Types of Cat Litter Boxes

Cat litter boxes are commonly made of plastic and filled with absorbent cat litter. Ideally, there should be one litter box per cat in a household, placed in various locations throughout the house. There are different types of litter boxes available, such as plastic pans, covered boxes, Lift n' Sift boxes, self-cleaning litter boxes and Cat Genies. The type of box required may depend on the cat's litter box behavior.

  1. Open Plastic Pans

    • Open plastic litter boxes or pans are most common. They are widely available at department, grocery and pet stores. Plastic is the material of choice since it is not absorbent. While they are inexpensive, there are some drawbacks to this type of litter box. They are often too small and shallow for many cats, as some will spread cat litter everywhere while covering their waste. Cats tend to dig to the bottom of the litter box in shallow pans, so urine will stick to the box. Generally, cat owners will spend much time cleaning the litter box and its surrounding area.

    Covered Boxes

    • Covered cat litter boxes consist of a plastic tray bottom and a plastic hood that has a replaceable charcoal filter to reduce odor. While they must be cleaned regularly to avoid odor build-up, these boxes may be a good alternative for shy cats. They look better in the home and create less mess, especially for cats who spread cat litter easily. These boxes are suitable for one or two cats, though some may feel trapped or confined as the interior may feel too small. Decorative covers that suit a home's decor and covered boxes disguised as furniture are available for purchase.

    Self-Cleaning Boxes

    • Self-cleaning litter boxes are activated by cats weighing more than 5 pounds. A rotating, shifting globe sifts waste from the litter and disposes it into a drawer. Five to 15 minutes after the cat has left the litter box, a timer sensor rotates the globe. The drawer uses regular kitchen garbage bags and should be emptied once a week. These litter boxes can be used with many types of cat litter. While there is less work for cat owners, the boxes are very expensive and large, overweight cats may not do well with them.

    Lift n' Sift Boxes

    • Lift n' Sift litter boxes are similar to open plastic pans, but they have a middle grate that allows owners to lift out litter clumps without having to scoop, as the remaining cat litter falls back into the box. Often, these boxes are too small and shallow for cats and should be washed frequently, as litter tends to get stuck in the grate. Some cats also do not like the feel of the metal grate.

    Cat Genie

    • The Cat Genie is a self-flushing and self-sanitizing cat-sized toilet that hooks up to a cold water line and drains into a toilet bowl. Liquid waste is flushed away after draining through permanent granules, while solid waste is scooped, liquefied and flushed away. Granules are washed using a cleaning solution, rinsed and dried. These cat litter appliances retail between $270 and $360 on CatGenie.com. One benefit to Cat Genies, aside from less work for cat owners, is that there is no breathing in of litter dust or handling of cat waste.