Probably the least enjoyable part of owning a cat is dealing with a litter box. They’re unsightly and smelly, not to mention they can be a real pain to clean. One of the best solutions to your litter box woes is to invest in a hooded or covered litter box.
Whether you want to fully disguise the box or just cover it so there’s a buffer between you and the stink of your cat’s fresh poo, there’s a covered litter box to meet your needs. Here are reviews covering the best hooded litter boxes on the market to help you find the perfect box for your home and lifestyle.
The Tidy Cats Breeze Hooded Cat Litter Box System is one of the best overall covered litter boxes and makes the everyday lives of pet parents much easier. The unique design of this hooded litter box makes the cleaning process much easier and faster, all while eliminating odors. The top, hinged hood is meant to prevent scattering and to keep the mess inside. The first tray is lined with pellets, which are meant to hold the solids and can be replaced once a month.
While the design includes pellet litter for easier separation of the solid and liquid waste, some cats might dislike the feeling of hard pellets beneath their feet. The last layer is lined with pads, which soak in the urine, keeping it as odorless as possible. If you remember to change the pads weekly, this design will serve its purpose—eliminating bad odors from your home.
The Van Ness Enclosed Cat Litter Pan is a perfect product for larger cats, allowing them to fit in nicely without feeling cramped while doing their business. It is made with plastic with a high-polished finish, making it easy to clean up any mess without the material absorbing bad odors. The top hooded lid is easily removable with four latches, so you can easily clean all areas and corners of the pan.
Because the walls are made of thin plastic, they tend to bend when picked up, making moving a bit challenging, especially with litter inside. However, this covered litter box is ideal for reducing litter scattering, and it comes at an affordable price, making it the best hooded litter box for the money.
Pros
The removable pan is easy to clean
Reduces litter scattering
Perfect for larger cats
Affordable
Cons
Heavy to move around with litter inside
The flimsy plastic makes moving difficult
3. Unipaws Cat Litter Box Enclosure with Top Opening – Premium Choice
The Unipaws Cat Litter Box Enclosure with Top Opening is our premium choice. It offers pet parents a brilliant solution for disguising a litter box as a modern and stylish nightstand or bench. Even though it comes at a higher price, this covered litter box enclosure will offer your cat the luxury of a spacious and private space for doing their business. Some customers pointed out that the simplified instructions made assembling this product difficult, though.
The design features three holes on the back and a side opening, allowing for better ventilation. The top also opens up to make the everyday scooping up faster and easier.
Pros
Spacious enclosure
Disguised
Made from durable wood
Holes on the back and side doors allow for better ventilation
The Frisco Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box is a beautiful design for cats that like to make a mess around their litter box because the high walls and a hooded top keep all the spraying and scattering inside. The design is simple, sleek, in a neutral beige color, fitting in seamlessly in any space. While it comes at a higher price, it is made from BPA-free plastic that is entirely recyclable, so all environmentally mindful pet parents can feel at ease.
While some customers complained that the large size doesn’t fit well in smaller spaces, it is spacious enough for large cat breeds not to feel cramped.
Pros
Made with BPA-free, recyclable plastic
Sleek and simple design
The high walls and hood reduce spraying and scattering
The Frisco Mega Deluxe Litter Box is another excellent hooded litter box design. The litter box has a hidden compartment, storing the scoop for easier cleaning after each use. While this 25.9-inch-long litter box might be too large for some people and households, other pet parents will value its size because it’s convenient for large cat breeds.
The door flap might need a bit more reinforcement since it might be challenging to open, but the good thing is it’s slightly shaded for added privacy since our cats adore privacy when doing their business. The lid is reinforced with a charcoal filter to reduce any bad odors as much as possible.
Pros
Includes a charcoal filter in the lid to reduce odor
Features a hidden compartment with a scoop
Suitable for both small and large cat breeds
The door flap is slightly shaded for additional privacy
Cons
The door flap might be a bit flimsy and hard to open
If you’re looking for a box that blends into home décor seamlessly, the Good Pet Stuff Hidden Cat Litter Planter is the perfect pick. This litter box is disguised as a large terracotta-look planter with a realistic faux plant in the top. It’s large enough for large breeds and overweight cats, and the large opening makes cleaning the box easy without removing the lid. The filtered vent system helps reduce dust and smells.
The lid can be difficult to get properly seated on the base, so it may be difficult to put back together when you take the box apart for deep cleaning. Some people have reported their cats attempting to chew on or eat the faux plant and the included moss that helps disguise the plant. Due to the overall design of this box, it takes up more space than a traditional litter box.
Pros
Blends into home décor
Faux plant is realistic
Box is large enough for large breeds
Large opening makes cleaning easy
Filtered vent system reduces dust and smells
Cons
May be difficult to seat the lid on the base
Cats may attempt to chew on or eat faux plant and moss
For a litter box that blends into home décor but takes up less space than a planter, you might like the Kitangle Corner Kitty Cat Litter Box. This box is available in four colors and is designed to fit in corners perfectly. The entrance is 6 inches tall, helping to trap smells and keep litter in the box without making it too difficult for senior and lower-mobility cats to get in and out. The lid is easy to remove for ease of cleaning and it is sturdy enough for your cat to spend time on top.
This box comes at a premium price and the rounded walls along the front of the box may make it difficult to clean. It may become dented or scratched in shipping, which can be very frustrating considering the price of the box.
Pros
Blends into home décor and is available in four colors
Fits perfectly into corners
Made to trap smells and keep litter inside
Low enough entrance for kittens, senior cats, and cats with mobility problems
The Frisco Flip Top Hooded Cat Litter Box features a lid that latches onto the base and a low entrance that’s easy for most cats and kittens to maneuver. It has a translucent door that helps keep litter and smells inside. It includes a disposable charcoal filter that helps keep smells under control. The door flips open for cleaning, giving you easy access.
The lid may not latch onto the base securely and the plastic is thinner than some other options, making the box somewhat flimsy. The door often hangs at an odd, partially open angle, which may let some smells out. Like other boxes with doors, some cats may not use this box.
Pros
Low entrance is easy for most cats and kittens to use
The Omega Paw Roll’N Clean Cat Litter Box has an easy-to-clean design that reduces litter usage. It’s available in regular and large sizes for cats of all sizes. The waste trap is easy to remove and clean, reducing odors.
This litter box will only work properly with clumping or silica litter, and clumping litter that sticks to the box won’t work. To empty the waste into the waste trap, this box requires you to fully roll the box up onto its side manually. Even though this box is available in two sizes, the large size may be too small for many large breeds and overweight cats. It can be difficult to fully latch the lid onto this box, which means litter will spill out the side when the box is tipped for cleaning.
Pros
Easy to clean
Reduces litter usage
Two sizes available
Waste trap is easy to clean
Cons
Must use silica or non-sticky clumping litter
Box must be rolled onto its side to empty waste
Not a good option for people who struggle to lift cat litter
Large size may still be too small for large breed and overweight cats
Can be difficult to latch the lid
Litter may spill during cleaning
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Hooded Litter Box
Start Slowly – Cats can be exceptionally picky when it comes to litter boxes, so you’ll need to start slowly when you begin transitioning your cat over to a new box, especially if your cat is not used to a hooded box. When choosing a box, consider the number of cats the box or boxes will need to function for. Are you adding a box, replacing a box, or replacing all the boxes in your house?
Consider the Size – The size of your cats should also be a big consideration. Large cats may be more apt to go outside the litter box if they don’t feel like they can comfortably do their business in a box that’s too small for them. The same goes for small cats and kittens who may not be able to easily access a litter box that is too large or tall. If your cat is older or has mobility problems, you’ll need to choose a box that allows your cat access without stress or pain.
Type of Litter – Also keep in mind, that you’ll need to choose a box that will work with the type of litter your cat is used to using. If your cat is particularly fond of clumping litter, then you don’t want to choose a box that will only allow you to use crystal litter. Giving your cat a new box with new litter and new smells is a recipe for disaster.
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Final Thoughts
Deciding on the perfect litter box for your precious cat can be challenging. One thing you know for sure is that your cat will surely appreciate having a litter box with a hooded design for more privacy. Pet owners also love a hooded design because it reduces the scattering and spraying.
The Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Box System might be the perfect choice if you want to choose a design that ensures solids and fluids are separated. However, there are more affordable designs, such as the Van Ness Litter Pan, or those that offer premium quality and design, such as the Unipaws Cat Litter Box Enclosure. When choosing a high-quality hooded litter box design, you can look for a disguised design as a modern furniture piece or a part of home decor.
