The 5 Best Top-Entry Litter Boxes of 2023
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These boxes are your fix for litter tracking
The Spruce Pets / Lecia Landis
Top-entry cat litter boxes are one of the best solutions to litter tracking. With high sides and a mostly enclosed design, top-entry cat litter boxes require your cat to climb or jump to the top of the box to gain access.
A top-entry litter box isn’t suitable for all cats—elderly cats may struggle to enter and exit from the top, for example. They also can be a little more difficult to maintain, since you typically have to remove a lid in order to clean them. But the right top-entry cat litter box will have enough space for your cats to feel comfortable, provide easy access for you to clean, and successfully prevent the spread of cat litter outside of the box.
Our favorite top-entry litter box is the IRIS Top Entry Litter Box, with a sleek oval design, tall sides, and a removable lid that effectively contains splatter and reduces tracking. However, we also love several other top-entry litter boxes that might work even better for you and your cat.
Best Overall: IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box with Scoop
What We Like
Slim design with a smaller footprint and tall sides
Top lid is easy to lift off for cleaning
The ridged top catches extra litter on paws and has a large entrance opening
Made with recycled, BPA-free plastic
What We Don’t Like
Nothing
The IRIS Top Entry Box has a lengthened cylindrical design with a spacious entry portal on top, and ample room for most adult cats to come and go as they need. The unconventional rounded shape means there are no corners for clumps to get stuck in which makes it easier to scoop, and the deeply grooved lid is very good at catching excess litter so you are less likely to experience tracking.
One of the biggest advantages of the IRIS Top Entry is its large entrance size and generous spaciousness. While some top-entry litter boxes are best suited for small cats, even the big cats can easily use the IRIS potty. Its opening is a wide oval that’s 9 inches wide and 11 inches long, and it has a weight limit of 20 pounds,
Unlike other top-entry boxes, which have lids that sit on top of the tub, the IRIS litter box has a unique design that uses a notch in the back and two buttons in the front. This makes it easy to open, but it can be a little tricky to align the lid correctly when closing.
The IRIS Top Entry comes in a very pleasing modern design with multiple color options, but some are more readily available than others. It also comes with a slotted scoop and a built-in hook for the scoop to conveniently hang. This litter box is compatible with most types of litter and it's easy to clean with soap and water.
Price at time of publish: $40
Dimensions: 20 x 16 x 14.6 inches | Entrance Dimensions: 9 x 11 inches | Scoop Included: Yes
Best Budget: Petmate Top Entry Litter Box
What We Like
Hinged lid makes cleaning easy
Low enough for cats who like to peep out
Hook for scoop
Made of 95% recycled materials
What We Don’t Like
Gray colors looks a little like a garbage can
Textured top isn’t very effective at catching litter
A little short and narrow; likely inadequate for multi-cat households
The Petmate Top Entry Cat Litter Box has a wide top opening that will work for most cats. It also has thoughtful features like a hook for hanging your litter scoop and a hinged lid that you don’t have to completely lift off in order to clean the interior.
There are a few downsides, however, most notably the box’s relatively small dimensions. If you’re looking for a box that will fit in a tight space, the 20-by-15-inch footprint of the Petmate might be just the thing, but we wouldn’t recommend it for multi-cat households. The divots on top of the lid are less effective at catching litter than several of our other favorite boxes. Finally, while Petmate describes the color scheme as “brushed nickel” and “pearl white,” it looks a little trash-can-esque to our eyes.
But all of these are minor complaints, and the Petmate Top Entry Litter Box is an affordable way to find out whether or not your cats will adjust to a top-entry box.
Price at time of publish: $33
Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 15 inches | Enterance Dimensions: 9 inches | Scoop Included: No
Best High End: Modkat Litter Box, Top-Entry
What We Like
Available in three colors: black, white, gray
Lid is on a swivel, so you don’t have to remove it to scoop
Lid is perforated with multiple holes, so stray litter falls back into the box
Comes with a scoop
What We Don’t Like
While the lid can support 30 pounds, Modkat recommends its litter boxes for cats that are 12 pounds or under
Need to continually purchase liners
Included scoop is plastic and not all that beefy
The Modkat Litter Box won a Red Dog Design Award for its thoughtful top entry box design. Its square footprint makes it easy to fit into corners or other nooks. Its lid is a substantial improvement on other designs, first because it has a grid of holes in the lid, so that litter shaken off of your cat’s feet falls right back into the box. It also lets a little more light into the interior, which should be more welcoming for cats that might otherwise be hesitant to enter a top-entry box. The Modkat’s lid is also built on a swivel—instead of lifting the lid fully off the box, you simply swing it open, providing wide access to the inside of the box for scooping.
But the biggest difference between the Modkat and other litter boxes is likely to be its most controversial for potential buyers: it uses liners. Each reusable liner is made from durable tarpaulin and will last up to three months. They fit perfectly inside the box thanks to a tension band that holds the top of the liner rigidly open. While they certainly make cleaning easy—the inside is smooth enough to scoop, and full litter changes are as easy as dumping out a large bag—not everyone will want to spend approximately $40 a year on liners.
The Modkat Litter Box is available in three colors: white, gray, and black. There’s also an XL version of the Modkat Litter Box, which includes both top and front entry configurations—the perfect solution if you’re not certain whether or not your cat will adapt to top entry use.
Price at time of publish: $100
Dimensions: 6 x 16 x 15 inches | Entry Dimensions: 8.75 inches | Scoop Included: Yes
Text Link:The 9 Best Cat Litter Boxes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Best Lid: Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box
What We Like
Roomy interior
Large opening with smooth sides
Textured top captures any stray litter
What We Don’t Like
Deep bowl can be tricky to scoop
The Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box features a textured tracking mat design on the top, which helps pick any little pieces of litter that still remain on your cat’s feet after leaping up and out of the box. While we'd generally prefer lids that have holes in them (so the litter falls back into the box), we've found the grooved Clevercat lid to be most effective at knocking litter off your cat's feet. When you lift off the lid to scoop the litter, you simply pour the loose granules back into the box.
Aside from the exceptionally effective lid, the Clevercat is a standard and useful top entry box in every other respect. The 9-inch diameter opening is large enough for the vast majority of cats but small enough to keep out mischievous dogs. The litter tub is 20 inches long and 15 inches wide, with 15 inches of depth—about standard, though maybe a little small for a multi-cat household.
The Clevercat is made in the United States and is backed by a one-year warranty. The rectangular design is straightforward, but the curved edges on top make it easy to grip when emptying out. It's made out of plastic and can be used with or without a liner.
Price at time of publish: $50
Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 15 inches | Enterance Dimensions: 9 inches | Scoop Included: No
Best Litter Box Furniture: Omlet Maya Cat Litter Box Furniture
What We Like
Highly configurable
Durable, reusable liner
Folding scoop included
Smell-absorbing carbon filter included
Neutral design can work anywhere
Hinged top that’s easy to spot clean
Effective grid platform for catching litter on paws
What We Don’t Like
Liner can get crinkly, leaving nooks and crannies for waste to hide
Cats may have trouble adjusting to elevated entrance
Very expensive for a cat litter box, even with all the included extras
The folding scoop is a cool design, but chances are good you’ll want a beefier scoop for day-to-day use
Omlet’s cat litter boxes are designed to look like furniture items and can be configured in multiple ways, from a basic “Top Entry Jump On” to a larger version with enclosed storage. While the simplest top-entry option is good, we don’t see substantial advantages to purchasing it over one of the other top-entry litter boxes on this list, especially since it still looks like a litter box, albeit a well-designed one. If you’re looking for a litter box that will be as unobtrusive as possible, the sweet spot is probably the “Jump In” configuration, which combines the strengths of an enclosed litter box cabinet and a top entry box.
The “Jump In” version of the Maya Cat Litter Box looks like a modern toiletries cabinet or bathroom trash can holder. While there’s a top entry box inside, your cat initially enters through an entry hole high up on the front face of the piece of furniture. This lands them on top of the litter box enclosed in the bottom half of the cabinet. This jump-through entry hole can be left open, or sealed off with a flap door, available in either clear, pink or blue colors.
The litter box itself is one of Omlet’s most unique innovations, since it’s more like a soft-sided cooler than a rigid tub. The top entry lid on top has a hinge that makes for easy access to the litter compartment, but it’s also easy to take out the entire liner for scooping or a more thorough cleaning. While effectively nonstick, it’s still a little harder to scoop out than a rigid tub, since litter clumps can get trapped in wrinkled corners—but the Maya liner is surprisingly seam-free and usefully rigid enough for cleaning access and most other uses.
Price at time of publish: $242 (Jump-In)
Dimensions: 18 x 20 x 16 inches (Top Entry Jump On), 16 x 20 x 33 inches (Jump In), 16 x 20 x 37 inches (Jump In With Storage) | Entry Dimensions: 9 inches | Scoop Included: Yes
Text Link:The 9 Best Cat Litter Scoops of 2023
Our favorite top entry litter box for most cats is the IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box which has a compact oval shape with tall walls and a large entrance hole spacious enough to accommodate furballs of all shapes and sizes. It's also easy to scoop and suitable for homes with multiple cats. If you are looking for an option that will blend in with your home decor, check out the Omlet Maya Cat Litter Box Furniture which has a minimal modern look, sturdy construction, and multiple configurations.
What to Look for in a Top-Entry Litter Box
Adjusting
Cats have individual preferences regarding their litter box. Some cats love top-entry boxes, which provide them privacy and allow them to pop their heads out the top opening to survey their surroundings. Other cats may refuse to use the top entrance at all.
One indicator of how your cats will accept a top-entry box is how they’ve adapted to previous changes to their bathroom—different types of litter, new boxes, different litter box locations. Did they adjust quickly? If so, they will likely adapt to a new top-entry box. Cats that enjoy boxes and other hiding behaviors may also be quick to adapt.
Old Cats, Large Cats, and Kittens
Your cat’s physical condition is also important to consider. While the vast majority of cats are capable of the small jumps needed to access a top entry box, older cats with arthritis or other health issues may not be able to make the transition.
While one of our large tester cats—Wally—loves his IRIS USA Top Entry Cat Litter Box, some top-entry boxes recommend use for small and medium-sized cats. We have tried to include the width of the top entrance opening wherever that information is available.
Kittens are also likely to require a front entrance litter box for the first few months of their lives, until they are dexterous enough to make the leap to a top entry.
Scooping
Because top-entry cat litter boxes are designed deep, you’re going to want a beefy scoop. Our favorite is the DurAnimals DuraScoop, but we have several other recommendations. You might also want to consider a long-handled model, since a top-entry box takes a little more reaching.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you train a cat to use a top entry litter box?
The key is to change as little as possible when introducing a new litter box. Make sure to use familiar litter, and place the box in the same spot as your old box. You can even transfer some old litter into the new box, so that their smells are already in place. After that, your cats should be able to explore their new box all by themselves. Most will figure out what to do.
If you’re still having trouble getting them to use the new top entry box, start by placing them directly on the lid a few times. They may jump off, but they’ll also begin to familiarize themselves with the new platform. You can also remove the lid for a few days and place it next to the litter box, so they can explore it while it’s on the floor and also have a more open litter container to leap into.
Can kittens use top entry litter boxes?
Most kittens who are older than a few months will have no problem using a top-entry litter box. The biggest indicator is how developed their jumping ability has become. If they are regularly able to jump and chase ribbon toys, then they’re probably more than capable of handling a top-entry box.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets
This article was written by Ellie Welles, a product reviewer for The Spruce Pets. Welles is the proud mother of four cats, and is dedicated to finding the best of everything for her felines. She owns a top-entry litter box and compiled insights from several other owners with firsthand experiences using many of the products on this list.
Read Next:The 5 Best Automatic Litter Boxes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
