Choosing the litter box for our cat is not a minor matter. There are not a few specimens that reject it if it does not meet their demanding expectations, which can lead to problems of improper disposal. Thus, the cat will urinate and defecate elsewhere in order to use its litter box.
To avoid mistakes in your choice, in this article on our site we are going to review the best cat litter boxes. Read, compare and get the litter box that best suits your cat's needs.
Basic Sanitary Pan
Without a doubt, this is the cheapest option In fact, it is not even necessary that the tray be specific for cats, since any rectangular plastic and with comfortable measures for the cat in question works. And it is very important to take into account the dimensions of our cat so that it can easily access the litter box, turn around in it and fit a sufficient amount of enough sand to comfortably bury your stools. Therefore, not only the length is valued, since you also have to look at the height of the edges. Some litter boxes have removable edges, which can be a good option if we live with a kitten. Thus, at first we can offer the tray as it is and, as it grows, we will add the edges to prevent sand from coming out.
However, the best cat litter boxes are subjective. For example, there are cats that, when burying their stools, throw so much sand out that we need a high edge to contain it, while others hardly expel anything, so the height of the edge is completely indifferent. Observe your cat and experiment to adjust the litter box to his needs.
In addition, some models of these trays have a triangular shape that allows them to be adapted to corners, being a good solution for small spaces, although cats also have to be small to be able to use them comfortably. Finally, it is a good idea to clean the sandbox regularly with soap and water and change it from time to time, as the plastic degrades.
Sanitary pan with grid
This type of cat litter box is characterized by having three removable piecesWhat can make it one of the best cat litter boxes is that one of these pieces has different slots as a strainer. This piece allows to speed up the cleaning. Of course, it only works if we use agglomerating type litter Learn about the different types of cat litter in this other article.
Specifically, the sandbox is made up of a tray on which the strainer piece is placed and the upper piece where the sand goes. It also features a rim that holds all three parts together. To clean it, you just have to disassemble it and empty the sand on the strainer. In this way, the clean falls into the tray below and the feces and balls of urine are retained in the strainer, so you just have to throw them away and reassemble the litter box.
Closed cat litter boxes
In the beginning, these sandboxes were a kind of carrier with a hinged door that could be removed. They were considered the best litter boxes for cats that required privacy to relieve themselves. In addition, being closed reduced the spread of bad odors and the amount of sand on the floor.
Today they have been diversifying and it is possible to find models for all tastes In addition, details have been added, such as a removable tray or hinged front to facilitate cleaning, carbon filter to prevent odors, top or double entry, transparent door, carrying handle, large size for homes with more than one cat, lid with beveled perforations so that the litter does not come out of the interior or triangular shape adaptable to the corners, taking up less space.
But perhaps the greatest sophistication of these types of cat litter boxes is the furniture sandbox, that is, a wooden piece of furniture in the that the sandbox is introduced, so that it is completely hidden. It goes unnoticed inside the piece of furniture, more so because on top, like any other, you can put objects. In the front it has a hole that serves as a door. Logically, it is very resistant.
In any case, if your feline prefers to enjoy its privacy, closed or covered cat litter boxes can be an excellent option.
If more than one cat lives in it, it is recommended that each one have their own litter box and even add another extra. In this other article we talk about it: "Can two cats use the same litter box?".
Self-cleaning cat litter boxes
Self-cleaning litter boxes are a practical option if we have little time for hygiene, we don't even want to touch a shovel or, directly, we hate cleaning the sand or the bad smell that it ends up generating. They are also recommended for cats that do not use the litter box if it is not perfectly clean and we are not home for so many hours to meet their hygiene demands. In addition to lack of hygiene, there are many causes that can lead a cat not to use its litter box, so we recommend you consult this other article if this is your case: "Why does my cat not use the litter box?".
If you are looking for the best cat litter box of this type, you should know that there are different models, both open and closed, with or without a door, so you should know what your kitty likes. In addition, they all have in common that it is recommended to use with clumping sand or silica crystals Cleaning can be done using different systems, such as tipping, a lever or automatically, that's why some need to be plugged into the electric current. We explain below how they work:
- The Tipping Sandbox is very simple. You just have to turn it to the side where it has a special compartment, separated by a grid, in which the stools remain, which we will only have to throw away, while the clean sand remains ready to use in its place.
- For its part, the lever sandbox has a drawer below with a bag into which the stool will fall after such a simple gesture like moving the lever. This mechanism activates a kind of rake that runs through the sand and drags the depositions towards the box. The bag, for households with one cat, lasts up to a week without changing and passing the lever once a day.
- Self-cleaning litter boxes that run on electric current also use a rake mechanism. The difference is that you do not have to manually press the lever, since, through sensors, they are activated only a few minutes after the cat has used the litter box, which helps prevent the spread of bad odours. Of course, they are programmed to never come on while the cat is inside. Of course, what the sensors detect is the weight of the cat. Some are not suitable for kittens under 2.5 kg. Also keep in mind that they are more expensive than manual ones. They are used in combination with disposable plastic-lined cardboard trays. They can last up to a month without changing if you only live with a cat.
There are also other models to plug into the mains that activate themselves, but they work by rotating slowly, about every half hour, until a rake directs the waste to a conveyor belt that ends up in a container from where they can be discarded.
Finally, some of the best cat litter boxes of this type include an activated carbon filter to further attenuate the bad odors and have additional features such as light, access ramp or a counter that allows establishing the pattern of use of the litter box and early detection of any change in the frequency of depositions. Despite the advantages of these sandboxes when it comes to easily getting rid of dirty sand, from time to time they have to be disassembled and cleaned for maintenance. Also, some cats may not accept the noise that occurs during cleaning.
Other types of cat litter boxes
Reviewed the best cat litter boxes, we note down other types of litter boxes that can be used on an occasional basis. For example, there are folding and easily transportable, very useful if we take the cat on a trip. They are made of scratch-resistant and waterproof fabric. They can be washed in the washing machine.
There are also disposable sandboxes They are usually made from resistant paper pulp, which neither leaks nor tears. They can be used directly or placed inside a rigid sandbox as a lining. In this way, you do not have to clean the sand, but remove this sandbox with all the sand when it is dirty. They can be purchased individually or in packs of several units. This type of litter box is also recommended when living with a sick cat in a multi-family home, as they facilitate the complete elimination of potentially infectious feces.
Now that you know the different cat litter boxes that exist and what to look for to opt for one or the other, don't miss this article to find out when to change the litter: "How often to change the litter of the cat?".
