The right sized litter box will make your life easier and be more hygienic. As your furry friend digs around in the litter, it sends pieces flying. A large litter box will catch more of the litter that would otherwise end up all over your floor.
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.
- Petmate Clean Step Litter Dome
- PetFusion BetterBox Large Cat Litter Box
- Petphabet Litter Box with Lid – Jumbo Hooded Kitty Litter Pan
- Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan
- Pet Mate 42036 Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan
Petmate Clean Step Litter Dome
Dome Shaped & Litter Cling Steps
Give your cat a castle in which to do her business. This dome-shaped litter box has an entryway with steps leading into the tray. A litter-cling mat that removes particles and dust from your feline’s paws as she exits covers the steps, keeping your floor free of mess.
The Petmate Clean Step Litter Dome is one of the most private large litter boxes. The walls conceal all sides as well as the top. The offset entryway prevents prying eyes from making kitty feel uncomfortable.
The modern design looks attractive. This is one of the best large litter boxes for placing in a public area of your home. Plus, the circular shape may fit better in certain areas.
The box measures 21” x 21”. It’s larger than most standard litter trays, accommodating large cats. It’s a great option for multi-cat households. Just make sure that you know what you’re getting into if you buy this one—it might take up more space than you expect.
Pros.
- 50 percent bigger than standard litter boxes
- Litter cling steps wipe cats' paws, keeping litter inside the box
- Non stick pan
Cons.
- Cats with joint issues may have trouble getting in and out
- Seams may leak
- Round shape makes it difficult to empty into a rectangular garbage bin
PetFusion BetterBox Large Cat Litter Box
Simple & Effective
It’s hard to imagine that such a simple box could be so effective, but this one has a lot of benefits. With a low entry point and high sides, it’s easy for large or old cats to maneuver into.
If your cat hasn’t been consistent about using an enclosed litter box, you might want to switch to this one. Sometimes, behavior issues are associated with kitties’ strong sense of smell. An open litter box may be preferable for sensitive felines.
This one is large, at 22.6” x 18.1” x 8.0”. The entry point is 5” tall. The tray doesn’t have any seams or tight spaces that can hold onto litter or waste.
The interior non-stick surface is so slick that litter doesn’t cling to it. You can tilt the entire tray into the garbage and watch the waste slide off.
Because the plastic is antimicrobial, it also reduces odors.
Pros.
- Easy to clean
- No complicated parts
- Antimicrobial material
Cons.
- May not contain litter if your cat likes to fling it
- A bit pricey for a basic design
Petphabet Litter Box with Lid - Jumbo Hooded Kitty Litter Pan
Variety of colors
Find On AmazonIf your cats use the litter box at the same time, you need an extra-large one. This fits the bill.
It’s 24.8” x 20” x 16.5”. The door opening is 8.2” x 7.8”.
This litter box comes in a variety of colors that match your décor. The top is clear, which provides some benefits and some disadvantages. You can look inside easily to determine whether you need to scoop some litter away. However, if you use the litter box in a prominent location, there’s no hiding what’s inside.
Because the entrance is wide, you can reach in to clean the waste without removing the top. That’s helpful because the top doesn’t have a handle to remove it easily.
The pan is made of antimicrobial plastic. It also has a non-stick surface to prevent litter from sticking to it.
Pros.
- Comes in fun colors
- Wide entrance lets yous coop without removing the cover
Cons.
- Door opening may be high for older cats
- No handle on the lid
Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan
Variety of colors
This large litter box is one of the best at keeping particles off of your floor. It’s fully enclosed, with a hood that snaps onto a tray and a swinging door.
The tray and hood are opaque, making it hard for you to see when it’s time to clean it. However, the clear plastic door gives you a decent vantage point. Plus, you can easily remove the hood to get inside.
When it’s assembled, this box measures 22” x 20” x 18”. The door opening is huge, at 10.4” x 9.6”. However, the door makes it hard for you to clean without removing the cover.
Some cats don’t like having to push a door with their noses to enter and exit the litter box. If that’s the case, you can tuck the flap away or remove it.
This is one of the sturdiest litter boxes, which is great if you have small children that like to play around it. The handle on top is also handy if you travel frequently or take the box outside for cleaning.
Pros.
- Enclosed environment provides great odor control
- Slick tray surface wipes off easily
Cons.
- Difficult to clean without removing the entire cover
- Cat door is difficult for some cats to open
Pet Mate 42036 Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan
Sifting Pan No Scooping Required
Many of the self-cleaning pans aren’t big enough to be included in this large litter box review. However, this one is large and has the added convenience of a sifter.
Still, it’s not the biggest litter box that we reviewed. The dimensions are 18.9” x 15.2” x 7.9”.
The liner basically works as a giant pooper scooper. It has holes in the bottom and sits inside the tray. When they’re nested together and your cat eliminates waste, you would think that you could simply lift up the liner to remove all of those clumps in one motion.
However, there is a catch. Because cats don’t like digging against the textured surface of the sifting pan, you have to sandwich the sieve between two solid litter trays.
When it’s time to empty the litter, you dump it from the top tray into the one with the holes in it. That one sits in another solid pan. Then, pull up the sifter tray and discard the clumps. Place the sifter back into the empty tray, and put the other tray on top of it.
The antimicrobial materials keep the litter fresh for longer.
Pros.
- Antimicrobial material prevents odors
- Makes cleaning a little easier
- Works well for clumping and non-clumping litter
Cons.
- Not the largest litter box
- Mess can stick to the sifting tray
- No guard to protect stray litter
In Conclusion
My favorite large litter box is the Petmate Clean Step Litter Dome. It has several features that accommodate a cat owner’s needs, including a covered tray and a litter-trapping exit. Cats don’t have to jump over the entryway. Still, if your cat is older, the steps may be too much.
A good option for an aging cat that has mobility issues would be the PetFusion BetterBox. As long as your kitty doesn’t mind being in full view while doing his business, he will benefit from the low entry point.
No matter which litter box you think is the best, you may need to experiment to determine what your cat prefers.
