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The Best Litter Box

Last updated on November 29, 2021

We looked at the top 12 Litter Boxes and dug through the reviews from 42 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Litter Boxes.

Best Litter Box

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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There’s nothing like snuggling up with your favorite feline after a long day. Cats are one of the most popular pets in the country. More than 36 million households have a feisty kitty in residence. Cats have a reputation for being harder to win over than dogs, but if you learn how to read them, they’ll be crawling into your lap in no time.

Cats are very sensitive to their environments. Moves, new roommates or even a new piece of furniture can stress them out. One of the most important parts of your cat’s environment is the one thing we’d like to hide away: the litter box.

Choosing the right litter box is essential for your cat’s health. Cats that are comfortable in their litter boxes are less likely to have accidents outside of the box. Plenty of people grab the cheapest litter box at the pet store and call it a day, but there’s more to consider if you want a happy home for your feline.

First off, your cat’s litter box needs to be easy to get into. This might seem like a no-brainer, but different kitties have different priorities when it comes to litter box entry. Most cats are fine with an open-top box, like Petmate’s Open Litter Pan. However, older cats might need a little help getting in and out. Other models dip down at the entrance, so your cat can stroll inside instead of hopping into the box.

Other cats do well with a hooded litter box. Hooded boxes reduce the amount of litter that your cat kicks out when they’ve finished their business, and Catit’s pan also has a clear door for even more litter tracking control. If your cat likes hooded pans but balks at using a box with a door, Purina’s Tidy Cats BREEZE Litter Box System might be a better choice.

Picking the right pan for your cat is important, but your cat can’t comfortably use it if you don’t buy the right size.  You wouldn’t want to use a bathroom with your knees shoved against the door when you sit down, and neither does your cat.

Cats need to be able to turn all the way around in their box so they have enough room to bury their business. The perfect litter box is at least one-and-a-half times the length of your cat. Mid-sized cats or kittens can get away with the slightly smaller dimensions of an open litter pan.

Maintaining a pristine litter box is crucial for a healthy kitty. You should scoop the box at least once a day (more if you have multiple cats using the same box). Every few weeks, you should also dump out all the old litter, disinfect the box and refill it with fresh litter. However, certain litter boxes are easier to scoop out than others. 

Open pans are a snap to scoop. Hooded pans take a little more maneuvering, but the Catit Jumbo Pan’s hood lifts up for simpler scooping. Purina’s BREEZE Box absorbs urine with disposable pads, so you might not have to scoop out clumps of urine as frequently.

Many first-time cat owners hide the litter box away in a basement, utility room, garage or another room where people don’t usually hang out. They usually do it because they want to keep the box’s smell or appearance away from visitors.

However, placing your litter box in an unpleasant environment discourages your cat from using it. Keep the box in a warm, friendly spot that’s easily accessible for your cat. If you really want to hide the inside of the box, a hooded box can keep your litter under wraps.

Scooping litter is a reality you’ll have to face as a cat owner. Self-scooping litter boxes exist, but the noises they make are a turnoff for some kitties. There are plenty of other options that make life easier without the mechanical sounds of an automatic scooper. 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 cat’s box a little cleaner.

A dream litter box would scoop itself, never smell, turn invisible when guests come over and be comfortable for your cat. That magic box doesn’t exist, but you can get pretty close if you follow our tips and advice below.

Our Picks For The Top Litter Boxes

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Box

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Catit

Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Box

This litter box stands out from the pack with a spacious covered box and carbon odor filter. The flip-back top makes it easier to clean than other hooded boxes. Some cats may shy away from the swinging door, but it's easy to remove if your kitty doesn't like it.

Overall Take

High-Quality OptionYou'll find this litter box is available in a warm gray or a white and black design.

Pros
" It stood out among other hooded boxes because the top flap can be folded back on its hinge for easy scooping—no need to remove the whole top and set it aside"
Cons
"requires a lot of litter. not ideal for small rooms"
 Easy to Clean

IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box

IRIS

Top Entry Cat Litter Box

This top-entry design is unique and stylish, plus it gives your cat a little privacy while they go. It keeps litter from scattering everywhere and has rounded corners, which makes it easy to clean.

Overall Take

Top-Entry DesignAn easy-to-clean litter box that gives your cat privacy.

Pros
" attractive design, seemless high-sides, affordable price, lots of color options"
 Easy Setup

Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Cat Litter Box System

Purina

Tidy Cats BREEZE Cat Litter Box System

This litter box earns high marks for its non-tracking litter pellets. It's easy to assemble, and the litter pads keep odors away. You have to use this system's litter and pads for it to work, but we don't mind that one bit.

Overall Take

Easy to AssembleNon-tracking litter pellets and odor-repelling litter pads make this system a winner.

Pros
" uses special litter pellets that are 99.9% dust free and anti tracking"
Cons
"You may need to buy pellets and pads to maintain the unit"
 Great for Larger Cats

Petmate Open Litter Box

Petmate

Open Litter Box

This spacious pan is ideal for larger cats. The open design makes for easy access and cleaning. Higher sides keep litter inside the box where it belongs.  It can also hold up to 30 pounds of litter for less frequent changes.

Overall Take

Spacious PanA spacious pan designed for larger cats.

Pros
" In fact, it’s about four inches longer and two inches wider than the Nature’s Miracle high-sided box"
Cons
"If your cat has the habit of digging litter and dragging it out, some litter may scatter on the floor."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
19

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the litter boxes available to purchase.
12

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

42

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: New York Times Wirecutter, Kitty Loaf, Pet Smart Blog, Pet Life Today, Best Reviews Guide.

87,786

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 12 Litter Boxes and also dug through the reviews from 42 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Litter Boxes.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Petmate Open Litter Box

Our Expert Score

9.3
2 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.2
394 user reviews

Our Take

This spacious pan is ideal for larger cats. The open design makes for easy access and cleaning. Higher sides keep litter inside the box where it belongs.  It can also hold up to 30 pounds of litter for less frequent changes.

What other experts liked

In fact, it’s about four inches longer and two inches wider than the Nature’s Miracle high-sided box
- New York Times Wirecutter
he Petmate Giant is a huge pan that is perfect for larger cats. The pan provides a spacious room for large cats to move around in and the sides are high enough so litter does not go everywhere.
- Cats Litterbox

What other experts didn't like

But the lower sides make it easier for messes to spread, the higher entry is harder for less-agile cats to get in, and it was just a little harder to keep clean.
- New York Times Wirecutter
If your cat has the habit of digging litter and dragging it out, some litter may scatter on the floor.
- Cats Litterbox

What to Look For

  • How many cats do you have? If you’re a single-cat household, you’ll only need to buy one box that’s sized for your cat. Multi-cat households might need more than one litter box, and you’ll want all of the boxes to be larger so your cat can avoid stepping in another kitty’s mess. You’ll 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.
  • Buying a box that’s large enough for your feline friend to comfortably turn around in encourages them to keep their business inside the litter pan. Use a measuring tape to measure your cat from nose to bottom. Then, find a box that’s one-and-a-half times longer than that number.
  • Is your cat a litter kicker? Unfortunately, you won’t find this out until after you buy your first litter box. If your furry friend kicks up a lot of litter when they’re using their box, you’ll want to pick a box with high sides.
  • Most cats track some litter onto the floor after they leave their box. Some litters don’t track as much out of the box as others. 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.
  • The litter you keep in your box is just as important as the box itself. Clumping clay litter is the most common choice, but it’s far from the only option. Other types of litter include non-clumping clay litter, silica gel crystals, recycled paper, pine, corn, wheat, walnut shells and new grass litter. Every cat is different, so if they’re eliminating outside of their box it might be worth it to try a new litter.
  • If you want to change your cat’s brand of litter or switch to a new formula, don’t do it all at once. An abrupt change might be a turn-off for your pet. 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 you’re using the entirely new litter.
  • Your cat’s litter box can tell you a lot about their health. 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. Cats who always stick to their box and suddenly start eliminating in inappropriate locations might also have a health issue that needs examining.

Litter Box Rankings

1. Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Box

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 6

2. IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 5

3. Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Cat Litter Box System

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 5

4. PetSafe Scoop Free Automatic Litter Box

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 1

5. Petmate Open Litter Box

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 3

6. Nature’s Miracle Advanced Corner Hooded Cat Litter Box

Overall Score: 8.2
Reviews Included: 9

7. Nature’s Miracle High-Sided Litter Box

Overall Score: 8.1
Reviews Included: 8

8. PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Overall Score: 8.1
Reviews Included: 5

9. Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Overall Score: 8.0
Reviews Included: 9

10. Modkat Flip Box Reusable Liner Litter Box With Scoop

Overall Score: 7.8
Reviews Included: 4

11. CatGenie Self Washing Self Flushing Cat Box

Overall Score: 7.6
Reviews Included: 6

12. AmazonBasics Hooded Cat Litter Box

Overall Score: 6.6
Reviews Included: 5

More to Explore

If you’re patting yourself on the back for bringing out friendly behavior in normally aloof felines, you might want to hold off on the accolades. A comprehensive study of domesticated cat DNA showed that the genes in today’s house cats are virtually the same as the genes from wildcats that lived thousands of years ago. Dog DNA underwent major makeovers after humans domesticated them. So what gives?

It turns out that cats’ DNA hasn’t changed because we didn’t domesticate them — they domesticated themselves. Humans are great at creating waste, and mice love waste. Cats cozied up to human settlements to get to the mice, and they eventually decided that we were worthy of their time, too.

That doesn’t mean that your tabby is just in it for the mice, though. Cats and humans form strong bonds every day (but it doesn’t hurt that you’ve got your hand on their treat bag).

More to explore