So, your household has just become one cat richer and you’re in the seventh heaven of joy. Awesome! Nevertheless, cats, just like all other fluffy cuties, come with a new share of your responsibilities – most of which, luckily, you can fulfill at a pet store nearby.

As often as not, a newborn kitten or an adopted cat will need a new house to sleep in and a new litter box, pardon, to ease nature. Cleaning after your cat is hardly the best part of owning him/her. Still, this can be done with even less fuss (and odor) than you could imagine – all thanks to a great variety of litter box options available.

Best 3 Cat Boxes

How to Get Cat to Use the Litter Box?

Cats have cleanliness embedded at the genetic level and most of them can organize their private business neatly and carefully. This, of course, will require a proper medium, such as sand or loose soil that occur naturally. Cats mostly leave their clumps buried in and choose one or more favorite sites to do that.

All this means that you won’t have a lot of troubles with teaching your cat where exactly (s)he can do their ritual. The only things needed is to show your animal the correct bearings by putting them in a litter box shortly after a meal and letting the instincts kick in. Also, you might want to stay on the lookout for some telling signs, e.g. when your cat starts urgently pawing or rolling up a corner of the carpet or seeks after a privy place (pun intended).

Here’s what you should do with the litter box to ensure success:

Choose a proper location to place. This could be someplace near the area where your cat likes to play and spend most of their time;

Make sure your cat has a box to him/her alone. Some animals will not agree to use a potty site that smells of others;

Get the litter correctly. Try to find the best solution between those too dense and too fine. Chemicals, too, may irritate the cat and make them look wherever else;

Clean the box as often as possible. Not only does it smell better, but is also healthier for your cat and less likely to spook them into looking for a better alternative in your apartment.

In rare cases, your cat may get a disease making them avoid litter boxes or mess suddenly in the least appropriate places. Such problems, including cystitis or anal gland disorder in cats, often result from stress or wrong foods and may also show as changes in behavior and unprovoked aggression. Said signs, obviously, have nothing to do with your cat’s litter box. You really should pay a visit to a veterinarian as soon as you notice them.

Review of Different Types of Litter Boxes

The worst thing about litter boxes is, undoubtedly, their stink. This issue gets to a new level if your apartment is small or simply lacks space where to place the darn tray. A demand of this kind cannot have been left without a corresponding offer – now, the market is rife with boxes to suit your most specific requirements. Moreover – believe me or not – it won’t have to get pricy anymore even if you want to solve the odor question completely!

You can get stumped from the very beginning when trying to find a place for the thing. Bathrooms are a nice choice, especially for a large tray and shy cats; however, these rooms are often cramped in modern apartments. Should you be familiar with this pain, your next stop might be a self-cleaning litter box. A pet toilet of this kind is usually small – PetSafe has the offer just for this situation, a combing system with a round bowl that is way less obtrusive than a common pan and more mobile than a covered box can be. Aside from automatic boxes, a cat owner has a great option of hidden boxes that perfectly camouflage as an ordinary piece of furniture.

Primary features:

Extra-large

Material insusceptible to rust and stains

No odor absorption

Box stainless walls do not accumulate dirt

Stainless steel associates perfectly with gleaning cleanliness and as much can be said about this top rated litter box. This one is sure roomy – we’ve got here 23.5×15.5 inches, with a depth of 6 inches – which welcomes your cat to enjoy their private minute without feeling squeezed in. The manufacturer claims that the box can be used for more than one cat; it, however, depends on how ready is your cats to share a place as important as this one. Steel walls of the box will never develop rusty patches or discolored spots. More importantly, they also won’t get smelly with time, as plastic trays do. The product can be reliably installed on a smooth surface thanks to its non-slip feet.

Primary features:

Easy to clean due to a removable hood

Fully covered to provide your cat their own litter space

Odor gets removed via a carbon filter

Covers the bathroom needs of multiple cats in your household

While cat owners are always worried by litter that spills out of the pan, this box effectively medicates the issue as it comes with a hood. The container is available for disassembly, of course, when you want to cleanse/change the litter. A special bag anchor makes it comfortable for you to keep the bag open when scooping clumps in it. With its length of 22 inches and wideness of 17 inches, the box allows your pet in through a 10.4×9.6 inch door and is suitable even for large cats. It has a replaceable carbon-impregnated filter designed to eliminate unpleasant smells.

Primary features:

Enhance airflow for odorless handling

1-step cleansing process eases up sanitation

Manages all types of litter

Natural freshness and dryness

Light and tough materials of this disposable litter pan make it a more than fair value for the money. Either you decide to use it as a standalone pan or coupled with a box/cage/carrier, this product endures the loads just fine. It absorbs odors and moisture, keeping these nuisances away from both your pet’s fur and your house. At the same time, the pan remains flexible enough to not break or develop leaks. It comes in two sizes: a 17-inch long Regular and 21-inch long Jumbo; the manufacturer provides them in packs of three or two, respectively. This pan contains baking soda that comes as an environment-friendly solution against smells and cushions shocks.

Primary features:

Autonomous system for handling messes and fighting odors

No litter spillages due to a carpeted ramp

Long lasting drive mechanism and parts

In-built safety bar prevents the blocked rake from moving

Here we have a simple and user-friendly litter-cleaning machine. Many believe that LitterMaid is the best automatic cat litter box; personally, I hold a more or less moderate opinion. The pan itself is not very long, 10 inches at most, but the walls get as high as 24.6 inches, which is pretty high. It combs the litter without loud noises, while the section for feces remains deodorized thanks to carbon filters. This autonomous tray is perfect for elderly cat owners, pregnant women and also those physically handicapped. Its ability to save time and physical effort is further enhanced with LitterMaid premium clumping cat litter.

Primary features:

Optional hood that can be either attached or left out

Crystal litter does not generate dust

Smart sensor system resets the rake timer if the cat returns

No contact cleaning up – dispose of messes without scooping

Of the popular self cleaning cat litter boxes this one is my favorite, its maintenance cost regardless. Using crystal litter is an alternative to disposable trays in that it fully sanitizes both solid messes and urine without letting them ruin your plastic box. For a single animal, you’ll need a litter changeover once in 30 days. This is not one of those extra large cat litter boxes – the tray’s potty area is 15.5×14 inches. There will be no dust and tracking – if you prefer keeping things as clean as possible, you might find this PetSafe product very useful.

Primary features:

Quiet operation

Scooping reduced to the minimum

Regular self-cleaning without distressing your cat

Litter bowl completes one full rotation per hour

Another quality product by PetSafe that cleans your cat’s messes on an automatic basis. You will need to interact with the machine only so often and it will be possible to use recycled plastic bags. The bowl is not exactly large, with 10 inches of height and 19 inches of width – only pets weighing 15 lb and less can fit easily. I would especially recommend using this auto tray for kittens. The conveyor system economize your clumping litter and operates with minimal power needs. Its good rate of sifting will be ideal if your house has a few feline residents in it.

Primary features:

No fuss assembly

Smoothly blends in the house interior

Combines functions of a pet house, litter box and table

Unique modern design

I was genuinely amazed when I first heard about hidden cat litter boxes. If they seem bulky to you, think about how actually unusable is the space above ordinary low profile litter boxes. These things always require a lot of room space, whereas this washroom/pet house makes for a rather functional article of furniture – even truer if you look for the best litter box for apartment and not for the outside. In terms of dimensions, this is 20.5 x 19.1 x 25.0 inch stand. Aside from solving the issue of unsightliness, it is also capable of accommodating your cat with all due comfort. So, should you be in need for a house and a litter box for your adorable fur ball, consider buying both as a combined option (particularly, if your cat is young and not yet very wilful).

Primary features:

Trap locks hide away the unsightly solid messes

Crystal litter don’t end up stuck to your cat’s feet

No scooping ever needed

Superb plastic lining for leak protection

Another candidate for the best litter box for multiple cats from PetSafe. It comes pre-filled with premium disposable litter that has the look of blue crystals. These magic crystals eliminate the mere hit of urine odor and have desiccating abilities to dehydrate solid messes in no time at all. Both the litter and box are designed to minimize your cleaning efforts – the system can run autonomously for weeks with no refilling or scooping. Everything your cat lays there falls in a disposable bin and remains invisible. The potty area is large and comfortable, with a length of 22 inches and a width of 14.5 inches. The box’s lining provides a leak-proof barrier to keep liquids inside until they get soaked up by the litter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What pan size should I choose?

This largely depends on how big a pet you have. However, some cat owners prefer longer pans and those with higher walls not only to give the cat a fair amount of space but also to decrease tracking and litter scattering.

How do I know if this is the right litter box for my cat?

Normally, cats do not mind having to use this or that box or even different boxes at the same time. Should your cat get picky and refuse to use a certain box, check the following: 1) if it is installed properly (e.g., not near the feeding area), 2) if it is cleaned on a regular basis, 3) try to change the litter for a different one.

Does it matter how much a litter box weights?

It does, especially for big pets. Weighty boxes will remain in place even when your cat steps on one wall. You might like to have a holder for light/disposable trays or use a heavier litter with them.

What is the difference between a cheap litter box and an expensive one?

They may differ in material and functionality. Plastic of cheaper quality tend to develop stains and become smelly; stainless steel is superior to it in every respect – but it costs considerably higher. Furthermore, expensive boxes often offer self-cleaning and no-scoop operation, making for a perfect buy for people who cannot stand the look of feline messes.

Will I always need to use a scoop? What about the best cat litter boxes?

Premium boxes comb the litter on their own, so emptying the bin will be the only job left for you.

What is the most suitable wash to clean the box?

Many cat owners use a weak solution of bleach. Other cleaners/disinfectants will do as well, just remember to rinse the tray with clean water.

How does the type of litter matter?

Certain litter types, for instance, crystals, do not produce dust. They also stick less to your cat’s paws. Also, you might like to look for a litter that absorbs smells and excessive moisture.

In conclusion

However much you pamper or discipline your pets, a litter box is a necessity that neither you nor your cat cannot go without. When it came to it, I flat refused to associate my Daffy with the odor of his natural needs and did my research for the best tray and litter – and it worked. I hope my knowledge will come for you in handy and you’ll purchase a fitting box. Let’s add more human and feline happiness in this world!