When you live in a smaller apartment, there are countless concerns about litter boxes. Not only do you need to find somewhere to put it, but you also need to worry about odor control. With so many concerns, it can be challenging to find the right litter box.
That’s why we took the time to track down and create reviews of 10 of the best cat litter boxes for small apartments. We also have a buyer’s guide to walk you through everything you need to know to help you get the right one the first time.
If you’re looking for the best cat litter box for small apartments, look no further than the Frisco Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box. It’s a little large, but it makes up for that by doubling as a storage container.
We all know that space is at a premium in a small apartment, so having a litter box that can store things saves you a ton of space and makes life easier. It also has a sleek and modern design to help it fit into your décor and is easy to clean.
The entire box is enclosed, so you don’t have to worry about your cat spraying or digging and making a mess everywhere.While this might be our top choice, that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.
It is still large, so you’ll need to find somewhere to put it. Second, it’s a little expensive. It makes sense because you’re purchasing a litter box and a storage container, but it costs more than a traditional litter box.
But considering its multifunction design, it’s not hard to see why it topped the list.
Pros
The enclosed design helps contains the mess
Doubles as storage
Sleek and modern design
Easy to clean and care for
Cons
Large
Slightly expensive
2. Frisco Flip Top Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box — Best Value
If you don’t have much cash, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a top-notch litter box for your small apartment. The Frisco Flip Top Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box is an affordable litter box that does everything you want and more.
It’s a smaller corner litter box, and you can tuck it into just about any room. However, it needs to be in a corner to look right. Still, it comes with a charcoal disposable filter that helps control the smell, which is another concern if you’re in a small apartment.
The litter box is fully enclosed to prevent messes from spraying and digging. When you pair all this with the lower price, it’s not hard to see how it earned our nod as the best cat litter box for small apartments for the money.
Pros
Affordably priced
Fits in smaller areas (corner design)
Charcoal disposable filter helps control the smell
If you want the best of the best and don’t care how much it costs, you can’t beat the Whisker Litter-Robot. Before we dive into the specs, let’s get this out of the way: it’s expensive.
But it is a self-cleaning litter box, which means no more scooping! It cleans the area after every use and puts the waste in a separate enclosed and carbon-filtered drawer. Once it’s time to empty the drawer, all you need to do is pull it out, take out the bag, and put a new bag in!
Even better, you don’t need to check the drawer to see when it’s full. You can install the supplementary app, and this Wi-Fi-enabled litter box will send an alert to your phone when it’s time to replace the bag.
Each litter box supports up to four cats, and its self-cleaning design reduces litter usage.
If you’re looking for a litterbox for your kitten, you want something with a lower entry, and it can’t be self-cleaning (until they’re at least 6 months old). Nature’s Miracle Advanced Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box checks both marks.
It’s effortless for kittens to enter, and its small size is perfect. Better for you is that the surfaces are non-stick and anti-microbial. This makes the box easier to clean and reduces the chances of you or your kitten getting sick.
The built-in charcoal filter that helps contain the smell is another notable perk. However, it’s not perfect. Heavy sprayers and diggers can easily make a mess out of the opening.
Second, it only looks right in the corner of a room. While this takes up less space, if no corners are available, it can be a problem. Still, if you upgrade to a bigger box when your kitten turns into a cat, the low price of this litter box is nice.
Pros
Affordably priced
Easy to enter
Non-stick anti-microbial surface
Charcoal filter helps contain the smell
Smaller size
Cons
Sprayers and diggers can make a mess
Only looks right in corners
5. PetSafe Ultra Top-Entry Auto Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
PetSafe Ultra Top-Entry Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box is an outstanding self-cleaning litter box that you can put in your small apartment. It’s not nearly as expensive as other models, but it doesn’t come with cool features either.
It’s still a pricey choice, but that makes sense, considering how much it makes your life easier. It’s easy to use but requires special litter crystals. The crystals help contain the odor and last longer than clay litters. As a final feature, it tracks the number of times that your cat comes to visit.
While you might not notice if those numbers are abnormal, it’s great to have concrete data to give your cat’s vet a proper diagnosis for a possible health condition.
The Good Pet Stuff Hidden Cat Litter Planter has a unique design that will blend in with your home décor. Depending on how you position it, your guests might not even be able to tell that it’s a litter box!
It’s a great way to hide the litter box in plain sight, which is a big deal if you live in a smaller apartment where space is tight. Even better for your cat, it’s a large litter box with plenty of space. You don’t have to deal with a large litter box in plain sight, and your cat has room to do their business!
Since it utilizes a filtered vent system, the odor is well-controlled, which is another advantage if you put the litter box in a common area.Still, this litter box only works if you like the pot design and it fits in with the rest of your décor. If it doesn’t, you’re stuck with a massive litter box you don’t have anywhere to place.
Pros
Blends in with home décor
Filtered vent system helps control the odor
Large pot design is great for large cats
Hides the litter box in plain sight
Cons
Large pot design
Does not fit in with all home décor
Slightly expensive
7. ScoopFree Original Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
The ScoopFree Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box is one of the most affordable self-cleaning litter boxes available.It’s an open-top design, and if your cat sprays or digs, you’ll have a mess. Since it only cleans 20 minutes after your cat leaves, you’re stuck with unsightly cat droppings for that long.
There are two color options for you to choose from, and it is easy to use. But you’ll want to locate it somewhere out of sight, and that’s not always possible in a small apartment.
Pros
Self-cleaning design
Does a great job at eliminating odor
Extremely durable and long-lasting
Two color options
Easy to use
Cons
Expensive
Open-top design
Cleaning happens 20 minutes after your cat uses it
The Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box is likely the litterbox that your cat would choose if you left it up to them. It’s sm enclosed litter box that gives them a little extra privacy to relieve themselves. It also contains any spraying or digging.
The Cleanstep design actively cleans their paws off before they exit the litter box. Another feature that you’ll love is the carbon filter. Paired with the domed design, it does a great job of containing the odor.
While it might be a litterbox that your cat will love, you may not be as enamored. First, it takes up a great deal of space. In a small apartment where space is a premium, that’s a big deal. Second, it’s not nearly as easy to clean as some other litter boxes.
It pulls apart, but even that takes extra work. Once you get it apart, there are many nooks and crannies that you need to clean out. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s enough to be an inconvenience.
Pros
Three color options
Clean step design helps contain the mess
Domed design and carbon filter help contain the odor
The Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan is an outstanding choice if you live in a multi-pet household. Dogs are notorious for getting into the litter box, and this top-entry litter box ends that problem for good.
It has a textured lid to clean off your cat’s paws when exiting the litterbox. Furthermore, the flip-top design makes it easy to clean, and the handles on the side make it easy to move from room to room.
The problem with this litter box and small apartments is two-fold, however. First, it’s extremely large. Since space is a premium, the size is a significant drawback. Second, there’s no odor control. You’ll need to stay on top of cleaning to keep the smell of cat droppings from overtaking your apartment.
The Kitangle Corner Kitty Cat Litter Box comes in four color options, which helps you match it to the room. Second, it uses a corner design that lets you tuck it away in an otherwise unused space.
Your cat’s favorite part will be that it has a spacious opening. But for all these perks, it has a few drawbacks. First, it doesn’t have any odor control. Second, it’s large, making it hard to fit a small apartment, and you have to put it in a corner.
But we could overlook these flaws if it wasn’t for the price. It’s priced like a self-cleaning litter box, but it doesn’t clean the box. It simply costs too much for what you’re getting. You can get a much better option if you’re willing to spend this much.
Pros
Four color options
Corner design helps you to tuck it away
Easy to clean
Spacious opening
Cons
Expensive
Large size
Only looks right in corners
No odor control
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Cat Litter Box for Small Apartments
You need to consider several factors when shopping for a litterbox for your small apartment. Below, we highlighted the most important characteristics you need to look into when picking a litterbox for your home.
Finding the Space
It doesn’t matter if you found the perfect litter box if you don’t have the space for it. Take a step back from your computer or phone and look around your apartment. Where exactly are you planning on putting the litter box? Measure the space and see how much room you have.
Then, skim through the size dimensions for each product to see which ones will fit your space. If it doesn’t fit, don’t waste your time looking at all its features. They won’t matter if you have nowhere to put the box.
Counting on Cleanup
It’s a fact of life that you’ll need to clean up the litter box. In fact, in a small apartment, you should probably clean out the litter every day to keep the smell from taking over your home. Self-cleaning litter boxes and ones with odor control can help.
If you buy a litter box without odor control, you might find yourself cleaning the litter box out multiple times a day
Containing the Litter
You likely want a litter box with high sides or a fully enclosed setup. Almost every product on this list has that setup for a reason. If your cat digs or sprays, you want the box to be able to contain it. Cleaning up the side of the litter box is one thing. Cleaning up everything around the litter box is something else entirely.
Finally, litter boxes with a ridged entrance or top that can help clean off your cat’s paws are a big deal. Otherwise, your cat is likely to track litter out of the box, which means more sweeping and cleaning for you.
Conclusion
If you’re still confused about what litterbox is right for you after reading these reviews, don’t overthink it. There’s a reason that two of our top three choices are Frisco products. The Frisco Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box doubles as a convenient storage space and makes your life easier.
Meanwhile, the Frisco Flip Top Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box is affordable and does everything you need. You really can’t go wrong with either choice.
Contents
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
The 10 Best Cat Litter Boxes for Small Apartments
1. Frisco Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box — Best Overall
2. Frisco Flip Top Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box — Best Value
3. Whisker Litter-Robot— Premium Choice
4. Nature’s Miracle Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box
5. PetSafe Ultra Top-Entry Auto Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
6. Good Pet Stuff Hidden Cat Litter Planter
7. ScoopFree Original Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
8. Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box
9. Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan
10. Kitangle Corner Kitty Cat Litter Box
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Cat Litter Box for Small Apartments
Self-cleaning boxes can be convenient but might scare some cats. Hooded boxes provide privacy, but make sure there is proper air circulation. Open boxes are generally more accepted but provide less privacy.
Self-cleaning boxes can be convenient but might scare some cats. Hooded boxes provide privacy, but make sure there is proper air circulation. Open boxes are generally more accepted but provide less privacy.
A great place to locate the litter box is your own bathroom, as long as you make sure to keep the door wide open when it's not in use. Many people tuck the litter box next to the toilet, between the toilet and tub, or under the sink.
This is generally a cat's preferred litter. Most cats are happy with a medium or fine-grain clay litter because it resembles the sand or soil they'd choose outside.
Litter box design preferences differ from cat to cat and human to human. Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat.
Cat Attract® provides a solution for cat owners whose cats do not use their litter box. Blended with a natural herb attractant, the ideal texture and particle size combine to solve litter box problems with an effective solution guaranteed to bring cats back to the litter box.
However, you must shop wisely and avoid clay, wheat, corn, crystal, and wood clumping litters. These clumping litters pose serious health risks to you and your cat.
If your cat likes soft litter, wheat, corn, and grass litter are some of the best options. If your cat has a respiratory issue, look for low-dust options such as wheat and paper litter. You can choose between clumping, non-clumping, or low-tracking litter.
Renewable Litter Materials: Corn, paper, grass, walnut, wheat, and pine and other woods are just some of the materials used to make renewable litter. Each material has its own unique smell and properties, so don't be afraid to try several litters before you decide what works best for your household.
Unused corners, nooks, or closets can be perfect locations for a litter box. You might consider areas such as: Under a Table: This offers a quiet, secluded spot that's out of sight. In an Unused Closet: If it's not too cluttered, a closet can provide a private space for your cat.
If the box is too hard to get to, especially for a kitten or an elderly cat, they may just not use it. Avoid placing litter boxes next to noisy or heat-radiating appliances, like the furnace or the washing machine.
If you have a vanity in your bathroom, you can turn the space under the sink into a new home for the litter box. If the vanity has a side that is open to the bathroom, you can cut a cat-sized hole in the side for kitty to access the box inside.
Some cats dislike crystal litter because it pokes their paws uncomfortably. Corn, wheat, and pine. These types of litter are made of natural, biodegradable substrates.
The study, The behavioural effects of innovative litter designed to attract cats, was a collaboration between the University of Guelph, Purdue, and the funders, the Kent Pet Group (more on them later). Previous studies have shown that cats prefer clay clumping litter compared to other types (pellets and pearls).
Some cats, depending on age and agility as well as preference for solitude, may prefer top entry litter boxes. Older and overweight cats are likely to prefer front entry litter because of the lesser physical demands.
In general, bigger is better and many litter boxes are too small. Litter boxes should be 1 ½ times the length of your cat from the nose to the base of the tail. The litter box needs to be large enough to allow your cat to enter, turn around, scratch, and eliminate.
Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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