Top Entry Litter Box: What to Know and Which to Buy

Looking to provide your cat with more bathroom privacy? Tired of vacuuming litter debris sprinkled on your floor? Got kitty litter-eating dogs in your household? The solution may just be switching to a top entry cat litter box.

Will all your problems be solved? Maybe. Cats come in all sizes, personalities and definitely, litter box habits. Your goal is to find the right litter box that your cat will use faithfully.

What Is a Top-Entry Litter Box?

For starters, top entry litter boxes are just that. A cat enters from the top opening of a sturdy, tall litter box with a textured lid to catch any litter from spilling onto the floor.

More people are swapping out those traditional open, rectangular-shaped plastic litter boxes with eye-appealing top entrance litter boxes that blend into the home décor. This new generation of litter boxes earn top marks for style, saving space and controlling odors.

It could be a win-win for cats and their people. They can be tucked in small spaces and definitely designed to prevent dogs from accessing and eating “prizes” in open litter boxes. Beyond the yuck factor, your dog could risk serious health issues, like intestinal blockages from the litter-packed feces that may require surgery to remove.

Top entry litter boxes sport many pluses, but they are not for every cat or every cat parent. Rule #1: Know thy cat. Felines with limited mobility due to arthritis or advanced age may find top entry litter boxes to be too difficult to access and opt to seek another bathroom place, such as your living room rug or right next to the litter box.

Cats, like people, come with different likes and dislikes. An agile, healthy cat may not like entering his litter box from the top. He may prefer using an open litter box so he can safely survey his surroundings to protect himself from being surprised pounced on by another cat in the household.

Top Entry Litter Box Products to Consider

Here are four popular open top cat litter boxes at three price points that have earned high review scores from people living with indoor cats:

Modkat Top Entry Litter Box

This premium product justifies its $109.95 price because of its design that controls feline bathroom odors, a durable, tear-resistant liner and its ability to prevent dogs from accessing kitty poop inside. It features a swivel lid to make scooping out litter clumps easily. Available in black, grey and white, this top entry litter box blends easily in a room without guests immediately identifying it as a cat litter box.

IRIS USA Premium Top Entry Cat Litter Box with Scoop

This top-entrance litter box falls in the mid-price range at $79.99 and features a unique spacious square top entry. This square opening is perfect for large cats to pop in and out of the top and reduces side spraying by some cats. In addition, this product features a litter tray that is easy to clean plus a built-in mat to prevent litter from littering the floor. Also handy is the ability to hang the litter scoop on its side.

Woofi Go Stainless Steel Top Entry Litter Box XL

This product features a stainless steel litter pan that is rust-resistant and easy to clean. This appeals to people who find plastic litter boxes difficult to clean and rid of odors. This stainless steel pan eliminates the need to replace stinky plastic litter pans. This model, priced at $75.99, is sturdy, features high walls and offers even large cats plenty of room to move while inside.

Petmate Top Entry Cat Litter Box Enclosure with Filter Lid

Priced at $44.99, this affordable top entrance litter box is a big seller on Amazon.com. Inside you will find an extra-large litter box to enable big cats more maneuverability. It features a grated design to grab loose litter from a cat’s paws plus built-in handles to pick up and relocate when necessary. For those on a budget and need two or more litter boxes for their multi-cat households, this product is definitely attractive.

Tips for Transitioning Your Cat to a Top-Entry Box

Employ a transition strategy to maximize acceptance of this new type of top entrance litter box. These steps include:

• Slowly introduce the new top entry litter box to your cats. Initially, keep the lid off and allow your cats time to sniff and inspect it.
• Fill this new litter box with a blend of litter from the current litter box with some fresh litter. Cats rely on their heightened sense of smell and this blend may make the new litter box feel more familiar and welcoming.
• Locate the new top entry litter box near the current litter box at first. Quietly watch which one your cat prefers to use the most.
• Encourage your cat to use the top entry litter box by providing a healthy treat after he does his business and exits the litter box.
• Heed that classic rule: always provide at least one litter box per cat in the household plus one – and not all lined up in a row.

Bathroom Options for Your 21st Century Cat

We’ve come a long way, kitty. Gone are the days where litter was dusty, cloggy and stinky in wobbly litter pans. Cats are much more cherished as family members these days and deserve safe, design-friendly and effective litter boxes to use. For some felines, top entry litter boxes offer a refreshing new bathroom that they will use consistently.

Take the time to really assess your cat’s health, personality and bathroom habits. After all, the best litter box in your home is the one your cat freely picks time after bathroom time. Related Articles – Read On!

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Keep litter boxes clean!  Featured Image via IRIS USA