Low Rims for Kittens, Tall Walls for Kickers: The Best Litter Box by Entry Style and Material

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The best litter box is the one your cat will use every time, and the one you can keep clean without dreading it. That comes down to size, how your cat gets in, whether there’s a lid, and what the box is made of. A tiny open pan suits a kitten; a big cat that kicks litter or sprays high needs tall walls; a home with a curious dog may need a top entry or a latch.

We compared seven boxes sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store: an open high-sided box, a top-entry box, a hooded flip-top, a sifting tray, two stainless steel boxes and a basic kitten pan. All seven landed in our lowest price tier when we checked, so the choice is about fit rather than budget. Odor and stain claims belong to the brands, and we quote them that way.

Animal welfare groups also have opinions on lids, box counts and litter depth, and we cover what the ASPCA and CDC say before you buy.

Our Top Litter Box Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Amazon Basics Large High-Sided Open Litter Box: Best Overall

Amazon Basics’ large high-sided litter box is an open-top plastic box measuring 19 by 15 by 11.75 inches. The tall back and side walls are there to keep kicked litter inside, while the front dips lower so a cat can step in and out without a big climb. The listing says that design caters to older and large cats.

With no lid, you can see at a glance when the box needs scooping, and there’s nothing to unlatch before you clean. The included scoop clips onto the box itself, so it stays where you need it. Amazon describes the plastic as BPA-free and recyclable, and the box is listed at 1.95 pounds, light enough to carry outside to dump and rinse.

An open box fits what the ASPCA says most cats like: a large box they can enter easily, without a lid. It also means odors aren’t trapped inside a hood, so daily scooping matters. The listing makes no odor-control claims, which is honest for a plain plastic box.

It suits most adult cats, including seniors who struggle with high entries and large cats that need room to turn. If a dog in the house raids litter boxes, look at a top-entry or latched design instead. Amazon.com is the seller.

Why we like it

• Lowered front for easy entry
• Tall walls hold litter in
• Scoop stays with the box

Watch out for

An open box won’t keep dogs out, and the warranty field is empty.

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2. IRIS USA Large Top Entry Cat Litter Box: Best Top-Entry

IRIS USA’s Large Top Entry box turns the usual design upside down: the cat enters through an opening in the lid instead of through the side. The box measures 20.75 by 16.125 by 14.625 inches, and the listing gives the entry as 9 inches wide by 10.5 inches high.

Because the walls are tall all the way around, IRIS says litter spillage drops and any spraying stays inside. The lid is grooved, so litter stuck to your cat’s paws tends to fall off as it climbs out rather than landing on your floor. IRIS also says the design keeps other pets, such as dogs, out of the box.

The included scoop has a hook, so you can hang it on the side of the box between cleanings. The listing says the box is made in the USA, and it is listed at 4.6 pounds. To scoop, you lift the lid off; there’s no side door to clean through.

It suits households with dogs or small children and cats that are agile enough to hop up and down. Kittens, seniors and cats with stiff joints may struggle with a top entry, and the ASPCA notes that most cats don’t like lids, so watch whether your cat takes to it. Amazon.com is the seller.

Why we like it

• Keeps dogs out, per IRIS
• Grooved lid cuts tracking
• Made in USA

Watch out for

Top entry asks a lot of older or small cats, and the warranty field is empty.

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3. Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Box with Microban: Best Sifting Litter Box

Arm & Hammer’s large sifting litter box replaces the scoop with stacked trays. Arm & Hammer calls it patented lift-to-sift technology: you lift the top tray, clean litter falls through the slots into the tray below, and waste stays on top to be dumped. Then the empty tray goes back on the bottom of the stack.

That approach pairs best with pine pellets, which break down into sawdust that sifts away. The listing says the box also works with crystal, pellet and clumping litters, and suggests Arm & Hammer’s own SLIDE litter for best results. It measures 19 by 15 by 8 inches and is listed at 2.51 pounds.

Arm & Hammer says built-in Microban protection inhibits odors from the litter, and that the box is made in the USA with recycled materials. For sizing, the listing repeats a common guideline: choose a box about 1.5 times longer than your cat. That is the brand’s rule of thumb, and it is a handy check before you buy any box.

It suits cat owners who use pine pellets or simply dislike scooping. The 8-inch walls are lower than the high-sided boxes here, so heavy diggers may fling some litter out; a litter mat in front helps. Amazon.com is the seller.

Why we like it

• No scooping with pellets
• Takes several litter types
• Made in USA, per listing

Watch out for

The lower walls let more litter escape than high-sided picks, and the warranty field is empty.

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4. Nature’s Miracle Hooded Flip Top Litter Box: Best Covered Litter Box

Nature’s Miracle’s Hooded Flip Top box is a covered litter box with a front entry and a hinged front panel. The hood gives your cat privacy and, according to the listing, helps prevent litter scatter and leaks from spraying, which matters for cats that stand up when they pee.

Cleaning is the clever part. Instead of unclipping the whole hood every day, you flip the top-front section up to reach in with a scoop. Simple latches hold the hood to the base when you need to take it apart for a full wash. A built-in charcoal filter in the hood is there, per Nature’s Miracle, to tackle tough litter box odors.

Nature’s Miracle is better known for its stain and odor removers, and the listing leans on that reputation. The size field reads 25.13 by 19.13 by 11.75 inches; the height looks low for a hooded box and may be a packaging figure, so check the measurements on the product page before you plan the spot. No weight is listed.

It suits cats that spray or like privacy, and homes where the box sits in view. The ASPCA notes that most cats don’t like lids, so if your cat starts avoiding it, try leaving the hood off. Amazon.com is the seller.

Why we like it

• Flip-up front for daily scooping
• Charcoal filter
• Contains spraying, per listing

Watch out for

The listed size looks off and there’s no weight, so confirm dimensions before you buy.

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5. WoofiGo XL Stainless Steel High-Sided Litter Box: Best Stainless for Large Cats

WoofiGo’s XL box pairs a stainless steel litter pan with a curved, high-walled ABS plastic enclosure. The listing gives its size as 23.62 by 15.75 by 12.01 inches, among the longest boxes here, and pitches it at big cats and multi-cat households.

The pan and walls connect with a buckle, which WoofiGo says keeps the enclosure from falling off when a cat digs hard. A tracking-proof pedal at the entrance is meant to knock litter off paws before your cat steps out. The open top keeps the box easy to scoop and lets a cat see around it while it’s inside, and there is no hood to unclip on cleaning day.

WoofiGo says stainless steel litter boxes don’t collect residue or odor and are easy to clean, unlike plastic. That is the brand’s claim. The non-porous steel pan should at least be simple to rinse, but daily scooping still matters. One bullet heading mentions a “5.98” high-sided enclosure,” while the size figure gives 12.01 inches overall, so measure where your cat steps in.

It suits large cats, cats that pee high against the walls, and homes with more than one cat. The weight field reads 1 pound and the warranty field just “1,” both of which look like placeholders, so confirm the real weight and warranty terms with WoofiGo before you buy. Amazon.com is the seller.

Why we like it

• Long XL stainless pan
• Tall curved walls
• Sold by Amazon.com

Watch out for

The walls are plastic, and the listing’s weight and warranty fields look like placeholders.

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6. Tevila XL Enclosed Stainless Steel Litter Box with Lid: Best Enclosed Stainless

Tevila’s XL enclosed box combines a stainless steel tray with a modular enclosure. Tevila says it sets up three ways: fully enclosed with the lid, semi-covered, or as an open pan. That flexibility helps if your cat rejects the hood, since you can take it off without buying a new box.

In the enclosed setup, the cat walks in the front and can exit through the top. Tevila adds a lockable latch it calls dog proof, and a carbon filter pack it says provides strong odor control. The brand claims the tall walls and seamless overlap stop urine leaking and splashes, aimed at high sprayers and messy diggers.

The kit is the most complete here: a step board for kittens or senior cats, a litter scoop with holder, a litter mat and four non-slip pads. Tevila lists the box at 23.62 by 15.74 by 15.74 inches and says its 80-liter interior can hold up to 40 liters of litter, though the ASPCA notes most cats prefer only one to two inches.

It suits big cats, multi-cat homes and households with a dog that raids the box. At a listed 8.6 pounds it is the heaviest pick, and the warranty field gives six months for manufacturer defects. Tevila US, the brand’s store, is the seller.

Why we like it

• Runs covered, semi-covered or open
• Dog-proof latch
• Step board and mat included

Watch out for

At 8.6 pounds it is heavy to dump and wash, and the warranty is only six months.

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7. Petmate Basic Open Plastic Litter Pan, Small: Best for Kittens

Petmate’s Basic open litter pan is as simple as litter boxes get: a small, open plastic tray with a 14 by 10.5 inch footprint. The spec field puts its height at 3.5 inches, low enough for a young kitten to step over without help.

Petmate says the wide base keeps mess inside the pan, and a rim runs around all sides so you can lift and move it easily. With no lid, no filter and no moving parts, cleaning is a matter of scooping daily and washing the whole pan with mild soap and water when you change the litter.

Its sales rank is the strongest on this page, #556 overall and #2 in Standard Litter Boxes, and at a listed 0.44 pounds it is also the lightest. That combination makes it a common choice for a kitten’s first weeks, a second-floor backup box or a travel box.

It suits kittens and small cats now, but most adult cats will outgrow it quickly. The ASPCA notes that most cats prefer large boxes they can enter easily, so plan to move up to a bigger box as your kitten grows. Because it costs so little, it also makes sense as the extra box the ASPCA recommends beyond one per cat. Amazon.com is the seller.

Why we like it

• Easy step-in height for kittens
• Strongest sales rank here
• Light and easy to wash

Watch out for

It is small, and the low sides won’t contain litter from an enthusiastic digger.

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How We Chose the Best Litter Boxes

We read every Amazon listing, spec field and sales rank, and quoted only what the listings say:

• Size: listed dimensions, matched to kittens, average cats and large cats.
• Entry style: open top, lowered front, hooded front entry or top entry.
• Walls and lid: wall height, hoods, latches and any filter the listing names.
• Material: plastic or stainless steel, with odor claims attributed to the brand.
• Cleaning: scoop storage, flip-up fronts and sifting trays.
• Availability: every pick was in stock and sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store when we checked. Self-cleaning electric boxes were out of scope.

Litter Box Buying Guide

Size First: The Best Litter Box for Large Cats

The ASPCA’s litter box guidance says the majority of cats prefer large boxes they can enter easily, and that most cats like one to two inches of litter rather than three to four. Arm & Hammer’s listing suggests a box about 1.5 times your cat’s length. For big cats, the longest boxes here with believable listed sizes are the WoofiGo and Tevila (23.62 inches each), followed by the IRIS top entry (20.75 inches). The Nature’s Miracle size field reads 25.13 inches long, but that listing’s figures look like packaging. The ASPCA also recommends one box per cat plus one extra.

Best Covered Litter Box vs. Open Top

Hoods add privacy, contain spray and hide the view. The Nature’s Miracle uses a charcoal filter and a flip-up front, and the Tevila can run enclosed, semi-covered or open. The trade-off: the ASPCA says most cats don’t like box liners or lids, and it lists a hood or liner among reasons a cat may avoid the box. If you buy a covered box, watch your cat’s habits for the first couple of weeks, and keep the hood off if it hesitates.

Best Top Entry Litter Box for Homes With Dogs

A top entry keeps dogs and toddlers out and catches litter on a grooved lid. The IRIS USA top entry is our pick, with a 9 by 10.5 inch opening. Tevila takes another route with a front entry and a lockable latch. Skip top entry for kittens, seniors or cats that hesitate to jump.

Best Stainless Steel Litter Box: What the Claims Mean

Stainless sellers say steel won’t absorb odors or residue the way scratched plastic can. WoofiGo uses a stainless pan with plastic walls, and Tevila a stainless tray inside a modular enclosure. Those odor claims are the brands’; steel still needs daily scooping and a weekly wash. The plastic boxes here cost less to replace once they wear.

Best Sifting Litter Box and Low-Entry Options

Arm & Hammer’s lift-to-sift trays work best with pine pellets and skip the scoop. For kittens, the Petmate pan is the lowest step-in here, and the Amazon Basics box has a lowered front that its listing says suits older and large cats.

Every Pick Lands in One Price Tier

All seven boxes fell in our lowest price tier when we checked, with the stainless boxes near the top of that tier and the Petmate pan near the bottom. Pick on size and entry style first.

Litter Box Hygiene and Home Safety

• Wash your hands every time. The CDC says to always wash your hands after cleaning the litter box, even if you use a scoop, and to keep the box away from other animals, children and food preparation areas.
• Pregnancy and weakened immune systems. The same CDC page says pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should not clean litter boxes if possible; if no one else can, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands afterward.
• Change it daily. CDC’s toxoplasmosis prevention page recommends changing the litter box daily, because the parasite does not become infectious until one to five days after a cat sheds it.
• Clean with mild, unscented products. The ASPCA suggests a weekly wash with warm water and unscented soap or baking soda, since cats can develop an aversion to scented cleaners.
• Bag and contain waste. A lidded bin keeps used litter smells contained; see our trash can guide.
• Handle odor and tracked litter. An air purifier can help with room air, and a pet vacuum picks up tracked litter and fur.

If a cat suddenly stops using its box, the ASPCA advises having it checked by a veterinarian before changing its setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best litter box for most cats?

The Amazon Basics Large High-Sided box is our overall pick: 19 x 15 x 11.75 inches, an open top with a lowered front for easy entry, tall walls to hold litter in, and on-board scoop storage. It ranks #4 in Standard Litter Boxes.

Is a covered litter box better than an open one?

It depends on the cat. Hoods add privacy and contain spray, but the ASPCA says most cats don’t like lids or liners. If you choose the Nature’s Miracle hooded box or Tevila, watch whether your cat hesitates, and remove the cover if it does.

What is the best top entry litter box?

The IRIS USA Large Top Entry box has a 9 by 10.5 inch opening, a grooved lid that catches litter from paws, and a design IRIS says keeps dogs out. Skip it for kittens, seniors or cats that struggle to jump.

What is the best litter box for large cats?

Go long. The WoofiGo XL and Tevila XL both list 23.62-inch lengths with tall walls, and Arm & Hammer suggests a box about 1.5 times your cat’s length.

Should pregnant people clean the litter box?

The CDC says pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems should not clean litter boxes if possible. If no one else can, it advises wearing disposable gloves and washing your hands afterward.

The Bottom Line

The Amazon Basics Large High-Sided box is the best litter box for most cats: big, open, easy to step into and tall enough to hold litter in. The IRIS USA Top Entry keeps dogs out, Arm & Hammer suits pine-pellet sifters, and the Nature’s Miracle flip-top covers privacy and spray. For steel, the WoofiGo XL gives big cats an open stainless pan, and the Tevila XL adds a latch and three setups. Bringing home a kitten? Start with the Petmate pan.

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