Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Finding the right litter box can be a challenge, especially if you have a larger cat. While the average housecat weighs around 10 pounds, some breeds can reach 15 to 20 pounds (or more). The Savannah cat, for example, generally weighs 12 to 25 pounds.
A litter box should be at least as long as your cat’s body from his nose to the tip of his tail and at least as wide as the length of his body, minus the tail. As is true with many things, however, a bigger litter box is usually better.
The more space your cat has to dig around, the less likely you are to end up with litter flung outside the box. Plus, if your cat is comfortable in the litter box, he’s more likely to keep using it. Our top pick for the best litter box for large cats is the Petmate Giant Litter Pan for its generous size, affordable price, and thoughtful design.
At a Glance: 7 Best Cat Litter Boxes for Large Cats
In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Petmate Giant Litter Pan
- Generously sized for larger cats
- High back wall helps contain urine spray
- Moderately priced around $20
Frisco High-Sided Litter Box XL
- High 10-inch walls to contain litter and urine
- Durably constructed from BPA-free plastic
- Sturdy and easy to carry and clean
PetFusion BetterBox
- Generously sized with high 8-inch sides
- Non-stick coating with anti-microbial protection
- Durably constructed from rigid APS plastic
iPrimio Non-Stick Plated Stainless Steel XL Litter Pan
- Durable stainless-steel construction
- Non-stick coating makes clean-up a breeze
- High sides help contain litter scatter and urine spray
Kitty Poo Club XL Litter Box
- Folds flat for shipping and recycling
- Plasticized interior helps prevent leaks
- Suitable for larger cats and 2 bags of litter
Kitty Go Here Senior Cat Litter Box
- Low 3-inch entry improves access for older cats
- Large dimensions make it a good choice for older cats
- Rigid plastic construction adds durability
Catit Jumbo Hooded Litter Pan
- Clear entry flap can be removed or flipped out of the way
- Top overlaps with bottom to prevent urine leaks
- Enclosed design helps control scatter, spray, and odor
Why Should You Trust Us?
In order to create this guide, we spent hours researching and testing litter boxes. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Over the last three years, we’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what it takes to make a great litter box.
We’ve researched the types of litter boxes available, read hundreds of customer reviews, and performed real-world tests on over a dozen top boxes. We spent over 40 hours testing these litter boxes’ sturdiness, cat-friendliness, and appropriateness for larger cats.
Based on this extensive research and hands-on testing, we’ve selected the 7 cat litter boxes described below as the best you can buy for large cats.
How We Picked
After research and an initial elimination phase, our test cats, Bagel, Biscuit, and Munchkin tested out all of the litter boxes. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Over the past month, I’ve been testing more than a dozen different litter boxes with my three cats Bagel, Biscuit, and Munchkin. For this particular article I focused primarily on open litter boxes that measured at least 22 inches long.
I looked for litter boxes that offered plenty of space for large cats, most with high sides to help contain litter scatter and urine spray. I also prioritized boxes made from sturdy materials that had features making them easy to scoop and clean.
The Best Litter Boxes for Large Cats: Our Top 7 Picks
What To Look For in a Litter Box for Large Cats
Many popular litter boxes are available in multiple sizes, but just because a size is labeled Large or Jumbo doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good fit for a larger cat. You’ll need to look at the dimensions to compare different litter boxes and take your specific cat’s size into account to make a smart decision.
When making my selections for this list, I considered the following factors:
- Dimensions at least 22 inches wide and 18 inches deep
- Sturdy construction to handle the weight of extra litter
- High sides to contain litter scatter and urine spray
- Open-top design for improved visibility and comfort
Let’s take a closer look at each of these four qualities so you can better understand how we came to our top 7 picks reviewed above.
1. The Dimensions Should Be At Least 22 Inches Wide And 18 Inches Long.
It only makes sense that large cats need a larger litter box, but how big is big enough? It all depends on the size of your cat but, for the purpose of this list, I aimed for dimensions at least 22-by-18 inches. Even a litter box this size might not be big enough for a Maine Coon – a breed that can achieve lengths up to 40 inches – but it’s hard to find commercial options much bigger.
2. It Should Be Sturdily Constructed To Handle The Weight Of Extra Litter.
You shouldn’t need to move the litter box around much except to empty and clean it but that’s when sturdy materials really become important. A bigger litter box means more litter, and you’ll want something that’s constructed well enough to hold up to all that weight.
Look for a litter box made from rigid plastic that won’t bend or bow. Square and rectangular litter boxes tend to be sturdier than ovular litter boxes, simply because the corners help keep the box’s shape. The thickness of the material plays a role in stability and durability as well. If you can bend the litter box when it’s empty, you may not be able to count on it to hold its shape when it’s full.
3. It Should Have High Sides To Contain Litter Scatter And Urine Spray.
The larger the cat, the bigger the potential for mess. Litter scatter can be an issue no matter your cat’s size, however, which is why I always prefer litter boxes that have high sides to keep the mess inside the box as much as possible. One of my cats also tends to spray urine while standing straight up, so high walls help funnel it down into the litter where it clumps easily for scooping.
4. It Should Have An Open-top Design For Improved Visibility And Comfort.
All but one of the litter boxes I included in this list are open litter pans. Generally speaking, open-top litter boxes are more cat friendly than enclosed boxes, but it depends, to some degree, on the individual cat’s preferences.
Cats like to have a constant view of their perceived territory, so being enclosed in a covered litter box makes some cats feel vulnerable. An open litter box enables your cat to see out from all angles. Covered boxes can also concentrate odors, making for unpleasant conditions for your cat if you don’t scoop the litter box often enough.
Still not sold on any of the litter boxes from the list above? Check out some of our other favorite litter boxes on the market in our in-depth guide here:
Also Read: The 11 Best Cat Litter Boxes in 2022 – We Tried Them All
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should a litter box be?
A litter box needs to be large enough that your cat can walk in, turn around, and do his business comfortably – there should also be enough space for him to dig around and bury his waste. Look for a litter box that is at least as long as your cat from the tip of his nose to the tip of his extended tail. The litter box should be as wide as your cat’s body, excluding his tail.
Are covered litter boxes good for large cats?
Covered litter boxes generally work for kittens and smaller cats, but they aren’t always appropriate for large cats. The enclosed design means that your cat can’t poke his head out over the top if he needs a little more room.
Covered litter boxes can make cats feel claustrophobic and the enclosed design limits your cat’s visibility as well. If you’re considering a covered litter box for a large cat, make sure it’s big enough for him to use the box comfortable and look for something that gives him at least a little visibility of his surroundings when he’s in the box.
Does the shape of the litter box matter?
Some cats are perfectly happy to use a smaller litter box if the shape suits their style. Cats who like to dig around to find the perfect spot may appreciate a litter box that is wider than it is long. If your cat likes to look out the front of the box while doing his business, you might be able to get away with a narrower litter box as long as it’s long enough.
I have been looking to replace the old litter box that I accidentallly broke (lost my balance as I was scooping and fell on the litter box). Have been doing searches for “jumbo” or “giant” litter boxes but the ones that come up on the search are neither jumbo or giant. The old one was 30″ x 18″. My cat could move around in it. the one I bought is 25″ x 15″ and has a big curve on one side which makes the inside smaller. My cat is large. The original box was bought on Amazon but is no longer there.
Does anyone understand what jumbo or giant mean?
I understand your struggle. In addition to the options listed here, I know a lot of people like using a mixing tub like this instead.
Thank you for replying. This box looks interesting. I did some measurements. See, I am disabled and not able to do a lot of things, such as lifting heavy things. What I did with the old litter box was work the large trash bag over the end of it, then tip the box the best I could to empty the litter into the bag.
I measured the opening of the trash bag and it was 30″. So maybe this might work.
The one thing I am worried about is the height of 8″. The old one and this one I got is 10:”. Koyani does not squat to pee, never has. So the pee may go over the edge. Maybe I could put pee pads outside the box? The only way I will know is if I try it. If this box does not work I can always give the box to someone who could use irt right?
Maybe you could put the lowered height litter box inside the opening of a higher sided cardboard box? I have a large Blue Russian male cat who is 12 years old and weighs around 23 lbs. I’ve had him since 8 weeks old and he’s never covered his business up, but scratches the sides and walls of the litter box. Most recently noticed he’s urinating over the edge. He also shares the box with two other kitties. I have two litter boxes side by side in a small closet we no longer use.
I, too am searching for a jumbo high sided low entry litter box.