IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box: Is It Top Of The Tops?

If you're like many cat owners out there, you understand that not all litter boxes are created equal. Whether it be an issue of quality, size, or even just your own cat's disposition, there can be numerous factors that play into whether or not one litter box or another is right for your home. 

On top of what's good for the cat, litter boxes also should ideally work well for you. After all, if you've got a litter box that they love to use but is terrible at masking the smell, or otherwise is an eyesore, it can be just as much of a headache to deal with.

The ideal situation is a litter box that they end up loving while also blocking all the funk and also having an overall pleasing look to it. 

Not only that, but it should also try to reduce the amount of kitty litter that ends up all over your floors.

In this feature, we'll go over what makes this litter box so special as well as give a final verdict so that you know if this is something worth checking out for your friendly feline family member.

Is The IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box any Good?

I can say that IRIS has made a point of handling virtually every kitty's toilet needs in as effective a way as possible. Here, the IRIS Top Entry Litter Box comes with high walls, and a side panel for kitties to get into, it's easy to clean and has a top cover entrance hole for them to jump in and out of.

IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box: The Setup

Setup Process

Starting with the initial Iris top entry litter box setup process, the IRIS litter box is pretty straightforward when it comes to being put together.

Unlike other more complex litter boxes out there, this is already put together for the most part, simply needing you to fill it up with litter and place the lid on top of it.

The top lid is lightweight while also sturdy, meaning you won't have to worry about it falling off when snapping it in place.

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Design

In terms of its overall modern design style, the IRIS is pretty unique in what they've done. Rather than the standard options for litter boxes, the IRIS has a more oval or rounded shape with much higher walls. 

This is meant to get the cat considerably more privacy while also ensuring they don't feel excessively cramped in their respective box space. 

Plus it stops any spraying, litter particles, and misdirected urinating from a messy cat. 

What really makes the litter box so ideal, however, is its entrance and exit area, which is cut into the box's lid ceiling. 

This off-center hole, not only gives the cat a great way to get in and out of the litter box itself, but it also is an ideal place for them to stand on before jumping in. 

Because it doesn't have the square box shape as other litter boxes, it can be fit in otherwise difficult spaces where the corners would normally be an issue.

The box is incredibly durable all the way around, able to hold up to 20 lbs. without issue, while the lid is specifically designed with various grooves to better help a cat clear its paws from tracking any litter, greatly reducing the amount of mess you'd have to handle.

Visually, the IRIS comes in several different color options, ranging from grey and orange, to black, white, or beige. 

These color options are all super reserved and won't cause a lot of attention drawn to them, whether it be from you or your little kitty cat. This means that you can throw it just about anywhere without people wondering if they're looking at a fancy-looking litter box.

Size 

A big issue that many cat owners have to deal with is whether to keep the lid on or off of their litter box. 

This is because many standard litter boxes aren't particularly impressive when it comes to large dimensions. In many of these situations, it's either the litter box is way too big or (even worse) way too small. 

Both can be very problematic when it comes to using it at all, at least alone with a lid on it.

The IRIS makes a point of bypassing this issue, instead offering multiple different size options based on what you're looking for.

For example, if you've got bigger cats that need more space, you'll want to check out the large model (20.47 x 16.14 x 14.56 inches) with a much larger widest point.

On the other hand, if you've got smaller cats or a young kitten, older cats with weak limbs, or cats that have suffered an injury and can't jump so high, you'll want to check out the more medium-sized box model (17.32 x 13.39 x 12.2 inches). 

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IRIS Top Entry: Features 

Smell & Odor Control 

Starting with odor control, the IRIS is surprisingly effective at keeping smells contained. Now, it's important to know that you'll want to make sure you're using at least normal or high-quality cat litter. 

That said, even if you're using some of the cheap stuff and gauging the smell from your old litter box to this one, you'll be surprised at how well it manages to keep the smell from causing any issues. 

The reason for this odor control is that, unlike standard litter boxes, which have a fairly low amount of space between the entrance and where your cat is putting their business, the IRIS is positioned in a way that the smell essentially has to go through more litter before continually needing to rise before escaping out. 

This all results in less free smell coming out of the litter box, making it much more accessible to multiple parts of your home. 

While I wouldn't argue for necessarily putting it in a space where you plan to have a ton of guests, I would say it can go in a bathroom or closet space without stinking the place up. 

Litter Scattering & Tracking

Since the entrance and exit are a singular hole set at the top of the box, the IRIS can greatly reduce the amount of litter that gets tracked out by your cat. 

This is because not only is the hole in the box's lid but it's also got such high walls that any litter is naturally going to fall away as they're launching themselves out.

In addition to the high walls, there is also the lid itself. The lid swivels and acts as a large top entryway. The grooves are meant to help pull away any litter that might have gotten stuck in the claws or behind their paws. 

If you're dealing with a particularly young cat, odds are they'll avoid this altogether, however, it's still a great way to collect anything that would otherwise fall all over your floor. 

Holes on the litter box’s lid work as a built-in mat to brush the cat's paws clean as they come and go.

Now, it's important to bear in mind that this will REDUCE the amount of litter you deal with, not negate it entirely. I still found myself having to do a sweep or two to clear away any tracked litter. 

However, the sweeps were much faster and pretty much stopped at litter and no other surprise pieces that got caught in their paws.

All in all, while not 100% perfect, it's way better than a standard litter box and definitely worth the switch for this alone. 

Overall Cleanup 

When it comes to an overall cleanup process, including outside sweeping, I've found that the IRIS is pretty easy to keep orderly. 

Not only is the standard solid waste scooping process fairly straightforward, but I found that you're much more likely to have your litter covering everything that needs covering. 

One of the things I noticed was a bit of an issue with other litter boxes was that they seemed to be so small and uncomfortable that my cat would want to get in, do their business, and get out as fast as possible, often leaving a good amount of stuff uncovered. 

This certainly resulted in a smellier, dirtier litter box.

Since the walls are as high as they are and the lid has an open hole for your cat to stick their head out of (at least when it came to my cats), they didn't have to worry about comfort or feeling cramped, instead able to handle everything they needed with plenty of space and freedom to bury their stuff. 

You'll obviously have to keep maintenance up based on the number of cats you have, but overall it's a super clean prospect, especially compared to most other boxes on the market. 

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Pricing 

While slightly on the higher spectrum of standard litter boxes, the IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box is fairly moderate in price. Considering there are some that are in the hundreds of dollars, the IRIS' $36 price point is almost pennies in comparison.

Yes, you can get a super cheap litter box for considerably less than what the IRIS is offering, however, you're missing out on the durable build, aesthetic look, and reduced smell and litter tracking. 

If you have a cat, this is a price that's probably on the lower end of what you're willing to spend when it comes to quality goods.

IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box: The Verdict 

Ultimately, if there's one sentence that sums up the IRIS litter box it's "It's a keeper". This thing, while not on the level of the super-high-priced litter boxes, is a great option for giving your feline friend privacy and space while also keeping smells and litter issues to an absolute minimum.

While I'd wait a bit if you have a cat under the age of two, anything over that should love this as a lifetime litter box investment.