Last updated Apr 20, 2023
When two, three, four, or fifteen cats live in your home, litter boxes fill up fast and the trope of a reeking house full of cats can easily become your reality. Choosing the right litter box is part of keeping your feline tribe happy and your home smelling fresh.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Litter Box for Multiple Cats
In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article
iPrimio Non-Stick Plated Stainless Steel XL Litter Pan
- Robust stainless steel construction
- Resists stain and odor accumulation
- Easy to clean
Frisco High-Sided Litter Box
- One of the largest litter boxes on the market
- Features an antimicrobial coating for odor control
- High sides help to keep litter contained
Petphabet Covered Litter Box
- Features a translucent cover
- Easy to clean
- Larger than many other covered litter boxes
Litter-Robot 4
- Automatically cycles after use
- Covered waste drawer helps contain odor
- Control and monitor via app
Frisco Open Top Cat Litter Box With Rim
- Has a large litter capacity
- Has a spacious interior for multiple cats
- Quick, easy, and efficient
Omega Paw Roll'N Clean Cat Litter Box
- Has a large litter capacity
- Has a spacious interior for multiple cats
- Quick, easy, and efficient
Why Should You Trust Us?
Over the last three years, we’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what it takes to make a great litter box.
We’ve researched the types of litter boxes available, read hundreds of customer reviews, and performed real-world tests on over a dozen top boxes. We spent over 40 hours testing these litter boxes’ sturdiness, cat-friendliness, and ability to prevent sticking and litter scatter.
In addition to research and testing, we consulted with several veterinarians to get their take on which litter boxes work best and are the most effective for cats.
Based on this extensive research and hands-on testing, we’ve selected the 6 products described below as the best litter boxes you can buy for multiple cats.
Our Veterinary Advisors
Here’s What To Look For in a Litter Box for Multiple Cats
Look For Large Litter Boxes
Large litter boxes are easier to clean and don’t fill up as quickly as small ones. Because they don’t allow waste to build up in a single small area, large litter boxes feel sanitary, making them more cat-friendly.
Unless You Know Your Cats Like Them, Avoid Covered Boxes
Cats play dominance games in the bathroom area. When an aggressive cat backs another cat into the litter box, the passive cat is forced to cower in their own toilet. It’s a frightening and demoralizing experience that keeps beta cats at the bottom of the feline power hierarchy.
Covered boxes make the situation worse, giving beta cats nowhere to run when an aggressive housemate backs them into the litter box. Although they don’t cure strained relationships, open litter boxes give your cats the freedom of movement they crave.
Look For Litter Boxes That Offer Good Odor Control
When multiple cats do their business in the same house, odor control can become a struggle. While daily scooping is the cornerstone of odor control, some litter boxes make the job easier.
Look for litter boxes that feature antimicrobial and non-stick coatings. These coatings are no substitute for regular cleaning, but they can help to minimize odor buildup in a multiple cat home.
Work Within Your Budget – Seek Low-Cost Litter Boxes
When you’re buying three or more litter boxes, costs add up quickly. Litter boxes range from $5 for standard pan-style boxes to almost $500 for top-of-the-line automatic litter boxes. Choosing cheaper models will help you to justify numerous boxes throughout the house.
Top 5 Litter Boxes For Multiple Cats
Now that we’ve learned a little bit more about the litter box needs of multi-cat homes, let’s look at our picks for the top 5 best litter boxes for multiple cats.
#1 Overall Best: iPrimio Non-Stick Plated Stainless Steel XL Litter Pan
- Brand: iPrimio
- Made In: China
- Dimensions: 23.5”x15.5”x7.5”
- Features: Durable, stainless-steel material, non-slip feet
- Price:$59.99
If you’re tired of plastic pans that get dirty fast and don’t last long, you might like this stainless steel box from iPrimio. It’s been rated as our favorite traditional-style litter box for several years, and its large size, longevity, and crowd-pleasing design make it a good choice for multi-cat homes.
It measures a generous 23.5 inches long by 15.5 inches wide, so your cats can turn around and spread out, but the 6-inch sides are low enough to enable the whole feline family to enter easily.
This litter box outlasts the competition with non-stick, stain-resistant stainless steel construction. This makes it a great choice for high-use households. Additionally, it’s large and spacious, giving your cats plenty of space to turn around in. If multiple cats use the same litter box, the waste will be distributed across a wide litter bed, reducing the amount of accumulation over the course of the day.
The biggest downside? It’s expensive. Now priced at over $82 on Amazon, you’ll be spending about 5-8x the amount you’d pay for a regular litter box. If hygiene and longevity are your priorities, though, it could be worth the money.
Pros
- Robust stainless steel construction
- Resists stain and odor accumulation
- Easy to clean
- Spacious enough for cats to feel comfortable in
- Relatively low sides suit a variety of cats
Cons
- Heavy; not easy to move around
- One of the most expensive traditional boxes on the market
#2 Best High-Sided: Frisco High-Sided Litter Box
- Brand: Frisco
- Made In: United States
- Dimensions: 24”x18”x10”
- Features: High sides, sturdy base, reinforced rim
- Price: $18.47
Some cats squat to urinate while others remain standing and cats fling litter all over the place as they dig around. This large, high-sided litter box is a great pick for multi-cat households because it’s designed to contain mess no matter what your cat’s litter box habits may look like.
This litter box isn’t quite as hefty as our top pick but it’s a few inches larger than the average litter box and it’s 10 inches deep. With its high sides, it’s perfect for enthusiastic diggers and cats who tend to spray urine over the edge of the box.
Though the sides of this litter box are high to contain mess, the entryway is low enough that most cats can access it comfortably. The base is nice and sturdy, designed without a middle seam to weaken it, and the rim is reinforced to make carrying the litter box easier.
Pros
- Affordably priced around $20
- High 10-inch sides help contain litter box mess
- Sturdy base and reinforced rim for durability
- Dropped entry for comfortable access by most cats
Cons
- Lowered entry may allow some litter to escape
- Takes up a significant amount of floor space
#3 Best Covered: Petphabet Covered Litter Box
- Brand: Petphabet
- Made In: China
- Dimensions: 25”x19”x17”
- Features: Covered, clear top, large opening
- Price:$54.99
If you and your cats like covered litter boxes, you might try this extra-large hooded pan.
This litter box measures 24.8” x 20″ x 16.5” around the “waist” where the cover and bottom meet. Because the litter box has a flared design, it’s slightly smaller at the bottom, with a door opening size 8.2 X 7.8 inches.
It’s available in two colors: navy blue and beige. Both colors come with a translucent hood, allowing your cat to see the outside world while they use their bathroom.
The hood snaps on with high-density polyethylene locks. Customer reviews suggest that these locks are fragile and tend to break easily. Durability concerns are repeatedly mentioned in reviews – one said “you definitely cannot pick it up when full. It would explode!”.
The litter box has non-stick surfaces for easier cleaning.
Pros
- Features a translucent cover
- Easy to clean
- Larger than many other covered litter boxes
Cons
- Reviewers say that the side latches are unreliable
#4 Best Automatic: Litter-Robot 4
- Brand: Whisker
- Made In: United States
- Dimensions: 27”x22”x29.5”
- Features: Self-cleaning, health monitoring, strong odor control
- Price: $699.00
If cleaning up after multiple cats has become a hassle, consider upgrading to an automatic-self-cleaning litter box like the Litter-Robot 4.
While no automatic litter box is perfect for every household, the Litter-Robot 4 consistently receives positive ratings and our own testers have been impressed with its performance. It’s an updated version of the Litter-Robot 3, redesigned with a larger entryway and an improved app interface. It also features additional sensors and runs more quietly.
What makes the Litter-Robot 4 an appropriate choice for multi-cat households is that it cycles automatically after your cat uses the litter box. No matter how many cats you have, they’ll enjoy a clean litter box each and every time.
The downside of the Litter-Robot is the nearly $700 price tag. Though it’s a significant investment, users report reliable performance and strong customer service. Plus, with replacement parts and DIY installation guides available on the Litter-Robot website, you can keep your litter box running for years even after the warranty expires.
Pros
- Automatically cycles after use
- Covered waste drawer helps contain odor
- Control and monitor via app
- Replacement parts are easy to get
Cons
- Costs nearly $700
- Takes up a significant amount of space
#5 Best Budget: Frisco Open Top Cat Litter Box With Rim
- Brand: Frisco
- Made In: United States
- Dimensions: 19.75”x15.13”x9.5”
- Features: Removable rim, recycled plastic materials, affordable
- Price: $10.53
Basic litter pans are inexpensive, but they also tend to be cheaply made. This Frisco litter box is affordably priced around $10 but offers a little more than the average budget-friendly litter pan.
This litter box is made from recycled BPA-free plastic materials and features a standard open-top design. What makes it unique, however, is that it comes with a removable rim that adds several inches to the height of the box, helping to contain mess.
Customers report that the litter box is well-made for the price, though there are some comments that the rim doesn’t always lock firmly in place. If you’re looking for an affordable option to add extra litter boxes in a multi-cat household, however, this model from Frisco might be a good choice.
Pros
- Affordably priced around $10
- Removable rim helps contain mess
- Made from recycled plastic
Cons
- May be too small for large cats
- Rim may not always lock firmly in place
#6 Best Sifting: Omega Paw Roll’N Clean Cat Litter Box
- Brand: Omega Paw
- Made In: Canada
- Dimensions: 16.5”x18.5”x17”
- Features: Self-cleaning, easy to fill, two sizes
- Price: $41.58
Sifting boxes are a relatively affordable and reliable alternative to automatic litter boxes.
The Omega Paw Roll’N Clean is an innovative design that allows you to replace your daily scooping sessions with a simple rolling motion. Each time that you roll over the enclosed litter box, the contents pass through a grate. Clumped litter separates from clean litter and deposits in a waste drawer.
This design is efficient and easy to use.
The box is available in both a regular and large size, so make sure that you select the large one to accommodate your multiple cats. The large size measures about 23” x 20”.
Pros
- Has a large litter capacity
- Has a spacious interior for multiple cats
- Quick, easy, and efficient
Cons
- Litter can leak through the seams
- Cats could feel trapped under the domed cover
Litter Box Tips for Multiple Cats
Use One Box for Every Cat, Plus an Additional One
Your home should include one litter box for each feline household member, plus an additional box for emergencies, convenience, and variety. Three kitties require four boxes and thirteen cats need fourteen boxes.
Realistically, most people with large cat families can’t clutter their house with more than three or four litter boxes. Large boxes and frequent cleaning can substitute for a litter box in every room of the house.
Position Litter Boxes Strategically To Maintain Peace in the Household
As a multiple cat guardian, one of your primary roles is as a peacekeeper, maintaining healthy relationships between naturally territorial and marginally social animals. As a central part of feline life and one of the primary spots where cats mark their territory, the bathroom is one of the top battlegrounds for territorial engagements.
Defend your kitties’ psychological wellbeing by granting them the private territory they crave. If possible, position the litter boxes far apart from one another. Your cats may choose to share a litter box, but this distance gives your cats the option to use separate spaces.
By placing a litter box on each floor of the house, you give different cats the opportunity to claim favorite floors and appropriately mark that territory as their own.
Keep the Litter Boxes in Cool, Dry Locations
When living in a multi-cat home, you need a good odor control strategy. Your litter boxes’ placement is part of that strategy. Warm, humid areas encourage bacterial growth and exacerbate odor problems.