How to Choose the Right Cat Litter Box

Choosing the best cat litter box is not just about finding one that looks tidy in your home. Your cat needs enough space to enter, turn, dig and squat comfortably, while you may want easier cleaning, less litter tracking and better control of everyday odours.

The right choice depends on your cat's size, age and habits, as well as your available floor space and how much daily cleaning you want to do.

Some cats are perfectly comfortable with a simple open tray. Others may suit an enclosed, high-sided, foldable or automatic litter box.

This guide compares the main types and some of the best cat litter boxes available from PaWz so you can choose a setup that makes sense for both your cat and your home.

If you already know the type you need, you can browse the full cat litter box range .

What Makes a Good Cat Litter Box?

A good litter box should make toileting comfortable for your cat and maintenance practical for you.

Your cat should be able to:

• enter without difficulty
• turn around comfortably
• dig and cover waste
• squat without touching the sides
• leave without struggling

The box should also be easy to scoop, empty and clean.

For households dealing with frequent litter tracking or exposed waste, features such as high sides, enclosed walls, litter-filtering exits and mats can help contain mess.

If daily scooping is your biggest problem, an automatic cat litter box may be more suitable than a standard tray. PaWz currently offers AutoClean models designed around different cat sizes, waste capacities and smart functions.

Quick Comparison: Cat Litter Box Types

Different litter box styles suit different cats and homes. Use this quick comparison before looking at specific PaWz models.

Litter Box Type	Best For	Main Benefit	Keep in Mind
Open litter tray	Kittens, senior cats, easy access	Simple and easy to clean	More litter scatter
High-sided litter box	Cats that dig or kick litter	Helps keep litter inside	Entry height may not suit all cats
Enclosed litter box	Privacy, smell control, tidy homes	Hides mess and contains odour better	Must be roomy enough inside
Top-entry litter box	Reducing litter tracking	Helps catch litter from paws	Not ideal for senior cats or kittens
Automatic litter box	Busy owners, multi-cat homes	Less daily scooping	Higher upfront cost

If you are still comparing different styles, browse the full cat litter box range

The Best Cat Litter Boxes in Australia

The best cat litter box depends on your cat's size, mobility and toilet habits, as well as the amount of cleaning, litter tracking and odour control you want to manage.

Below are five PaWz litter box options for different household needs.

1. PaWz Automatic Smart Cat Litter Box Self-Cleaning

Best for: busy owners who want less daily scooping

The PaWz Automatic Smart Cat Litter Box Self-Cleaning automatically separates waste after use, reducing the need to manually scoop after every visit.

Its enclosed design gives your cat a more private toilet area, while the separate waste storage helps keep used litter away from the main litter bed.

Smart app control also makes it easier to manage compatible cleaning functions from your phone.

Why choose it:

• automatic waste separation
• reduced daily scooping
• enclosed design
• smart app control
• separate waste storage

Keep in mind:
An automatic litter box still needs regular waste removal, litter top-ups and periodic cleaning.

If automated cleaning is your main priority, you can also compare the full automatic cat litter box range .

2. Pawz Smart Cat Litter Box Automatic Self Cleaning with App Remote Control

 

he PaWz Smart Cat Litter Box with App Remote Control combines automatic cleaning with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity and app control.

It also includes UV cleaning support and an enclosed design that gives your cat privacy while helping keep the litter area contained.

This model suits owners who want a connected litter box with more control over daily cleaning and maintenance.

Why choose it:

• automatic cleaning
• app remote control
• 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity
• UV cleaning support
• enclosed toilet area

Keep in mind:
Check the product instructions for cat-size requirements and compatible litter before use.

For a more detailed comparison of smart models, read our best self-cleaning litter box guide .

3. PaWz House Cat Litter Box

 

The PaWz House Cat Litter Box is a practical manual option for households that want more privacy and better control of litter scatter.

It features a fully enclosed body, pull-out litter drawer, two-way door, knock-off tray and mini shovel.

The pull-out drawer helps make litter changes more straightforward, while the textured knock-off area helps remove loose litter from your cat's paws before it reaches the floor.

A small chimney compartment can also hold a bamboo charcoal deodorising bag.

Why choose it:

• fully enclosed design
• pull-out litter drawer
• two-way door
• anti-tracking knock-off tray
• deodorising compartment

Keep in mind:
Check that your cat has enough room to stand, turn and dig comfortably inside the box.

You can compare more covered options in the enclosed cat litter box range .

4. PaWz Foldable Cat Litter Box

Best for: small homes and reducing litter tracking

The PaWz Foldable Cat Litter Box combines an enclosed toilet area with a foldable body for easier storage and movement.

It includes separate entry and exit areas, a removable litter drawer and a perforated top.

As your cat leaves, the holes in the top surface help remove loose litter from the paws so less is carried around the home.

Why choose it:

• foldable design
• separate entry and exit
• removable litter drawer
• perforated anti-tracking top
• enclosed interior

Keep in mind:
Cats with limited mobility may find some enclosed or raised-exit designs harder to use.

5. Cat Litter Box Mat Fully Enclosed Kitty Toilet.

 

Best for: households that want the litter box to blend into the room

The Cat Litter Box Mat Fully Enclosed Kitty Toilet is designed more like a piece of furniture than a standard litter tray.

Its enclosed MDF body gives your cat a private toilet area while helping hide the litter box from view.

A litter mat helps catch loose particles as your cat exits, while front access makes cleaning easier.

The top surface can also function as useful household surface space.

Why choose it:

• furniture-style design
• enclosed toilet area
• included litter mat
• front cleaning access
• ventilation
• useful top surface

Keep in mind:
Furniture-style litter boxes take up more floor space, so measure both your available room and the internal cat space before choosing one.

PaWz Cat Litter Boxes Compared

Product	Best For	Main Benefit	Best Match
PaWz Automatic Smart Cat Litter Box Self-Cleaning	Busy owners	Less daily scooping	Owners wanting automated waste control
PaWz Smart Cat Litter Box with App Remote Control	Smart-home users	App control and UV cleaning	Owners wanting connected features
PaWz House Cat Litter Box	Everyday indoor use	Pull-out drawer and enclosed design	Simple manual litter-box setup
PaWz Foldable Cat Litter Box	Small homes	Foldable body and tracking control	Flexible spaces and easier storage
Fully Enclosed Kitty Toilet	Home-friendly appearance	Furniture-style enclosure and litter mat	Visible living areas and tidy interiors

Which Cat Litter Box Is Right for You?

Choose an automatic litter box if reducing daily scooping is your main priority.

Choose an enclosed litter box if you want more privacy and better control of visible litter mess.

Choose a foldable litter box if floor space and storage flexibility matter.

Choose a furniture-style litter box enclosure if the box needs to sit in a visible part of your home.

For kittens, senior cats or cats with reduced mobility, prioritise easy entry and enough internal space over extra features.

The best litter box is the one your cat can use comfortably and you can clean consistently.

For more options, compare the full cat litter box collection .

Open vs Enclosed Cat Litter Box: Which Is Better?

Neither is automatically better.

An open litter box gives your cat a clear view of the surrounding room and usually provides easier entry and better airflow.

This can suit:

• kittens
• senior cats
• large cats
• cats that dislike confined spaces
• cats with reduced mobility

An enclosed cat litter box provides more privacy and can help keep loose litter and visible waste contained.

This can suit:

• indoor cats
• apartments
• bathrooms and laundries
• cats that prefer privacy
• owners who want a tidier litter area

If you want a covered setup, browse the enclosed cat litter box collection .

Whichever style you choose, internal space matters more than how compact or attractive the box looks from the outside.

How Big Should a Cat Litter Box Be?

A commonly used starting point is to choose a litter box roughly 1.5 times your cat's body length , excluding the tail.

Your cat should be able to:

1. enter fully
2. turn around without hitting the sides
3. dig naturally
4. squat comfortably
5. cover waste
6. leave without difficulty

If your cat stands partly outside the box, frequently misses the tray or struggles to turn around, the box may be too small.

For large breeds, choose more usable floor space whenever possible.

Best Litter Box for Large Cats

Large cats need enough room inside the tray rather than simply a box marketed as “large”.

Check:

• internal floor dimensions
• entrance width
• overall height
• usable turning space
• weight guidance
• whether the lid reduces interior room

For cats up to 15kg, the large foldable cat litter box offers a 50cm × 40cm × 40cm enclosed design.

For cats that need extra room without a fully enclosed roof, a large semi-enclosed stainless steel litter box may provide easier movement and more visibility.

Pet Pawz also carries high-sided and larger litter-box options in the main cat litter box collection .

Best Litter Box for Kittens

Kittens usually need a tray that is simple and easy to enter.

Look for:

• low entry height
• stable construction
• enough space to turn around
• an easy-to-clean surface
• placement somewhere quiet and accessible

Avoid making the first litter setup unnecessarily complicated.

Very young kittens may struggle with high-sided or top-entry designs.

If you are setting up a litter area for a new kitten, our how to litter train a kitten guide covers tray height, placement, litter choice and a simple seven-day training routine.

Best Litter Box for Senior Cats

Senior cats often benefit from easy access more than extra features.

A suitable litter box should ideally have:

• a low entrance
• enough room to turn
• good stability
• easy access from the cat's usual living area

Avoid making an older cat climb unnecessarily.

A top-entry design may not be suitable for cats with reduced mobility.

If you have a multi-storey home, consider placing a litter box on each level your cat regularly uses.

How Many Litter Boxes Do You Need?

A common rule is one litter box per cat, plus one extra.

Number of Cats	Recommended Litter Boxes
1 cat	2 litter boxes
2 cats	3 litter boxes
3 cats	4 litter boxes

Providing more than one tray gives cats a choice when another box is occupied, dirty or difficult to reach.

For multi-cat households, avoid placing every box side by side. Spreading them around different parts of the home provides genuinely separate toileting options.

Where Should You Put a Cat Litter Box?

Place the litter box in a quiet, easy-to-reach spot. Laundries, bathrooms and low-traffic corners can work well.

Avoid loud areas beside washing machines, dryers or busy walkways. Also keep the box away from food and water. Cats usually do not like eating near their toilet.

If you have more than one box, spread them across different areas. Two boxes side by side may look like two options to you, but to your cat it can feel like one shared toilet space.

How to Reduce Litter Smell

No litter box removes the need for regular cleaning.

For a manual litter box:

• scoop waste every day
• remove heavily soiled litter
• refill litter when needed
• wash the box regularly
• keep the surrounding area clean
• replace odour-control items where required

The litter itself also makes a difference.

A fast-clumping litter makes it easier to remove soiled sections before smells build up.

PaWz clumping tofu cat litter is made with soybean fibre and edible starch and is designed for quick clumping, absorption and odour control.

You can compare additional cat litter options if you need a different material or format.

Remember that enclosed boxes may keep smells less noticeable to people while allowing odour to remain concentrated inside the box, so they still need frequent cleaning.

How to Reduce Litter Tracking Around the House

Litter tracking happens when granules stick to a cat's paws and are carried onto the surrounding floor.

You can reduce it by using:

• a litter mat
• a textured exit area
• high-sided walls
• an enclosed box
• a top-exit design
• suitable litter granule size

The large top-entry cat litter box uses filter holes in the top lid to allow loose litter to fall back into the tray when the cat exits.

You can also browse cat litter and accessories for litter, waste bags and related litter-box supplies.

Automatic vs Manual Cat Litter Boxes

Both types can work well, but they suit different routines.

Manual Litter Box

A manual tray is usually:

• less expensive
• simple to set up
• easy to inspect
• available in more shapes and sizes

The trade-off is that you need to scoop waste yourself.

Automatic Litter Box

A self-cleaning litter box can:

• separate waste automatically
• reduce daily scooping
• store waste in a separate compartment
• offer app functions on some models
• make routine maintenance more convenient

However, automatic boxes still need cleaning and waste removal.

They also have specific requirements relating to cat size, litter compatibility and maintenance.

If automation is your priority, compare the PaWz automatic cat litter boxes or read the detailed self-cleaning litter box buying guide

What Litter Should You Use?

The best litter depends on your cat and the type of box you are using.

Common options include:

• tofu litter
• bentonite/clumping clay
• crystal litter
• recycled paper
• plant-based litter

For a standard manual box, you generally have more flexibility.

Automatic models may have stricter particle-size and clumping requirements, so always check the product instructions before changing litter.

PaWz's automatic-box guidance states that compatible clumping litters may include plant-based, mixed, bentonite and tofu formulas depending on the model.

For a broader comparison, see the cat litter Australia range .

Common Litter Box Mistakes to Avoid

The first mistake is buying a box that is too small. A neat-looking box is not helpful if your cat feels cramped.

The second mistake is placing the box in a noisy or hard-to-reach area. If your cat feels unsafe, they may avoid it.

The third mistake is not cleaning often enough. A tray that seems “not too bad” to you may smell strong to your cat.

The fourth mistake is changing too much at once. If you change the box, litter and location on the same day, your cat may get confused. Make changes slowly.

Which Cat Litter Box Is Best for You?

There is no universal best litter box for every cat.

For kittens and cats with limited mobility , start with a simple, easy-entry tray.

For cats that scatter litter , consider high sides, an enclosed box or a filtered top-exit design.

For large cats , prioritise usable interior dimensions and easy turning space.

For owners who want less daily scooping , an automatic model may be more convenient.

For cats that want privacy , an enclosed cat litter box may suit the household.

And if you want to compare all current options in one place, browse the complete cat litter box collection .

Final Recommendation

The best cat litter box is the one your cat can use comfortably and you can maintain consistently.

Size and accessibility should come first. After that, look at the problems you actually want the box to solve, such as litter tracking, exposed waste, odour, limited space or frequent scooping.

A simple manual tray may be all some cats need. Other homes may benefit from a large enclosed box, high-sided stainless steel tray or an automatic cat litter box .

To compare the full current range, browse cat litter boxes at Pet Pawz , or pair your chosen tray with suitable cat litter and accessories .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cat litter box in Australia?

The best cat litter box is one that provides enough space for your cat, is easy to access and suits your cleaning routine. Open boxes are simple and accessible, enclosed boxes help contain litter, while automatic boxes reduce manual scooping.

What size litter box should I buy?

A useful starting point is a litter box approximately 1.5 times your cat's body length, excluding the tail. Your cat should be able to turn, dig and squat comfortably.

Are enclosed litter boxes better?

Enclosed boxes can provide privacy and reduce visible litter scatter, but they are not better for every cat. Some cats prefer the visibility and airflow of an open tray.

You can compare different enclosed cat litter boxes before choosing.

What litter box is best for a large cat?

Look for a wide box with enough internal turning room. A large cat litter box designed for cats up to 15kg is one option where a covered design is preferred.

What litter box is best for senior cats?

A low-entry open or semi-enclosed litter box is usually easier for an older cat than a high-sided or top-entry box.

How many litter boxes should one cat have?

A commonly used guideline is one box per cat plus one extra, meaning two boxes for one cat where space allows.

What is the best litter box for odour control?

Regular scooping and cleaning matter most. Enclosed boxes can help contain exposed waste, while clumping litter can make waste easier to remove.

For litter options, see the cat litter collection .

What is the best litter box for reducing litter tracking?

High-sided boxes, litter mats, textured exits and top-entry boxes can help catch litter before your cat walks through the house.

Are automatic cat litter boxes worth it?

They can be useful for households wanting to reduce daily scooping. They still require regular waste removal and cleaning.Read our best self-cleaning litter box for cats guide for a more detailed breakdown.

Can I use tofu litter in an automatic litter box?

Some PaWz automatic models support compatible clumping tofu or plant-based litter, but compatibility differs by model. Always check the instructions for the specific litter box before use.

How do I teach a kitten to use a litter box?

Start with a shallow, easy-entry tray in a quiet area and keep the setup consistent. For a complete routine, follow our 7-day kitten litter training guide .