Best Cat Litter Box for Multiple Cats
Updated by Brandon F. on May 7, 2020
A product that goes hand in hand with cat litter is, of course, a cat litter box. There are hundreds of different cat litter boxes out there, each with their unique pros and cons. Some are designed for toughness, others are designed for size and comfort, and some even place aesthetics at the top of their priorities.
Where things get very interesting (and also much more challenging) is when multiple cats are sharing the same litter box. The best cat litter boxes for multiple cats are oftentimes completely different than the best litter box for single cat households.
We go into great detail in this article about the best cat litter boxes for multiple cats. However, for those of you simply after an answer, we have included a helpful table below that shows our top picks. Hop right below it if you wish to get into more detail.
Things such as inside volume, easier entries and exits, deeper cat litter storage areas, and a more efficient method of emptying and/or cleaning cat litter all play a part. While some of these can be overlooked or even ignored with single-cat households, with multi-cat residences they can become a much bigger issue.
Best Cat Litter Box for Multiple Cats
| Model | Image | Dimensions | Best Selling Points | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan |  | 22.4" x 18.3" x 17" | Easy removal hood, Very affordable, Optimized shape | $ |
| Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box |  | 22.3" x 21.2" x 10.5" | Self-cleaning technology, Reasonably priced | $$ |
| Nature's Miracle Advanced Hooded Corner Litter Box |  | 24.2" x 24.2" x 21.7" | Enormous, Built-in charcoal filter, Very inexpensive | $ |
| MFPS Enclosed Cat Litter Box |  | 25" x 19" x 16.5" | Very deep base, Enclosed litter pan | $$$ |
| Littermaid LM980 Mega Self-Cleaning Litter Box |  | 17.7" x 9.8" x 28" | Self-cleaning capabilities, Much lower maintenance | $$$$$ |
| Petmate 22793 Retracting Litter Pan |  | 19.2" x 23.7" x 16.7" | Retracting visor feature, Very wide entry/exit point, Filtered hood | $$$ |
Should You Just Buy Multiple Cat Litter Boxes Instead?
Before we go on, it is important to consider potentially opting for multiple cat litter boxes as opposed to forcing 2 or more cats to share a single litter box. Many resources believe that sticking to the “one cat per litter box” rule is the way to go. Various factors come into play with this decision.
Cats Need Space
First, cats are not pack animals, and giving them adequate space is an important consideration that owners should follow to help promote a happy and healthy cat. This is particularly true when cats are going to the restroom (a time when having privacy is essential). For many, this might not be an issue: Most cats follow a rough “schedule” when it comes to using the restroom and if your multiple cats happen to prefer to use the potty at different times then there shouldn’t be a concern.
Cats Protect Their Turf
Second, cats are very territorial and this can also apply to their litter box. Cats that are forced to do their business in the same area may become hostile towards each other, resulting in the alpha cat trying to “protect its turf”.
This is why for those who have multiple litter boxes we encourage to put some space in between them, preferably on opposite sides of the room or house. Again, this is on a case-by-case basis and some multi-cat households will not have an issue while others will find this to be challenging.
More Challenging to Keep Clean
The more cats using a single litter box, the quicker the cat litter will be exhausted and the more frequently you will have to clean and/or replace the litter. There are plenty of multi-cat litters that are up to the challenge, but even the most resilient multi-cat cat litter will have to be monitored more closely in busier multi-cat litter boxes. Failure to do so will not only result in the cat waste smells getting in the air, but it will also make for a less enjoyable experience for your cat. In worst-case scenarios, it may even result in your cat going to the bathroom outside of the litter box!
Harder to Monitor Cat Health
Periodically checking your cat’s waste for odd colors or shapes is an important part of cat ownership. This can be a great way to detect early signs of various health issues and can also be a requirement by your vet in certain cases where your cat may already be sick or had potentially ingested something it shouldn’t have.
Some cat litters also are designed to change colors when exposed to certain scenarios that your cat may experience. When you have all of your cats going in the same area it can be much more challenging to see which cat waste came from which cat or pinpoint which of your cats may be sick.
Forced to Use a Single Type of Litter
Going with a single cat litter box means that you will have to stick with one type of litter. Different cats may have preferences for different types of litter and you take away that luxury with a single cat litter box. We have seen this issue come up multiple times in regards to households that have an older cat and a younger cat.
Oftentimes the older cat may need to use a specialized litter that is designed to be gentler on their paws while the younger doesn’t need this requirement. Some cats also may be more sensitive to litter dust or perfumes which require them to use a more natural cat litter (which typically doesn’t perform as well in our experience).
When a Multiple Cat Litter Box Can Work
While it is important to go over why multi-cat litter boxes won’t work for all households, many will find that the concerns listed above don’t apply to them and their pets. There are also several benefits to using a single cat litter box as opposed to multiple.
Great for Small Apartments
An obvious benefit of using one litter box is the space you save vs. multiple litter boxes. Some cat litter boxes, particularly ones with more advanced filtering and self-cleaning mechanisms, can be quite large and bulky. In smaller residences, this can take up a significant part of valuable floor space. If you can make do with a single litter box you can end up preserving a lot more area than those with two or more.
Easier to Maintain
When all of your cats are going in one location vs. multiple, it means fewer boxes that you have to keep clean and empty. This is particularly handy for those with long-haired cats or that use cat litter that is notorious for tracking, as your tracking source is just one area instead of multiple. Using a single litter box means that it will likely get dirtier more quickly than multiple (which was a con listed above), but you still typically save time vs. having to maintain multiple litter boxes.
Saves Money
Litter boxes cost money and some can be quite expensive. There are also plenty of cat litters out there that are powerful enough to handle multiple cat households. So for those who have cats that can work well with a single litter box, you will find that you typically save money since you don’t have to purchase additional boxes or multiple bags of regular litter.
Things We Look for When Searching for the Best Litter Boxes for Multiple Cats
There are several common features that we have seen that good multi-cat litter boxes share. We will go over a few below.
Size
Typically multi-cat litter boxes are a bit larger than a traditional box. Our initial assumption for this was that they were made larger to accommodate multiple cats being inside of it at once. However, in our experience, we have seen that cats rarely do their business together at the same time. But it is still good to have that extra space just in case.
Deeper Base
It is common for a multi-cat litter box to have deeper walls than a single-cat litter box
Cat litter boxes for multiple cats usually have a deeper base. This allows for deeper layers of cat litter which is very important for busier litter boxes. The reason for this is that cats will instinctively try to bury or hide their waste by scooping litter on top of it. The more often that a cat uses a litter box, the more often that the litter granules will be moved around.
A shallow litter box will become “exhausted” much sooner, resulting in cat waste not being able to be properly buried and clumped. This not only makes your cat less inclined to use the litter box later on, but it also results in a more stinky and messier aftermath that you have to deal with!
Larger Entry/Exit
Going along with the larger size in general, cat litter boxes that work well with multiple cats will usually have a larger door. Again, we rarely see cats using a box at the same time but in the cases that they do having a larger entry and exit way is helpful.
Advanced Cleaning/Filtering Mechanisms
Many readers who utilize a single litter box for their 2 or more cats take advantage of the more advanced litter boxes on the market. These are the litter boxes that have built-in filtering systems and self-cleaning features. This isn’t a big surprise to us as these units have higher capabilities and seem to handle the increased demand of multi-cat families.
Best Cat Litter Boxes for Multiple Cats
Now that we have gone over the considerations you should make before trying a multi-cat litter box, let’s go over our top choices for the best products out there. Without further ado, here are our choices for the best cat litter boxes for multiple cats.
Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan
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$53.99 and save
This huge litter pan is large enough to comfortably fit 3 cats in it at once (although we doubt you’ll ever have to deal with this scenario!). The base is very deep, allowing for 4 inches or more of the cat litter of your choosing. The large hood can also be easily lifted which allows for easy access to the litter and greatly assist in cleaning and general maintenance.
Also, the entire top lifts off after unclipping the 4 side clips if you want to have even more access. To help combat the increased odor demands of a multi-cat litter box, there is also a carbon filter built-in that helps absorb odors. We also appreciate the rotating handle on the top of the unit that makes transportation much easier. And all of this comes in a very affordable package that should be within everybody’s budget.
Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box
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$46.93 and save
The Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box doesn’t have quite the spacious entrance of some of the other multi-cat boxes we have looked at, but the inside volume is very spacious and can easily hold two cats at once. There is no lifting hood mechanism and instead, the entire top can be removed similar to how most standard cat litter boxes operate.
Where this product shines is in its proprietary self-cleaning technology. It has built-in grills that separate clean litter from cat waste. It operates without the necessity for electricity or additional filters or liners. Rather, you simply roll the box back and forth to filter the clean litter through the grill. We like this feature as it helps to preserve cat litter for much longer which can be a constant challenge in many multi-cat litter boxes. The asking price is also quite reasonable and much cheaper than many other “self-cleaning” boxes on the market.
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Hooded Corner Litter Box
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$44.49 and save
Another huge litter box, Nature’s Miracle Advanced Hooded Corner Litter Box takes a very simple approach to deal with multiple cats by simply making everything bigger! The height, depth, width, and entrance/exit to this unit are very large and are perfect for multiple cats to comfortably sit inside and move around. This is also a corner unit that has a triangular shape.
Many corner litter boxes can suffer in having a lack of inside volume but that isn’t the case here. To further help deal with busier litter boxes it also comes with a built-in charcoal filter. This simple approach is also great for your pocketbook as this litter box is among the most affordable you will find that can handle multiple cats.
MFPS Enclosed Cat Litter Box
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Price not available and save
The first thing you will probably think when you see MFPS’s Enclosed Litter Box is simply how deep it is. By our estimates, you are looking at around 6 inches of wall space to work with. This incredibly deep base means that you can stack up against your favorite cat litter as high as you want which makes it last much longer before becoming exhausted.
The higher walls also mean that you will have less of an issue with your cats tracking litter granules outside of the box. This unit is also plenty long, providing a lot of space for your cats to have their own “spot” to do their business. An enclosed litter pan makes for much easier and efficient handling of the litter when it is time to empty and/or clean.
Littermaid LM980 Mega Self-Cleaning Litter Box
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Price not available and save
A bit of a different approach, the Littermaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box meets multi-cat challenges through more advanced methods. While the specifics of how the Littermaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box works are an article in of itself, the general gist of it is that there is an electric rake that will move forward and back to scoop waste once triggered.
There are built-in sensors that will detect when your cat accesses the litter box and then a 10-minute timer will begin that triggers the rake beginning to move. All of this equates to a very precise and powerful method of dealing with higher waste volume which is the norm in multi-cat litter boxes. It takes a lot of the effort out of keeping a busy litter box clean which will make both cats and their owners much happier. This unit is quite a bit more expensive than the others we have discussed but its approach is truly unique and takes a huge load off of the owner.
Petmate 22793 Retracting Litter Pan
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In terms of size, the Petmate 22793 Retracting Litter Pan is a bit smaller than some of the other huge examples we have discussed in this article (that being said, it is still much larger than most typical cat litter boxes). What makes it stand out, however, is in its really helpful retracting visor design. Most litter boxes have their entryway on the smaller side. This allows for a deeper shape but it can also make accessing the inside of the litter box much more challenging as you have to reach deeper in.
By putting the entryway on the longer side, it makes for a huge access point for your cats and also makes it much less challenging to maintain the litter when it is time to be cleaned or replaced. The visor also can be lowered to create a barrier that does a better job of capturing litter from being tracked or kicked out. The hood is also filtered which further helps to minimize the potentially pungent odors that come from a multi-cat litter box. The asking price is a bit higher than some, but it is still well within most people’s budgets.