If you have a cat, you know that they can make quite a messy kicking litter out of their boxes. Some cats also prefer to do their business in privacy, and if you can’t put the box somewhere private, you can use a covered box to help make your cat more comfortable. We’ve chosen several different covered litter boxes to review for you so you can see the difference between them. We’ll tell you the pros and cons we experienced with each one and tell you how our cats liked it to help you make an informed decision.
The Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Pan is our pick as the best overall covered cat litter box. Its large size is suitable for most cats, and there are bag anchors that keep the litter bags in place, so it’s easier to clean. The top has a replaceable carbon filter that traps odors while providing ventilation. There is also a removable front door that you can use for increased odor trapping.
We liked the Catit and found it attractive and durable. The only problem we had with it was the door is easy to put on wrong, which can trap the cat inside.
Pros
Bag anchors
Carbon filter
Removable door
Durable
Cons
Faulty door
2. Frisco Flip Top Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box – Best Value
The Frisco Flip Top Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box is our pick as the best covered cat litterbox for the money. It features a unique design that fits into a corner, saving you space while looking attractive. A swinging front door is easy to push open and helps trap odors when your cat finishes using it. It has a durable design and a charcoal filter that can trap odors while providing ventilation. The top flips open, so it’s easy to clean.
We liked using the Frisco Flip Top, and the corner design saved room, but it also makes the inside a little smaller, so some of the larger cats might not find it comfortable to use.
The Frisco Multi-Function Covered Cat Litter Box, Jumbo with Inner Tray, is our premium choice covered cat litter box. It’s a large box with a durable build that looks like a piece of furniture and will look great in any room. It has a wide low-profile entrance that your cat can use to enter, and once inside, there is a small litter box it can use. The advantage is that no matter how much the cat kicks litter, it will stay in the box and won’t track. The top opens like a toy box, so there is access to the inner box for easy cleaning.
The downside to the Frisco Multi-Function is the tiny inner litterbox. Its small size allows the cat to remove plenty of the litter, and some of our cats started to use the larger box to do their business. The large box is much too heavy to clean, so you will likely need to purchase a larger litter box for the inside.
Pros
Huge size
Wide entrance
Attractive appearance
Durable
Cons
Tiny inner litter box
4. Van Ness Enclosed Cat Litter Pan – Best for Kittens
The Van Ness Enclosed Cat Litter Pan is our pick as the best for kittens. It has several large holes in the top to provide plenty of ventilation. The front door is easy for your cat to use and helps keep odors inside, and it’s available in multiple sizes, so you can get one for bigger cats too.
While the Van Ness is a great box for kittens, we found the plastic a little too thin and flexible for some of the adult cats we have, and the plastic scratches easily, which can trap urine and cause the box to smell bad.
The Omega Paw Roll’N Clean Cat Litter Box features a unique cleaning system that takes the work out of removing clumps and poop from the litter. Rolling the box causes the litter to pass through a special screen that separates the waste and deposits it into a handy pull-out tray. The system uses less litter than ordinary boxes, and the large size should be accommodating to most cats.
The Omega Paw Roll’N Clean is a good idea, and we keep it for guests that watch our cat when we’re away, but we found that as you use it, the screen collects urine and bits of poop that can be quite difficult to remove.
Pros
Easy to clean
Requires less litter
Large size
Cons
Screen gets dirty
6. Nature’s Miracle Just For Cats Advanced Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box
Nature’s Miracle Just For Cats Advanced Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box is another brand that features a corner design that can be quite handy if you don’t have a good spot for one. This model has a charcoal filter that traps odors while providing ventilation, and it has a non-stick surface that makes it easy to clean.
The downside to Nature’s Miracle is that the sides on the bottom pan are too low and several of our cats hit the rim when they pee, causing urine to get trapped around the rim between the top and bottom sections. If you like to use litter liners, you can’t use them with this triangle shape.
The Frisco Top Entry Cat Litter Box is a top entry litter box for cats that like to throw around litter. Climbing in and out helps knock off litter that can get stuck between the cat’s paws, so there is almost no tracking, even with dusty litter. The surface is textured, so your cat doesn’t slip while it’s using it, and there are built-in handles that make it easier to clean.
Our cats were quick to catch on to the top-loading method, and the only downside we experienced while we were using the Frisco Top Entry was that the top was flimsy and cracked after a few months. If you are going to use it for more than one cat or the cat is overweight, you will need to replace it frequently.
Pros
Top entry
Built-in handles
Non-slip surface
Cons
Flimsy top
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Covered (Hooded) Cat Litter Box
Size
When purchasing a covered litter box for your cat, the main thing you want to look for is size. You want to make sure that your cat has plenty of room to turn and move around while doing its business. The extra room will help make the cat feel comfortable, and it will be more likely to use it. It also reduces the risk of litter getting outside the box. We recommend getting the largest box you can get fit in your home and your budget allows. No matter the size of your cat, more room is better.
Ventilation
One of the biggest problems (or benefits) with using a covered litter box is that it can trap dust and odors inside. It’s nice for us humans, but it can make it unpleasant for your cats. Some cats may even suffer respiratory problems from concentrated dust. When using covered boxes, it’s important to use fragrance-free, low dust litter, but ventilation is equally important. Always check over the litterbox before you purchase it to make sure air can flow freely.
Image Credit: Jennifer McCallum, Shutterstock
Filters
Many of the brands on this list come with a charcoal filter that will help trap odors. We noticed that they could help some, but they only last a short time, and you will need to replace them, which can add up to a considerable expense over time.
Durability
Another thing to consider when choosing a covered cat litter box is durability. Some brands use flimsy or thin plastic that can crack as you use it. Soft plastic scratches when your cat’s digging, and those scratches can absorb urine and continue to smell even after you clean it. We recommend choosing a brand that uses thick, hard plastic that will resist scratches and cracks. We tried to point out any brands on our list that fell short.
Conclusion
There are many kinds of closed litter boxes, and the best one for you will mostly be a matter of opinion as long as the size is right. However, we recommend our pick as the best litter tray overall for most people. The Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Pan is large enough for most cats, and you can use liners with it for easy cleaning. It has a charcoal filter and a removable front door that work well to reduce odors. Another smart choice is our pick for the best value. The Frisco Flip Top Hooded Corner Cat Litter Box is really easy to clean, and it fits into a corner so you can place it out of the way of heavy foot traffic.
We hope you enjoyed reading over these reviews and found a few you would like to try out. If we have helped increase your cat’s privacy, please share this guide to the best covered cat litterboxes on Facebook and Twitter.
Ed Malaker is a veteran writer who has contributed to a wide range of blogs that cover tools, pets, guitars, fitness, and computer programming. When he’s not writing, Ed is usually performing DIY projects around the house or working in the garden. He’s also a musician and spends a lot of time helping people fix their guitars and composing music for independent films.
