The Best Litter Box For Large Cats: Extra Large Litter Box Reviews

Why Do You Need a Large Litter Box?

When I got a kitten, I figured that I could buy the smallest, cheapest litter box. The tiny cat might feel lost in a large litter box. I would get a bigger box as the cat grew.

I bought a larger litter box the next day.

Cats hide their waste by burying it. Some dig incessantly in the litter box, flinging pebbles of clay around.

In the wild, not all cats do this. The larger, more dominant cats leave their waste out in the open as a warning to other animals. The smaller, weaker felines hide theirs as a way of showing their submissiveness.

At home, Fluffy probably buries her poop because she recognizes that you’re in charge. Cats spend about 20 seconds pawing around in their box. That gives them almost half a minute to get litter all over your floor.

A large litter box accommodates this habit. One rule of thumb is to get a box that’s about 1.5 times the length of the animal. Some cats won’t use a box that’s too big. However, you won’t know what your cat prefers until you try it.

What to Look For When Buying a Large Litter Box

Litter boxes come in several shapes and sizes. You need to purchase the right one for your space. However, you also need to make sure that your cat is comfortable enough to use it.

Types of Litter Boxes

You might not expect to have to make such a complex decision when choosing a large litter box. However, there are so many kinds of boxes that you might want to weigh out the options before pulling out your wallet.

Open Top Litter Box

This is the most common type of litter box. It’s a pan with no lid.

These boxes are easy to clean because you don’t have to take them apart and reassemble them. They also let you monitor the cleanliness so that you can take care of messes as soon as possible.

They don’t do much to control odor, though. Even if the box has high sides, it won’t prevent all of the litter pieces from being flung around.

Covered Litter Box

A covered litter box has a lid of some kind. These control odor, give your cat privacy and help keep the litter where it’s supposed to be.

Although most covered litter boxes have the entry point on the side, some have a top-entry opening. These contain the most litter and keep your dog’s nose out of your cat’s business.

Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Cats are fairly easy-going pets. You don’t need to walk them, and they do their own thing. Cleaning the litter box is one of the only inconvenient responsibilities associated with owning a cat.

You can even get a litter box that takes care of this for you. Self-cleaning litter boxes have electric sensors that recognize when the cat has used it. They sift through the material and put the waste in a separate compartment so that the main area is always clean before the next use.

Most of these are large and will accommodate any size cat. They are ideal if you’re not able to sift the litter box frequently or your cat is finicky about cleanliness.

However, these are on the expensive side. They can also make noises that scare your cat.

They’re not foolproof, either. If the self-cleaning litter box doesn’t operate properly, you’ll probably be disappointed that you shelled out so much money for it.

Hidden Litter Box

Hidden litter boxes are concealed in pieces of furniture. The most common style is a bench. With those, an opening on one end allows the cat to enter and exit.

Some hidden litter boxes have added storage. They can also trap some odors.

On the other hand, if your cat eliminates outside of the litter tray, urine or feces can get stuck on the interior of the piece of furniture. If it’s made of a porous material, such as wood, you might have trouble getting it completely clean.

Litter Box Extras and Accessories

Some accessories can make the bathroom experience better for your cat. They can also make cleanup easier for you.

Cats are tidy creatures. If their litter box isn’t clean, they may stop using it altogether. Therefore, anything that helps you keep things sparkling will also let your pet stay comfortable.

Hoods on Open Litter Boxes

Even if your litter box doesn’t have a cover, it may come with an optional hood that surrounds the top. The hood will usually snap onto the bottom portion of the litter box. It can increase the height of the sides without enclosing the entire box.

Other hoods do go over the whole litter tray. These have an opening that allows your cat to get in and out.

High sides prevent litter from going everywhere. They might be hard for an older or arthritic cat to manage, though.

You might need an option with a hood if you have curious dogs. However, some cats don’t like using a covered bathroom.

A hooded litter box may have an open or closed door. A closed door usually has a plastic flap that lets your cat enter and exit. Some cats don’t like having to push this to get in and out of the box.

Spots to Hold Scoopers and Other Extras

Some litter boxes have compartments or hooks for scoopers and liner bags. These may seem convenient because they keep everything in one place. However, cats are notorious for playing with anything in your environment. If it discovers that the scooper is a plaything, it might get sidetracked while trying to use the bathroom.

Also, some cats require a pristine environment in which to eliminate waste. They could be afraid of a scooper and other accessories jutting out of their litter box.

Liners

Liners can make cleaning the box easier. Litter is designed to clump together when it gets wet. Because of this, it can stick to the sides of the tray. Using a liner prevents this from happening.

But curious cats may discover the liner as they’re scratching at the litter. Liners that are made out of the same materials as plastic bags can make a huge mess if the cat claws at them, tears them or pulls them up.

Non-Stick Coating

If you don’t like the idea of using liners, you might want to look for a tray with a non-stick coating. These offer cleaning simplicity.

Litter Mats

You can purchase litter mats separately and place them next to the tray. These collect any particles that stick to your cat’s paws as the animal steps out of the box. You’ll end up with less litter all over your floor.

Some large boxes have litter traps incorporated in the design. These may keep your area cleaner.

Where Should You Set Up Your Litter Box?

To determine the best large litter box for your needs, you’ll have to decide where you’re going to set it up. Homes with more than one floor should have at least one tray on each level.

If you have multiple cats, you need one litter box per animal and an additional one for the household.

You might think that hiding the litter box behind furniture, in a closet or a cabinet will give your cat the privacy that he needs. These animals don’t like to feel trapped, though. Make sure that the box is easily accessible from more than one direction.

Small areas, such as cabinets, also retain odors more than large spaces. You might consider setting up the litter box in a more open space. Seeing it on a regular basis may also remind you to clean it frequently.

Large litter boxes aren’t a standard size. Measure the space where you hope to set up the box before making a purchase. This can help you decide between the best large litter boxes.

Large Litter Box Reviews

I’ve broken down the features of the best large litter boxes for you so that you can decide what will work best for you. Of course, cats like to have their own opinions. These litter boxes are popular among the feline population too.