Best cat litter tray on the market currently?

[Snowy Celandine]

I've got small, open pans for kittens, larger open pans and hooded trays for my cats (and the ones that we board) but I'm always interested in hearing reports from owners about their favourite trays.

I've looked online at the various 'automatic' types in the past, but I can't really see how they'd work any better than a simple pan or hooded tray? They seem prohibitively expensive, and unless they can magically empty themselves (unlikely ?) or truly contain the smell of used litter (?) I can't ever see me buying one. I know that things improve all the time though so I'm interested to hear about either the automatic types or the ones where the cat jumps in from above if anyone uses them for their cats?

 

[fiwen30]

Not the foggiest, we use the 32l(?) under bed storage boxes, sometimes with 1 side cut down if they need more help to get in/out of the box.

 

[Spanny]

Nothing fancy (i.e., automatic or top opening) here, but we do have a sieving litter tray which I use with wood pellets. We get through a lot less cat litter since the swap! Ours is from Brit Pet, but I think I've seen something similar at Pets at Home, so presumably other makes are available...

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Nothing fancy (i.e., automatic or top opening) here, but we do have a sieving litter tray which I use with wood pellets. We get through a lot less cat litter since the swap! Ours is from Brit Pet, but I think I've seen something similar at Pets at Home, so presumably other makes are available...

I’d read that the sieve type wouldn’t work with wood pellets, so I’ll take a look at the Brit Pet one Spanny, thanks ? I’m not necessarily buying, just curious really because there are a few new types of litter tray on the market these days.

 

[DirectorFury]

We use the really deep high-sided Tesco storage boxes, positioned next to the bottom of the stairs so the cat doesn't have to jump up and into the box from the floor.
Our boy cat is too big for every normal tray that I've tried - he always ended up peeing over the edge. The deep box also stops the dog (small JRT) from going snacking if he uses it while we're out <vom face>.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

We use the really deep high-sided Tesco storage boxes, positioned next to the bottom of the stairs so the cat doesn't have to jump up and into the box from the floor.
Our boy cat is too big for every normal tray that I've tried - he always ended up peeing over the edge. The deep box also stops the dog (small JRT) from going snacking if he uses it while we're out <vom face>.

Urgh, one of our dogs does disgusting things like that so she's kept out of any rooms containing litter trays We've had to find some XL trays for the Maine Coon who comes to the cattery. A lot of litter trays really are too small for the bigger cats.

 

[julesjoy]

Nothing posh but I have two CatIt jumbo hooded boxes, although I took the flapsoff the front. Big enough for my 5kg cats to sit in and do their thing.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Since many, many years we have 3 cat litter boxes, Marchioro Freecat Maxi, made in Italy (2 for the city home, and 1 for our tiny Summer cabin where there's simply not room for 2, and they instead have a large outdoor cat enclosure). They're the best ones we've ever had, I think I've recommended them before here on HHO, but sadly I don't think they're sold anymore in Sweden.

Anyhow, what makes them so brilliiant is that:

They're so durable (ours must be over 10 years, probably over 15 years, old by now, and they don't look their age at all).

The cats like them.

Best of all, my adult dogs can't just stick their head in where the cats go in an out, and give me unwanted poop removal help!
(There's a short period as puppies when they're large enough to take the step in, but still small enough to get in under the protruding hood which creates the in and out entrance, but they quickly outgrow that period.)

Found this image online

ETA Went and measured one of mine, the bottom box is about 50x40 cm, + another 19,5 cm for the protruding part of the hood, so they take up a bit of space each.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I have a petsafe automated litter tray & bought the plastic tray rather than having to buy the cardboard refill. It uses silicate litter which lasts a week with my two indoor cats which costs me £3.49 a bag (from B&M). It works by sweeping the poop into a covered compartment 5 mins after use which keeps the smell down and the silicate dehydrates the poop. The silicate is very absorbent and does help to keep urine smell down. I remove the poop every few days and scoop worst of wet out mid week. Means we can go out all day without worry cats have used. So, expensive to set up but fairly cheap, and convenient to run

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I have a petsafe automated litter tray & bought the plastic tray rather than having to buy the cardboard refill. It uses silicate litter which lasts a week with my two indoor cats which costs me £3.49 a bag (from B&M). It works by sweeping the poop into a covered compartment 5 mins after use which keeps the smell down and the silicate dehydrates the poop. The silicate is very absorbent and does help to keep urine smell down. I remove the poop every few days and scoop worst of wet out mid week. Means we can go out all day without worry cats have used. So, expensive to set up but fairly cheap, and convenient to run

eta you do need power