead of four. Two of which are leaning toward the wall. So there is only the front side, from which litter particles can spread. Put a mat in front of the opening to minimize the mess.

So, if you are running out of space in your home and looking for a compact litter box, this model is the one for you.

Details

Material: Plastic
Dimensions: 18.5“ L x 15” W x 8.5” H
Weight: 1.8 Pounds

$30.99 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Short entrance edge: Kittens or cats with short legs can use it with ease. But it is also suitable for larger cats.
Good for useless corners: It takes minimum space and doesn’t draw attention.
No ceiling: Cats’ feces can show how healthy they are. You probably want to get aware right away if your cat has diarrhea. With being open, you can see what is going on.

Cons

Not quite the minimum mess: There is no ceiling and the front side is quite short. So the litter particles can scatter in the room. You can minimize the mess by putting a mat in front of it.

Catit Airsift Litter Pan Jumbo

No matter what kind of cat litter you use, there will always be the terrible smell of your cat’s feces. It may not bother you if you have a separate room for your cat. But if you want to put the litter box in the same room that you use so often, it can be a serious problem.

Besides, elevated sides can not resolve the mess completely. There will always be litter particles scattered all around the room. If you want a shiny clean home, you probably have to groom every day. That is why many people prefer an enclosed litter box.

Catit Airsift litter pan is an enclosed litter box, comfortable both for you and your cat. Let’s take a closer look at its details and benefits.

Details

Material: Plastic
Product Dimensions: 18.3“L x 19.7”W x 22.4"H
Opening door size: 9.6” W x 10.4” H
Weight: 1.7 Pounds
Other features: Ventilation, swing door, extra fold-up door

$53.99 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Swing door: It will prevent the terrible odor and dust from escaping the litter box. It is also easy to use for your cat.
Big handle: There is a big handle on top of the box which helps you in the opening.
Extra lift-up door: So you do not have to open the whole box for scooping.
Side locks: this strengthens the structure.
Replaceable carbon filter: This box comes with a place for an odor filter in the ceiling. This feature can minimize the odor more than ever.
Large size and wide opening: Even your big cat can use this litter box.
Super light: In contrast to most enclosed cat litter boxes, this model is very light.

Cons

May be small for larger or multiple cats: If your cat is large, or you have multiple cats, you should reconsider. But remember for multiple cats, you are better off getting more than one litter box.
You may be left out: An enclosed litter box hides your cat’s waste. So in case your cat gets stomach problems, you may not realize right away.
Harder to clean: Enclosed litter boxes provide you with different features to ease cleaning. However, the fact remains that you still have to open the top door. So it may not be as easy as an open litter tray.
Can be annoying for your cat: The enclosed litter box traps all the dust and odor. Well, good for you. But your feline friend may not be as happy. The odor and dust may irritate them. Also, some cats are not fans of enclosed places.

Modkat Flip Litter Box

Do you remember the advantages and disadvantages of open and enclosed litter boxes? An open litter box is easier to clean and easier for your cat to use, but it can be a mess. Modkat Flip litter box has combined all the benefits of both models.

Essentially, it’s a straightforward tray enclosed within a larger box. So it gives your cat enough space and privacy. It prevents dust and particles from jumping all around the room. Moreover, it is incredibly easy to clean.

The outer box is similar to a classic picnic basket. You can flip the ceiling and scoop easily.

Details

Material: Polypropylene (PP)
Dimensions: 20“ L x 16.75” W x 15” H
Weight: 7 Pounds
Other features: DIY, Reusable lining, Scoop hanger, ventilation

$89.95 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Enclosed space: So it prevents the dust from scattering all around the room. But it may not be as useful for trapping the odor. This is due to its pores and its open entrance.
Travel-friendly: You can separate parts, fold, and assemble them again, easily. So this is a good choice if you are planning a trip with your cat.
No entrance door: You don’t have to teach your cat how to push the swing door.
Reusable liner: The liner is rip-resistant and will last for a good deal of time. In case it rips, you can always replace it with a new one.
Easy to clean: The ceiling folds easily. There are no locks.
There is a place for filters in the ceiling where you can put carbon filters in it.

Cons

Doesn’t prevent the odor: Don’t forget there is no door.
Slightly unstable: Remember, it consists of several pieces that need to be assembled. So it may not be as stable as one or two-piece equipment. The ceiling folds back easily, so your cat can learn to fold it too.

IRIS Open-Top Cat Litter Tray

As we mentioned earlier, there are various reasons you may not want an enclosed cat litter box. But you still want to get rid of dust and litter particles scattering around the room. IRIS has a special model for you.

IRIS Open-Top has added a scatter shield to solve this problem. Although this is an open litter box, the sides are elevated higher than any other model in the market.

So it is nearly impossible for your cat to scatter litter around the room while attempting to hide its feces or urine.

Details

Material: Plastic
Dimensions: 19“ L x 15” W x 11.75” H
Weight: 1.96 Pounds

$18.99 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Minimum mess: The elevated shields protect your home from dust particles.
Easy to clean: No ceiling means you don’t have to open anything to scoop
See-through: You will notice right away if your cat has a problem with pooping.
Coloring: Contrary to many litter boxes in the market, this model comes in various colors. So you can choose according to your taste, or you can set the color with other furniture.

Cons

No odor filter: There is no ceiling, so you may be bothered by the smell. But you can always use scented litter and such products.
Elevated entrance: So if you have a kitten or a cat with short feet, this model may not be suitable.

Van Ness Pets Odor Control Litter Box

Most litter boxes are in standard sizes. It is good to be standard. This means you don’t have to worry about every aspect. They have already thought of every aspect and designed a standard that fixes all the problems.

Well, not all, most of the issues. When you have one “Standard” size cat, the standard size is the best idea. But what if your fluffy pet is a little bigger than an average cat? Or suppose you have several cats?

Two of them may decide to go to use the litter box at the same time. As a cat owner, let me assure you this is quite common! You may think putting more than one litter box will solve the problem. Well, not always!

They both may decide to use the same litter box, which, according to my experience, is quite common again! If there is not enough room in that specific litter box, an everyday process of your cats can turn into a domestic fight!

Van Ness Pets Odor Control litter box is not designed in the so-called standard size. It has all the benefits of a hooded litter box, and it is extra large. No matter how big your cat is, it can use this litter box with ease.

Details

Material: Polypropylene
Dimensions: 21.5“ L x 17.5” W x 18.13” H
Weight: 16 Ounces
Other features: Ventilation, detachable swing door

$33.19 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Extra large: As we mentioned before, this model is suitable for larger or multiple cats.
Minimum mess: Like other enclosed litter boxes, this model keeps all the scattered particles inside it.
Minimum odor: There is a ventilation window in the ceiling in which you can put carbon filters.
Removable swing door: Your cat is not good with swing doors? You can detach it.
Affordable: Compared to other hooded litter boxes, the Van Ness Pets litter box is really cheap.

Cons

Cleaning can be a bit challenging: Remember the extra fold-up door of Catit Airsift? Well, this model lacks such a feature. You have to unlock the four locks and remove the upper part to clean.
Bothersome for some cats: The odor can bother your cat. Also, some cats are not good with enclosed places.
Elevated entrance height: This model may not be suitable for kittens or small cats.

Petmate Open Cat Litter Box

This model is just a simple tray, with no added features. You may wonder why. But there could be several reasons that you do not want a fancy litter box. Well, let’s review the possible reasons that you may be looking for a simple and cheap litter box:

Your little friend is still a little kitten. So you want to get something comfortable and simple, till your cat grows up.
This might be temporary: you may be having a cat as a guest. It makes sense if you look for something simple and cheap.
You may want an extra litter box for your backyard.
You may want to put a litter box for stray cats stopping by to take their share of food.
Maybe you are not shopping for your permanent residence: you may spend weekends in your country house and want a simple litter tray there for your cat.

Let’s take a look at its full details, pros, and cons.

Details

Material: Plastic
Size: available in four sizes, small, medium, large, and giant
Dimensions: from 14“ L x 10.5” W x 3.5“ H to 25.56” L x 18.3“ W x 10.02” H
Weight: from 0.44 to 2.2 Pounds

$9.72 - $12.99 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Available in several sizes: You can choose according to your cat’s size and needs.
Affordable: all sizes come at a reasonable price.
Easy to clean: You don’t need to open, flip, or fold anything to scoop.
Durable: There are no pieces, no locks, no hinges, so there is nothing to be broken.

Cons

Could be messy: Your cat can scatter the litter particles all over the surrounding space.
A bit smelly: There is no door, no ventilation, no filter, or any other option to minimize the odor.

IRIS Top-Entry Cat Litter Box

No matter how high the sides of a litter box are, there remains a problem: the opening. The litter particles can scatter everywhere via the opening. So, is the only option the encapsulated litter box? Fortunately, there is another option. IRIS manufactures these beautiful litter boxes with the opening on top! It may sound unusual, but believe me, your cat is going to love it.

Have you seen those spin mops before? IRIS’s top-entry litter box looks a little like them. There is an oval-shaped box with a round opening on top. Your cat has to jump on top to access the litter box. And since cats love to jump on top of every piece of furniture, they will love this model.

Just remember it may not be a good choice for kittens, elderly, or sick cats that have difficulty with jumping.

Details

Color: Various colors (gray, white, orange, blue, black)
Size: Medium and large
Material: Plastic
Dimensions: 20.75“ L x 16.13” W x 14.63“ H for the medium. 20.5” L x 14.75“ W x 14.38” H for the large size
Weight: 2.59 Pounds (medium size), 4.6 Pounds (large size)
Other features: Top entry, scooper hanger

$39.99 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Top Entry: This feature minimizes the mess made by your cats.
Textured lid: It helps to clean your cat’s paws after using the litter box. And removes litter particles stuck to the paws. Thus keeps the nearby area clean.
Scooper hanger: This product comes with a scooper and more importantly, a place to hang it. So you don’t have to worry about where to put the scoop.
Various sizes: It is available in two sizes. The medium is suitable for smaller cats and the large is suitable for larger or multi cats.
Locks: The front lid is fixed in its place by a few locks. So you can be sure it will not fall off when your cat is using the box.

Cons

Difficult to open: Opening the box can be a little challenging. The locks are a bit different from the usual locks you see in other kinds of litter boxes. But the good news is that the entry is so large that you can scoop from there. No need to open the box each time.
Difficult to enter: Entering the box can be challenging for little kittens, and elderly or sick cats that may not be able to jump easily. But you can always use a step or something similar beside the box, helping your pet to enter the box more easily.

Good Pet Stuff Original Hidden Litter Box

There are dozens of models of cat litter boxes in the market with different features. They aim to help your pet feel comfortable. Also, they try to solve problems like the mess, the odor, etc. However, many of them overlook a lingering issue. The litter boxes are not in harmony with your home’s well-designed decoration.

You probably hate to put a plastic litter box somewhere between your couch and TV or other precious pieces of furniture you have chosen and buy with careful consideration.

Good Pet Stuff’s hidden litter box is not just a simple litter box. It is a beautiful piece of furniture that can add beauty to your home. It serves as both a vase and a litter box simultaneously. Yes! It is a vase with an artificial plant. If you conceal the entrance, such as placing it behind your couch or facing it toward the wall, people won’t recognize it as a litter box at first glance.

In summary, this litter box is comfortable for your cat, easy to clean, and adds beauty to your space. Here is a closer look at its different features.

Details

Material: Polypropylene (PP)
Dimensions: 19“ L x 19” W x 20” H
Weight: 6 Pounds
Other features: Odor filter

$64.99 - $111.61 at Amazon (Price at Time of Publishing)

Pros

Classy design: It is in harmony with your other pieces of furniture and adds beauty to your home.
Easy to assemble: The parts easily lock in each other, so you can assemble them fast and with ease at home. An artificial plant accompanies it. But you can always replace the plant with any other kind you prefer.
Easy to use: The box is large, and the entrance is wide enough, so your cat can use it with ease.
Easy to clean: The upper part is easy to remove, so scooping is easy. You can also wash it with water and soap occasionally.
Odor filter: There is a place on top of it for inserting a carbon filter. It is located just beneath the part that will be covered with the plant and plant moss. It really helps with minimizing the disturbing odor. Further reduce odor by using carbon litter, especially if you plan to place the litter box in your living room.

Cons

Can be messy: Open entries have their typical issue. Litter particles can spill out on the floor. However, you can minimize this issue by placing a mat in front of it.
Challenging opening: It doesn’t have the usual locks. The two parts simply latch onto each other. You may find it challenging the first few times.

Cat Litter Box Reviews

So Phresh High-Back Corner Grey Litter Box

Many users of the So Phresh Corner litter box are happy with its spaciousness, making it suitable for larger cats or multiple cats. However, this characteristic can also be a drawback if you have limited space. Additionally, the lower entrance is beneficial for senior cats or cats with mobility issues.

Another positive aspect of this litter box, according to its users, is the reduced mess. Its special design helps contain litter scatter and reduces the likelihood of litter being kicked or tracked outside the box. Users have mentioned a few drawbacks.

For example, although the litter box contains most of the mess, litter tracking outside the box still occurs to some extent, which is a common issue for almost all open litter boxes. Odor is another common complaint due to the same reason.