10 Best Litter Boxes for Messy Cats – 2023 Reviews & Top Picks

If you have a cat that makes a big mess when using the litter box, we feel your pain. It’s not fun having to clean cat litter and even poo and pee off the floor because your cat is one messy feline when doing his business. Thankfully, there are some litter boxes on the market today that are perfect for messy cats and we’ve got them right here for you. Without further ado, here are our top litter box reviews so you can narrow down the choices and get yourself one that’s just right for your messy cat.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023

The 10 Best Litter Boxes for Messy Cats

1. Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box with Scoop  – Best Overall

Hands down, this is the best overall litter box for messy cats as it has all the features needed to keep the litter, cat urine, and feces inside the box where it belongs. Like the name suggests, the Iris Top Entry litter box features a large top entryway for the included deep cat litter pan.  This litter box is sleek and attractive and looks more like a home decor item than a litter box, which is something many cat owners will appreciate.

The Iris Top Entry has non-skid rubber feet, so it stays put when your cat enters and exits the box. The large round shape of this box fits all cat sizes, and the included litter scoop can be conveniently hooked anywhere around the lid.

The lid of this litter box is grooved that helps remove litter particles from your cat’s paws, so he won’t track litter around. There’s plenty of room inside this sturdy plastic litter box for your cat to move around.

One thing we don’t like about this litter box is that it’s somewhat heavy at 4.6 pounds and bulky. Plus, it’s not the cheapest product in our litter box reviews. However, we really like this stylish product that has smart features that do away with all that mess associated with untidy cats.

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2. Iris USA Hooded Corner Litter Box & Scoop – Best Value

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 litter and waste contained as well as foul smells. The handle on the lid buckles down securely for fast and easy cleaning and safe transport. The included scoop can be hidden away within the lid which is a nice perk.

This rather plainly designed litter box features a flip lid that provides your cat with easy access. The interior of this affordable litter box is nice and roomy, so your cat won’t feel cramped when relieving himself.

We love the fact that this litter box is designed to fit in a corner so it’s out of the way. It’s made of thick and durable plastic and 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.

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3. Petmate Booda Dome Cat Litter Box – Premium Choice

 

Your cat will feel like royalty with the Petmate Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box. This is an eye-catching litter box with a non-conventional style. This box offers 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. In fact, it weighs a hefty 22.05 pounds. But it’s as sturdy as it could be and made of thick plastic so it should last virtually forever.

A drawback to this litter box is that it demands attention which isn’t always a positive thing when it comes to litter boxes.  Another thing that’s not great is that the lid simply sits on top of the box and doesn’t snap down. If you happen to 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 awesome!

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4. Frisco High Sided XL Cat Litter Box – Best for Kittens

If you need a litter box for a messy kitten, the Frisco High Sided Cat Litter Box is a good choice. This box does a great job at keeping litter and cat waste inside the box where it belongs. The front wall features a step-in design that makes it easy for small kittens to enter and exit.

This litter box is made of thick and sturdy plastic. While the exact weight isn’t known, it’s obviously much lighter than several of the other litter boxes in our reviews based on its simple design.

This extra-large litter box offers plenty of room for young cats to move about freely. If your kitty tends to kick litter around when he’s trying to bury his waste, the box’s high sides will surely keep the mess inside! Eco-minded kitten owners will appreciate that this 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 and it’s designed with kittens in mind, which is a plus! We would have liked this litter box more if it came with a lid to give kittens more privacy and to contain foul odors.

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5. Omega Paw Roll’N Clean Cat Litter Box

The Omega Paw Roll’N Clean is a “self-cleaning” litter box featuring a specially designed inner grill that scoops out the clumped waste and deposits it into the included pull-out tray. This design allows you to dispose of your cat’s waste in just seconds and without any scooping, which is nice.

This thick plastic 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 that the lid latches tightly to the box. However, the lid is lacking a handle which can make moving the box a hassle.  It’s also one of the costliest litter boxes for messy cats in our reviews, which is a bit puzzling considering it’s a bit on the small side.

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6. Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Pan

You can give your messy cat some privacy and keep the stink 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. This litter box has a removable clear door and a carbon filter that removes odors. Although the manufacturer doesn’t mention the weight, we’d guess this litter box weighs at least 5 pounds. The heaviness and bulkiness of this box may be a big turn-off to some cat owners and especially those living in small apartments.

We like that this litter box has a latching lid and a removable door. What we don’t like is that the design of this litter box makes it awkward to clean and change the litter. As far as price goes, it’s one of the most expensive products in our reviews which means it’s not ideal for the cat owner on a budget.

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7. Arm & Hammer Rimmed Wave Pan Large

The Arm & Hammer Rimmed Wave Litter Box features a high rim that helps hold litter liners in place while reducing litter scatter. This low-profile plastic box has a low front entry for easy access. This litter box is made of plastic that’s been treated with the antimicrobial product called Microban that’s designed for germ and odor control. At just 1.6 pounds, this litter box is easy to move about although the plastic material it’s made of is somewhat flimsy.

This affordable litter box is portable but it’s not very big. If your cat is large or you have two cats, this litter box isn’t a good choice for you. But if you have a kitten or a smaller cat, this box should suffice. If you don’t want to spend more than $15 for a litter box with high sides, the Rimmed Wave should suffice if you don’t have a large cat or more than one because the box just isn’t very roomy.

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8. Nature’s Miracle High Sided Corner Cat Litter Box

We’ve included this litter box by Nature’s Miracle in our reviews because we like that it’s designed to fit in a corner. This style of litter box is ideal for apartments. This litter box features a non-stick surface that eliminates caking and buildup while making cleaning fast and easy.

The surfaces of this litter box are coated with an antimicrobial material to prevent bacteria growth and to reduce odors.  While the size of this litter box is good and it can be placed out of the way in a corner, it does have some drawbacks. There are manufacturer stickers on the inside and outside of this box that are nearly impossible to remove without scratching or damaging the surface. If you do manage to get them off, they leave a very sticky residue behind. There’s also a ridge on the inside of the box where clumped litter collects, making cleaning difficult.

We think this litter box is overpriced considering its simple design. However, it has nice high sides to keep litter and cat waste inside the box where it belongs.

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9. Pet Mate Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan

This Arm & Hammer sifting litter box is made of durable plastic that’s been treated with Microban for built-in antimicrobial protection. This box features a three-pan system consisting of two regular pans and one sifting pan to make cleaning the box easy and without any scooping. We find the multiple pan system to be a bit of a hassle and not all that convenient to use. Plus, having multiple pans means there are more parts to scrub clean when doing regular litter box maintenance.

This is a robust and durable litter box that has sides 8-inches tall 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. We think this litter box is well-suited for two kittens or just a single adult cat because it’s small. But it’s affordable and extremely durable even though it is a hassle to clean the box itself.

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10. Tidy Cats Breeze Hooded Cat Litter Box System

The Tidy Cats Breeze Hooded Cat Litter Box System is costly, but it has some nice features. This covered litter box features a hinged design giving 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 some privacy while helping to keep 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.

This box is designed for use with pellets and not litter, which could be a problem if your cat refuses to do his business in pellets. However, this litter box looks nice and it’s well-designed and durable. If you’re sure your cat will use pellets and you don’t mind having a big and heavy litter box, go for it!

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Litter Boxes 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 important 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 easily step inside.

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 that 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!

Conclusion

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!

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Featured Image Credit: IRIS USA, Amazon