There are lots of benefits to offering your kitty a covered litter box. Whether it’s privacy you want to provide or odors you want to contain, a covered litter box can solve a lot of bathroom issues for your cat.
Covered cat litter boxes can include the self-cleaning models that automatically remove solids and soiled litter when it is they are created, but these tend to be classified as self-cleaning, so we have not included them in our reviews. Instead, you will find a list of ten 10 of the best covered cat litter boxes including front and top-entry boxes, those designed to eliminate litter tracking, and a variety of different sizes of litter boxes that are considered suitable for different breeds and ages of cat.
Whatever your reason for buying a covered litter box, you can use our reviews to find the one that best fits your litter needs while ensuring that your cat is still comfortable and happy to use the tray.
The Nature’s Miracle Oval Hooded Litter Box is a simple, hooded litter box. It does include built-in odor controllers, but its simple plastic design has snap latches to secure the top, as well as a flip-top front that your cat will find easy to get through, no matter how urgent the need.
The tray is easy to get into to clean and its non-stick surface prevents wet and solid litter from building up and causing an unshiftable rock-hard mess in the tray.
The tray is a good size and will fit most breeds and sizes of cat. However, the latches do not always fit snugly, which means that the lid can end up being loose on the box so it will be knocked off by a spinning cat.
It is very well priced, however, being cheaper than most of the trays on this list, and its activated charcoal filters help reduce the odors that would otherwise escape and fill the room, making it the best overall covered cat litter box on the list.
This is a good choice for those with one or multiple cats, of any size, but if you have a cat that likes to spin and knocks the sides, you may need to find a way to secure the lid better. Or, opt for a different litter box.
The Van Ness Enclosed Cat Litter Pan comes in a range of sizes. The largest of the sizes is still one of the cheapest we reviewed, and when combined with its ease of cleaning and its odor-controlling flip door, it represents the best covered cat litter box for the money. Its dimensions are also more squaresquarer than a lot of other trays, which makes it easier for your cat to spin around and get into the best possible position when in the tray.
The polished finish of the litter tray, which is made with 20% recycled content, is designed to be stain-resistant and to prevent odors from collecting on the surface. It is easy to clean and the box is suitable for homes with one or multiple cats.
The Modkat Flip comes in various sizes and configurations, including this premium extra-large box which can be configured for front- or top-entry. It is expensive, but it is sturdier than most other boxes on the list and it looks better so will be better placed in your home or apartment. The extra-large design is roughly the same dimensions as the Van Ness above and it is suitable for large breeds as well as for multi-cat households, but could still potentially be a little larger.
When set up for top entry, all the litter will stay inside the box even when your cat digs and buries, while the textured top surface will also catch stray pieces of litter on your cat’s paws. The front entry is better suited to those cats that dislike the top entry and cannot get used to that configuration, however.
The package includes a scoop and liners. The liners firmly attach inside the box and make it even easier to empty and clean the litter. The Modkat is the premium option on this list costing more than any other litter box we have reviewed.
The IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box is slightly smaller than the other boxes on this list but still suitable for all but the largest cats and the most active litter tray users. It has an attractive rounded design, while the top of the tray has a textured surface that will help to get rid of even the most stubborn pieces of litter from your cat’s paws. Available in white, black, gray, or beige, the IRIS litter box includes a scoop that is hung on a hook on the inside of the litter box and it has built-in rubber feet that work to prevent the box from skidding when your cat hops in and out of the tray.
The IRIS is a good quality cat box although they are not as large as others and the rounded edges somehow make the whole thing seem smaller. Also, if your cat gets too vigorous or is too active on the lid, it will eventually give way under the weight.
The Nature’s Miracle Hooded Corner Litter Tray has a triangular design that enables you to slot the tray into the corner of the room up against two walls. This means that it sits neatly in a corner, causing less of an eyesore, but it also means that the tray takes up less space than other designs.
The corner unit is made with an antimicrobial coating that acts like a non-stick surface to prevent urine and feces from gathering on the surface and making cleanup faster and easier. There is a replaceable charcoal filter that eliminates smells and prevents them from getting out and into the surrounding room. The manufacturer claims that the filter will work for three months before it has to be replaced.
The corner design, unfortunately, means that most litter pads and liners are not compatible with the shape, however, and even with the walls, cats that urinate high will cause pee to seep out of the seams.
The Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box has a circular design, with steps at the side of the litter tray that will clean your cat’s feet before he climbs out. If you have a cat that scratches and buries excessively before treating cat litter pebbles out around the surrounding area, this unique combination of design features could help eliminate the problem. Furthermore, it has an activated charcoal filter to help prevent smells inside the litter tray.
Fastidious cats do not like covered litter trays that smell of urine and feces and may choose not to use a tray that smells bad. The fully replaceable filters help alleviate this problem. The tray is large and reasonably priced but the top does not fix to the base, so it’s easy to knock off. This is especially problematic if you have a dog that likes to check the contents.
The Petmate Basic Hooded Cat Litter Pan is a basic litter tray but with a hooded top and a flip door. Designed to provide cats with privacy while they do their business, this tray comes as large or jumbo. The jumbo size is comparable to other trays in this list, but for a basic model, it is expensive.
The tray comes in a choice of steel, ink, or blue color. While the walls are high, the entry is lowered to allow entry for all cats, regardless of their age and mobility. The door is flimsy and prone to breaking, while the top does not fit securely to the base, so it too is prone to coming apart.
The Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter is a large litter box, and although it is not quite a square, its shape means that even the largest cat can turn and circle as much as necessary. The hooded lid is easily removed to allow access for cleaning.
It has a carbon filter to help keep the inside of the litter box smelling fresh and allowing your cat, or cats, to relieve themselves because this is suitable for a multi-cat household, to toilet in comfort and without unwanted smells.
It is reasonably priced for its size., While but not only is the litter tray is large, but it also looks cumbersome and utilitarian. The door tends to stick so while cats can get in, they find it a little more difficult to get out. The handle is not as strong as it should be for a box of this size, and the lid can be difficult to remove. If you desperately need the extra inch that this offers some of the other jumbo models, it could be the only viable option, otherwise, there are better quality and more durable alternatives.
The plastic Frisco Top Entry litter tray is a long and rectangular design with a top opening and a textured lid that works to remove some of the dirt from your cat’s paws before they walk around the area and tread it all in. The top entry also increases privacy and it means that no matter how high up the wall your cat pees, it won’t seep out of the box. The lid can help prevent dogs from getting in and grabbing the tray content, while the internal size should be big enough for most cats to circle and dig.
While this tray is reasonably priced, it is quite small, which prevents it from being used by the larger breeds. Also, agile cats that enjoy jumping can and do completely avoid the textured lid surface. And the lid doesn’t always fit well, which can lead to a litter tray and cat avalanche.
Top-entry trays like the Clevercat Top Entry tray are ideal for cats that like to dig and kick litter around, as well as households that have litter dipping dogs. The design of the Clevercat tray ensures that your cat cannot kick the contents out over the side of the tray, while the textured top surface of the tray helps further prevent your cat from causing a litter-based mess. However, this model is small, expensive for its size, and unless you have a very small cat and like the design, this is unlikely to be the best choice for you.
Pros
Top-entry tray
Textured surface to prevent litter spreading
Cons
Very small
Expensive for the size
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Covered Cat Litter Box
Getting the right covered litter box means finding one that fits your home and your own requirements, as well as your being suitable for your cat. Large cats need more space than small cats, but you should also consider whether your cat circles and kicks up a lot of litter, whether he sprays against the sides of the box, and whether he prefers to pee in the open or a secure and confined space. Below are some of the most important factors to think about when shopping for a covered litter box.
Top Entry – A top entry system does offer several benefits. It prevents litter from being kicked out and because there is no need for a seam in the tray design, it means that the tray should not leak liquids even if your cat stands and sprays down the side of the tub. If you have a multi-pet household, a top-entry litter tray can also prevent the dog from getting in and rooting around in the litter. However, not all cats are comfortable using a top-entry litter tray and yours may simply refuse to learn.
Front Entry – The front-entry litter tray is the more traditional style and design. It has a door at the front, which usually swings inward and outward on its hinges but some have an open front to allow for easy access. The top of these litter trays can usually be removed for easier cleaning.
Tray Shape
Most litter trays are rectangular. This is a convenient shape that can fit against walls and in corners, while still allowing freedom of movement within the tray itself when in use. However, circular or rounded trays are easier to clean, because there are no corners for litter and soiled litter to reside. So-called corner litter trays are triangular, although this shape does not offer much space benefit over the square or rectangular option. Rectangular will usually be the preferred option.
You will notice that a lot of covered litter trays include filters. These are usually made from activated charcoal, which neutralizes odors and prevents the inside of the litter tray from smelling. If a cat does not like the smell of the inside of the tray, it may choose to go elsewhere. Ensure that the filter is replaceable and that the filters are easy to get hold of.
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Conclusion
If you have owned litter trays in the past, you will have a good idea of the required size and shape that best suits you, your space, and your cat’s requirements. Ensure that the tray is big enough, that your cat is comfortable using the style you choose, and that it is easily cleaned, to ensure that you get the best tray for your needs.
While compiling reviews, we found the Nature’s Miracle Oval Hooded Litter Box to be the best overall thanks to offering a decent amount of room for a reasonable price. The Van Ness Enclosed Cat Litter Pan is even cheaper and also offers a good amount of space and comfort for your kitty.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
