ExcitedCats is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

9 Best Litter Boxes to Stop Tracking in 2023: Reviews & Top Picks

covered litter box

One of the most notable perks of owning a cat is that they can take care of themselves for the most part, especially in terms of keeping clean. But if you have a cat that’s tracking litter all over the house, that perk goes right out the window. While plenty of litter boxes promise to stop your cat from tracking litter all over your home, few deliver on that promise.

That’s why we tracked down and created reviews of the 10 best litter boxes to stop tracking. We also developed a buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know to get the perfect litter box for your cat the first time.

cat + line divider

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2023

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Booda Dome Cat Litter Box Booda Dome Cat Litter Box
  • Feature iconSteps help clean paws
  • Feature iconProvides plenty of space and privacy
  • Feature iconDomed design and carbon filter reduce odors
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Frisco Top Entry Cat Litter Box Frisco Top Entry Cat Litter Box
  • Feature iconEasy to clean
  • Feature iconKeeps other pets out
  • Feature iconGrooved top cleans paws
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Whisker Litter-Robot Whisker Litter-Robot
  • Feature iconBuilt in-app
  • Feature iconSelf-cleaning design
  • Feature iconBuilt-in odor control
  • Best for Kittens
    Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll' n Clean Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll' n Clean
  • Feature iconEasy to fill
  • Feature iconTwo size options
  • Feature iconSelf-cleaning design helps control tracking
  • Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan
  • Feature iconAffordable
  • Feature iconMade from 95% recycled materials
  • Feature iconGrooves on the lid help clean paws
  • The 9 Best Litter Boxes to Stop Tracking

    1. Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box — Best Overall

    Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box

    Entry style: Side
    Size: 22.5” x 22.5” x 19”
    Color: Pearl linen, titanium, or nickel

    When you’re shopping for the overall best litter box to stop tracking, you can start and end your search with the Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box. While it might not look like a traditional litter box in many ways, that’s exactly what helps it control tracking.

    To enter and exit the litter box, your cat has to go up and down the stairs, and these stairs double as a way to clean your cat’s paws. Furthermore, the enclosed design helps control the odor, and since the top pops right off, cleanup is just as easy as a pan-style litter box.

    There’s tons of space and privacy for your cat, and there are three different color options that you can choose from. However, it is slightly expensive. Also, while there’s tons of space for your cat, you will need to find somewhere to place this large litter box.

    It’s not perfect, but it should keep your cat from tracking litter, and that’s exactly what you’re looking for!

    Pros
    • Steps help clean paws
    • Three color options
    • Domed design and carbon filter reduce odors
    • Provides plenty of space and privacy
    Cons
    • Slightly expensive
    • Large design
    thematic break

    2. Frisco Top Entry Cat Litter Box — Best Value

    Frisco Top Entry Cat Litter Box

    Entry style: Top entry
    Size: 23.2” x 15.4” x 15”
    Color: Black or gray

    If you’re not looking to spend a ton of money, the best litter box to stop tracking for the money is the Frisco Top Entry Cat Litter Box. While top-entry litter boxes don’t always stop any and all tracking, they do a phenomenal job at limiting it.

    The entire top of this top-entry litter box has grooves to help clean your cat’s paws, and the entire box is easy to clean. In addition to helping control tracking, another advantage of a top-entry litter box is that it helps keep other pets out of the litter.

    However, there is no odor control with this litter box. Moreover, while most cats exit from the longer side of the litter box, nothing keeps them from jumping right out to the side.

    If they do this, they don’t get as much time to clean off their paws, which can lead to litter escaping the litter box! Still, for the price, you’re not going to find a litter box that does a better job at eliminating tracking!

    Pros
    • Affordably priced
    • Easy to clean
    • Keeps other pets out
    • Grooved top cleans paws
    Cons
    • No odor control
    • Cats can exit from different sides
    thematic break

    3. Whisker Litter-Robot — Premium Choice

    Whisker Litter-Robot

    Entry style: Front
    Size: 24.25” x 27” x 29.5”
    Color: Beige or gray

    If you’re not worried about how much your litter box will cost, the Whisker Litter-Robot is by far the best choice. It’s also quite expensive.

    But that extra cost brings tons of perks. For starters, it’s a completely self-cleaning litter box that cleans itself every time your cat uses it. Second, it comes with a Wi-Fi-enabled app that lets you know when it’s time to change the litter pan.

    Changing the litter bag is easy because all you need to do is pull out the old bag and put in a new one! Moreover, there’s odor control built right into the litter box, and the entire design helps save litter! A clean box limits tracking, and with the Whisker Litter-Robot, your litter box is always clean!

    Pros
    • Easy to use
    • Built in-app
    • Self-cleaning design
    • Built-in odor control
    • Saves litter
    Cons
    • Expensive
    thematic break

    4. Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll’ n Clean — Best for Kittens

    Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll' n Clean

    Entry style: Front
    Size: 16.5” x 18.5” x 17” or 18.5” x 21.5” x 20”
    Color: Gray

    Kittens might be small but they can still track litter! That’s why an option like the Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll’ n Clean litter box is such a great choice. It comes in two different sizes and has unique features and an easy-to-clean design.

    While it’s not completely automatic, you simply need to spin the handle, and it separates the litter from the droppings. Then, all you need to do is change the bag! Since it’s so easy to clean, it helps you get your kitten’s tracking problem under control early on.

    Just keep in mind that’s it’s a little expensive, but compared to other self-cleaning litter boxes, it’s a bargain. It might not be the best option to help control tracking, but it’ll tide you over until you can get a larger and more traditional option!

    Pros
    • Two size options
    • Easy to clean
    • Easy to fill
    • Self-cleaning design helps control tracking
    Cons
    • Not fully automatic
    • Slightly expensive
    thematic break

    5. Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan

    Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan

    Entry style: Top entry
    Size: 20.29” x 15.07” x 15.2”
    Color: Beige and white

    The Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan is a top-entry litter box that you can use to help control tracking. There are tons of grooves on the lid to help clean paws, but just like other top-entry litter boxes, its overall effectiveness depends on which direction your cat chooses to leave the box.

    However, while it’s an affordable option, it is still slightly on the expensive side. It is made from 95% recycled materials.

    So, if you’re looking to lower your carbon footprint, this is a good choice, but you’ll need to spend more money. It doesn’t have any odor control, though, and there’s only one color option to choose from.

    But like all top-entry litter boxes, it’ll help keep other pets out and help control tracking. That’s a true win-win!

    Pros
    • Grooves on the lid help clean paws
    • Affordable
    • Keeps other pets out
    • Made from 95% recycled materials
    • Easy to clean
    Cons
    • No odor control
    • Cats can leave from any direction
    • Only one color option
    thematic break

    6. ScoopFree Original Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box

    ScoopFree Original Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box

    Entry style: Pan
    Size: 27.37” x 19” x 7”
    Color: Purple or gray

    One self-cleaning litter box that you should consider to help eliminate tracking is the ScoopFree Original Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box. While you can’t use the self-cleaning feature for cats under 6 months, after they pass that stage, this unit can make your job easier than ever.

    Instead of the traditional clay litter, you use a crystal litter, which eliminates tracking! Moreover, crystal litter lasts longer and helps eliminate odors, while removing the need to sift through and clean out the box!

    However, it is expensive, and it only self-cleans 20 minutes after your cat uses it. While that does help save litter, it also leaves waste exposed for a while before it cleans it out. Since this product has an open-top pan-style design, this is a bigger deal than it would be with many other litter box options.

    Pros
    • Self-cleaning design
    • Eliminates the need for clay litter — no tracking!
    • Crystal litter helps control odor
    • Uses less litter
    • Extremely long-lasting
    Cons
    • Can’t use self-cleaning features for a kitten under 6 months
    • Expensive
    • Only cleans 20 minutes after a cat uses it
    thematic break

    7. IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box

    IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box

    Entry style: Top entry
    Size: 17.32” x 13.39” x 12.2” or 20.47” x 16.14” x 14.56”
    Color: White, black, gray, or beige

    The IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box is a top-entry litter box that you can use to help get your cat’s tracking under control. It’s similar to other top-entry litter boxes, but it comes in two different size options, and there are four different color options for you to choose from.

    This gives you more versatility to find the exact litter box that you like, and you still get the perks of a top-entry litter box. Not only does it help prevent tracking with a grooved lid that cleans paws, but it also keeps other pets out of the litter.

    This litter box has a rounded shape that helps with cleaning, but it’s also expensive. Moreover, it doesn’t have odor control technologies, and the cat can exit from any direction.

    So, while it’s undoubtedly a great choice, you can probably save yourself money and get the same results by picking a cheaper top-entry box.

    Pros
    • Two size options
    • Four color options
    • Grooved lid helps clean paws
    • Keeps other pets out
    • Rounded shape helps with cleaning
    Cons
    • No odor control
    • Slightly expensive for a top-entry litter box
    • Cats can exit from any direction
    thematic break

    8. Baxton Studio Anson Cat Litter Box Cover House

    Baxton Studio Anson Cat Litter Box Cover House

    Entry style: Side
    Size: 31.5” x 18.9” x 18.1”
    Color: Dark grey and oak, walnut brown, or dark brown and oak

    This Baxton Studio Anson Cat Litter Box Cover House is a potential solution to your litter box tracking woes, but it’s not technically a litter box. It’s a litter box cover house, but it can give you the space to contain and control tracking.

    This litter box cover house doubles as a table, and it’s an extremely stylish and durable option. The area for the box has plenty of ventilation, and the overall litter box has a modern appearance that blends into most décor.

    However, it’s extremely expensive and doesn’t include an actual litter box. But you can use a regular pan-style litter box and a mat with this product to completely control your cat’s tracking problems.

    Pros
    • Modern appearance
    • Contains the mess
    • Plenty of ventilation
    • Durable
    • Doubles as a table
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Does not contain a litter box
    thematic break

    9. Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box

    Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box

    Entry style: Top entry
    Size: 20.25” x 15.25” x 15”
    Color: White

    The Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box is a top-entry litter box, and it probably has the most effective lid design to help clean your cat’s paws. There are tons of holes and grooves to clean your cat’s paws and return the litter to the litter box.

    Moreover, the lid has raised edges to help prevent excess litter from flowing over the sides. However, it’s quite expensive, and while the lid is quite effective, it’s not groundbreaking.

    We wish that there were odor control methods or different color options to help justify the extra cost, but the Clevercat Top-Entry Litter Box doesn’t offer any of those features. It’s still a great choice, but you’ll need to spend more on it.

    Pros
    • Tons of slats to help clean paws
    • Keeps other pets out
    • Easy to clean
    • Tons of extra privacy
    • Edged top helps contain litter
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Only one color option
    • Cats can exit from any area
    • No odor control

    cat paw divider

    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Litter Box to Stop Tracking

    If you’re still confused about what to look for after reading through the reviews, you’re not alone. We created this comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know to get the right litter box the first time!

    maine coone in litter box
    Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock

    Different Litter Box Styles

    One of the most important decisions that you need to make when selecting a litter box is the style. Some do a better job than others at controlling tracking, but that doesn’t mean they’re the perfect choice for you. Here, we highlighted the four most common litter box styles to help you make your decision.

    Top Entry

    Top-entry litter boxes do a great job at controlling tracking and have the added perk of keeping dogs and other pets out of the litter. Top-entry litter boxes control tracking in two ways.

    First, they have grooves along the top to help naturally clean your cat’s paws when they’re exiting the litter box. Second, the simple jumping motion of them exiting the litter box helps get excess litter off their paws.

    If you have an aging cat or young kitten, the top-entry design might not be a feasible option. But as long as your cat can easily enter and exit the litter box, top-entry litter boxes are the most cost-effective options to control tracking.

    Side/Front Entry

    Side- and front-entry litter boxes are among the most common litter boxes out there. They control where your cat can enter and exit the litter box, enabling you to set things up to help control tracking. This can be something as simple as putting down a mat!

    However, certain side- and front-entry litter boxes take things a step further by installing steps or other devices to clean your cat’s paws as they exit. This is exactly what the top choice on this list does, and since the cats can only enter and exit the litter box at one location, it’s extremely effective!

    Pan

    Pan litter boxes are the lowest cost option out there, but they also don’t do much to control tracking. This is why there’s not a single pan-style litter box on the list that doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature!

    However, if you purchase something like a litter box cover house, you can use a pan litter box with that. The cover house limits where your cat can enter and exit the litter box, which lets you set up mats and other devices to control tracking.

    Self-Cleaning

    Self-cleaning litter boxes are among the most expensive litter box options out there, but they also require the least amount of maintenance. Since a clean litter box naturally leads to less tracking, it helps contain the mess all over your home.

    Just keep in mind that not all self-cleaning litter boxes are created equal, and some will do better than others at controlling tracking.

    tabby cat in a covered cat litter box
    Image Credit: Chewy

    Other Features to Look For

    While the entry style of the litter box that you’re shopping for is important, it’s not the only thing that you need to keep an eye out for. Here, we highlighted three more things that you need to consider before purchasing your cat’s new litter box.

    Different Litter Types

    Clay-based litters might be the most affordable options out there, but they’re the most prone to tracking. Other options include crystal litters, and they can eliminate your tracking concerns without the need for a new litter box!

    But just keep in mind that while crystal litters can help reduce tracking, they don’t always eliminate it. That’s why the best option is to switch both the litter and the litter box!

    Odor Control

    Your cat tracking litter all over your home can be annoying, and so is constantly dealing with the smell of cat litter and waste. Fortunately, there are plenty of litter boxes out there that have built-in odor control.

    Typically, these litter boxes use charcoal canisters to help contain the smell. But if your litter box doesn’t have these canisters, you can always purchase odor control granules or other air fresheners to help contain the odor.

    Size Requirements

    It doesn’t matter if it’s the perfect litter box for your cat if you don’t have room for it. That’s why you should double-check the measurements of the litter box and where you want to put it before you purchase. It’s only once you are 100% sure that you have space for it that you should place your order!

    cat litter box top entry_Nils Jacobi_Shutterstock
    Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock

    3 cat divider

    Final Verdict

    If you’re still confused about what litter box is right for you after reading through the reviews, don’t overthink it. There’s a reason that the Booda Dome Cleanstep Litter Box is our top choice, as it keeps litter contained and stops tracking.

    However, if you’re looking to save a little money, the Frisco Top Entry Cat Litter Box is a great choice too! The Whisker Litter-Robot might be expensive, but it brings a premium litter box experience to your home.

    In the end, any of the litter boxes can keep your cat’s litter contained, so the most important thing is that you order one soon!