How we pick our products
A cat’s litter box is sacred. People who have a feline friend at home also know that it is also a source of smells. This is why it is so important to choose a model that is convenient for both the cat and its owner. The market offers a great variety of litter boxes, so knowing more about them will help you make the right decision.
Cats are well known to be both loving and independent, and this reputation has lead to the development of more and more products tailored to the daily life of these animals. The options available out there are incredible, not to mention litter boxes where our pets can also urinate.
Contents
- 1 Key Facts
- 2 Our selection: The best cat litter boxes on the market
- 3 Shopping Guide: Everything you should know about cat litter boxes
- 3.1 Is it important for a cat to have its own litter box?
- 3.2 How often should I change the sand?
- 3.3 Is changing the sand the only hygienic measure to follow?
- 3.4 How should I prepare the litter box for my new cat?
- 3.5 How can I avoid bad smells?
- 3.6 What if my cat doesn’t use its litter box?
- 3.7 Why does my cat mark the house with urine?
- 3.8 What precautions should I take with a litter box?
- 3.9 What should I do during holidays?
- 4 Shopping Criteria
- 5 Summary
Key Facts
- Considering the smell that can emanate from a litter box, even after a single use, covered models are the most popular on the market right now.
- Don’t simply think about your needs and tastes when making your purchase; you also need to take into account your cat’s personality.
- Make sure to keep the litter box squeaky clean if you don’t opt for a self-cleaning model. Cats are very fussy animals and simply won’t do their business in a dirty box.
Our selection: The best cat litter boxes on the market
These products are naturally not the most beautiful thing you’ll have in your home, but they are absolutely essential for the hygiene of your cat. Available in a great variety of prices and styles, you’ll find anything from simple trays to boxes designed to be comfortable for both your feline and yourself, and that prevent the smell from coming out. Here is our selection of the top products available right now on the Australian market:
- Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box (covered)
- Modkat Flip Litter Box (covered)
- ZeeZ Birba Litter Tray (open)
- Portable Cat Toilet Litter Box (covered)
- 3-in-1 Self-Sifting Cat Tray (open)
Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box (covered)
Iris is an American company that has been delivering innovative home essentials since 1994, and they have certainly made their mark in the pet accessory industry too. This medium-sized white and beige litter box has a top opening that will be very accessible for your cat, while preventing the sand from scattering all over the place when your cat digs away.
The grooved lid further help your feline friend to clean its paws. The small scoop attached to the side of the box helps you quickly remove excrements. According to past customers, this product does a great job at keeping bad odours to the minimum. They also praised their design, that shouldn’t conflict with your elegant home decor. This litter box also offers great bang for your buck!
Modkat Flip Litter Box (covered)
Modkat is a New York-based brand started by cat owners, for cat owners. While they have now expanded their range of accessories, their original products were cat litter boxes, and they have received several awards for their innovative designs. This flip litter box is just as elegant as it is functional, and your cat and yourself will surely love it.
Your feline friend will easily enter through the front entry, and the tarp litter liner included will make cleaning so much easier for you. One great aspect is the flipping lid, which allows you to fully uncover the tray or keep it closed to better contain odours. The price may be higher than other products on this list, but it has so much to offer you won’t regret it. Scoop included.
ZeeZ Birba Litter Tray (open)
Queensland company Prestige Pet Products developed the ZeeZ brand to provide affordable accessories for all our feline and canine friends out there. This litter tray may not the flashiest nor the most attractive-looking at first glance, but its incredible price and no-frills functionality might just be what your cat and yourself were looking for.
Its size is large enough for your pet to dig and turn, and the removable high rim is designed to keep all the litter and sand from flying onto your floor. Made in Italy, this tray is extremely easy to clean. The non-slip feet will not only protect your floor, but also prevent the litter box from moving around too much when your cat is around. This is the most affordable product on our list.
Portable Cat Toilet Litter Box (covered)
This wonderful portable litter house will be great to have at home for your cat, but you will love it even more if you are one of those who like to take their feline friend on all kinds of adventures. The top handle makes it easy to transport everywhere, and its light weight means you’ll only be carrying the weight of your animal!
The flipping door gives quick access to the litter box, while also providing greater privacy and tranquility. You can easily remove the hood when the time comes to clean the tray or if you simply want to give your cat a look at what’s happening around. When it’s on, you don’t have to worry about your pet: the top vents offer all the air it needs during your travels. This product comes with a scoop.
3-in-1 Self-Sifting Cat Tray (open)
Last but not least, this traditional cat litter tray comes with a twist that will make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to cleaning your feline’s business. The three different litter trays are all made from an easy-to-clean plastic and fit perfectly together, their blue design fitting in most modern homes.
How does it work? Once your cat does its business in the tray, all you’ll need to do is sift the top tray to let the sand fall back into the bottom tray, while easily throwing excrements away into the bin. According to past customers, this product works just great. Note that one suggested avoiding this product if you use wood pellets as litter.
Shopping Guide: Everything you should know about cat litter boxes
Once you understand the character of a cat, it can become the most beautiful companion of all. However, since these animals don’t go out to do their business like dogs, a litter box is an essential item for your cat to feel comfortable at home. In the following section, we’ll look at some of the most frequently asked questions by new cat owners.
Cats are known for being very affectionate and playful, all the while being very independent.
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Is it important for a cat to have its own litter box?
Litter boxes are so important for cats specifically because they love to be so clean. This space allows you to easily collect their stool. It’s actually very rare for a cat do its business outside of its litter box.
How often should I change the sand?
Certain sands, known as agglomerating, can be used up to a month. That being said, we recommend you to always collect excrements and wet spots, while adding a bit more clean and dry sand. Plant-based litters should be changed much more often: every three days generally, or at most five.
Is changing the sand the only hygienic measure to follow?
It is sometimes advised to use gloves to clean your litter box. If you prefer not to, washing your hands thoroughly afterwards is another great option. Remember to remove the wettest spots every day; this is key for the welfare of your pet, and of course for yourself.
Cats absolutely need a litter box for their hygiene.
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How should I prepare the litter box for my new cat?
Besides that, the quantity of sand in the tray is also very important to consider. In that regard, it is recommended to completely fill it so that your cat can easily bury its faeces, which they love doing. These felines tend to be extremely intuitive and will learn by themselves how to use their litter box. If you want, you can stir clean sand in front of your cat so it’ll know where to do it.
How can I avoid bad smells?
Ultimately, maintaining extremely good hygiene is very important, in particularly for your animal. In the event that you have to go away for a few days, give your keys to someone you trust so that they can keep the space equally clean. As mentioned earlier, self-cleaning litter boxes exist; they are very modern, but much less affordable.
What if my cat doesn’t use its litter box?
Older cats who still urinate or defecate outside of their litter box may have one of two problems: either a health condition that prevents them from containing themselves, or they simply don’t like their box. This may be because it isn’t clean enough, or that its location isn’t to their liking, or because they’re not happy with the sand. This may happen, for instance, if you use perfumed sand.
Remember that not all cats like or are comfortable with covered litter boxes.
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Why does my cat mark the house with urine?
This phenomenon tends to happen when the cat has difficulty accepting something new: a new home, a new family member, or a new furry friend in the house. As mentioned earlier, your cat could also be urinating outside of its tray because of a medical condition. This is why you should consider taking your feline friend to the vet when it starts marking its territory in your home.
What precautions should I take with a litter box?
Dogs can sometimes eat cats’ excrements, so prioritise a covered litter box if you also have a canine friend at home.
Out of comfort for your cat, its tray should be kept away from its food. For your own comfort, keep it away from the kitchen; terrible smells can sometimes come out of it, even if it is covered. This may not be so appetising during meal times. In addition, it is recommended to leave your cat when it’s doing its business, and to change the litter box around once every year.
What should I do during holidays?
If you really want to take your cat on holidays, it may be possible, but this ultimately depends on your animal’s personality. In that case, you may not want to transport the litter box from home with you, and you’re in luck: travel-specific models are available. You can find foldable products made from waterproof material or from cardboard, that your cat will use a few days before you have to throw it away.
Remember to keep the litter box away from your cat’s food and water for obvious hygiene reasons.
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Shopping Criteria
Ultimately, choosing the perfect litter box doesn’t only come down to your needs, but also to those of your favourite fluffy friend. Cats are creatures of habits and you should always respect their different obsessions. We’ve designed the following section to give you all the information you need to get the best quality and value for money from your litter box.
Style: covered or open?
Covered models tend to be more frequently used due to the bad smells, but open litter boxes are more affordable. Some cats also find themselves more comfortable with the latter, since they love having control over everything happening around them. This is naturally more difficult inside a covered tray.
On the other hand, the cover provides greater security and serenity, making these models more suitable for many felines. In the end, the model that is most appropriate for your cat will greatly depend on its personality. The good thing about covered litter boxes is that the sand will more easily remain clean.
Follow our advices in case your cat doesn’t understand where to do its business.
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Sizes
A litter box should naturally be big enough to fit your pet, or be even larger if you have several fluffy friends. These animals have a tendency of imitating each other, which may lead them to do their business at the same time. While some claim that a big tray is enough for both cats, certain experts believe that each should have their own.
You probably already know that these animals simply love digging! They also have the habit of twirling while doing so, which means that a bigger litter box will always be better for them. That being said, it may result uncomfortable if you have a small place for.
Shapes and colours
The most common shape for these items is rectangular. While they represent the vast majority of models available on the Australian market, that doesn’t mean that there is no space for innovation and new shapes. In some cases, triangular products may be more suitable for some parts of your house, and your cat may even prefer it. Circular litter boxes also tend to be more attractive.
Nowadays, you can even find some models that are designed to look like other objects so as not to stand out from your home decor too much – like a flowerpot shape, for instance. Regarding colours, this tends to be much more of an issue for the owner than for the cat, and you should be able to find something to your liking quite easily. There are many options on the market, and you can choose from the colours that predominate in your home.
Additional options
Besides the litter box where you cat will be able to do its business inside the house without causing too much discomfort for anyone, other products can be used to complement it. Most have to do with maintaining the cleanliness of the tray and the space surrounding it. These complements and their uses are the following:
| Complement | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Scoop | Used to collect the faeces. This should be done after each deposition. It can also help with the full cleaning of the litter box. |
| Mat | It can be placed under the tray to prevent it from moving around too much. If you set it by the litter box, your cat will be able to clean its sandy paws to keep your home clean. |
| Deodoriser | It will neutralise the unpleasant smells of the tray, and can actually help prolong its useful life. |
| Hygienic bags | They are designed to be placed on the litter box. Durable models will avoid urine accumulation and combat bad odours. They will make cleaning faster and easier, and prolong the use of the tray. |
| Rack | It should be place inside the litter box, and all you have to do is lift it and collect both excrements and the sand balls agglomerated by the urine. Simply throw them away and put the rack back inside the tray. |
Summary
Your cat absolutely needs its own litter box, in spite of the fact that they don’t always look good in your home. Remember to consider your feline friend’s personality when deciding on a specific product, as well as your home decor and your own comfort: the smells emanating from it can definitely be annoying.
Luckily for you, there is an ever-increasing offer of products on the market. Cats are extremely affectionate companions, and we want the best for them and for us. Colours, sizes, shapes and designs: there is something for everyone out there when it comes to picking a new litter box.
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