What type of cat litter box is right for your cat? Do those self cleaning cat litter boxes really work?

There are many cat litter box options available in the pet supply stores - which one you choose will depend on your cat's personality and size. Is your cat timid? Messy? Small or large?

We break down the types of litter boxes, and the pros and cons of each!

Regular, retangular pan: Pros - comes in many sizes and are the most inexpensive option. You can start with a kitten size and increase it as your cat grows. Cons - if your cat is a "digger", you may end up with litter on the floor. Sometimes placing an open box on a rubber floor mat is handy - you can just move the box and pour the litter back in the box or into the garbage.
Open pans are good for more cautious or claustrophobic cats - they can keep a lookout for any disturbances. They are also good for kittens.

Covered litter box: These can either come in two pieces, with the top and bottom separate, or as a unit. I recommend the two piece boxes - if your cat decides the cover is not for them, you can still use the pan, and clean up is easier.

One word of caution - some covered litter box kits include a swinging door as an option. I tried installing it on one of our boxes to see what our shyer cats would think. Oops. They quickly discovered that if someone on the outside of the box whacks the door with their paw, it will swing back and into the cat using the box. They thought this was the best "hurry up" signal ever. I took it off after a very short time, much to everyone's disappointment. By all means, if your kit comes with one give it a try, but have another litter option available in case your cats think like ours.

Covered boxes are good for shyer cats who dislike the openness of other cat litter boxes or who don't want anyone looking at them while they are in there. If you have a smaller apartment and the box is visible, you may want to try a covered box for a shy cat. Some males can also use a covered box if they tend to not "squat" enough and overshoot the edge of the box.
Size is more important in a covered litter box than an uncovered one. Your cat will not want to feel squashed or uncomfortable in the box. If they do, they will probably stop using it. Most cats like to dig and find just the right spot to go. The box must be big enough for the cat to walk in and turn around comfortably. The doorway must also be large enough.

Covered boxes come in multiple sizes and all kinds of shapes. If you have not tried a covered box before, start with the right sized plain rectangular one until you know what your cat likes.

There is one that "rolls" from side to side for cleanup - the cat uses it, and the owner rolls the cat litter box to the side to trap the waste in a receptacle. The receptacle is then removable. Good for people who don't like, or can't, scoop out the box. This box needs to be used with clumping litter.

Automatic cat litter box: These boxes are generally the size of a large litter pan and have a sensor to detect movement. About ten minutes after the cat has left the box, a rake sweeps from the back of the box and deposits the waste into a covered receptacle in the front. These are nice because they are almost always clean and the waste can be dumped out without a lot of contact. If you have a multi-cat household, I recommend using the wall plug option - more than one cat using the box really uses up batteries. Also, you will need a second litter box for your cats to use - if the box is cleaning itself and your cat needs to go, they will need another option.

Self cleaning litter boxes will need to be used with clumping litter. The box does make some noise while cleaning, so if you have a nervous cat or a house that echoes this may not be a good choice. The parts snap together and come apart for cleaning.

If you have a shy cat, there are also cat privacy tents available to cover the automatic litter boxes.

These have come down in price the last couple of years, so they are more affordable to try. Still, you may want to check the return policy of the store just in case your cat does not like it.

I have also tried the automatic cat litter box for our cats. They thought it was a type of toy - someone would get in, pee a bit, hop out and wait for the rake to sweep it up. As soon as the other cats heard the "click" of the sensor, they would all come running to watch the action. It looked like they were watching a tennis match! Then someone else would get in, pee a bit... This is why I recommend the wall outlet option. Batteries did not last long for us!

How Many Boxes? The general rule is one for each cat, plus one (so 3 cats would need 4 boxes). If you have less, they will need to be cleaned much more often and there may be territory problems. It's fine to have a mix of styles to accommodate different cats.


Check Out Our Cat Litter Pros And Cons Too!

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