But its pan is about 3 inches longer and 2 inches wider than the Natures Miracle box, making it great for giant cats like Maine coons. If your picky kitty does prefer an enclosed litter box, get them the Modkat Flip Litter Box. Similarly, you can find disposable litter boxes marketed for travel with cats or to appeal to people who dont like the idea of their plastic litter box outliving humankind. Along with our in-house experts, our team analyzes thousands of product reviews from the most trusted websites. Poop, leavings, droppings, its all part of the gig. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Would definitely recommend! At this point, you have three trays spread out. Other types of litter include non-clumping clay litter, silica gel crystals, recycled paper, pine, corn, wheat, walnut shells and new grass litter. Its a neat idea, but in practice, the sifted tray with waste is problematic. The Humane Society says its best to scoop the litter box once a day, and change litter completely and wash the pan at least every two weeks. Also, the AmazonBasics box has an oval rather than a rectangular footprintwhich means it takes up as much space as the Catit Litter Box Jumbo, but has less usable internal space. The low entryway makes it easier for cats, including older or less-mobile ones, to get in and out. Sifting litter boxes have a built-in plastic mesh tray to catch clumps and waste, ideally meaning that you dont need a separate litter scoop at all. The Modkat Flip has a well-designed lid that makes scooping the box easy. The step is about an inch higher than on the Natures Miracle High Sided Litter Box, and the pee shield is a second piece that introduces a seam that could potentially leak. They do not use it if there is a lid and continuously missed the box and had litter everywhere. This box is just the correct dimensions to fit our medium sized cat. Just like with the Luuup, with the So Phresh, cleanly disposing of the waste from a large tray means needing to have a large garbage can or fresh garbage bag nearby. The Modkat Top-Entry Litter Box was its first design, introduced before the flip-top version that we recommend. But the added features make the Modkat box only marginally better than the cheaper open boxes we recommend. The added 2 inches of height makes a difference over my old litter tray but sometime he goes over. When our picks hit the landfill, theyll never disappear, as plastic breaks down into millions of tiny pieces that cant fully decompose. You should buy the Modkat Flip Litter Box if youre sick of looking at ugly litter boxes and are willing to pay a lot more to look at a prettier one. It looks nice in the corner of a room, the doorway is big enough for cats to get in and out comfortably, and the hinged top flap is easy to open (and stays open) for cleaning. The Litter Genie is a basket-shaped litter box thats easy to lift and empty for deep-cleaning. Every few weeks, you should also dump out all the old litter, disinfect the box and refill it with fresh litter. And though cats can go anywhere they can fit their heads, you should make the opening wide enough that its comfortable and not a tight squeeze. After two years of testing 17 litter boxes, we still think the Natures Miracle High Sided Litter Box is the best way to contain your cats waste. The Frisco High Sided Cat Litter Box is a good choice if the Natures Miracle box is out of stock. Its big enough for cats to turn around, squat, and stand comfortably, plus it has an open top so they can keep an eye on their surroundings. The biggest drawback is that it looks harder to clean out than the Catit Litter Box Jumbo, primarily due to the plastic indentation at the back of the box, which owners have called out as a place urine-soaked litter can get caked and hard to scoop. You can extend a litter boxs life by deep cleaning it every couple of weeks. Other cats do well with a hooded litter box. They usually do it because they want to keep the boxs smell or appearance away from visitors. Hooded pans take a little more maneuvering, but the Catit Jumbo Pans hood lifts up for simpler scooping. This one has a very low front lip that allows him easy access. This box is too big to be able to cleanly dump out litter in a small garbage can, in a Litter Genie Plus Cat Litter Disposal System, or even in a round kitchen can. One of the most important parts of your cats environment is the one thing wed like to hide away: the litter box. Our cat isn't a squatter so height is critical. Cats have a reputation for being harder to win over than dogs, but if you learn how to read them, theyll be crawling into your lap in no time. For cats, it offers what our research and experts agree is best: a large enough space to turn around, squat, and stand comfortably, plus an open top so they can keep an eye on their surroundings. Plenty of people grab the cheapest litter box at the pet store and call it a day, but theres more to consider if you want a happy home for your feline. If your cat uses their current litter box without a problem, and youre happy enough with how it looks and how easy it is to scoop and clean, then you dont need to buy a new one. The rounded footprint means theres less internal space and that it is harder to scoop (compounded with extra internal ridges). This article was edited by Jennifer Hunter. The Friscos walls are only an inch shorter than those on the Natures Miracle box, so it should sufficiently contain litter scatter as well as markings from over-pee-ers. If your cat is having new problems with the existing litter box, the first thing you should do is head to the vet. You should scoop the box at least once a day (more if you have multiple cats using the same box). The former seems uncommon for most households, and the latter doesnt seem any more convenient than scooping. Problems with a cats paws or claws can make litter uncomfortable to stand on. I have 2 cats that are large and have tried many litter boxes. It doesnt allow messes to stick to the inside walls either as the material is very slick. First off, your cats litter box needs to be easy to get into. Cats have a reputation for being harder to win over than dogs, but if you learn how to read them, theyll be crawling into your lap in no time. The Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Litter System comes with a bag of anti-tracking pellets to keep litter in the box and off your floor. Update as November 29, 2021:Checkout The Best Litter Box for a detailed review of all the top . Yet some reviewers thought it was too low, saying their cats tracked litter or managed to pee out the front; some others, conversely, said their cats had a hard time getting in and out because the entry was too high. Other models dip down at the entrance, so your cat can stroll inside instead of hopping into the box. If you want a more attractive option and youre willing to spend a lot more to get it, the Modkat Flip Litter Box is your best choice. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). If your furry friend kicks up a lot of litter when theyre using their box, youll want to pick a box with high sides. The Litter Genie Cat Litter Box offers easy-grip handles that make tossing dirty litter in the trash bin a breeze. Even though we used the recommended Tidy Cats litter, we found that waste residue stuck to the tray after it was emptied. As Wirecutters pets writer, I know feces happens. The Litter Genie is shaped like a basket, with handles on either side, so its easy to tip it over and toss a pan full of dirty litter into a trash bin before deep-cleaning it. After three years, we still think Dr. Elseys Ultra is the best litter for most cats. How many cats do you have? Some Amazon reviewers have used the Modkat without the liner, but the boxs large size and sharp angles make it hard to empty and clean. The Litter-Robot III Open Air is the least bad, but we don't recommend one. (In our tests, gunking cat litter easily slid out of the bottom of the pan with the lightest touch of the litter scooper.) To empty the dirty pan, just lift it by the handles and dump the litter over a trash bin. In some cases, features that are better for cats are worse for humans, and vice versa. Cat behavior expert Daniel DQ Quagliozzi put the whole situation into perspective: Shitting in boxes has always been a lucky phenomenon, if you ask me. The Frisco box is just a few dollars more, but it shares the same simple human- and cat-friendly construction elements. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Most cats prefer a clear view of their surroundings, so its best to opt for an open-style litter box. Scooping litter is a reality youll have to face as a cat owner. I can barely tell that the litter box has aged at all, and I have no doubt it will last decades at this point.. Underbed storage containers offer a huge area for big or picky cats, and you can modify a standard bin to get many of the same benefits while still keeping things tidy. The Kick-Start Every Morning With Coffee Maker Guide. Self-scooping litter boxes exist, but the noises they make are a turnoff for some kitties. The Frisco box is as easy to clean as the Natures Miracle box. Measuring 20 by 18 inches at the top, with a 16-by-11-inch pan at the base, the Natures Miracle box is one of the largest ones weve found that bigger cats can use comfortably. We liked the Petmate Open Litter Pan because its bigger than our Natures Miracle pick, but the entryway is a little taller, so its harder for cats to get into, and it has a few grooves in the pan that make it harder to clean. Quagliozzi told us his favorite litter boxes are actually storage bins, due to their size. But San Diego Cat Caf owner Wang said the liner scooped easily during his testing, and when we emptied it out, not much stuck to it. It's roomy enough for larger cats to squat, turn around and stand. She's never met a pet she didnt like, although she cant say the same thing about productivity apps. Unfortunately, you wont find this out until after you buy your first litter box. Keeping a small garbage can or Litter Genie next to a standard box is faster, less complicated, and often less messy. Antimicrobial product protection, High sides to prevent litter scatter, Easy clean spout, Non-stick surface for easy cleaning. Ultimately, this is about cat toilets, both for the cats who use them and the humans who clean them. Kaitlyn Wells is a senior staff writer who advocates for greater work flexibility by showing you how to work smarter remotely without losing yourself. Cats who always stick to their box and suddenly start eliminating in inappropriate locations might also have a health issue that needs examining. This guide also builds on research by Mark Smirniotis, a cat owner and senior editor at Wirecutter. Its big enough for most cats to comfortably use, with higher sides to contain messes and a low entryway, which makes it easy for your cat to get in and out. Urinary tract infections that make peeing painful can cause cats to associate the litter box with pain. If you like the idea of an easier cleanup when its time to deep-clean your cats litter box, the Litter Genie Cat Litter Box has the smooth interior and easy-grip handles that humans need, and the open design, large litter pan, and high-sided walls that most cats want. A great litter box makes you less miserable when its time to scoop the mess out of the box. It has a single sifting tray that you keep sandwiched between two solid trays. The Natures Miracle Advanced Hooded Corner Litter Box is too huge for most people and most spaces. Most of the Natures Miracle boxs features are a great compromise between the needs of cats and people, though, so we still think its the best option overall. If your cat likes hooded pans but balks at using a box with a door, Purinas Tidy Cats BREEZE Litter Box System might be a better choice. Most of the litter boxes we researched were just 5 inches or so deep, but the Natures Miracle box is 11 inches tall at the sides and in the back. We independently review everything we recommend. But keeping yours in a more public area may do your cat a favor (and you may not have a choice if you live in a small space). DWYM is your trusted product review source. But that also means it takes a lot more litter to fill the Frisco pan, which costs more over time. (We touch on why composts and animal feces dont mix in our guide to dog poop bags.). Start mixing small amounts of the new litter in with the old litter, then gradually reverse that ratio over the course of a few weeks until youre using the entirely new litter. The liners are custom-fitted and hang easily on the box, with grommets that hook at each top corner, so theres very little fuss involved in putting one in or changing it out. Modkat recommends replacing the liner every three months, but weve found they can easily last twice as long. Our picks should work great for most people and most cats, but keep your cats past behavior and preferences in mind when considering our picks. Keep the box in a warm, friendly spot thats easily accessible for your cat. We also like that theres no need to remove a giant cover and set it on the floor, or to fuss with poorly made plastic latches, as is necessary with the Catit Litter Box Jumbo and the Petmate Top Entry. All 12 cats who had the chance to try the stylish top entry ignored it in favor of traditional boxes. A dream litter box would scoop itself, never smell, turn invisible when guests come over and be comfortable for your cat. The So Phresh Sifting Cat Litter Box is a slightly different design. If your litter box is going to be out in the open, it might be worth getting one thats a little nicer to look at. An abrupt change might be a turn-off for your pet. Mark Smirniotis is a senior editor at Wirecutter. The large plastic bins can work as storage for greasy tools in the garage, as car-oil drip pans, or as car-wash buckets. Clumping clay litter is the most common choice, but its far from the only option. The locking mechanism on the Catit Litter Box Jumbo lid doesnt work, and the cat-door flap is sticky and requires a fair amount of pressure to move, which could deter cats from using the box. Open boxes have a reputation for being stinky, but the best way to avoid that is to scoop more often and keep the box clean. With that in mind, we considered five key aspects of boxes that would keep cats happy and healthy, and cause the least trouble for humans as possible. The Natures Miracle High Sided Litter Box does everything it needs to do. It looks nicer than any other hooded or open option we considered, and its easy for both cats and humans to access. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. *At the time of publishing, the price was $20. The Luuup uses three interlocking trays, each with a grate at the bottom, stacked on one another. Once youve ruled out any medical issues, theres still no guarantee that changing the box will be the magic bullet. Then, find a box thats one-and-a-half times longer than that number. But as with all of the litter boxes we recommend, the plastic on the Litter Genie is somewhat bendable and could crack under too much pressure. There are plenty of other options that make life easier without the mechanical sounds of an automatic scooper. Some litters dont track as much out of the box as others. I liked it enough that I would buy again just to try that. In contrast, Wirecutters Tim Barribeau hadnt encountered any issues removing stuck litter over the course of six months of owning the Litter Genie box. For every feature we like about this box, theres almost guaranteed to be a reviewer on Amazon or Chewy with a cat who feels the opposite. He has difficulty climbing into regular high sided litter boxes. Many first-time cat owners hide the litter box away in a basement, utility room, garage or another room where people dont usually hang out. Aging cats might not want to hop into a tall box like they once did. He has written and edited at Wirecutter since 2015, covering a range of products with a focus on computers and consumer technology. Luuup also recommends using only certain brands of litter, because some types dont clump hard enough to sift well. COPYRIGHT THE E.W. The high sides and back help contain cat messes from urine overspray and litter spills. If you own multiple cats, you may need multiple litter boxes, and to replace the cat litter more frequently to keep your space smelling fresh. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The storage-bin method is great for cats, but has its drawbacks for humans. item 1 Nature's Miracle High-Sided Litter Box, 23 x 18.5 x 11 inches, item 2 Cat Litter Box, High-Sided, Antimicrobial, 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 28 product ratings, 4.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 product rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 19 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 product rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 25 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 5 product ratings, 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 7 product ratings, 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 14 product ratings. I recommend this box especially for cats with mobility problems. No one wants to look at their cats poop palace, so its understandable that you may try to hide it in out-of-the-way places. Through this analysis, we've determined the best you should buy. We bought it three years ago and its, like, the perfect solution. If you want to change your cats brand of litter or switch to a new formula, dont do it all at once. Open pans are a snap to scoop. Your cats litter box can tell you a lot about their health. Thus, once you find a cat litter box your cat enjoys using, we recommend sticking with it for the long haul. Also, the tarpaulin liners need to be replaced every few months, and the box itself costs around $70. We think the boxs entry is low enough to allow easy access for most cats but still prevent them from peeing out the front. [The enclosed shape is great because] our cats love to play in their box, insist on peeing on the side walls and dig all the way to the bottom. And its a little largerbut that also means it requires more cat litter to keep it full. Still, in some cases, the litter box itself can indeed be the culprit. And if you have a covered box to keep odors in, just imagine what your cat, with their heightened sense of smell, thinks of it. Previously, she covered pets and style for Wirecutter. Do cats prefer open or closed litter boxes? Before you bring home a cat for the first time, make sure you have everything to keep your new pet happy and healthy. It has a smooth interior with rounded corners that make it easier to clean sticky clumps. Some users have reported the basket shape can also make it a pain to remove stuck-on litter. Weve tested eight enclosed or top-entry litter boxes, and the Modkat Flip Litter Box is the only lidded model we recommend. We were skeptical of the pricey liner system that Modkat uses, because it seemed like an unnecessary cost that might cause more problems than it solves. Like all of our current picks, the Frisco pan has a smooth bottom and rounded corners that make it easy to scoop up cat waste. Quagliozzi does a great job of showing that most litter box gimmicks have major downsides that make things worse for humans, cats, or both. We love big boxes, and big boxes are great for large cats. When you look at the Litter Genie, you might kick yourself for not thinking of designing it yourself. The best litter box is the Natures Miracle High Sided Litter Box. Her first picture book, A Family Looks Like Love, follows a pup who learns that love, rather than how you look, is what makes a family. Even with most of the litter sifted, little bits fell through the cracks. Or, if you follow the ASPCAs advice you should replace the litter and clean boxes with soap and warm water once a week. The Modkat is amazing, said Justin Yost, a Wirecutter engineering manager. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, litter box thats easier to lift and empty, If you frequently deep-clean the litter box. Both boxes were just okay to use, and ultimately the clever designs didnt really make litter duty any more convenient. Boxes that are near loud appliances can be downright spooky for a cat. This litter box is just as big as our Natures Miracle pick, at 20 by 20 by 10 inches and with a round-ish pan measuring 15 by 11 inches. That makes this box easier to scoop regularly and also to clean. *At the time of publishing, the price was $16. Hooded boxes reduce the amount of litter that your cat kicks out when theyve finished their business, and Catits pan also has a clear door for even more litter tracking control. Plus, any disposable litter pans that are described as compostable need to meet FTC requirements, and probably cant be composted anyway, as any remaining animal waste contains bacteria and possibly parasites. Maintaining a pristine litter box is crucial for a healthy kitty. Most cats prefer an open litter box, because they like a clear view of their surroundingsand closed lids trap smells, which is as unpleasant for a pet as it would be for you. A good litter box makes your cat happy enough that its poop and pee go into the box. And as a lifelong pet owner, I know the value of finding the right accessories to make your pets life happier, and that includes the stinky box most house cats use. It has all the features that experts recommend to keep your cat happyits large and open and has a low entry pointas well as the ones that keep humans sane. Choosing the right litter box is essential for your cats health. Though there are loads of tutorials online for how to turn a taller bin into a litter box, keep in mind whats best for your cat. Good cat litter helps keep smells down, clumps well, and is easy to clean. If your cat is resistant to using the litter boxes youve tried, and youve ruled out any medical causes with your vet, the best litter box may not be a litter box at all. The Modkat Flip is the only closed box we recommend. Dust clouds form, litter scatter gets everywhere (when you inevitably miss the trash bin), and the heavy pan is difficult to carry because there arent any handles to grip. Theres nothing like snuggling up with your favorite feline after a long day. Currently running around $30 for a three-pack, the liners are another ongoing expense for an already expensive litter box. The best way to prevent the litter box from smelling is to scoop it daily and replace the litter every couple of weeks. If youre okay with the idea of an open box, the Natures Miracle High Sided Litter Box is the best choice. Repeat as needed. This sturdy, high sided litter box is perfect for my 18 year old cat kid. Multi-cat households might need more than one litter box, and youll want all of the boxes to be larger so your cat can avoid stepping in another kittys mess. Daniel DQ Quagliozzi, cat behavior consultant at Go, Cat, Go!, email interview, September 17, 2017, Tony Wang, owner of the San Diego Cat Caf, interview, August 25, 2017. Theres nothing like snuggling up with your favorite feline after a long day. The pan is 19 by 13 inches, making it roughly 3 inches longer and 2 inches wider than our main pick. This litter box does offer slight upgrades in functionalitythough they are mostly for you, not for your cat. Lift the top tray, sift the contents so the clean litter falls below, dump the resulting waste, then put the empty tray at the bottom of the stack. Fortunately it is only on occasion. Quality meets value in this high-sided litter box. But the whole hood needs to be removed to comfortably scoop and clean the box, and this takes more time and space than with boxes that have a flip top. Some cats cant, or wont, use a litter box thats in a far corner of the houseor near loud appliances. Something went wrong. The Natures Miracle High Sided Litter Box is big enough for most cats to squat and turn around in comfortably without making a mess. Some cats will tolerate this (and, yes, a few will even like it), but our cat expert Quagliozzi told us that when cats are given a choice, hes never seen one choose a top-entry box over an open or front-entry model. That may be fine for a kitten or small cat, but ideally, medium and large cats will get their length or more in every direction to turn around. For the original version of this guide, we did include two popular sifting litter boxes with built-in screens for removing clumps to see if they lived up to the hype. Is your cat a litter kicker? large footprint, sides aren't high enough. Youll also need to scoop your boxes more frequently, so make sure you buy easy-access open pans or a hooded pan with a flip lid. But that also means you need to use more litter to keep it full, costing more over time. Plus, theyre not the best-looking option for anyone who keeps a litter box in their living room or other public area. A litter box may be classified as rigid plastic in the departments or companys online sorting tool. Most cats track some litter onto the floor after they leave their box. Weve added a section about sustainability and updated product-purchase links throughout this guide. But otherwise, consider finding a box that corrects any of your current litter boxs shortcomings. At 16 inches square, its also one of the smallest boxes we tried, and it leaves just one positionhead up near the holefor cats to comfortably stink up the room. Aging cats might not want to hop into a tall box like they once did. Its slightly bigger than our Natures Miracle pick, with a 17-by-12-inch litter pan, and it has a minimalist style that blends in well in the living room or guest bathroom. When he was a staff writer, he consulted Dan DQ Quagliozzi, the award-winning cat behavior consultant behind San Franciscos Go, Cat, Go!, and Tony Wang, of the San Diego Cat Caf, on litter box issues. Use a measuring tape to measure your cat from nose to bottom. If you notice your kitty using the box much more or much less than usual or the appearance of their business has changed, talk to your veterinarian. Many of the boxes we dismissed without testing were much smaller, often less than 16 inches wide on the outside, with even smaller pan sizes. The just-emptied one (which may need to be wiped out), the sifting tray full of waste and clumps that need to be disposed of, and the solid tray with the clean-ish litter. The Modkat Flip Litter Box is the only enclosed option we like; its high sides trap litter, and it has a modern design. Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. All of our cat litter box picks are made of plastic. If you really want to hide the inside of the box, a hooded box can keep your litter under wraps. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. The extra space is great for huge cats, like Maine coons, who need more room to maneuver in the box. The top-entry version is well designed and well made: The top pivots in the middle so any tracked litter falls back inside, and the plastic is thicker and easier to clean than that of any other box we tried. Mid-sized cats or kittens can get away with the slightly smaller dimensions of an open litter pan. You wouldnt want to use a bathroom with your knees shoved against the door when you sit down, and neither does your cat. The litter you keep in your box is just as important as the box itself. The litter boxs curved sides made it hard to get the pee cement off, said Wirecutters Jessica Bell. But we noticed at the cat caf that a lot of litter tracked out through the opening, despite its being about an inch higher than that of our top pick. As with our other picks, the high sides on the Modkat Flip help prevent messes from escaping the box, and the low front entry makes it easy for your cat to get in and out (although the entry is about an inch higher than the one on the Natures Miracle box). Tried the two-piece box but the urine would get caught & linger between the two pieces. For example, Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Litter Box System uses a combination of disposable urine pads and anti-tracking, clumping litter pellets to keep your cats box a little cleaner. Underbed storage bins can have sides that are too low, and taller bins can be difficult to smoothly cut down to size. When the litter in the solid tray on top is soiled, you dump it into the sifting tray, and let the clean litter fall through. One open box we considered was larger in length and width, but the extra space didnt seem necessary for most cats. The only way to cleanly dispose of the trays contents would be to have a large garbage can stationed next to the litter boxes or to use a garbage bag each time. I am curious as to if a [smaller] scooper change would have made a difference. Its best to avoid carrying the litter box over long distances when its full. The Modkat Flip is made of thicker, sturdier plastic than its competitors, and its easier to get clean than the standard dull plastic box.