Iris Usa Top Entry Cat Litter Box: Best Top Entry Litter Tray
Price: £45 | Buy now from Pet Planet
Top entry litter boxes may appear a little odd to us, but most cats take to them easily, hopping down through the entrance then out again. If you live in a multi pet household or have young children, a top entry litter box does a great job at keeping anyone but cats away.
The grooved lid of the Iris litter box helps to remove litter from your cats paws, and the entry hole is a substantial size at 26.5 x 23cm. To remove the lid for cleaning, just pop your thumbs into the little circles on either side and lever the lid upwards. The base has rubber feet to stop it from moving, and the tray itself can hold an impressive amount of litter so if your cat struggles with jumping out, youll have to raise the litter level they jump from!
Were particularly keen on the aesthetics of the Iris box, as it doesnt really look like a litter tray at all. Because theres no door flap there may be an issue with odour, although many customers say it stays relatively odour-free.
Key specs Dimensions: 52.7 x 41 x 37.2cm
Price: £170 | Buy now from Argos
The price tag on the ScoopFree litter tray is certainly hefty, but it also provides the holy grail for many cat owners: a touch-free, worry-free litter system that makes poop-scooping a thing of the past.
Key specs Dimensions: 70.2 x 40.6 x 48.6cm
Price: £24 |
Key Spec Dimensions: 58.5 x 45.5 x 40cm
Price: £16 |
Key Spec Dimensions: 40cm x 30cm x 12cm, or 20 x 12.6 x 5cm when folded
Best For Messy Cats: Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box With Scoop
This top-entry litter box lets your cat drop down into the enclosure for a private potty break. In addition to a little quiet alone time, the box keeps litter from flying everywhere. Grooves on the top help brush litter off your cats feet when they depart, keeping your floors clean. The top-entry also keeps out nosy dogs, and even chunky cats can be comfortable in this box.
If your cat has never used a box like this, it’s a good idea to put it in the same spot as your old litter box and filling it with some used litter. Try placing it without the top at first until they figure it out.
How To Choose The Most Popular Best Cat Litter Boxes For Small Spaces
There are three most important factors to keep in mind while deciding on a product: pricing, quality, and popularity.One obvious consideration is price. You must make sure that the price matches your budget.To get the greatest product, you need to pay attention to the quality of the things you are purchasing.When it comes to acquiring new clients, popularity is just as important as pricing or quality, if not more so.
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What Else Makes For Good Litter Box Environments
Finally, cats need someplace thats going to generally be quiet for taking care of business. This means it can be a little difficult to find the right locations for placing those 2+ litter boxes around the house.
Personally, I have one tucked into a corner under a counter in a work area where kitty has great views and knows nothing can come up behind her. This space is used several times a day, but not for noisy activities.
Ive also placed litter pans in my office since my cat loves to be near not near enough to touch but near enough to watch me. The office has a great corner where the box can be placed with a wide view of the room.
Since my office is for work, Im not usually playing music or doing loud activities in there. The living room, for me, however, is a terrible location because I do my workouts there, have friends over for parties, et cetera, meaning kitty doesnt get the quiet she needs.
Having a disruptive environment is one of the big reasons why cats will eliminate outside of the litter box.
How To Use A Sifting Cat Litter Box
You may be wondering how a sifting litter box for cats actually works. Youll be pleased to know that it is extremely straightforward!
Sifting cat litter boxes generally come in three parts: two nesting trays and one sifting tray. All three stack exactly on top of one another with the sifting pan on the top which you can fill with whichever litter you like.
If you are using pellet litter, be sure that you choose a pine pellet litter box with small enough holes to separate the pellets from the waste. If you are using clumping litter, be sure to choose a litter with grains small enough to pass through holes on the sifting tray.
How you use the litter box does depend on whether youre using clumping litter or pellet litter.
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Our Pick: Dr Elseys Ultra
May be out of stock
For your money, Dr. Elseys Ultra forms tough clumps and does an outstanding job of trapping odors. It also produces less dust and is significantly cheaper than many other cat litters we tested.
In tests with liquid waste, Dr. Elseys Ultra formed clumps that were in the middle of the pack in terms of hardness, and that were on the flat side, making them less prone to sticking to the bottom or side of the litter pan. Wirecutter staffers report that the clumps held up well during scooping, sometimes breaking into large chunks if they were being excavated from a corner or side. They never crumble into oblivion, said Wirecutter senior staff writer Kimber Streams, whose cats have used it for six years.
Our long-term testers said Dr. Elseys Ultra does a great job of masking waste odors. The litter itself smells neutral and isnt overwhelmingly fruity like the Purina Tidy Cats 24/7 Performance. In our control tests, Dr. Elseys Ultra masked the odor from stinky ammonia and pungent hing so well that we could smell only the clay litter when the waste stand-ins were just partially covered by litter.
Though tracking was tough for us to test at the cat cafe, Dr. Elseys Ultra has grains that are on the larger side, meaning it should track less than some of the competition. Our staffers long-term experience experimenting with litter bears that out. It tracks a bit, but not as bad as other litters Ive used, Streams said.
Buyers Guide: Selecting The Best Litter Box For Cats
After using so many different litter boxes with our felines, weve developed a pretty good idea of what makes them more or less effective. In this short buyers guide, were going to share what weve learned with you in the hopes that it will help you make the right decision and help you find the best litter boxes for cats with less headache.
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Petsafe Scoopfree Ultra : Most Innovative Design
The PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box combines technology and sanitary standards to provide an amazing litter box design.
It eliminates the hassle of daily scooping and cleaning by doing the dirty work for you.
This item self-cleans for weeks and is up to five times more effective at reducing odors than options utilizing clay or clumping litter.
Van Ness Enclosed Sifting Cat Litter Pan
Next sifting litter box that I recommend is the Van Ness Enclosed Sifting Cat Litter Pan. If you have a messy cat that loves to kick its kitty litter out of the tray, this product could be your saving grace. Its hooded design means that all mess is nicely contained inside the litter box, so youll be spending less time cleaning up after your feline.
The hooded design also prevents any unwanted odors from escaping and traveling around your home. Plus, with a replaceable zeolite air filter absorbing any foul smells, you can also rest assured that bad odors wont accumulate inside the tray and upset your cat.
This litter box also comes with all the benefits of a scoop-free litter box. By lifting the built-in sifting screen, all the sawdust will fall through the holes while the pine pellets left behind can be reused. However, be sure to choose your pine pellet litter carefully as the holes are larger than those of other sifting litter boxes. Choose pellets too small and they may also slip through the gaps.
Also, while its relatively large size makes it suitable for small and large breeds alike, the high entry point means it isnt suited for kittens or senior felines. Kittens will be too small to climb in, whereas older cats are more prone to joint problems and could be in pain entering and exiting the tray. For cats in these stages of life, low entry litter boxes are a better option.
Pros
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Modkat Litter Box For Small Spaces
With nearly a five star rating by cat owners, the Modkat Litter Box, known as the iPod of litter boxes, is a top-entry box that includes everything you need with a litter box.
The Modkat features a seamless base to prevent leaks, an easy-open swivel lid, and a reusable tarp liner for easy disposal. Clean and attractive , the Modkat is the perfect solution for your smaller space.
Litter tracking is one of the biggest pains of a litter box that stuff gets everywhere! The Modkat has tackled this problem with its locking lid that acts as a walk-off mat to keep litter from tracking all over your floors. In fact, this box reduces litter to about 70% to 95% of a traditional litter box. The scoop includes an ergonomic handle that sifts clumps easily and quickly, and the scratch-resistant reusable line is easy to clean and reuse. Even betterthe rip-resistant liners last up to three months!
The Modkat is perfect for your small living space. It only takes up 16 x 16 x 15 inches and weighs 5 pounds, so it should easily fit wherever you need it to fit. The entry dimensions are 9 inches in diameter, so this box should fit most cats. This modern, stylish litterbox comes in the colors red, white, and black.
Key Features:
Best Cat Litter Boxes By Category
Top entry cat litter boxes
The doorway should be large enough for your cat to enter comfortably. Top entry boxes can be hard on a cats hips and kittens or senior cats may have problems with them.
The pros of using a top entry box are the elimination of urine over-spray and the reduction of litter scatter.
ModKat Top Entry XL Litter Box
This litter box is versatile in design. Modkat XL offers both a top and front entry configuration meeting the entry needs of all cats.
The base is sturdy and leakproof, with a reusable liner that hooks at each corner for easy cleaning. The liner is good for up to three months with regular washing.
This top entry box is the largest on the market at 21 L x 16.3 W x 17 H and includes an ergonomic scoop and a hook on the side of the box to hang it away between scooping sessions. The top and front entries are large enough for even larger cats like Maine Coons, with a walk-off mat on the top of the box to reduce the excess litter caught on your cats toe beans.
Petmate Top Entry Litter Box
This economical top entry litter box is large at 20.29 x 15.07 x 15.2 inches, with a top entry wide enough to accommodate a larger cat.
High sides eliminate over-spray or kicking litter out of the box, and the grated surface on the lid reduces excess litter from tracking all over the house.
There is a built-in litter scoop hanger, but a scoop is not included and can be purchased separately.
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Frisco Sifting Cat Litter Box
Often, sifting cat litter trays are smaller in size. Im not sure why, but this just seems to be the case! That is why the first sifting litter box for clumping litter on my list is the Frisco Sifting Cat Litter Box. Thankfully, this litter tray solves the size issue, measuring in at 22 inches long. This is 3 inches larger than a regular cat litter tray and is ideal for larger breeds.
The large dimensions also do a good job at keeping the mess contained inside the tray, and there is an elevated frame to help prevent spills over the edge. However, the sides arent particularly high, so if you have a spraying cat, I suggest you opt for a different tray.
The material this litter box is made from is also recyclable plastic, which is great if youre environmentally conscious like me. You can easily wipe the plastic clean with soapy water, and it is extremely durable and made to last a lifetime. Also, this litter box is BPA-free so completely safe for your cats.
The sifting design works as a usual sifting litter box would, making for an easy clean-up without the need for litter scoops or liners. However, because the holes are larger than the size of pellets, it can only be used with clumping litters.
This litter box is also a bargain price, great for anyone on a budget.
Pros
- Measures in at 22 making it great for large breeds
- Large size helps minimize mess
- BPA-free, durable, and recyclable plastic material
- Easily cleaned with soap & water
Cons
Odor Prevention: Stinky After A Week
The one area where the Litter-Robot 3 falls a bit flat is odor prevention. Theres a carbon filter on the inside of the waste drawer, but it doesnt do a great job neutralizing odors. If we let the drawer accumulate waste for more than a week, it begins to smell, which was frustrating as the drawer wasnt full yet. The brand doesnt claim that it will eliminate odors. The manufacturer says, The amount of odor control the Litter-Robot will provide depends on the amount of odor createdby how many cats use it, what type of litter you use, and your cats’ diets, among other things.
As a remedy for the odor, we ended up putting a box of baking soda in the front of the drawer, which helped increase the amount of time we could go between empties. The brand recommends replacing the carbon filter every few months.
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How Often Should I Clean The Litter Boxes
One of the most important things you need to do for your cat is to keep her litter box clean. When the box becomes dirty, kitty will either use someplace you dont want her to or will hold it and start causing herself some health issues that may become life-threatening.
Cats are, by nature, very clean animals thus the constant self-bathing and use of grooming as a sign of affection towards humans and other pets and that means they often will refuse to use cat litter boxes that arent so clean.
A good cleaning schedule model looks like this:
- Scooping poo every time kitty leaves a pile if not possible, scooping morning and evening
- Changing litter completely every 3-4 to weeks, washing the box out with soap and water
- Deep cleaning every quarter bleaching, scrubbing, etc.
Why You Should Avoid Self
There are many self-cleaning boxes on the market now, and it can be tempting to drop a little extra cash for the convenience of a box you never have to scoop. But as inconvenient or unpleasant as you might think it is to scoop litter boxes each day, it will be far less convenient or pleasant when your cat is startled by their automatic litter box and becomes too scared to use it.
Then add in the fact that many of these self-cleaning boxes require special litters not to mention that the daily scooping ritual with regular boxes provides an important opportunity to spot any changes in your cats pees and poos that could indicate a developing health concern .
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Think About: Design And Aesthetics
Finally, and definitely least important as far as your cats perspective is concerned, the design and aesthetics of the litter pan is part of what you may want to consider.
When you do consider the aesthetics, though, be sure to put your cats needs first over your desire to have a pretty kitty litter box.
Some cats will love the enclosed furniture-like cat boxes while others dont want anything resembling an enclosure.
But if you can find something aesthetically pleasing that meets your cats style, go for it.
Natures Miracle Disposable Litter Box
This is a convenient disposable litter box that is made from recycled paper that is land-fill safe. Since kittens grow so fast using a disposable litter box is not a bad idea. If you buy the small size pan for your 3 or 4 weeks old kitten you can throw it away after a couple of weeks of use. This is an advantage over plastic pans because you dont have to deal with remaining litter pans that your kitty wont use anymore. These disposable litter pans are very good at controlling odors due to the absorbing properties they have.
- Dimension small size : 12.5 x 10.13 x 3.13
- Dimension medium size : 17.1 x 12.6 x 6.4
Pros
- Good for multi kitten households
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Packs come with 3 disposable pans of the same size. If you buy the small size pack maybe your kitten will outgrow the litter pan before you replace it with a new one Note: This isnt a con if you have 2 or 3 kittens of the same age or if you buy the medium size disposable pack.
- A kitten with PICA behavior could start chewing on the litter box.
Recommended:
If you love the disposable concept of litter boxes, especially considering that the transition of the kitten into a young adult is a very short period of time. Natures Miracle is highly recommended for multi kitten households because it comes in packs of 3. If you want odor control and an environmentally friendly litter box, this is your best option.
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