Three Things to Consider When Choosing a Litterbox | Lola The Rescued Cat
Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Three Things to Consider When Choosing a Litterbox

Cats are fussy creatures. They are particular about many things, and their litter boxes are no exception. Here are three things to consider when choosing a litter box for your furry friend.



Three Things to Consider When Choosing a Litter Box


Size

The size of the litter box matters, and it is probably the most important thing to consider. It’s no fun for kitty to have to do their business in cramped quarters, that's for sure. The box should be large enough for your cat to fit inside comfortably, with some extra room to spare so she can turn around. There are two rules of thumb with it comes to choosing the appropriate size:

  • The box should be at least 1.5 times the length of the cat from the nose to the base of the tail. OR
  • The box should be at least as long as your cat, from their nose to the tip of their tail (when extended), and its width should be at least as wide as your cat is long (with their tail not extended). 

Photo by KJ Garner via Flickr

Bigger is always better. You want to make sure there is ample space for them to dig and move around in while avoiding any earlier "deposits" that may not have been scooped yet.

The Petmate Open Litter Pan is big enough to easily accommodate large cats.




Type

There are many types of litterboxes to consider. Since our furry kids can’t tell us what their preference is, we need to be observant. If your cat has difficulty adapting to the type of box you chose, be ready to try another.


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If you decide to try a covered box, make sure the opening is large so your cat can enter and exit easily. Since the cover can trap odors inside, I recommend scooping regularly if you choose this option.
I use the Modkat Flip litterbox. The top flips back which leaves the box only half covered, and provides some extra room for Lola and Lexy to stand up.



The Amazon Basics Hooded Cat Litterbox has an opening that is 8” X 8.5” wide.



There are also top entry litterboxes. Your cat’s age and health should be considered carefully when considering this option. Senior cats may have difficulty jumping in and out, and cats with hip/joint problems or arthritis may have the same difficulty. 

Photo by Tom Thai via Flickr


Height

The height of the box you choose depends on your cat’s toileting habits; i.e., are they a “sprayer”, do they kick a lot of litter out of the box, do they have bad aim, etc. If so, look for a box with three sides that are high enough (around 8 to 12 inches) to prevent urine, feces and/or litter from getting on the floor and one side that is low enough (around 5 to 6 inches) so your cat can get in and out easily.

The Nature’s Miracle High Sided Litter Box is a good choice for a cat with these issues.


The Lucky Champ Litter Pan is another option.


If you have a cat that has mobility issues or arthritis (or if you have a kitten!), you’ll need a box that very low in the front (approximately 2.5 to 3.5 inches high). The Kitty Go Here Litter Box for Senior Cats is perfect, with a super low opening for cats who are not able to jump into a box.





pic courtesy kittygohere.com

Whichever type of box you choose, remember to always scoop frequently to keep it clean and odor free.

What type of litter box do you use?
Dawn

Disclosure: Lola The Rescued Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase through any of the links in this post, we will earn a small commission. This does not affect your purchase price in any way. 

Would you like to comment?

  1. Litter boxes are more complex than humans think!

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  2. We do like bigger but Simon is an expert litter tosser and we haven't found anything he can't toss litter out of yet, including covered!

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  3. I have two litter boxes, one rounded and small and one big one, good size for me, but I like the small one more, because it is cozier and I can't throw the litter out, which I do in the big one...MOL :D Pawkisses for a Happy Week ahead 🐾😽💞

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  4. Hello Dawn & Lola! Interesting post on litterboxes. I can say none of my cats ever used covered litterboxes, yet many of my friend's cats use them...
    I DO like the Senior low-in-front litterbox! I've never seen one like this before....I will keep it in mind as BellaDharma ages....
    Sherri-Ellen & BellaDharma <3 <3

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  5. L & L....we haz corner boxez...they iz grate for savin space, keepin "stuff" in de box N for cree atin... itz all in de mindz eye.... art gal o ree peaces ;) ♥♥☺☺

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  6. Litter boxes are so expensive! The mom started using regular plastic storage boxes. They're about the same size as regular litter boxes and less expensive. :)

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  7. We have plastic concrete mixing boxes from the hardware store, and they are big and deep and CHEAP! However, I've found I rather fancy these $25 oval, high-sided feed basins from the farmer store; they hold 40 lbs of litter, and Da Boyz seem to like them.

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  9. Great tips ! Zorro goes in the garden, and I have two big covered litter boxes. Purrs, Pixie

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  10. Thanks for sharing the great tips. We had once tried a new litter box with high sides, but the box was smaller then the one before. That didn't work out too well. So we than got a bigger box and the sides were really high and they loved it. This is a great post with some many helpful tips. Have a great day.
    World of Animals

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  11. I've never given much thought to litter boxes. When I was growing up, we just used a dish pan - and it wasn't nearly big enough. I feel so bad for Kitty now. I think we have a good system now - though the over-sized boxes take up a lot of room.

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  12. Great post. I had never thought of length, I was more concerned with depth.

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    1. I bought the most jumbo I could get. Seems to be OK. I never let the flap stay on the door. There wouldn't be odor, I always meow, if you keep the box scooped. 💗

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  13. Who knew there were so many things to consider for our facilities? Great information!

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  14. I never heard of that litter box but I like my box to have a half lid. We use a Catit which has a half lid. In the bathroom I need a much smaller box cos there's no room.

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  15. We've got a variety - your basic covered, a top-entry, and an open one (Angelique's preference).

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  16. We use uncovered boxes. We have tried covered but there is always kitty drama so we now stick with uncovered. Though I think we are going to need a bigger box for Teddy. He uses the box with no issue, but he looks so funny in it - cause he's so big.

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  17. I was interested in the Modcat one but tarps? Seems like you'd have to wash those daily and not sure why they are needed. Cats get pee on the walls, and you have to wash the box when needed. There must be a reason that I'm not picking up on.

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  18. Good tips and things to watch for! We have one sprayer over here. I have to line the litter areas with puppy pads.

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  19. great tips!! I wish there was a magical litter box that kept all the litter inside!

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  20. Super tips!
    Have a wonderful Wednesday...

    Noodle and crew

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  21. So many choices and options to help every cat with their business! We like that one for senior kitties a lot. Maybe it would be good for our Gracie!

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  22. We luvs out pawtty boxes, even ifin me sometimes refuses to use it. MOL Big hugs

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  23. It's amazing the number of different types and sizes of litter boxes! My cats don't like boxes with lids, and they are in their senior years now, so I try to make sure they have a box that is low enough for easy access.

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  24. Great post and I cannot believe the choices compared to the days when I had a cat, my life would have been so much easier

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  25. Great tips because choosing the type of litter box a cat will use isn't easy, since mine at least were always so particular. The one style none of them ever liked was the hooded one with a flap, I had to take it off.

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  26. Look like some great tips! I can't keep cats myself as my fiance is very allergic to them. The funny thing is, though, that I've purchased a few of the litter boxes you posted about for my indoor rabbits. Rabbits can be litter box trained too, but I've found that the rabbit litter box market is sorely lacking. Cat boxes often work really well for bunnies too!

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  27. Many people do not give the importance to choose the right litter box and then is when kitty problems start. I am so glad you are making awareness of this topic. All really good tips!

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  28. My cat Nala is no longer with us but she used to use and open quite large plastic one. We had plastic mats under it for any spills. Some of these look nicer but she didn't seem to have a problem with hers until she was about 19 when she got kidney issues and peed on the white rug a few times to let me know.

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  29. This is a great guide to help people choose the right litter box for their cats. I didn't know anything about litter boxes when we adopted our cat. Luckily, he accepted the first one I gave him.

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  30. This is a helpful post. I know since I've been fostering I have the traditional super basic rectangle litter box. However, seeing how my foster cat Stubby likes to dig for days, I bought a high walled covered litter box with door. I removed the flap door and he loves it. It has plenty of room and to be quite honest, he uses the regular one to do his business the new box as a hangout/hideout. Go figure! Oh well. At least he's happy.

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  31. Really great tips about litter boxes! My only kitty is a feral we created an insulated igloo house outside for him, but if I had a house cat, this is a really informative guide!

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  32. A lot more goes into it than I would have thought! Dogs are a lot easier in that respect. Although Mr. N insists on finding green grass and dislikes old grass sometimes.

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  33. These are all important considerations. My cat Maggie liked a Big box with a cover on it best. And it had to be CLEANED, immediately. She was so picky!
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  34. Great post and information! I recently changed the litter boxes for a Truffle and Brûlée. The boxes are larger with a larger entry. It’s still a closed box but it’s much more open now and both girls seem to enjoy it. This would be a great article for us to use in the calendar for next year. Please let us know if you’d like to submit it

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  35. I have no experience with litter boxes but it sounds like important considerations.

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