10 Best Litter Boxes for Messy Cats – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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We feel your pain if you have a cat that makes a big mess when using the litter box. It’s not fun having to clean used cat litter off the floor the box cannot contain it. Thankfully, there are some litter boxes on the market that are perfect for messy cats, and we have them right here for you.
Without further ado, here are our top litter box reviews so you can narrow down the choices and get one that’s just right for your messy cat.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Iris Cat Litter Box & Scoop |
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Check Price |
Best Value
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Iris USA Hooded Corner Litter Box |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice
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Petmate Dome Cat Litter Box |
|
Check Price |
| Best for Kittens |
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Frisco High Sided XL Cat Litter Box |
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Check Price |
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Omega Paw Cat Litter Box |
|
Check Price |
The 10 Best Litter Boxes for Messy Cats
1. Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box with Scoop – Best Overall
| Dimensions | 75” W x 16.13” D x 14.63” H |
| Style | Top entry with grooved lid |
| Weight | 4.6 pounds |
Hands down, this is the best overall litter box for messy cats since it has all the features needed to keep the litter, cat urine, and feces inside the box where it belongs. As the name suggests, the Iris Top Entry litter box features a large top entryway for the deep cat litter pan. It’s sleek, attractive, and looks more like a storage container than a litter box.
The Iris Top Entry has non-skid rubber feet that stay put when your cat enters and exits the box. The large round shape fits all cat sizes, and the litter scoop can be conveniently hooked anywhere around the lid.
The lid of this litter box is grooved, which helps remove litter particles from your cat’s paws. There’s plenty of room inside this sturdy plastic litter box for your cat to move around. One aspect we don’t like about this litter box is that it’s bulky and heavy, at 4.6 pounds. However, we really like the Iris for its unique design, which eliminates the mess associated with untidy cats.
- Included deep litter pan
- Contains litter and cat waste very well
- Stylish
- Grooved lid to prevent litter tracking
- A bit heavy
- Pricey compared to other brands
- Bulky and not ideal for small spaces
2. Iris USA Hooded Corner Litter Box & Scoop – Best Value
| Dimensions | 21” W x 18” D x 17” H |
| Style | Flap entry with and handled lid |
| Weight | 3.55 pounds |
Coming in second on our list is another Iris USA product. The Large Hooded Corner Litter Box with Scoop is the best litter box for messy cats for the money. This jumbo litter box has more than enough room for your cat to move around. The box’s flap entry door provides easy access and keeps the litter contained.
The handle on the lid buckles down securely for fast and easy cleaning and safe transport. The scoop can be hidden away in the lid, which is a nice perk. This rather plainly designed litter box features a flip lid that provides easy access for your cat. The interior is nice and roomy, so your cat won’t feel cramped.
We love that this litter box is designed to fit in a corner, so it’s out of the way. The thick, durable plastic weighs just over 3.5 pounds. If you’re looking for a litter box that tucks nicely away in a corner and doesn’t break the bank, you’ll surely be pleased with this product from Iris USA.
- Fits in corners
- Large and roomy
- Does great at containing litter, cat waste, and odor
- Plain design
3. Petmate Booda Dome Cat Litter Box – Premium Choice
| Dimensions | 22” W x 22.5” D x 19” H |
| Style | Domed |
| Weight | 22.05 pounds |
Your cat will feel like royalty with the Petmate Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box. It’s an eye-catching litter box with a non-conventional style. It provides easy access with steps that collect the bits of litter from your cat’s paws and a hooded top for privacy. The domed top is designed to keep cat litter and spray inside the box and off the floor.
This surprisingly affordable litter box isn’t lightweight by any stretch of the imagination. It weighs a hefty 22.05 pounds. But it’s as sturdy as possible and made of thick plastic, so it should last forever.
However, the lid sits on the box and doesn’t snap down. If you have a dog that likes getting into the litter box, this could be a problem. Otherwise, the Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box is an excellent choice for any messy cat, and it looks incredible!
- Does an excellent job at keeping litter and waste inside
- Stairs catch litter from paws
- Good privacy for cats
- Heavy
- The lid doesn’t snap onto the top
4. Frisco High Sided XL Cat Litter Box – Best for Kittens
| Dimensions | 24” W x 18” D x 10” H |
| Style | High-sided pan |
| Weight | N/A |
If you need a litter box for a messy kitten, the Frisco High Sided Cat Litter Box is a good choice. It does a great job keeping litter and cat waste inside the box where they belong. The front wall features a step-in design that makes it easy for small kittens to enter and exit, and the litter box is made of thick and sturdy plastic.
While the exact weight isn’t known, based on its simple design, it’s much lighter than several of the other litter boxes in our reviews. This extra-large litter box offers plenty of room for young cats to move freely. If your kitty tends to kick litter around, the box’s high sides will keep the mess inside! Eco-minded kitten owners will appreciate that the litter box is BPA-free and recyclable.
The Frisco High-Sided Cat Litter Box isn’t the most stylish product on our list of reviews, but it gets the job done. It’s also designed with kittens in mind, which is a plus! We would have liked this litter box more if it had a lid to give kittens more privacy and contain foul odors.
- Easy step entry
- High sides keep litter and waste contained
- BPA-free and recyclable
- Not very stylish
- No lid for privacy and odor control
5. Omega Paw Roll’N Clean Cat Litter Box
| Dimensions | 23” W x 20” D x 19” H |
| Style | Sifting, covered |
| Weight | N/A |
The Omega Paw Roll’N Clean is a “self-cleaning” litter box featuring a specially designed inner grill that scoops the clumped waste and deposits it into the pull-out tray. It allows you to dispose of your cat’s waste in seconds without scooping, which is nice. The Omega Paw litter box looks nice and stylish, and it won’t take up too much space, whether you put it in the center of a room or a corner.
It’s not the roomiest litter box, which means litter, cat urine, and feces may end up on the sides of the box or even the floor outside the step-in entrance. We like that the box has a lid for privacy and odor control and latches tightly to the box. However, the lid lacks a handle, which can make moving the box a hassle.
It’s also one of the costliest litter boxes, which is a bit puzzling considering it’s size.
- Self-cleaning with no scooping
- Stylish design
- Sturdy
- The lid latches tightly to the box
- Lid lacks handle
- Not cheap
- Cramped interior
6. Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Pan
| Dimensions | 4” W x 17” D x 18.3” H |
| Style | Covered |
| Weight | N/A |
You can give your messy cat privacy and keep the odor inside with the Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Pan. This is a large litter box with a hooded lid for easy cleaning and a built-in bag anchor that keeps the litter in place. It has a removable clear door and a carbon filter that removes odors. Although the manufacturer doesn’t mention the weight, it’s at least 5 pounds.
The heaviness and bulkiness of this box may be a big turn-off for some cat owners, especially those living in small apartments. We like the fact that it has a latching lid and a removable door. What we don’t like is that the design makes it awkward to clean and change the litter. As far as the price goes, it’s one of the most expensive products.
- Carbon filter removes odors
- Latching lid
- Removable door
- Big and bulky
- Awkward design
7. Arm & Hammer Rimmed Wave Pan Large
| Dimensions | 7” W x 15.5” D x 10.6” H |
| Style | Hooded Rimmed Pan |
| Weight | 1.6 pounds |
The Arm & Hammer Rimmed Wave Litter Box features a high rim that holds litter liners in place while reducing litter scatter. This low-profile plastic box has a low front entry for easy access. It is made of plastic treated with Microban, an antimicrobial product designed for germ and odor control. At just 1.6 pounds, the Arm & Hammer box is easy to move around, but the plastic is somewhat flimsy.
This affordable litter box is portable but not very big. If your cat is large or you have two cats, it isn’t a suitable choice. But this box should suffice if you have a kitten or a smaller cat.
- High sides to reduce mess
- Low front for easy entry
- Lightweight and portable
- Low price
- Flimsy construction
- Small
8. SmartCat Corner Litter Box
| Dimensions | 24” L x 17” W x 8.25” H |
| Style | Corner pan |
| Weight | 2.45 pounds |
Depending on the layout of your “litter box room,” you may need a corner litter box instead of a standard model. The SmartCat Corner Litter box has high sides to keep the litter contained and a low entryway to make it easier for small kitties and kittens to enter.
It has a fill line on the interior that shows you how much litter to use, and it’s pretty affordable compared to other corner boxes. Owners of small cats were happy with the SmartCat litter box, but it’s not large enough for most adult cats. Some users also mentioned that the used litter clings to the side of the box and is difficult to clean.
- Fits snugly in a corner
- High sides keep litter contained
- Fill line for litter
- Affordable
- Too small for some cats
- Litter sticks to sides
9. Pet Mate Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan
| Dimensions | 19” W x 15” D x 8” H |
| Style | Sifting |
| Weight | N/A |
This Arm & Hammer sifting litter box is made of durable plastic treated with Microban for built-in antimicrobial protection. It has a three-pan system consisting of two regular pans and one sifting pan to simplify cleaning the box without scooping. The multiple pan system is a hassle to use and not very convenient. Plus, having multiple pans means there are more parts to scrub clean.
The Arm & Hammer box has 8-inch sides to keep most of the mess inside. If you’re not into scooping poop and only have one cat, this litter box could be right for you. It’s affordable and durable, even though it is a hassle to clean the box.
- No scooping required
- Built-in antimicrobial protection
- Keeps mess inside with tall sides
- Durable
- Small
- Hassle to clean
10. Tidy Cats Breeze Hooded Cat Litter Box System
| Dimensions | 5” W x 20.5” D x 16.75” H |
| Style | Covered |
| Weight | 12.25 pounds |
The Tidy Cats Breeze Hooded Cat Litter Box System is costly but has some nice features. Its hinged design gives you easy access to the slide-out drawer to remove litter pan liners. The hood over the top of the box gives your feline friend privacy while keeping offensive odors inside. This is a heavy and bulky litter box that weighs over 12 pounds. There’s no handle on the box, which is odd considering the price.
The Tidy Cats box is designed to be used with pellets, which could be a problem if your cat prefers clay litter. However, it’s well-designed and durable.
- Hinged design for easy access
- The top hood offers privacy and traps odors
- Nice design
- No handle
- Heavy and bulky
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Litter Box for Messy Cats
When looking for a litter box for a messy cat, you have to consider several factors. Of course, your budget should be one consideration, as should how much space you have. Many of the best litter boxes for cats are large and can take up quite a bit of room. It’s essential to choose a litter box that’s the right size.
For example, if you have a large cat or multiple cats, you’ll need a large litter box, but if you have a small cat or a kitten, you can get a smaller box if it has a low point of entry for your kitty to step inside easily. A good litter box for messy cats has high sides and a lid for privacy and odor control.
Today’s litter boxes are much more advanced than their older counterparts, which were nothing more than a tray with low sides. Take your time and consider your budget, space, features you’d like, and your cat’s size and litter box habits. With a little consideration, you should be able to find the perfect litter box for your messy feline that you both like!
Final Thoughts
We recommend the Iris USA Top Entry and the Iris USA Large Hooded Corner litter boxes because we feel these are the best litter boxes for messy cats on the market today. They both provide good value for the money and have the right features needed to keep litter and cat waste inside the box where it belongs. These two litter boxes are also stylish and easy to use and keep clean. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our litter box reviews and wish you luck in picking the right product for you and your beloved feline!
See also:
- 9 Best Litter Boxes for Maine Coons – Reviews & Top Picks
- 8 Best Dog-Proof Cat Litter Boxes – Reviews & Buyers Guide
Featured Image Credit: IRIS USA, Amazon
