8 Best Litter Boxes [Tested and Reviewed]

IRIS USA is a subsidiary of Iris Ohyama, a Japanese manufacturer of household goods. This litter box's pan and shield come in simple colors that help it blend with your interior, and it includes a scoop, so all you need to do is put cat litter in it, and it's ready to go. It's a high-sided type litter box with an open entrance and top, so it's easy to see when it's time to do some scooping. Additionally, there's no need to remove a lid or any other parts, and the opening is large enough to easily put your hands in, making it a breeze to scoop out waste.

The walls are 11.75 inches tall, taller than the average cat, and prevent litter scattering on the sides covered by the shield. However, the entrance is wide open, so it's easy for litter to get out on that side. There are only two parts, so it's easy to put together and doesn't require much effort. The spots where the two pieces connect are relatively simple, so dirt doesn't get stuck in there easily. The parts are also smooth, making them easy to wash. This litter box is perfect for any owner, as it makes it easy to dispose of waste, prevents litter scattering, and has a simple design.

The Modkat Flip Litter Box is a recipient of the international Red Dot Award for product design and is popular in the US and Europe. It comes with a scoop so that you can use it right away. It also has a liner, making it easy to maintain and throw out the used litter.

You can’t tell if the litter box has been used without peeking inside through the entrance, but the lid can be opened wholly or halfway, allowing you to see inside. Opening the lid all the way makes it easy to scoop out waste. With the top closed, it turns into a dome-type litter box, making it hard for litter to fly out, even if your cat is a litter kicker. With the lid open, it can be used as a high-sided box with a height of 16.7 inches, making it effective at preventing litter scattering.

It has a lot of folding parts which have small nooks and crannies, and this makes the unit itself hard to clean. However, the pan and lid are the only pieces; they fit together seamlessly and allow the box to be set up quickly.

This high-sided litter box is a product of Nature's Miracle, a company managed by Spectrum Brands, which also manages other pet brands such as Dingo and Furminator. It's a giant litter box with handles on the side that make it easy to carry. Its open top makes it easy to see when your cat uses it and to scoop out waste. The sides are taller than a typical open litter box but don't get in the way during cleaning.

The entrance is relatively large, so it's not great at preventing litter scattering. Still, the further you get from the door, the deeper the pan gets, so it can prevent litter scattering depending on where your cat does its business. The area around the entrance is shallow, so it's not the best design to prevent litter tracking as your cat exits the box. However, it has no complex parts or features, and the sides are smooth and even, making them easy to wash. The edges do loop backward, but they don't interfere with waste or litter and aren't that deep, so that they can be cleaned easily with a sponge.

Van Ness allows you to track the materials they use from the source and are very particular about quality. Their Cat Pan has a simple design that can be used by any cat, from kittens to seniors. It’s an open litter box, so removing a lid or cover is unnecessary when scooping out waste.

The sides aren’t very high, so you can quickly tell when your cat uses the box. On the other hand, the lack of high sides means it doesn’t prevent litter scattering well. It’s only four inches tall on all sides, much shorter than the average cat, and allows even kittens and short-legged cats to kick litter out of the pan. This pan is just one piece, so you don’t have to put it together, nor does it have any intricate parts or features. The sides are even and easy to wash and dry without a brush.

This stainless steel litter box by iPrimio, a pet and home supply manufacturer, is sturdy and should hold up for a long time. This is a good choice for people who are opposed to using plastic. This open-type litter box has no top or sides, so it’s easy to clean wherever you put it. Since you can see when your cat enters and leaves, you know exactly when to clean it out.

On the other hand, this means it isn’t effective at keeping litter in the box and preventing scattering. This isn’t the best choice to use in the living room or other places frequented by people or for people who want to avoid cat litter on their floor. The pan itself is the only piece, but it has attachable corner protectors that can trap debris and dust depending on how you use it. While it’s generally easy to clean, the protectors have some tiny grooves and require a brush to clean, which can be a bit of a chore.

IRIS USA, which makes storage and household products in addition to pet supplies, offers this litter box with a stylish, elliptical design and a scoop. The entrance is on the top, so you must peek inside to check for waste. In addition, the opening is relatively narrow, so you need to remove the lid to scoop.

However, its cylindrical design prevents litter scattering, as all sides are covered, and the only opening is on top. Also, the lid has grooves that help remove litter stuck to your cat’s paws, so almost no litter makes it onto the floor. On the other hand, if any dirt gets stuck in these grooves, they are hard to clean. On top of that, the top and bottom lock together, and unlatching it takes some force. This can be inconvenient, considering how often you must remove the lid to scoop out waste and replace the litter.

The Booda Clean Step Litter Dome by Petmate, which has several pet supply lines, including Chuckit! and JW, is a stylish round dome shape and is big enough for even large breeds. The entrance is off the side, and scooping waste from it isn't easy. Thus, you need to remove the large dome portion every time you go in, and you also can't tell when your cat is using the box. However, the dome is very effective at preventing litter scattering. A dip between the entrance and the pan also keeps litter from getting kicked out.

The grooves around the entrance brush off litter stuck to your cat's paws, meaning tracking is reduced, and almost all the debris stays in the box and off the floor. It's easy to set up; you simply need to push the tray and dome together. However, there are a lot of grooves in various places on the unit where dust and urine can get caught, and the structure is complicated, with many surfaces, so it can be troublesome and time-consuming to clean.

Van Ness has over 70 years of experience with pet food dishes and litter box supplies. Their Corner Enclosed Cat Pan is triangular and fits snugly in the corner. While there is an opening for your cat to enter, it’s too small to reach into and scoop out waste, so you must remove the top part to clean it out. You need to open the flap to check for waste, so it could go unnoticed for some time. However, this flap closes off the entrance when your cat uses the box, preventing litter scattering. It also keeps odors from escaping from the box, so this is a good choice if you want to put your litter box in the living room.

This unit has three parts: the pan, the cover, and the flap. The pan and cover lock together, so taking them apart and putting them together can be difficult. Furthermore, the slot for the flap is small and hard to fit the flap into, so putting it together takes some time. Since you must scoop out waste daily and clean it regularly, this can be inconvenient.