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9 Best Cat Litter Box Liners – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Oliver Jones

By Oliver Jones

Cat staring at a litter box eside a trash bag

While it’s fun to hang out with your cat, one of the least enjoyable parts of owning one is cleaning out the litter box. While litter box liners can help, if you get the wrong one, you’ll be cleaning up litter and cat waste from all over the place when the bag gives out at the worst possible moment.

We understand the frustration and want to make that a problem of the past. That’s why we tracked down and created comprehensive reviews on the 9 best litter box liners out there. From there, we made a buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know to get the right litter box liners the first time.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
PET N PET Litter Box Liners PET N PET Litter Box Liners
  • Feature convenient drawstrings
  • Antibacterial properties
  • Made from recyclable materials
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Fresh Step Drawstring Liner Fresh Step Drawstring Liner
  • Outstanding price per bag
  • Scented design for better odor control
  • Drawstring design is easier to use
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Liner Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Liner
  • Scented design helps with odor control
  • Thick bag is extremely durable
  • Scratch and tear-resistant
  • Fresh Kitty Jumbo Litter Liner Fresh Kitty Jumbo Litter Liner
  • Can buy in bulk
  • Outstanding price per liner
  • Odor-Stop technology
  • Van Ness Drawstring Pan Liner Van Ness Drawstring Pan Liner
  • Three size options available
  • Three-ply option is tear-resistant
  • Made from 65% recycled plastic
  • The 9 Best Cat Litter Box Liners

    1. PET N PET Litter Box Liners – Best Overall

    PET N PET Litter Box Liners new

    Size: 34” x 18” x 2.36”
    Count: 7

    These litter box liners from PET N PET feature convenient drawstrings for quick and easy cleanups, and are designed to fit most litter boxes, making them our top choice overall. The liners are treated with antibacterial properties to promote a cleaner litter box, are made with heavy-duty plastic that is 60 microns thick for fewer rips and tears and are proudly made from recyclable materials. Plus, they come in at a decent price, and there are jumbo packs available to save you even more money.

    The only downside we found is that some customers reported the drawstring breaking easily, although this may be due to the weight of the litter.

    Pros
    • Feature convenient drawstrings
    • Treated with antibacterial properties
    • Made from recyclable materials
    Cons
    • Drawstring may break easily

    2. Fresh Step Drawstring Litter Box Liner — Best Value

    Fresh Step Drawstring Litter Box Liner new

    Size: 30” x 17” or 36” x 19”
    Count: 7

    When you’re on a tight budget, the last thing that you want is to spend a ton of money on litter box liners. With the Fresh Step Drawstring Litter Box Liner, you certainly don’t have to. It’s the best cat litter box liner for the money for a reason, and it starts with the outstanding price per bag.

    The Fresh Step Drawstring Litter Box Liner has a scented design for better odor control, and the drawstring setup makes using it easy.

    While these might not be the thickest bags out there, they’re thick enough to get the job done without tearing. Our main concern with these bags is the lower product count and the fact that they don’t fit high-back litter boxes. That rules out many litter box styles, which in turn, can rule out quite a few litter box options. But they do come in two different size options, and that does give you a bit of versatility.

    Pros
    • Outstanding price per bag
    • Scented design for better odor control
    • Drawstring design is easier to use
    Cons
    • Lower product count
    • Does not fit high-back litter boxes

    3. Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Scented — Premium Choice

    Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Scented new (1)

    Size: 36” x 18”
    Count: 7 or 14

    When you look at the price per bag, you can see why the Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Scented bags have earned the premium choice. While they won’t break the bank, they do cost more than most other options.

    But if you’re tired of dealing with busted liners and unpleasant odors, these are the bags you want. They have a scented design that does a phenomenal job at odor control, and each bag is extremely thick and durable.

    They’re also scratch- and tear-resistant. For the most expensive cost per bag option on our list, that’s exactly what we expect.

    Pros
    • Scented design helps with odor control
    • Thick bag is extremely durable
    • Scratch and tear-resistant
    Cons
    • Lower product count
    • More expensive per bag

    4. Fresh Kitty Jumbo Thick Cat Litter Box Liner

    Fresh Kitty Jumbo Thick Cat Litter Box Liner new

    Size: 36” x 19”
    Count: 15 or 80

    One of the best factors of the Fresh Kitty Jumbo Thick litter box liners is that you can buy them in bulk. You can purchase an 80-pack option, and that’s 10 times more bags than what many other options offer.

    If you’re buying that many bags from Fresh Kitty, you’re getting a great price per bag, even if you do have to spend a little more upfront. So, if you get the lower bag count of 15, it drastically increases the cost per bag.

    Still, each bag is thick and comes with Odor-Stop technology. If you’re buying in bulk, you’re getting a premium product at a budget-friendly price.

    Pros
    • Can buy in bulk
    • Outstanding price per liner (for the 80 pack)
    • Odor-Stop technology
    • Drawstring makes changing easy
    • Thicker bag design
    Cons
    • Price per bag for 15-count is expensive
    • Price for 80-count is more expensive up front

    5. Van Ness Drawstring Cat Pan Liner

    Van Ness Drawstring Cat Pan Liner new

    Size: 16” x 12” (small) or 19” x 15” (large) 22” x 18” (X-giant)
    Count: 10 (small) or 20 (large) or 15 (X-giant)
     

    If you’re looking for a product that combines performance with environmental impact, then the Van Ness Drawstring Cat Pan Liner might be just what you need. There’s 65% recycled plastic in each bag, which means cleanup is easy for both you and the planet.

    But just because Van Ness used recycled plastic, that doesn’t mean you’re getting a skimpy bag. It’s a three-ply bag that’s tear-resistant, so the chance of a bag ripping is slim. Moreover, you still get the classic drawstring technology for easy use, and it’s not a bad price per bag.

    Another huge perk is that it comes in three different size options, so no matter the size of your litter box, there’s likely an option for you! We do wish that there was odor control, but there are other ways to deal with a stinky litter box if that’s a problem at your house.

    Pros
    • Three size options available
    • Three-ply option is tear-resistant
    • Made from 65% recycled plastic
    • Drawstring liner is easy to use
    • affordable per bag price
    Cons
    • No help with odor control

    6. Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Jumbo Litter Box Liner

    Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Jumbo Litter Box Liner new

    Size: 36” x 18”
    Count: 5 or 10
     

    Jonny Cat does a good job making litter box liners. This bag is almost identical to its Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Scented liners, but there is one big difference.

    While the heavy-duty ones are scented, this product has no odor control or scents whatsoever. But if you’re not having an issue with odor control, that’s not a problem, and these unscented bags are far less expensive.

    They’re also extremely tear-resistant, fit most litter boxes, and are easy to use. It’s everything that the heavy-duty Jonny Cat offers, minus the odor control, at a much better price per bag.

    Pros
    • Affordable per bag price
    • Tear-resistant bags
    • Drawstring is easy to use
    • Fits most litter boxes
    Cons
    • Unscented liners
    • Only one size is available
    • Can only purchase in smaller quantities

    7. Alfapet Cat Litter Box Elastic Liners

    Alfapet Cat Litter Box Elastic Liners mew

    Size: 31” x 17”
    Count: 12
     

    If you are looking for a simple and convenient way to dispose of your cat’s litter, these elastic liners from Alfapet may be the solution. The integrated elastic with “Sta-put” technology keeps the liners in place, and can also fit on a variety of sizes and shaped litter boxes. The liners come in various packs to choose from depending on your budget, and if you aren’t happy with the liners, the company offers a 100% money-back guarantee.

    Some customers reported issues with sizing, so make sure to check the measurements of both the liners and the litter box you have at home to make sure they fit.

    Pros
    • Integrated elastic
    • Various sizes available
    • 100% money-back guarantee
    Cons
    • Some sizing issues reported

    8. Van Ness Sifting Cat Pan Liners

    Van Ness Sifting Cat Pan Liners new

    Size: 22” x 18”
    Count: 10 or 20
     

    The Van Ness Sifting Cat Pan Liner is a different style product compared to other liners that Van Ness makes, but the sifting pan liner style isn’t as easy to use, and the company didn’t make these bags thick enough.

    While they don’t have the easy-to-use drawstring technology, that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own perks. The main one is that you should be able to save perfectly good litter by sifting it. The downside is that you’ll need to throw it straight into another bag to save yourself from making a mess with it.

    That potentially makes more work for you and defeats the purpose of using 100% recycled plastic.

    Van Ness did use a tear-resistant three-ply plastic, and you should be able to save a little litter with these bags. But it’s up to you if it’s worth the extra headache.

    Pros
    • 100% recycled plastic
    • Three-ply tear-resistant technology
    • Sifting design enables you to save litter
    Cons
    • No drawstring technology
    • Not as thick as other liners
    • Not as easy to use as other liners

    9. Arm & Hammer Stay Fresh Drawstring Pan Liner

    Arm & Hammer Stay Fresh Drawstring Pan Liner new

    Size: For pans 18.5” x 14.75” x 9.75 OR 21” x 17.25” x 10.5”
    Count: 8 (large) or 12 (jumbo)
     

    You might think that since Arm & Hammer makes litter and is a big-name brand, its litter box liners are worth checking out. The truth is a little more complex. While its litter box liners do a great job at eliminating odors due to its signature baking soda, that’s where the perks stop.

    The complaint with these bags is simple: They’re far too thin and don’t hold up. So, while you might not smell the cat waste, you’ll probably notice it when the bag tears and it falls all over the floor.

    Arm & Hammer makes great products, but its drawstring pan liner product simply isn’t one of them.

    Pros
    • Scented for odor control
    • Two size options available
    • Drawstring for easy disposal
    Cons
    • More expensive per bag
    • Not as thick as other bags

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Litter Box Liner

    For those of us who are tired of dealing with inferior products, we want to get the right litter box liner the first time. That’s why we came up with this comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know.

    Drawstring vs. Sifting Liners

    When you’re looking at litter box liners, there are two prevalent options that you’ll keep coming across: drawstring and sifting liners.

    Drawstring liners are similar to typical trash bags. On each side of the opening, there’s a drawstring that you grab and pull, and this pulls the top together. This makes installation easy because all you need to do is pull the string to get it tight in the litter box!

    Even better, all you need to do to clean things up is grab the drawstrings and lift! This ease of use is the reason that this type of bag is the most popular option out there.

    But it’s not the only one. If you’re looking for a litter box liner that enables you to save a little litter, sifting liners work similarly to traditional litter box scoopers. The bag has small holes throughout, enabling the clean litter to sift through when you lift it.

    Most litter box liners with sifting technology don’t use a drawstring because it would pull the holes, but it is possible. The drawback to sifting liners is that they can make a mess, which defeats the purpose of using a liner to begin with.

    But they can help with clean-up, and they enable you to save a bit of litter. So, if you’re trying to pinch pennies and get your litter to last longer, a sifting liner might be what you want.

    Odor Control

    Whether you need to invest in a litter box liner that has odor control all depends on your setup. If you’re not noticing any odor problems now, chances are that you don’t need to worry about odor control.

    Moreover, some litter boxes have built-in odor control, and you can always use odor-controlling granules to help with the smell. But if you need to buy another product, like granules, spending extra for odor-controlling liners might be the more cost-effective option.

    cat outside of the litter box
    Image By: Jennifer McCallum, Shutterstock

    Bag Thickness and Tearing

    A litter box liner shouldn’t tear from the weight of litter alone. The problem is when you have a cat that likes to dig in the litter box. This is completely normal behavior for cats, but it can tear apart your liners.

    You should put at least 4 inches of litter down to help keep your cat from reaching the liner, but for hardcore diggers, this still might not be enough.

    If that’s the case, you need to invest in litter box liners that are thick and have tear-resistant designs. Some have multiple plastic plies, and others simply have increased thickness. Picking an option with both is best, but this can drive up the overall cost of the liners.

    Get to know your cat or cats, and find out what you need. While the thick liners are nice, if you don’t have cats that dig, you don’t need to spend the extra money.

    How Often Should You Replace Litter Box Liners?

    While you should clean your cat’s litter box at least once every other day, you shouldn’t have to change out all the clay litter that much. A good rule of thumb is to change the entire litter box out every 2­–3 weeks, but if you have more cats, you’ll likely have to do it more often.

    This advice is for clay litter. With more litter options hitting the market now, the frequency of full litter changes will vary depending on what product you’re using and how long it can last.

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    Conclusion

    If you’re still torn on what litter box liner that you should purchase after reading the reviews, why not go with the litter box liners from PET N PET? It’s the top pick for a reason, and if you don’t like it, you can always switch when you run out of bags.

    If you’re on a tighter budget, you can go with the Fresh Step Drawstring Litter Box Liner, and if you’re tired of shopping around, Jonny Cat Heavy Duty Scented liners will certainly get the job done.

    Just order a set of liners, and see what works best for you and your cats!

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    Featured Image Credit: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

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