Litter boxes are the command zone of your home. If it’s not up to your cat’s standard, then Houston, we may have a problem! Litter box problems significantly increase when they are not satisfied. We’ve scooped up some of the best litter boxes for your needs.

Whether you’re looking to change up your routine or new to the cat parent game, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for. 2024 is the year we are working smarter, not harder.

Deciding What Style Box to Use

Cats are creatures of habit and can be very picky about their litter box needs. It’s important to choose one your cat will use to avoid messy situations! As your kitty ages, their needs may change and it’s important to address them accordingly.

The type of litter box, as well as shape, size, and even location in your house makes a difference with your cat’s bathroom behaviors. That’s why we’ve scooped up the best ones to fit your needs. We’ve dug up some pros and cons or purrks and cat-ches from cat parents like you!

The Best Self-Cleaning Litter Box

The Litter Robot automatically drops your cat’s waste is into a carbon filtered, odor reducing drawer; and new litter is left in its place. Seems pretty smart and easy. Cleaning is as simple as pulling out the drawer and dumping it. (Although, we’ve had cat parents complain about the litter spilling while trying to empty into the bag).

A purrk to the Litter-Robot is that it uses less litter than traditional boxes. You are able to use any clumping cat litter with it and it also sends useful information to your phone about your cat’s visits to the litter box. This can be helpful if your cat has any health issues or if want to monitor closely. Of course another purrk is that it eliminates the need for scooping out the litter box which is enough to sell anyone.

One cat-ch is the sheer size of this model. This litter box definitely takes up some real estate in your home. However, if you have more than one cat, this litter box can eliminate the need for multiple litter boxes. One could argue multiple litter boxes would take up even more space.

Another cat-ch is if your cat tends to be sensitive to noise. Some cat parents have indicated their kitty tried it out but wouldn’t return because of the noise. You know your kitty best; so if they tend to be finicky, then investing in the litter robot may not be the best litter box option for you.

 

Budget Friendly and Automatic 

If easy maintenance is your thing, Petsafe self-cleaning litter box the best litter box that is a budget friendly. The Pet Safe Self-Cleaning litter box tends to be one of the more popular automatic litter boxes on the market. One purrrk is the price point is significantly cheaper compared to its competitors.

Rather than putting energy into scooping litter waste daily, Petsafe self-cleaning litter box does all the dirty work for you! Your only task is to remove and replace the disposable tray every few weeks. That sounds easy enough. The Petsafe self-cleaning litter box cleaning cycle can be customized so you just have to change the litter once a week. This litter box does come equipped with a motion sensor to keep track of how many times your kitty uses the box but not as detailed as the Litter Robot.

One cat-ch is the only type of litter that can be used with this box is silica crystal litter. Some cats may have an aversion to silica crystal litter. The texture may be off-putting for your kitty as they tend to prefer sand like litter in general.

Something else to be mindful of is the environmental impact. If you’re trying to be an eco-friendly cat parent, it’s important to know that every few weeks you will need to remove the disposable litter tray, cover it with the lid, and throw it away. Food for thought.

Our Favorite Top Entry Style

One of our personal favorites is the Iris Top Entry Litter Box. This is the best litter box if your kitty loves to dig or tends to have spills outside the box. One purrrk (and a huge one in our book) is that it significantly decreases the mess that is usually kicked out of the litter box. The grooves on the lid work as a built-in litter trap to help prevent cat litter from tracking. It’s oval shaped which makes it easy to remove built up waste from around the edges.

One cat-ch is full changes can be a tad tricky. Just make sure when you are doing a full litter change, to be aware of the insert openings for the lid. It can easily spill through the holes when dumping it out scattering on the floor.

Another cat-ch is if your cat has any mobility issues. This litter box does require a little jump onto the platform to use the box. For most cats it’s fine, but if your cat is older or has any trouble jumping onto the couch, then this one may not be for you.

Best Rated Enclosed Box

The Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Box is the best litter box if you are a multi-cat household. One purrk is that cat parents seem to love the size, price point, and durability of this litter box. It’s equipped with a large hood that provides your cat with privacy while retaining their litter inside the box. Another purrk it includes a carbon filter that helps remove odors. Yes, please!

A feature cat parents love is the built-in bag anchor that helps keep your bag open and your hands are free to scoop. If your cat doesn’t like the hood or attached door, both can be removed to fit their preference.

One cat-ch that we have found with hooded litter boxes is sometimes the seam of the hood and the tray have waste build up. This can create a messy and foul-smelling situation. Just be mindful when cleaning to remove the hood to make sure nothing is getting stuck or leaking out. Or better yet, seal the opening with some tape to help prevent waste spills from happening.

High Sided Litter Box

Another option is the Nature’s Miracle High-Sided Litter Box. Cats that tend to be enthusiastic at covering their waste will meet their challenge. One purrk is that the high sides do a great job at preventing litter from scattering during bathroom use. This is also great if you prefer to use a light weight litter. This style helps to keep it in the box and not on the floor.

One cat-ch is some have found the entry opening to be too low. This can create unnecessary mess to clean up if your kitty isn’t careful. Most cats don’t seem to have an issue, but something to be mindful of when purchasing.

Sifting Litter Box

A great sifting litter box option is the Pet Mate Sifting Litter Box. One purrk of this litter box is that it’s budget friendly. This version comes with two regular pans and a sifting pan. This makes it easier to transfer the sifting pan between baskets without having to worry about moving too much litter. The reinforced bottom of the sifting pan can handle the shaking and the weight of your cat’s droppings and soiled litter while letting the clean litter fall right through.

One cat-ch cat parents told us was the box was a little on the small side for their kitties. Just expect to sift often to make sure it stays clean. Another cat-ch is that the sifting action may not catch all pieces and allow some small waste to slip through which may need to be scooped out any way.

Best Litter Box for Kitten Training

The Van Ness Small Litter Box is a simple entry level litter box and is great litter box training. One purrk is that it’s shallow enough for kittens to climb in and out of easily to do their business.

One cat-ch is they may outgrow it quickly and you’ll need a more heavy- duty option in the near future. Luckily, it’s cheap enough that replacing it won’t break the bank.

kitten sitting in litter box

Our Favorite Litter Box Furniture

The Penn Plax Cat Walk Furniture Enclosure is a great solution for concealing the litter box and having it blend into your home in plain sight. The enclosure fits a standard small-sized box.

One purrrk is that it features a top drawer and an inner shelf for storing pet toys and supplies (although it may need to be purchased separately, but totally worth it). This is the best choice for areas if you’re short on space and is multi-functional for storage. This enclosure can even serve as a perch for your kitty.

One cat-ch is the enclosure actually has two openings (this could be a purrrk for some) but it can allow mess to escape. You can simply position the enclosure against a wall and use a shelf liner to seal up the additional opening if this doesn’t work for you.

 

The Cleaning Hacks You Need!

Cleaning the litter box is not every cat parent’s favorite chore, but it’s a package deal. However, every little trick helps to make the duty a little easier. Check out some simple tricks below to make litter clean up a bit easier.

  • Tired of litter spills? Have no fear, Scoop Buddy is here! Scoop Buddy attaches to nearly any style litter box and hold the waste bag in place eliminating litter spills and preventing the waste bag from collapsing! Scoop Buddy makes cleaning easier, faster and more efficient!

Scoop Buddy litter box accessory to eliminate litter spills

  • Using a Litter Mat is highly recommended. This will help to reduce tracking, catch spills, and help to define your cat’s bathroom space.

 

Need more tips on litter box etiquette? Check out 5 Easy Steps to Litter Box Train Your Cat