Finding and choosing the right litter box for your cat is an important decision—not just for the cat—but for you and your house as well.  There are several factors to consider when deciding to replace an existing box, add a new one, or simply buying your first litter box for your new cat.  The first thing to consider in the pursuit of the perfect litter box is the size of the box in relation to your cat.  The second, what style of litter box are you interested in?  There are a number of different colors to choose from as well.  Does the litter box need to match your décor?  In most cases, the single biggest factor in choosing the perfect litter box is price.  The cheapest box will set you back a few dollars, while an automatic, self-cleaning box or even a self-flushing litter box will cost several hundred dollars. 

 

Size

 

Your cat‘s size is an important factor to consider when you are choosing a litter box.  It is important to give the cat enough room to comfortably move around in the box.  Cats and their personalities are as wide and varied as that of humans, so what might be perfect for a medium-sized cat will be far too small for a large, or big-boned breed, like a Maine Coon.

 

If you are bringing home a kitten, remember to buy one large enough for the kitten to use as he grows.   If your household is a multi-cat household, the guideline is one litter box per cat, plus one additional box.  This means if you have two cats, you need three litter boxes. 

 

In order to choose the perfect size for the cat, you also need to consider the amount of space and location for the litter box at home.  You can choose from hooded, round or square litter boxes, or even a rounded dome-shaped box with a ramp of stairs into the box.  There are also many different kinds of open boxes—small to large rectangular, high-sided boxes and extra large for a multi-cat household. 

 

The hooded litter box or a litter box with high sides keeps litter inside the box where it belongs, instead of on the carpet or floor.  The hooded-type also does well at covering up odor, especially with a charcoal air filter in the top.  In addition to these benefits, if you also have children or dogs in the house, sometimes a box with a hood is a great deterrent for everyone else in the home. 

 

A litter box with a hood is convenient and does a good job at eliminating odor; a traditional open litter box can also keep odors to a minimum, when properly cleaned.  Some of the largest open litter boxes, such as the Giant Litter Pan by Petmate, which also features a convenient storage unit on the side for the litter scoop. 

 

In addition to the size of the litter box in relation to the size of the cat, ease of access is also an important consideration.  If you have a kitten or a senior cat, it is going to be more difficult for them to step up or over into a litter box with high sides.  Many of your litter box choices will feature lower entry openings to accommodate all cats. 

 

The most important thing to remember about litter box size, choose a box with plenty of space for the cat. 

 

Style

 

Style is also a consideration when it is time to choose a litter box.  The colors range from gray and black to light tan, some are even pink!  There is an incredible variety from round with stairs to open with storage space. 

 

Booda offers the round litter box that includes the rounded staircase entrance to the litter box.  While this may work for some cats and their owners, this type of box is large and requires a decent amount of floor space, definitely not for a small living space. 

 

A nice, private-type litter box is the Clever Cat, which offers an opening in the top for the cat to climb into and out of the box.  All sides are enclosed and the excess litter from paws is left on the top of the litter box.  This particular type of litter box is great for those shy cats that need or want a bit more privacy.

 

In addition to considering the style of the litter box itself, there are also many choices of enclosures or furniture to disguise the litter box in your home.  There are covers made similar to a cat condo made with wood and carpeting; there are also covers made from stained wicker.  Enclosures also provide privacy, along with an additional layer of odor blocking. 

 

Price

 

Price is the largest factor to consider when choosing a litter box.  How much do you want to spend?  How involved do you want to be in daily cleaning of the box?  These are important questions to determine if it is worth the investment to have a self-cleaning litter box.

 

In recent years, a few products have come on the market offering self-cleaning litter boxes.  For most types of self-cleaning boxes, the dirty clumps are deposited into a bin that is then cleaned out daily by you.  With a self-flushing litter box, the box is connected to a water source and at a designated interval after use; it will send water and cleaning solution through the litter granules. 

 

The self-cleaning litter boxes made by Cat Genie and Litter Robot are the two most expensive choices in litter boxes.  The Cat Genie washes the litter granules; the Litter Robot rotates to deposit clumps in a bin, similar to that of the Littermaid. 

 

There are a few inexpensive choices, such as the Giant Litter Pan by Petmate and the high-sided Rubbermaid litter box.  Both of these are open boxes, but they are easy to clean and maintain, even with many cats. 

 

Whether you choose to spend $10 or you choose to spend $350, your cat will be happy with any litter box, provided it comes with a human to clean it daily. 

 

Summary

 

Many factors contribute to your decision about what type of litter box is best for your cat.  Size is the most important factor to the cat, while style is an important factor for the family and household.  The biggest factor is the price and amount of money budgeted for the litter box. 

Ultimately, consider not only how interesting you find a litter box, but consider also that cats are individuals as well and they have different preferences, like their human counterparts.  If you choose a certain litter box and for some reason it does not work out with your cat, you can try and return it to the store of purchase, but if that fails, the box can be sanitized and donated to a local Humane Society or rescue group.