To help you cater for the changing needs of your elderly cat, in this guide we're reviewing and comparing some of the best senior litter box options on the market for pet parents.
After all, as cats get a little older, their cat litter box needs can change. Some won’t be able to continue using the trays and boxes that they have become used to and loved when they were younger.
Senior cats can suffer from mobility issues that mean they’re less able to jump into top-entry litter boxes or exit a litter box with higher sides.
They can also do their business over the sides of a standard litter tray and also kick their waste litter out of the box. Choosing a litter box that makes life a little easier and more comfortable for your aging kitty is a great way to improve their quality of life.
Using our own experience caring for older kitties and from our one million strong cat owner community, we’ve hunted down some of the most appealing litter boxes, specially designed to address the needs of senior cats for cat owners.
Read on to check out all of our top picks, along with some useful tips on how you can support your older cat.
The Lucky Champ Litter Pan is an ideal choice for senior and elderly cats due to its low entry, large size, high sides, and non-stick surface.
The low entry allows for easy access and reduces strain on their joints, while the large size provides ample space to move around comfortably. The high sides prevent litter and waste from spilling over, and the non-stick surface makes cleaning a breeze.
Overall, the Lucky Champ Litter Pan offers a comfortable and accessible litter box option for senior and elderly cats, improving their quality of life.
3 Top Senior Cat Litter Box Picks– Best, Value & Premium
The good news for pet parents with older kitties, is there are plenty of great options out there if you’re looking for a comfortable and accessible litter box.
We’ve selected the following three options based on their value for those in search of a litter box that is all round excellent option, quality of manufacture, and also is a budget-friendly litter box.
Let’s dive in.
So that’s a quick chart showing our three best picks for for your senior cat. Now let’s take a deeper look at the best and more.
To start with, let’s look at the top 3 in a little more detail.
1. Lucky Champ Litter Pan - Best Overall
One of our kitties Molly, aged 17, has diabetes, and her hind limbs are struggling due to arthritis. The super-low entrance is perfect for cats with lesser mobility and is incredibly easy to maintain.
Molly easily uses this litter box with no problems. Also, this litter box is ideal for a cat with disabilities.
Simple and effective, the Lucky Champ Litter pan offers a low entry point at the front, making it easier than ever for your kitty to access his tray.
There’s even a little step element to ensure your cat can get in and out of the tray without a problem. This elegant and innovative litter box will blend well into any home décor, and it includes high sides and a high back to reduce spray and mess.
Read this next: Best High Sided Cat Litter Box: The High Spraying Cat Fix!
This durable, and resilient litter tray is intended for all sizes and breeds of cats, giving your feline friend lots of space to move around when they’re doing their business. It’s also easy to clean, thanks to a smooth, plastic surface
Pros
Cons
2. Van Ness Pets Large High-Sided Cat Litter Box with Frame - Best Value
For a lower budget and as a great cheap option, this litter box functions effectively.
The frame helps reduce the dispersal of cat litter - while not as efficient as the more expensive covered trays, it comes quite close. In general, it strikes a nice balance between providing the cat with privacy, maintaining cleanliness, easy clean-up, and a great price point!
The build quality and design here is not quite up to the standard of our best overall pick. However, saying that, this durable litter box for older cats is made with high-impact resistant plastic, ensuring it will still stand the test of time.
The materials used throughout the pan are both stain and odor resistant, making cleaning a lot easier. Plus, the lightweight structure is easy to move around.
This litter box comes with a framed component, which can be removed if your kitty is having trouble accessing the litter tray. The frame helps to minimize litter scatter and spray, so you can protect your home from unnecessary messes.
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Cons
3. Petmate Booda Clean Step Cat Litter Box Dome (Premium Pick)
This litter box is fantastic, and we were pretty thrilled with it, but more crucially, my cats adored it when we tested it out!
The bottom tray is quite deep, preventing any leakage, and the opening is suitably large. The charcoal filter genuinely improves the experience and that cat litter whiff really wasn't sniffable in my house when this was in use.
Yes, it is more expensive but it comes with a huge hood and the filter so you can understand why you're paying more.
If you’re looking for a senior-friendly cat litter box that also minimizes unwanted odors in your home, the Petmate Booda box could be a perfect choice.
It comes with a handy sloped entryway to ensure your cats can easily get in and out. Plus, the dome design gives your kitty plenty of room to move around when they’re doing their business.
Although the lid and bottom tray don't attach (and just rest on top), it's essential to keep this in mind when lifting it. Nonetheless, it's effortless to clean, and its domed design allows it to fit snugly in a corner.
As an added bonus, this product is made with recycled materials, so you know you’re not harming the planet. Great for multi-cat households!
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The Best Senior Cat Litter Boxes: Alternative Picks
Though we chose the top three senior cat litter boxes above to appeal to a wide range of pet owners, there’s always a chance these options might not appeal to you.
Fortunately, we’ve found some additional amazing options you can consider as well:
4. Maohegou Collapsable Senior Cat Litter Box
Specially designed for senior cats and those with health issues, the Maohegou cat litter box is a spacious, versatile product.
Just like our number one overall pick, the Lucky Champ, it also features a low entryway. But, the Maohegou has a clever trick - the sides are collapsible and can be pushed down so that this litter box then has super low sides. It becomes a real 'step in' litter box for elderly cats.
When the sides are down, it creates a 'litter moat' which then minimizes the risk of extra scatter by trapping litter that goes over the side.
The sides can be pushed down, or pulled up, depending on your cat’s needs. This makes this unit totally accessible to disabled kitties or cats with mobility issues. This versatile and flexible tray can even be used as a bathtub for cats.
The design of this collapsible this litter box also even allows you to collapse the front for easy access and raise the rear to prevent scatter and give privacy. Very clever!
Made with durable and resilient materials, this litter tray aims to keep your home clean and tidy, while making life easier for older kitties.
It also comes with an included scoop and features environmentally-friendly materials.
We rated this very highly and for some cats who need this 'step-in' level it is the purrfect litter box!
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5. KittyGoHere Senior Cat Litter Box
Another simple but effective choice for a senior kitty, this litter box from KittyGoHere is a large and durable product, with an extra low entryway for cats with mobility issues.
The comfortable box has an open top, so it’s easy for your cat to jump in and out with no problems. Plus, the higher sides help to reduce the risk of messes and litter scatter.
Easy to use and clean, this durable litter box is lightweight, resilient, and suitable for use with any kind of litter.
It’s also available in a range of colors, so you can choose something that matches your personality or home décor.
This KittyGoHere is often used by cat shelters and in vet surgeries as they know that their older or sick cats find it really easy to use.
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6. PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
Great for reducing the time and effort involved in cleaning out the litter tray, this automated box comes with an automated scooping system.
The product will automatically remove waste for you, making it easier to keep your cat’s bathroom clean. Plus, it uses low-tracking crystals to reduce the risk of mess and dust.
With a low entryway, the Petsafe litter box is great for senior cats and kittens alike. It helps to minimize odors with its unique design and even has a hood to help keep mess and smells at bay.
You can also remove the hood if your cat has trouble using it.
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Best Senior Cat Litter Box Buyer’s Guide
Hopefully, the reviews above will have given you an insight into some of the best litter boxes you can consider when you’re looking for ways to support your older cat.
However, you might still have some questions about the types of boxes you can use, and how you can make your elderly cat more comfortable.
Types of Litter Boxes for Older Cats
There are various types of litter boxes that can be particularly well-suited to senior cats. In general, it’s best to avoid products with high entryways which will force your cat to jump in and out, particularly if they have mobility issues. Some of the options you can consider include:
Making Life Comfortable for Elderly Cats
As your cat gets older, its needs will naturally change. Just like us, elderly cats can suffer from a range of problems with their mobility during their senior years, including the weakening of muscles and arthritis.
Changing your litter box to something that’s easier to access is a great way to make life more comfortable for your cat. Here are some quick tips to improve your senior kitty’s quality of life:
FAQs
Why can't my senior cat use the litter box?
If your senior cat is struggling to use its litter box, this could be a sign it’s too difficult to access. You may need to consider switching to something with a lower entry point. Failure to use the litter box can also be a sign of other underlying illnesses, so speak to your vet.
Do older cats need bigger litter boxes?
Senior cats sometimes need a larger litter box to move around more freely and find a comfortable space where they can go to the bathroom. If your cat feels the litter box is too small, it may be more reluctant to use it.
What type of litter box is best for older cats?
All cats are different, so the preferences of your kitty might vary. However, for the most part, it’s best to choose a litter box with a lower entry point, so it’s easy for your kitty to get in and out. You may also want to consider higher sides to reduce the risk of mess and spraying.
Do older cats always have mobility issues?
Not necessarily, some older cats maintain their mobility throughout their lives. However, many older cats will suffer from degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis. They may also become more fatigued (and have bladder issues), which means they’ll be less likely to jump into litter boxes.
Best Senior Cat Litter Box: The Verdict
Choosing the best senior cat litter box for your older kitty is an excellent way to preserve their quality of life and keep them comfortable as they get older. It also ensures your cat will be less likely to go to the bathroom in inappropriate places, simply because they can’t access the litter box.
Our favorite option for the best senior cat litter box is the Lucky Champ Litter pan. It comes with a low entry point at the front to make it easy to access and is made with durable and resilient materials, to ensure it can last. Plus, the high back and walls reduce the risk of litter scattering from your furry friend.
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