Updated: March 12, 2021 by Kristen Chapple
Every cat needs someplace to do their business, and that place is either outside or in a litter box!
Kitty litter boxes seem simple enough. They’re just plastic containers you fill with litter, right? It’s understandable that not much thought is given to the actual litter box itself.
However, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the best cat litter box for your pet. Different cats have different litter box needs. Kittens require shallower litter boxes, whilst cats with bad aim and the “kickers” might benefit from a litter box with high sides. If your cat is elderly or has difficulty getting about, then an open litter box might be the best for them.
As well as being comfortable for your cat to use, you obviously want it to be comfortable for you to live around too! Picking up granules of cat litter off your floor every five minutes is an annoyance, especially after you’ve just swept.
Additionally, no one wants to be in a room with a foul-smelling litter box after your cat has just used it. That’s why it’s important you think carefully about the type of kitty litter box for your furry friend.
Best Litter Box Reviews
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Frisco Deluxe Hooded Cat Litter Box With Scoop |  |
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| Nature’s Miracle Just For Cats Advanced High Sided Corner Cat Litter Box |  |
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| Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box |  |
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| Puppy Pan Cat And Small Animal Litter Pan |  |
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| Scoop Free Original Automatic Cat Litter Box |  |
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1. Frisco Deluxe Hooded Cat Litter Box With Scoop
This hooded litter box from Frisco is one of the best litter boxes for odor control. The hooded design helps prevent smells from escaping, as well as keeps litter and mess inside the box. It also gives your cat some space and privacy when they need to do their business.
The hood on this litter box is completely removable, so you have the option to use it without the cover. This litter box also comes with a scoop which you can then stash away in the secret storage compartment on the top of the hood.
This litter box is the best for odor control as it features a charcoal filter and ventilated panel in the lid. This helps remove bad odor and smells before they have the chance to escape.
Frisco’s litter box also comes with a handle to make carrying and picking it up easy. The material of this litter box is sturdy and strong plastic to make it less likely to crack and break.
This litter box is very big, which makes it one of the best litter boxes for large cats. It’s also available in three colors: maroon, gray, and navy.
The reviews for this hooded litter box from Frisco are very positive. Fellow cat owners have praised this litter box’s effectiveness at odor control, thanks to the built-in charcoal filter and ventilation system.
Other reviews state how well-made and durable the litter box is, as well as its big size. This means this litter box is great for large cats and won’t topple over or break easily.
A couple of downsides with this litter box from Frisco is its flimsy door attachment and difficulty to clean. The door to the litter box is a bit fragile, which means it could fall off easily.
Additionally, due to the smooth and shiny plastic surfaces of the litter box, it can be a bit harder to clean out litter.
Pros
- Hooded cover for privacy and odor control
- Storage compartment to hold litter scoop in
- Built-in charcoal filter and ventilation
- Large size
Cons
- Flimsy door
- Can be difficult to clean
2. Nature’s Miracle Just For Cats Advanced High Sided Corner Litter Box
If your cat has a habit of making a bit of a mess when they use their litter box, then this litter box from Nature’s Miracle could be for you.
The tall walls of this litter box mean your cat’s litter will have a harder time finding its way onto your floor. Its curved design can be easily slotted into the corner of a room to provide you with more space.
The non-stick antimicrobial interior of this litter box helps prevent litter from building-up. This makes cleaning the litter box easy and quick! The design of the litter box also features a scooped edge to make removing dirty litter hassle-free.
This litter box is large, which makes it a great choice if you own more than one cat. As this litter box is tall, high, and large, it is one of the best litter boxes for multiple cats — especially if you use the right litter.
The reviews for this litter box from Nature’s Miracle are very positive. A lot of cat owners praise the size of the litter box, as well as its tall sides and great ability to keep litter where it belongs.
Other positive reviews mention that this litter box has worked well with multiple cats, large cats, and felines who like to kick their litter out of the box.
However, the scooped edge on the front of the litter can be problematic. Some owners have found their cats miss the litter box when they use the bathroom due to this design.
Additionally, cats who stand up to go to the toilet might have a bit of an issue aiming with this scooped edge.
Pros
- High sides
- Non-stick interior makes cleaning easy
- Corner design to save space
- Large size – suitable for multiple cats
Cons
- The front scooped design can be problematic
3. Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box
This litter box from Clevercat uses a top-entry design to reduce odor, tracking, and mess from kicked out litter. This makes it ideal for cats who have a tendency to wreak a bit of havoc when they use their litter box.
The design of this litter box also provides your cat with privacy when they do their business. It also keeps dogs and other pets out, which makes it a great choice if you own other animals.
The top of the litter box is partially covered, which makes it effective at holding in bad smells.
Reviews for this litter box from Clevercat are positive and a lot of cat owners agree it is the best litter box for odor control. Additionally, the top-entry design of the litter box makes it great for cats who like to kick their litter everywhere.
This also makes it suitable for cats with poor aim as the high sides will keep mess to a minimum.
However, the top-entry design of this litter box can be problematic. Due to the high walls and entry point of this litter box, it could be unsuitable for elderly, disabled, or sick cats as it may be difficult for them to climb in and out of it.
Additionally, the size of this litter box could make it unsuitable for large cats, as well as owners with multiple cats.
Pros
- Top-entry design to eliminate mess and odor
- High walls
- Ideal for multi-pet families
Cons
- Small size
- Unsuitable for large, elderly, and sick cats
4. Puppy Pan Cat And Small Animal Litter Pan
This litter box from Puppy Pan is ideal if you own a kitten or young cat.
Kittens require a small litter box to make it easier for them to use. Hooded litter boxes or those with tall or high sides are typically unsuitable as kittens cannot climb in or out of them.
That’s why this litter box from Puppy Pan is the best litter box for kittens. It is wide but has low sides, and an even lower entry point to help little legs get in and out of it.
Due to the low edges of this litter box, it would also work well for senior or unwell cats who have difficulty using standard-sized litter boxes!
The capacity of the litter box is able to hold litter and training pads, so it is more than deep enough to contain your kitten’s litter. Fill this with one of our recommended litters for kittens and you’re golden.
This litter box is made from sturdy and robust plastic to ensure it doesn’t crack or break easily. If you own a kitten, this litter box is perfect until your young feline grows into a big cat.
The small size of the litter box is ideal for holding pets up to six pounds, whilst the large size is able to accommodate pets up to 20 pounds.
One of the best features about this litter box is that it is perfect for kittens. Reviews of this litter box are mostly positive, with a lot of owners stating that the design of the litter box helped their kitten access it.
However, as this litter box is targeted for kittens and small animals, it might be too small for adult cats. The low sides and shallow design could make it unsuitable for holding a good amount of litter for an adult cat.
Pros
- Low sides and shallow design
- Great for kittens or unwell/senior cats
Cons
- Could be too small for adult cats
5. Scoop Free Original Automatic Cat Litter Box
This litter box from ScoopFree is self-cleaning and can be left alone for weeks before it needs emptying. This makes it ideal for owners with busy schedules or those who want to make cleaning their cat’s litter box a bit easier!
This litter box features an automatic rake system that brushes waste into a separate covered compartment twenty minutes after your cat has gone to the bathroom.
If your cat uses the litter box again before the twenty-minute timer is up, then safety sensors in the interior of the box will reset the timer.
This litter box uses a unique crystal litter that you fill into a disposable litter tray, making it easy for you to empty.
The crystal litter is effective at soaking up moisture and controlling odor to ensure your home always smells fresh. The litter trays are plastic to prevent spillages and can be simply thrown away when the litter box needs emptying.
This makes this self-cleaning litter box from ScoopFree one of the best litter box systems for odor control. It’s also hassle-free and makes cleaning and emptying your furry friend’s litter box a lot simpler.
Reviews for this litter box system are mostly positive. A couple of the highlights of this litter box is its odor control and ease of use as it does not need to be changed as often as traditional litter boxes.
Cat owners with busy schedules or conditions/illnesses that make moving around difficult have praised this litter box for making things a lot easier.
However, this litter box is unsuitable for elderly or disabled cats, as well as kittens. Some cat owners have found the cat litter can be a bit messy and lead to some tracking, especially when the rake system is in action.
Additionally, some cats might not feel comfortable using this litter box due to the noise it makes when it is sweeping up waste.
Pros
- Self-cleaning and does not need changing often
- Effective at odor control
- Makes cleaning simple and quick
- Ideal for owners who have difficulty moving about
Cons
- Not suitable for kittens, elderly, or disabled cats
- Rake system could be intimidating to some cats
What To Look For When Buying A Litter Box For Your Cat
For cats who frequently go outdoors, there might not be much need for a litter box as they will typically do their business outside.
However, if you own an indoor cat, then a litter box is a necessity.
When you’re on the hunt for a new litter box for your cat, there are a lot of factors to consider such as size, odor control, height, and style.
Size
The size of your cat’s litter box needs to be spacious enough for your cat to sit inside, as well as a bit of extra room.
Your cat should be able to move around in the litter box and be able to dig inside it. If your cat is not comfortable when they are using their litter box, then they will be reluctant to use it which can result in accidents!
The size of your cat’s litter box should be, as a minimum, the length and width of your cat, with a little room to give.
Hooded Versus Unhooded
Hooded cat litter boxes are ideal for cats who spray or have a tendency to make a little mess when they use the bathroom. They also provide your cat with some privacy and help lock in odors.
Additionally, if your cat has asthma or mobility issues, then hooded litter boxes may not be the best choice.
If you’re looking to purchase a hooded litter box, then make sure that its door or opening is big enough for your cat to go through.
Self-Cleaning Versus Standard-Cleaning
Self-cleaning litter boxes typically consist of an automatic rake system that sweeps waste into a separate compartment. These types of litter boxes don’t need to be cleaned as often as traditional litter boxes.
Self-cleaning litter boxes can make things a little easier as they only need to be emptied every couple of weeks. However, this depends on how many cats you own and the size of your cat. We actually tried and one particularly high-tech, space age type of cat boxes, Cat Genie.
For owners with busy schedules or who have difficulty getting about, self-cleaning litter boxes are beneficial. These types of litter boxes can be intimidating to some cats, especially if they emit a loud noise, so they might not work for all felines.
Traditional or standard litter boxes typically need to be cleaned fully once or twice a week. Spot cleaning (in which you remove solid waste) should be done daily.
The type of litter you use can influence how frequently you need to clean your cat’s litter box.
For example, silica-gel litter can be left for weeks at a time without changing, whereas paper-based litter might need replacing more often as it is typically less absorbent.
Height
The height of your cat’s litter box is another vital factor you need to consider. Depending on the nature or health of your cat, a litter box with tall sides may be more beneficial.
For cats who have bad aim, or kick litter everywhere, a tall litter box is your best bet. Boxes with sides that are between five inches and seven inches tall are ideal for these types of cat.
If you own a particularly bad aimer, sprayer, or messy kitty, then you might want to try a litter box that is around eight to twelve inches tall.
Top-entry litter boxes, hooded litter boxes, and ones with tall sides are generally unsuitable for kittens and senior/immobilized cats as they are difficult to get in and out of. An open litter box with sides that are no higher than two to three inches is typically a good option.
Ventilation
Ventilation is crucial in your cat’s litter box. Hooded cat litter boxes, in particular, have a habit of getting a bit stuffy inside. When waste builds up, it can cause respiratory distress to your cat, especially if there is no ventilation.
Open litter boxes don’t typically have an issue with ventilation as they aren’t covered up. For litter boxes that are enclosed, you need to ensure they provide your cat with enough air.
Whether it’s a built-in vent or opening to allow air to circulate inside your cat’s litter box, some type of ventilation is required in your kitty litter box.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best litter box for odor control, multiple cats, kittens, and large cats, then one of the products listed below could be for you! These litter boxes are some of the best available and each has great different features to fit you and your cat’s needs.
As mentioned earlier in the article, the best all-around litter box for cats is the Frisco Deluxe Hooded Cat Litter Box With Scoop. This litter box is one of the best litter boxes for odor control. It is also ideal for large cats and owners who own multiple cats due to its large size.
The hooded design provides your furry friend with privacy, whilst also protecting you from any mess and bad smells! The built-in charcoal filter and ventilation system are also effective at removing odor.
However, if you own more than one cat, a kitten, or a messy feline, then there are four other best kitty litter boxes to choose from. Most of these litter boxes are the best for odor control and eliminating mess to ensure your house always smells clean and fresh!
