The 8 Best Cat Litter Boxes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Dec 01, 2023

The Catit Hooded Cat Pan was our favorite

Cai Cramer is a Commerce Writer at PEOPLE, covering the best and buzziest products across the beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle spaces. Previously, Cai worked on the Digital Platforms team at PEOPLE after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. Cai loves to spend time outdoors no matter the weather, and she'll try any craft twice.

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People / Vicky Wasik

Your cat might think they’re the center of the universe, but they still need you to clean out their litter box. If you’re a devoted cat parent like Alison Brie and Dave Franco, you’ll want to find the best cat litter box that’s easy for your favorite felines to do their business and easy for you to clean.

It might be a bit of trial and error when it comes to finding the best litter box for your feline’s needs, says Dr. Bryce Zietz, DVM and team veterinarian at Fuzzy, a digital pet care company. He suggests setting up a range of options in box styles, sizes, and litter types for two weeks. “Think of it as a litter box buffet,” he says. If your cat(s) use more than one litter box, you might have to extend the trial to see which comes out as a clear winner.

Need some assistance in creating your own litter box buffet at home? Our PEOPLE Tested team has done a lot of the leg work for you. We tested 20 litter boxes in order to find the best cat litter box that’s purr-fect (we had to say it) for your pet.

Dr. Zietz notes that plastic boxes are typically the easiest to clean, which is why you’ll find that all of the boxes on our list are indeed made from plastic.

Read on for the best cat litter boxes that PEOPLE Tested.

Chewy

Door allows for more privacy, which can help cats feel more comfortable

Handle makes it easy for us to carry

Built-in bag anchor makes it easy to clean

Your cat may have to get used to the door

One of the more expensive manual litter boxes that we’ve tested

You need your privacy when you’re doing your business, and so does your cat. The Catit scores the top spot on our best cat litter box list, because it has both a hood and a door to cover up your cat’s business, but you can easily remove both when it’s time to clean the box. It also has a built-in bag anchor, making it even easier to scoop out the old and add the new cat litter. You can add the included carbon filter to keep odors at bay.

If you’ve got a cat who likes to kick up litter, the front door on this box does an excellent job of keeping the litter in the litter box and not on your floors. “I love the handle for carrying the box, because it makes it easy to transport,” our tester said.

If your cat is not used to a door on a litter box, it might take a bit of time for them to get used to it, as it did for one of our tester kitties. It’s worth the time, though, because the door helps contain mess and odor. Overall, this litter box got top scores across the board due to its high quality and great value.

Price at time of publish: $53.99

Type: Covered pan | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 22.44 x 19.69 x 18.31 inches | Weight: 1.7 lbs.

People / Maddy Newton

People / Leticia Almeida

People / Leticia Almeida

People / Leticia Almeida

People / Leticia Almeida

Amazon

Easy to clean

Made from recycled materials

Excellent value, especially for a multi-cat household

Must sift the pan, which may not be your preferred cleaning method

Not great for high-kicking cats

Skip the scooping with this affordable Arm & Hammer sifting pan, which is actually made up of three boxes: one sifting and two regular. The whole system is made from recycled materials, so this is an eco-friendly option for cat owners. It has Microban protection to prevent bacteria from forming and causing odors, so it’s a win for your household, too.

Our tester was surprised at how easy it was to clean this box. There was some concern that the holes in the sifting tray would become clogged, but that wasn’t the case. However, one feline tester did seem to kick out more litter than usual after jumping out of the box, so this might not be the best choice if you’ve got a high-kicking cat.

There’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re not used to sifting or having this many pans, but overall, our tester found it functional and a good value. They did say that it’s best for cat owners “who aren’t afraid to get a bit closer to the product,” so keep that in mind before you purchase.

Price at time of publish: $14.25

Type: Sifting | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 8 inches | Weight: Not listed

Amazon

Great for small or senior cats

Rubber grips make it easy to move

Back wall is high enough to contain the litter

Doesn’t have a cover

Plastic is a bit shiny for something that should be more discreet

Your cat is a lucky champ indeed with this low-entry cat litter pan that’s a particularly good choice for smaller cats or cats with limited mobility. “This litter box is great for cats who need space in their litter,” said our tester. They found the easy entry and exit space especially good for their senior cat, but it was also perfect for their younger cat.

While the front is low enough to allow your cat to step in rather than jump in, there’s a high back wall that helps the box contain the litter. The plastic pan is large and easy to clean, and it has rubber grips on the side that make it easy to move the box whenever and wherever you need it.

There’s no lid for this cat litter box, and the tester did note with some dismay that the plastic is shiny, so it might not work if you’re looking for something more discreet. Still, if you are looking for a low-entry litter box for cats with limited mobility, this is the one for you.

Price at time of publish: $36.99

Type: Pan | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 25 x 16.75 x 9 inches | Weight: 3.31 lbs

People / Lesly Bernal

Amazon

Automatically scoops litter with a full-length comb and remained entirely odor-free throughout our testing period

Emits a low hum that didn’t scare our tester cat, so our kitty felt comfortable using the box right away

Great value for an automatic litter box and performs just as well as (or better than) the more expensive boxes that we’ve tested

A bit tricky to take the box apart for monthly cleaning

As much as we love our feline friends, the odors that can waft from their litter box are, in a word, gross. As a foster parent to two cats myself, it feels like as soon as I’ve painstakingly scooped every bit of waste from their litter box, the tell-tall odor is back within the hour. The PetSafe ScoopFree Smart Covered litter box is a game changer: Our tester cat quickly felt comfortable using the automatic box, which emitted a low hum that didn’t seem to phase our felines. And, best of all, our sensitive noses detected zero smell.

This box takes care of the usually disgusting daily task of scooping the litter for you, with an automatic scooping comb that senses when your cat is using the box and cleans up once they’re finished and safely out of the box. It will only work with crystal litter, but you can use whatever brand of crystal litter that you like.

The only time that the PetSafe litter box required any elbow grease on our part was during the monthly cleaning process, which turned out to be a bit of a hassle. Taking the waste box out of the machine proved somewhat complicated, and we spilled some litter on the floor in the process. But, in our opinion, that monthly cleaning is absolutely worth the odor-free, daily ease that the PetSafe ScoopFree litterbox provides.

Price at time of publish: $169.95

Type: Automatic | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 20.38 x 7.13 x 28 inches | Weight: 16 lbs.

People / Vicky Wasik

Amazon

Truly jumbo size

Easy to clean

Comes in four colors

Lid is clear, so it doesn’t really keep things discreet

Your cat might feel a bit exposed

Our tester thought this Petphabet litter box “does a great job at containing the litter!” The jumbo size makes it a good choice for larger cats, because they’ve got plenty of room to move around. It’s easy to clean this Petphabet cat litter box with soap and water once you remove the lid. There are extra latches in case one snaps off, though that was not the case during testing.

This litter box comes in bright colors like teal and purple, though there is a light gray color if you want something a little more low-key. Unlike others on this list that have hoods and lids, this one is clear. Depending on how much your cat likes his or her privacy and how much you want to keep your litter box hidden, the clear lid might not work for you. At the end of the day, this is really just a large plastic box with a clear lid, so it might feel a bit pricey if your cat is not super-picky.

Price at time of publish: $54.99

Type: Covered | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 25 x 19 x 17 inches | Weight: 3.12 lbs.

People / Alicia Long

Amazon

Liner pads for easy cleaning

Pellets are very effective

Whole system is a “game changer,” according to our tester

Only one of the three versions of the box is covered

You’ll need to keep pads on hand

After thoroughly testing this cat-litter system, we think it’s worth every dollar. While cleaning out your cat’s litter box might not be high on your list of favorite household tasks, this litter box is much easier to clean than others. We found that the litter box stays cleaner longer, and the pellets are great at preventing odor without absorbing it. And, though it’s easier to clean, you might find that you won’t have to clean it nearly as often, which is indeed a great value.

This Purina system features a BREEZE System Starter Kit that comes with a litter box, litter pellets, and pads. The pads are disposable and lock in moisture well enough to last for up to a week per cat, so you’ll have to buy more when the included pack of four pads runs out. The litter pellets are anti-tracking, so you can expect to see far less dust and tracking around the box. It has a drawer that easily slides out so you can remove the pad. This system comes in three different versions — an open model, one with a hood, and a larger open model that has higher walls.

Price at time of publish: $42.98

Type: Open | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 16.5 x 21 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 9.3 lbs.

Kaya Abrahamson

Amazon

More attractive-looking design than typical litterboxes

Flip top makes it private and discreet, which can help cats feel more comfortable

Liner makes it easier to clean than the traditional plastic-tub litterbox

One of the most expensive manual litterboxes that we’ve tried

Cats are notoriously private about their personal business. And while there are a number of excellent cat litter boxes with hoods that allow for privacy, they don’t hide the fact that you’ve got a litter box in the corner of your house — unless the litter box in question is this flip litter box from Modkat. It’s got a boxy shape that makes it look more like a storage bin, so it’s much more discreet than your ordinary litter box.

We really liked the design of this litter box, but we loved the easy-to-clean liner even more: You just need to unhook and wash it. The litter box walls are high enough to contain the kickback of litter, and it comes with a liner and a scoop (the Katch Litter mat is sold separately). The scooper also deserves high praise, and we found it impressively durable but lightweight.

This litter box has a top and front entry. If your cat doesn’t enjoy the top entry — like one finicky feline on our tester team — then the front entry is another option. Again, this litter box delivers with its discreetness, but if your cat only uses one entry, you might find this a bit expensive — though your cats will feel they deserve it.

Price at time of publish: $89.95

Type: Flip top | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 20 x 16.75 x 15 inches | Weight: 7 lbs

Maddy Newton__Brooke_Kane

Tuft & Paw

Most attractive litter box we tested

Comes with a lightweight scoop

High sides are great at keeping litter in the box, even for cats that kick back litter

Most expensive manual litterbox that we’ve tested

Scoop holder tends to trap litter

“This litter box is really pretty (if that's a thing),” raved our tester. Not only is it pretty, but it’s also easy to keep clean — just remove the walls and wipe it out. The high sides kept most of the litter in, though there still was a bit of litter tracking from our cat tester.

The human tester appreciated having the litter scoop attached to the box—it’s a handy feature to begin with, but the scoop is also sturdy, which is even better. The tester did note, however, that litter did get into the scoop holder, which was harder to clean out.

Aesthetics do come with a higher price tag, which is indeed the sticking point with this one. It might be a splurge if you’ve got just one cat, but if you’ve got multiple cats or would simply prefer a more generic-looking litter box, consider another option on our list.

Price at time of publish: $199

Type: Open | Material: Plastic with rubber base | Dimensions: 6.5 x 16 x 26 inches | Weight: Not listed

People / Lindsay Boyers

There are a few types of litter boxes: open, hooded, and covered. Some also include doors or cut-outs for easy entry and exit. Cats like privacy, so hooded or covered litter boxes are fan favorites, as long as they’re not too small — after all, your cat does need room to turn around and comfortably do its business.

Open litter boxes tend to be more affordable, but you may find yourself cleaning up litter from the surrounding floor. Many cat owners prefer a litter box with a hood, like the one on the Catit Hooded Cat Pan, to keep their cat’s business discreet. However, your cat will ultimately call the shots with the type of litter box he or she prefers. The good news is that with a bit of practice—and some patience on your part — your cat can get acclimated to a new litter box.

All of the litter boxes on our list are made of plastic, which is easiest to keep clean. Our testers found that soap and water were all it took to get these boxes clean and smelling fresh again. Some litter boxes, like the ModKat Flip Litter Box, come with a liner to make cleanup even easier. The Arm & Hammer Sifting Cat Litter Pan comes with a sifting pan that can also make it easy to keep things clean on a daily basis.

You’ll want a roomy-enough box so that your cat won’t feel cramped when doing its business. It should be tall and wide enough that it can easily get in and turn around. The size of the Petphabet Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Box should be big enough for your cat's (or cats') liking. If your cat is smaller or has limited mobility, and a litter box with a lower entry is required, try the Lucky Champ Cat Litter Pan.

People / Kaya Abrahamson

Our testers evaluated 20 of the best cat litter boxes on the market. They scored them based on ease of assembly, ease of cleaning, mess prevention, box design, scoop design (if one was included), and overall value.

To test the litter boxes, the testers filled the litter box with cat litter per the box’s guidelines. They acclimated their cat(s) to the litter box. Each week, they scooped or sifted the kitty litter at least once or twice, though the actual schedule depended on the type of litter used and the cat involved. After a month of using each litter box, the testers cleaned the box as if they were going to pack or move it and recorded their findings.

“The general rule for box length is 1.5 times the length of cat from tip of nose to tip of tail,” says Dr. Zietz. He adds that when in doubt, a wider box is usually better so that there’s room for your cat to turn around and bury things effectively.

However, be careful if you’re choosing one that has high walls. “Some smaller cats, kittens, and even older cats with mobility problems will not be able to climb into the box easily if it is too tall,” he adds.

“Most cats generally prefer larger open-type boxes,” says Dr. Zietz. “For some, they will be the better option if a cat tends to have increased anxiety when forced to go into a cornered space with only one exit point.”

“The general rule for total number of boxes is the number of cats in the home plus one,” says Dr. Zietz. So if you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes — and if you have one cat, it’s still a good idea to have two litter boxes on hand.

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelancer with more than 18 years of experience as a writer, editor, and social media consultant specializing in home improvement and lifestyle topics. For this story, Barbara used insights collected from extensive testing by the PEOPLE Tested labs, with a methodology that was informed by research and real cat owners’ experiences. Barbara also interviewed Dr. Bryce Zietz, team veterinarian at Fuzzy. This story was recently updated by Cai Cramer, a staff writer at PEOPLE who fosters two cats. Cai provided additional, up-to-date information on automatic litter boxes.

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