The 13 Best Cat Litter Boxes, Tested With Real Cats

Best Overall

Frisco High Sided Litter Box

$28 At Chewy

We tested this litter box with three adult cats who live together. All have their own quirks and habits when it comes to potty time, but all of them immediately took to the Frisco High Sided Cat Litter Box.

Cats love being able to observe their surroundings when they use the bathroom, but a box that's too open risks spreading litter around on your floor. The Frisco High Sided finds the right middle ground between your needs and your cat's. Its U-shaped entrance allows for easy entry and exit, and your cat will still have decent visibility over its side walls, which are high enough that cat won't kick litter out when they're trying to bury their waste.

All three walls surrounding the low-barrier walk-through point are 10 inches high for the x-large size and 8 inches for the medium size to keep litter contained. The entryway is 5.6 inches off the ground for both sizes and doubles as a concentrated spout for emptying out litter into a trash bag. The high sides prevent splatter, even when cats kick and dig, and the perimeter sufficiently knocks off any remaining litter from kitty paws to reduce the amount of tracking.

The edges are curved at the top to make the bin easier to pick up for cleaning, and it's easy to wipe down with soap and water. The durable box is available in two colors, navy or gray, and is made out of BPA-free, recyclable plastic. But it doesn't come with a slotted scoop or space to conveniently store this essential tool nearby, so you might find another one of our top tested picks more suitable for your maintenance schedule.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 18 x 8.5 x 15.2 inches (medium), 24 x 10 x 18 (x-large) | Scoop Included: No}

Best Budget

Iris USA Open Top Litter Box

$19 At Amazon $20 At Walmart $23 At Wayfair

The IRIS USA Open Top Cat Litter Box with Shield and Scoop arrives in two pieces, the bin for litter and the easy to attach splatter shield walls. This design makes complete clean-outs of the cat bathroom much easier and it also successfully prevents splattering of litter after a cat handles their business.

We tested this litter box from IRIS USA with two cats and found it to be a little too snug for the larger cat who weighs 17 pounds. The smaller cat, closer to 10 pounds, had no issue with the entry way so we recommend this litter box be reserved for homes with adult cats on the smaller side.

Plus, Open Top Cat Litter Box comes with a slotted scoop that has a built-in handle to attach itself anywhere along the perimeter of the shield.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 11.75 inches | Scoop Included: Yes}

Best Top Entry

IRIS Square Top Entry Litter Box

$80 At Amazon $80 At irisusainc.com

Top entry litter boxes have their entrance on the lid, instead of the front of the litter box. This way, cats have to jump out after they're done using the bathroom, preventing them from carrying too much litter on their paws. Using a top entry box can prevent tracking, but it's also an acquired taste, as cats often prefer to look around while they're pooping and peeing.

For cats that prefer a private bathroom, the Premium Square Top Entry Litter Box from IRIS provides four walls of solitude along with groves on the lid to capture any remaining litter on their paws.

The 7.9 inch square shaped opening is sufficient space for most adult cats to enter and exit when the urge strikes, and the cubed litter box successfully contains odors and splatter. We found it straightforward to scoop through the entry with the slotted plastic scoop provided, but it's also easy to pop the lid on an off. And for convenient storage of this essential tool, the litter box has a hook on the side. The neutral coloring and body shape of the Premium Square Top Entry Litter Box fits easily into the corner of any room.

We tested the IRIS Square Top Entry Litter Box in a home with two adult cats, who were unaccustomed to top-entry litter boxes, but quickly adjusted to the jump-in style. But households with seniors cats, or cats have mobility issues, might want to look elsewhere.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 17.5 x 17.5 x 14.5 inches | Scoop Included: Yes}

Best Budget Top Entry

IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box

$35 At Amazon $35 At Chewy $45 At Walmart

The IRIS Top Entry Litter Box is a more affordable alternative to IRIS USA's square design. It has a compact oval shape, with tall sides and a removable lid to contain splatter and reduce tracking. As a cat hops up on top to leave, the grooves on the lid collect granules of litter that might otherwise end up around your home. The lengthened cylindrical design takes up less floor space than a traditional litter box while still providing a spacious entry portal on top, with ample room for most adult cats to come and go as they need.

The top-entry design comes in three colors, white, black, and gray, with a matching slotted scoop. This litter box is compatible with most types of litter and it's easy to clean with soap and water. If you have an older cat or one with mobility issues, they might not enjoy top entry and exit. The lid has a listed weight capacity of 20 pounds, so owners of extra large cats might want to look elsewhere. However, one of our two volunteer tester cats is 19 pounds, and has regularly stood atop the litter box with no issues.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 20.5 x 16.2 x 14.6 inches | Scoop Included: Yes}

Best Automatic

Whisker Litter-Robot 4

$699 At litter-robot.com $699 At Best Buy

Whisker Litter-Robot 4 is a technology-powered litter box that takes away the need for daily scooping. The price tag is significantly higher than other litter boxes, but its ability to provide a fresh bathroom experience for multiple cats is unmatched.

Available in white or black, the automatic litter box has built-in sensors detecting the need for a clean sweep, freshening up the space for the next visit. An app allows for control via a mobile device keeping track of litter use, and the corresponding weight of each unique visitor. It also sends timely notifications indicating when the contents it has collected need to be emptied out of the waste drawer. The litter containment tool, with a shape resembling a wide fan, is equipped with an odor-neutralizing carbon filter that effectively keeps the stench away from human nostrils.

A step to reduce tracking is included and the purchase comes with a one-year warranty from the manufacturer. To function properly, The Litter-Robot 4 must be connected to a power source at all times and it is significantly larger than a traditional litter box.

A litter mat designed to fit with the Litter-Robot can be purchased separately.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 29.5 x 27 x 22 inches | Scoop Included: N/A}

Best With Liner

ModKat Flip Litter Box

$90 At Amazon $90 At modkat.com

A reusable custom-fit liner along with high walls make the ModKat Flip Litter Box Liner extremely easy to clean and ideal for cats that have a habit of getting their pee on the sides.

The washable tarp, similar in feel to the iconic blue IKEA bags, can be wiped down with soap and water every time you empty out the litter. Plus it dries quickly so your cat's bathroom will be clean and ready for use in no time. It lasts roughly three months, so you only need to replace it a few times a year.

The U-shaped front entry might be too high for some senior cats, but for most cats, it will provide a little bit of privacy. The lid has two flaps for flexibility in coverage and streamlined scooping. Plus a scoop and a corresponding dock for convenient storage come standard with this litter box

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 20 x 16.75 x 15 inches | Scoop Included: Yes}

Best Hooded

Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan

$40 At Amazon $33 At Chewy

The Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Pan is equipped with an abundance of useful features, including a replaceable carbon filter to absorb odor, a bag anchor to make scooping easier, and a lockable hood providing a secure and secluded space for your cat. Plus, it's ideal for both large cats and multi-cat homes—all at an approachable price point.

This sturdy litter box comes with a hood that is easily secured with snaps and removed for cleaning. On the hood, you'll find a carbon filter that absorbs and neutralizes odors. Replacement filters made by Catit are sold separately but are easy to switch out when needed. A clear door with hinges at the top is lightweight and easy for a cat to pass through to access their private bathroom stall. The door glides shut behind them offering privacy and helping to maintain granules of litter inside the box, even if a cat kicks to celebrate their latest drop. Our participating cat tester didn't immediately comprehend the purpose of the door, but quickly caught on after a few demonstrations.

For maintenance cleaning, a built-in bag anchor at the front assists in holding a waste bag open as you scoop. And rinsing with soap and water is all that's required to fully clean the litter box. Catit also makes liners that can be placed in the bin under the litter making cleaning out the bin more streamlined.

The litter box is made with BPA-free plastic and is compatible with most cat litter products.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 22.4 x 18.3 x 19.7 inches | Scoop Included: No}

Best High End

Tuft + Paw Cove Litter Box

$199 At Amazon $199 At tuftandpaw.com

There are three options for purchasing the Tuft and Paw Cove Litter Box: the litter pan (called the Cove) on its own, the litter pan plus walls known as the Shelter, or the litter pan, walls, and a subscription to Tuft and Paw Really Great Litter. We happen to think the cat litter lives up to its name (check out our review here). For testing, we selected the Cove with the addition of the Shelter.

The entire structure is easy to wipe clean, the walls are easily removed, and a grippy bottom keeps the litter box in place. We like the walls offer an open top that most cats prefer along with the reduction in tracking that most pawrents prefer. A scoop, dustpan, and brush are all included along with built-in docks on the perimeter of the bin, conveniently keeping these tools handy in the space where you need them. A grippy bottom keeps the litter box in place.

_{Material: Plastic, rubber | Dimensions: 16 x 26 x 6.5 inches | Scoop Include: Yes}

Best for Side Entry

Frisco Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box

$70 At Chewy

In a home with two larger sized cats, the Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box from Frisco effectively prevented splatter and concealed odors enough to comfortably keep the cat-sized commode in the kitchen while testing. This litter box is essentially a large trunk with a bin-style litter box inside. In human terms, we like to think of it as a bathroom stall surrounding a toilet. The design of this combo box and bin leaves space inside for a cat to shake off excess litter from their paws and we found it effectively reduced tracking.

The external facing stall has a lid that's easy to open for maintenance scooping with hinges attached to one of the four sides. On the opposite side of the hinges is an opening that measures 10.5 inches long, 8.5 inches wide, and six inches from the ground. It offers enough room for larger cats to enter with ease, but if you have a cat with mobility issues, the entry might be too high. You can also purchase the Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box without the internal tray if you already have a standard bin litter box that fits inside.

It comes with a scoop and a bin for the scoop that easily attaches to external box. And for thorough cleaning with soap and water, two built-in handles make it easy to move.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 29.73 x 17.5 x 17.64 inches (overall); 14.5 x 18.2 x 4.25 inches (inner tray) | Scoop Included: Yes}

Best Alternate Litter System

Purina XL Litter System

$77 At Amazon $77 At Chewy $77 At Walmart

The Tidy Cats Breeze Litter System from Purina is an alternative litter system that uses an absorbent pee pad underneath a grate to collect urine and odors. The litter box is best used with pellet cat litter that doesn't clump with liquids, but does stick to solids for daily scooping. If you and your cat are in the habit of using traditional clay litter that clumps with pee, this alternative litter system will likely require a period of adjustment.

The system comes in two sizes, Original and XL, and we recommend the latter option for most adult cats. For homes with one cat, a pee pad can last up to a week (less so in homes with multiple cats), and to replace the pad, a tray easily slides out. The litter box has three and a half walls over a foot high to prevent splatter, and it comes with a scoop for expediting the removal of solids.

You might also find that you prefer pellet cat litter because it emits little to no dust and very low tracking. It's also generally considered to be more eco-friendly than traditional clay cat litter. Our top tested choice is ExquisiCat Naturals Multi-Cat Paper Pellet Cat Litter which is made out of post-consumer recycled paper. But the manufacturer recommends Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Litter Pellets along with Purina Tidy Cats Breeze Cat Pads for use with this Litter System.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 27.5 x 18.5 x 13.7 inches | Scoop Included: Yes}

Best for Tight Spaces

Litter Genie Cat Litter Box

$30 At Amazon $30 At Chewy

We tested the Litter Genie Cat Litter Box with two cats, weighing 10 and 18 pounds, and found the small-footprint design of the bucket-style litter box to be capable of accommodating cats of all sizes.

The affordably priced bin with handles requires no setup and is very easy to move with its built-in handles. Unlike a traditional bin, it features two tall sides and a high backside to prevent splattering, but we did experience slight tracking. It is wide open on top so daily scooping, and fully emptying out for a thorough cleaning, is easy to get done. But it's not as capable as litter boxes with lids, like the Premium Square Top Entry Litter Box from Frisco (our Best Top Entry choice) at containing odors.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 22.3 x 17.6 x 16 inches | Scoop Included: No}

Best Jumbo

Petphabet Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Box

$55 At Amazon

Petphabet Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Box offers abundant enclosed space where larger kitties can comfortably release their bowels. The bulbous shape of the clear cover paired with the brightly colored bins are reminiscent of iMac desktop computers from the late '90s/early aughts, which depending on your personal preference, could be an amazing addition to your space.

The cover can be easily secured via latches and removed for cleaning. The see-through dome helps cats feel at ease and keeps litter contained when occupied by a cat. It has an entryway opening wide enough (8.2 x 7.8 inches) to accommodate hefty felines while reducing tracking and allowing unobstructed maintenance scooping.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 24.8 x 20 x 16.5 inches | Scoop Included: No}

Best for Seniors and Kittens

KittyGoHere Senior Cat Litter Box

$41 At Amazon $32 At Chewy $40 At Walmart

With an entryway that's only three inches tall, the KittyGoHere Senior Cat Litter Box will appeal to more experienced cats who prefer the path of least resistance.

The lightweight plastic bin comes in two sizes, small and large. Both litter box sizes have sides that are five inches high, but the larger bin offers a wider footprint that bigger cats require. You will likely experience some tracking with this litter box, so we recommend pairing it with one of these litter box mats.

The litter box is compatible with most types of cat litter and has curved edges all around to make it easy to grip and empty out. It's available in a variety of colors including green, lavender, sand, blue, and white.

_{Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 5 inches (small), 24 x 20 x 5 inches (large) | Scoop Included: No}