There are cats who are fine using any old litter box – whether it’s completely covered, has a door on it, allows entry from the top instead of the side – zero issues whatsoever no matter what type you throw their way. Then there are cats who just can’t stand using some boxes, though the list is short, something like nothing too small or something without a front door. For a number of picky cats, however, the list of litter boxes they won’t use can be incredibly long – including absolutely any box that’s covered in any way, as they don’t like going into covered boxes to do their business.
Have a cat something like this? A furry who refuses to use the loo unless they can see the ceiling when they’re in it? Also have (like all the rest of us) issues with litter getting out of the litter box too much for your liking? Want a way to reduce the mess that won’t make kitty any less likely to use the litter?
Modko Modkat Sleek Minimalist Top Entry Litter Box – Amazon / eBay
Open pans and litter boxes that have shields are them are, in my opinion, the best way to go. No, they will absolutely not get rid of litter mess altogether, and they won’t be the highest up on the list of litter boxes that reduce mess either. That being said, they absolutely do a better job than their alternative: litter pans and open litter boxes with absolutely no “splash protection” in the form of shields, high sides, or high rims.
There’s a possibility, though incredibly unlikely, that your cat won’t like the shield and will refuse to use the litter box with it on. While I doubt this will happen to many pet parents at all, if you have a litter box with a shield, in most cases, those shields are removable, and so you can simply take the shield off and let your cat use the litter box as though it’s an open litter pan without a shield at all in that case.
Tried any litter boxes with shields before? What did your cat think of them, and how did they fare in the litter mess department? Have you noticed less litter? Litter only in one spot rather than around the entire box? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments – what you share could really help other pet parents out!
And now for a few of the best options when it comes to shielded litter boxes I found while digging around…
Open Litter Pans & Boxes with Shields to Reduce Litter Mess
1. Arm & Hammer Large Rimmed Litter Pan
This is – from what I’ve seen – the most affordable litter pan with a shield available on the market. It has a substantial number of reviews, not all positive, but many of which are. There are complaints about the size, especially since for some reason, Arm & Hammer have decided to market it as a “large” litter pan, while it probably deserves to be labelled small or medium sized instead. It’s not likely to be ideal, as a result, for lager cats, so keep this in mind.
Also, if you do end up grabbing this one, be careful with the rim – don’t hold it when you’re trying to lift up the box. Apparently it’s flimsy and not meant to be used to carry any weight, otherwise the bottom portion will fall off.
2. IRIS Open-Top Cat Litter Box with Clear High-Shield Without Scoop, Navy
This open top litter box with high sided shields seems to get mixed reviews from consumers. While a lot of pet parents seem to love it, a large number of them have problems with the design of the box, saying there are issues with the fit of the top portion to the bottom and the fact that the bottom is not flat makes clean up super difficult. I definitely think it depends on the kind of litter you use, so be on the safe side and look through the reviews to make sure you’re happy to live with the product’s downsides.
3. Purina Tidy Cats Litter Box System, Breeze System Starter Kit Litter Box
To my knowledge, this is the only automatic, self-cleaning litter box that actually is in the form of a litter pan/litter box with a shield that creates the illusion of high walls. It’s really inexpensive, and a lot of pet parents seem to love it. You can use it with different litter as well, though I think you need to stick to using pellet litter if I’m correct. Pellet litter also should help reduce the amount of tracking and overall mess if you’re willing to switch to it in the first place – plus it being self-cleaning, you may want to give this option serious consideration if you’ve ever mused about having an automatic litter box before.
4. Nature’s Miracle High-Sided Litter Box
This high-sided litter box is not a litter pan with a shield, but it does the same sort of thing a litter pan with a shield is meant to. A slew of high reviews on this one, though there are a few with extremely disappointing results as their cats dig to hide their litter straight over the front entry portion, rendering those high sides completely useless in helping reduce the overall litter mess.
5. iPrimio Cat Litter Box Enclosure Stainless Steel Litter Box + iPrimio Ultimate Stainless Steel Cat XL Litter Box
The iPrimio stainless steel litter box paired with the litter box’s plastic enclosure splash proof shield looks like the only option out there for those who prefer stainless steel litter boxes, yet want something high to help keep messes from getting extremely bad with cats who do a lot of digging. The two products don’t come together, you have to buy them separately, but they’re pretty inexpensive in my opinion considering the size of the box. If you have a large or extra large cat and need a litter box that’ll suit his or her size, I think this is likely the best option to try in terms of boxes with shields.
6. Modkat Flip Litter Box with Scoop and Reusable Liner
Not at all a litter box with shields, and not even a high sided litter box, the Modkat Flip can be transformed from a litter box with a cover to a litter box with incredibly high sides with an open top by merely taking the top off. It’s got an easy-to-clean liner, and if you’re ever feeling adventurous and want to train your cat to use a covered litter box (if he or she will take to it), you can cover half the litter box after a few months of use, then try to completely cover the top with the cover fully on after a few months of that. And if things don’t work out, it’s easy to take the top off and use it as a completely uncovered litter box again.
Personally, I love my Modkat Top Entry Litter Box, I’m obsessed with the aesthetics of it, my boys love it because there’s so much room and extra litter in it, and so I’d recommend this from the perspective of having tried a different Modkat product and loved it. Never tried this one, however, though I honestly would have if my cats didn’t take to top entry litter boxes so well.
7. IRIS Ellipse Cat Litter Box with Shield
The Iris Ellipse cat litter box with shield is a rounded litter pan with a shield that is reasonably high around the sides, but is much higher in the back. It looks higher quality than a lot of other litter boxes with shields, but again, looks to be quite small for even medium or large sized cats. I know my felines like a lot of wiggle room in their loo, so they definitely wouldn’t be happy with this – or I’m sure would still manage to get all the litter on the floor when they’re digging to bury up their “presents.”
8. Pet Mate 42036 Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan
If you like the idea of a sifting litter pan, but didn’t want one with low rims in case you end up with more mess on your hands to clean up than sifting was helping you reduce, you may want to give the Pet Mate Sifting Pan a try. It seems to be really well loved, and although it doesn’t have the highest sides to it, it does have higher sides than most, so it may do the trick well enough in your household.
Your Thoughts on Litter Boxes with Shields?
Do your cats typically make messes when they’re using their litter box in terms of digging to cover up once they’re done? Have you ever done anything to reduce this type of mess?
Have you ever tried a litter box with a mess-preventing shield before? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend the litter box or recommend staying away from it?
Love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
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