When I first bought my Modko Modkat Top-Entry Litter Box, I was terrified my cat wouldn’t be able to use it.
Considering it was our first top-entry litter box, the fear made sense: Avery had never used anything of the sort before and the concept can be a little strange for even humans to grasp, let alone (or so I thought) for cats to grasp.
Modko Modkat Sleek Minimalist Top Entry Litter Box – Amazon / eBay
I actually had very little issue getting Avery to use the top-entry litter box, once the old litter box was out of the picture.
Definitely a cat will prefer to use what he or she is used to if it’s at all available (which makes perfect sense, the same usually goes for we humans), but with no other options, I now believe that the vast majority of cats will be able to figure a top-entry litter box out in little to no time at all.
That being said, there are a lot of little, easy tings you can do a lot to help a cat recognize the new litter box as their new “place of business.”
So if you really want to jump on the top entry litter box bandwagon because the benefits of having a top-entry-box appeal to you, but you aren’t sure your cat is clever enough to put the pieces together him or her self – take a look at the following suggestions and implement what you’re happy to do.
Wait a full day or two with the new litter box; while some cats never take to top-entry boxes, from what I’ve heard it’s rare, and most take to them pretty easily.
If you have any issues – or for that matter recommendations on what to try to get a cat to take to a top entry litter box as quickly as possible – please leave them in the comments down below as your comment could really help out another pet owner!
Now let’s get into the ways you can help train a cat to use a top entry litter box.
How You Can Encourage a Cat to Use a Top Entry Litter Box
1. Do not switch litter at the same time as switching to a new box.
If your cat is used to a specific litter, he or she will associate the smell of that litter with his/her place to go to the bathroom.
It would be very difficult indeed to get a cat to accept both a new litter box and a new litter at the exact same time.
Especially if that new litter box is a little tricky, like a first transition to a top-entry litter box would likely be for a cat.
Try to keep as much as possible the same besides the new litter box. It should really help kitty make a quick and easy transition.
2. Take a bit of the old litter and mix it in with the new litter in the new litter box.
Easy as pie to try out and something I saw suggested quite regularly when I was searching for tips on getting your cat to recognize pretty much any new litter box as their own new space to “go.”
Why does this help? Apparently, if the cat smells his or her scent, he or she will know that that’s essentially an approved place to do their business, and so hesitation of “this is not a place I’ve used before” is reduced.
Really easy to implement anyway, so worth a shot right off the bat in my opinion.
3. Put the new litter box in exactly the same spot the old litter box used to be.
This, again, is to help a cat associate the new litter box with “the spot I’m supposed to go in.”
It’s once again easy to implement, though chances are if you’ve got a new litter box, you were going to place it in the same spot the old litter box was anyway, so I probably didn’t need to tell you to try this.
Self-evident, but in case you were going to move the litter box at the same time as you switched to a new product, hold off until your kitty’s gotten used to the new box and then move it after a few days of successful litter usage.
4. Hide the old litter box. Move it somewhere completely out of reach from your cat.
Have a garage your cat doesn’t have access to? Try putting the old litter box in there.
If you want to keep it somewhat close/on hand in case your cat nearly has an accident, try keeping the old litter box in the bathroom but keeping the door shut at all times so your cat can’t get in there to use it.
Your cat will almost certainly try to use the old litter box to go to the washroom in.
Even if you think he or she doesn’t know where it is, you’d probably be surprised at how clever your cat is and the lengths he or she will go to in order to get to their old box.
When I switched to my new top-entry litter box, I hid my cat’s old litter box in our washroom and had it closed for pretty much the whole day – until I went to take a bath for around 30 minutes and boom, that’s when kitty rushed in, used the old litter, and scampered off.
Not good for progress. Do better than I did – keep kitty away from his/her old litter – properly.
5. Show your cat the new litter box. Place him/her next to it, place him/her on top of the lid. Hold him/her near/over the box for a little bit. Show that it’s safe.
Your cat will smell his/her old litter. Your cat will smell his/her own scent if you used tip #2 as well.
The association between the old litter box and the new litter box will be there if you placed your cat’s litter box in the same space as the old litter.
There shouldn’t be much of a problem with associating the new box with the new “place to go,” but in case you’re worried your cat seems a little afraid of the new box (I felt mine did when I got my first top-entry litter box), try encouraging a little recognition through these techniques.
But I assure you, cats aren’t often as bad as we think with adapting and learning. Your cat should make the association. It should be okay.
6. Give your cat a good day or two with the new litter to see if your cat will go by him/herself.
I didn’t do this. I was so scared that my cat was not going to be able to figure out the top entry litter box that I tried to lure my cat to stand on the lid while bribing him with kibble, something Avery wasn’t too happy with – and for good reason, who on earth is content to eat near their bathroom? Not very hygienic.
I should definitely have just given my cat some time to actually use the new litter box. He likely would’ve been 100% fine.
7. Desperate? This is what I tried to make sure my cat would use his new litter box.
I was pathetically desperate to make sure my cat would be okay using the new top-entry litter box by himself, so before bed, I did a number of things that I wouldn’t do were I to repeat the past again.
I would leave my cat alone after #4 and just give him some time on his own.
But if you’ve tried to get your cat to take to the litter box on his/her own and it’s not working, or if you’re just curious to see what I did when I myself felt desperate to get my kitty to recognize the new top entry litter box as a litter box, here’s what I did (pulled from my review of the Modkat):
So I used the magic of cat kibble to get him to be more comfortable. Now I’m not sure if this was a good idea, and I quite honestly recommend you not do this unless you are desperate and have no other recourse – make sure the cat will for sure have nothing to do with the litter box and try the other tips first before doing this. But basically what I did was take kibble and held it in my hand above the top of the litter box, hoping to get Avery to eat out of my hand while he was standing on the lid. Eventually, he did go on the lid, but he seemed to not feel it was secure enough to hold him, because he’d quickly jump back off after eating the kibble. I did a few more rounds of “eat kibble on the floor” then “eat kibble from my hand while standing on the lid” – took a while, but he got used to the lid as well as I could expect. I then tried to get him to go into the box by putting some kibble in my hand and holding it above the litter within the box. He was not at all a fan of this. Cats definitely are smart enough not to do their business and eat in the same place. I did manage to get him in by physically putting him in the box myself while the lid was off, to which he was horrified I tried (you know that “GET ME OUT OF HERE” cat struggle – yeah I got a load of that); he quickly jumped out of the box when he was placed in, but that was that. We left him and hoped that the next day he’d be happy to go in.
The lesson I learned here: he was fine. He probably would have been just as fine if I didn’t go through all that.
That night, he went perfectly contentedly into the new litter since there was no other option.
As I wrote in the review of the Modkat: “He needed to pee so he hopped onto the litter box lid, slowly pulled himself down into the box, did his business, buried it, jumped out like a ninja, and moved on with his life.”
So lesson #8:
8. Play it cool and try not to worry that your cat will be too dumb to figure a top-entry box out.
Seriously. Don’t be a worrywart like me if you have any control over being anxious. Your cat will probably do just fine with a top entry litter box.
If he or she can smell the old litter, it’s almost certain that he or she will figure out how to get into the box.
After all, cats are experts at getting themselves into little spaces, and hiding away in places we don’t expect them to in the first place.
It’s probably a lot more tricky for us to visualize how they can go in than it is for them to go in.
Give your cat some slack and have a backup plan in case, but chances are high your cat is definitely clever enough to figure out a top-entry litter box without much help at all from us humans.
Have You Ever Tried Using a Top Entry Cat Litter Box?
Have you ever used a top-entry cat litter box with your cat before?
How did he/she take to the new box? How quickly did the transition happen? Did you do anything special to try to train your cat to use the top entry litter box?
As I said in the intro, please leave your tips and advice in the comments down below, as your comment could really help another pet owner!
Hi. I got the top entrance litter box to help with the amount of litter all over the bathroom floor when my kitty goes potty. We’ve had it one day and she is very scared of it, i moved the same litter from her old litter box into the new one but she peed on my bed twice last night and hasn’t even gone near her new litter box. I put her on top of the lid twice to show her its safe but she’s ran away as soon as I out her on each time, should I give her more time to get used to it or switch back to the old one. I really like my top entry litter box it looks a lot nicer than the old one did in my bathroom and I was excited to not have to do so much sweeping but she is very scared of it.
I just bought one. I put the old litter next to it in the same spot that I usually put the litter which is in the bathroom but because my bathroom is small I had to put the other litter in the hallway right next to the wall. I put new litter in it, I left it open for them to explore it. I have two cats. They were very hesitant, they sniffed it a lot. Then went into their old litter to go to the bathroom. After they went, I put their poop in the new litter box. My one cat I put in it. And she peed in it. Jumped right out afterwards. So I’m leaving it open for them to smell the scent. It’s only my first day with it. We shall see. I’ll leave the old litter there for a week while I’ll try to adjust them to it. I suggest you keep your old litter box there. You don’t want your cat getting blocked. Good luck. ❤️
This was really helpful, thank you! For 3 weeks, I had a low loo and a Modcat top entry next to each other. Kitten1 used Modcat, Kitten2 not and although she jumped up on it, she seemed scared to go in. I put a few shovels of her litter into the Modcat. Eventually, Kitten2 started to pee in the low loo and right after change into Modcat for pooing. Very sophisticated for a cat to have a urinal! 🙂 After two days of watching this, I removed the low loo. With a little pointing and friendly patting, she has used Modcat ever since (both pee & poo). Phew.
I forgot to mention that altogether there are 3 Modcat top entry loos (for 2 kittens). Now at least the low entry open is gone!
My cat has a bad case of elevator butt, coupled with the tendency to just walk into a box and pee instead of turning around in it, which usually means she’s peeing right outside the lowest part of the box. 🤦♀️ I’m currently trying to transition to a top entry so she can lift her butt to her heart’s content, and have been helicopter parenting her like crazy, so I really appreciate the article and comments here reassuring me to just let her do her thing! I’m cleaning up the latest pee out the front of the box and will just remove the old box altogether. It’s already got her old litter and she has used it a handful of times without the lid when I made her, so here’s hoping! Thanks everyone!
My cat took a crap on the lid and I’m still trying to figure out why because she has gone inside it to pee. I hope it doesn’t happen again.
I have no idea, but I have a cat who once peed on the lid. Just once, never happened again.
I think it happened because he was stressed about peeing near another one of my cats, now they’re better together. Though who knows at the end of the day what it really was.
I’d assume if doesn’t happen the next few times your cat goes to poo that whatever the issue was, it wasn’t a recurring thing for her, and you probably won’t have to deal with it again. Otherwise, I’d assume it’s the litter being dirty or not being something your cat enjoys using to cover up poos? Especially if you changed litters recently.
I watched a very helpful veterinarians video explaining the correct length & width for your cat. Is there a possibility the litter box was too short?
This blog was great! My cat is slowly adjusting to the new litter box. This will be great for keeping my boyfriend’s dog from getting “snacks” from the litter box 😂
Hmmm… I really like this idea for a studio apartment but I’m wondering if you, or anyone, has thoughts on if this could work for a tripod cat? My cat is quite athletic and physically capable but he’s also missing one of his front legs and I don’t want to make things too difficult for him. He’s such a good boy about litter boxes and will not go anywhere but the litter box … so I know he would try but I don’t want to cause him any harm. Thoughts? Has anyone else used one with a tripod?
There is a modkat box that has both top and side entry but it’s a little more pricey. But it will let you see if your cat can do it, if not you have the regular side entry still.
Hello! I recently got the Modkat top entry litter box for my kitty to help with litter tracking. She uses it, but she jumps in straight from the floor through the hole, and back up through the hole and straight to the floor, which actually makes the litter tracking worse because litter is just flying out of the box with her when she jumps like that. She doesn’t seem to understand that she can stand on the lid. Any idea how I could help her figure that out? Thank you!
Just got the box. I put the side I don’t want them to use against the wall, but it’s brand new!
I have two little boy cats. They’re both under one year. Both were originally street rescues, and their litter box habits vary greatly. I’m fortunate that they don’t mind sharing a box with each other. I had provided them two identical ones in separate locations, and they ignore one of them entirely, haha.
I have been a bit anxious about transitioning them to a top box, but the oldest is such a digger and always tosses litter all over the bathroom. He’s also the one who is most shy about all forms of confinement; he will come over to snuggle anytime I sit down but still gets anxious about being picked up, held, or even entering a crate to sleep.
Thank you so much for posting this article and for all the comments from everyone! I will definitely be transitioning them by gradually covering their box so my shyest boy isn’t too frightened of being trapped. 🙏🏼
I have a multi cat household, so I can’t remove all other trays. I was hoping to use 1 top entry but so far none are using it😭
Hi! I just adopted a new cat, he’s 5, and I have no idea what kind of litter or litter box type he’s used to. I got a top entry box because I like it aesthetically, and I’ve gotten him to walk on the lid and jump into it without the lid on using kibble, but he hasn’t used it yet. I only got him yesterday (clearly an anxious new cat owner!) and he hasn’t seemed to urinate at all yet anywhere in the house- am I just being too anxious? Hopefully he’ll use it soon without issue!
Hi Casey,
I’m looking to get a new kitty here soon and have the same worries and thoughts on the top entry, how did he adjust?
I put it on the side but then I saw they went. On the floor. I just tried putting it so they can jump. In. Any ideas
Hi!
I switched to a top entry from a standard litter box. My cat didn’t like it at first, tried with top off. I had already gotten rid of the old box. I didn’t put old litter in, but kept the type the same. I used kibble to lure her in and she started using it, but then had a bout of stomach problems and started going in the bathtub (I keep my litter in the bathroom). I’ve tried kibble again but she’s very adamant about using the tub. I put some of her droppings in the little and closed the bathroom door and am hoping for the best. She was doing great with it, and now I’m worried she’s given up!
It sounds like she’s been set back a little, but I don’t think she’s beyond hope! Good on you for moving the litter box and closing the bathroom door – just what I would have done. Keep me updated on how she’s doing 🙂
What do you think I should do? I have a cat who I don’t think has ever used a covered box (she was a rescue) and she doesn’t want to hop into or onto the box. I have left the lid off so she can get used to it and I have a stool next to it so she can look inside, but she refuses to go near it! She cries when she has to go potty and I put her in her box and she’ll go, but never on her own. She is able to jump the height of the box so that’s not her problem. It has only been a few days, do you think she just needs more time?
I think it’s possible she needs more time. I would keep trying, but it may also turn out that she’s one of those cats who hates and refuses to use covered litter boxes, and she considers the top part of the top entry litter box a “cover” of sorts. Cats can be fickle. 🙁
I definitely wouldn’t give up quite yet, and would keep trying a couple weeks, but if she just won’t, I would hazard a guess she’s one of those cats who just can’t stand covered litter boxes. You could try one of those next, and then try to transition her to a top entry litter box when shes a bit more used to the concept. But there are some cats fickle enough about litter boxes to never even want to use covered ones.
Sophie,
Be patient! She definitely needs more time.
My 12yo kitty adapted to the top-entry in 4 days. When she died and I adopted a 3yo rescue, and she *really* struggled. At one point she was using the bathtub over the top-entry, and I was at my wit’s end! But after a few weeks of keeping the bathroom door closed, and leaving the top off the box and then gradually covering it, she has accepted it and now has no problems. Don’t despair just yet!
Thanks so much for chiming in with such an encouraging story, Rebecca! So glad your rescue did eventually figure things out and successfully get used to the new litter box. 🙂
I don’t know what to do! I switched both of my cats to a modkat litter box but I also switched the litter at the same time. Now my boy cat is urinating on ALL of my clothes, both the dirty and the clean ones. If I switch back to the old kitty litter in the new box will that help?? I think he is using it sometimes to poop, but I’ve never actually seen him use it.
Dear Kass,
I absolutely think that changing the litter back to its original brand would be a big help. It’s best to change one thing at a time for cats, especially when it comes to the litter box. Also, I would put a little bit of dirty litter into the litter box so that he smells everything. Also, probably don’t use “scented” ones – cats hate that 🙂
It SOUNDS like it is a stress response to all the change that happened with the litter box, and he is marking new territory because he does not feel comfortable with his new litter box. However, with boy cats, it’s incredibly important to rule out a health issue (such as crystals in their system) that may be causing them discomfort as well. I would recommend taking the cat to the vet, especially if this problem does not stop when you change the new litter back.
Thank you so much for jumping in with your advice, Emily. I completely agree with everything you said and couldn’t have put it better myself!
Kass, please do keep us updated on how your cat’s doing. Hope all is well and it’s just a matter of switching back to the old litter temporarily.
Dear Elise –
Thank you so much, and I apologize for a) jumping in; and b) waiting so long to respond! I hope all is well :-). Happy New Year!
Take that apology back 😉
You need to jump in more often, haha. And please, I’m the one who takes way too long to respond – wish I was more on top of comments!
Happy new year to you too! 🙂
It’s also important to remember that just about all cats have an “attitude” or “attitude problem” if we do things they do not approve of (especially concerning them). Get him checked out and change the type of litter back to the original. If he keeps doing his business (particularly on your clothes) your probably being punished. Kinda like the “puking in your shoes” if you have been leaving him alone more and longer periods of time. I have 4 cats ranging from 6-16 yrs old. I have seen some of this and more over the years. Hang in there and start negotiations once you know he is physically ok.
I disagree with this 100%. Cats do not do things out of “spite,” even though it seems like it. They’re cats. It’s an unfortunate reputation they’ve gotten, but they do something we don’t like, there’s an underlying reason that is generally pretty easy to discover.
In this case, it’s probably too many changes at once. Imagine someone changing your toilet paper, toilet seat height, the smell, and the location. You wouldn’t be happy either! Cats are hard-wired to use the litter box. If they don’t, there’s a reason. It sounds like this isn’t medical (although that’s always good to rule out), but it seems like changing back to the little you know your kitty likes, and that will be a good step.
I agree with you, Emily. I do think they’re two different ways of looking at the same behaviour – one where the cat is the victim (did it because he/she’s unwell; i.e. couldn’t help it), the other where the cat is the perpetrator (i.e. did it on purpose).
I would default to the opinion that, with things resembling symptoms of medical or mental issues, the cat is the victim, and in my personal experience this has always proven enough to explain the behaviour (so why assume it’s the cat’s fault?).
I know some cats can be sassy, naughty, and have crazy cattitude, and yes, absolutely your cat may be doing things once in a while to bother you on purpose – but when it comes to being physically sick, peeing in places they shouldn’t be – physical symptoms of illness – I don’t think any cats choose that. I don’t think they are even capable of peeing or vomiting on command. I think they just find themselves uncomfortable and/or in pain, and either vomit or pee on the spot to relive their discomfort.
Hi Elise! I am adopting a new kitten and eventually definitely want to use a top entry litter box! I’m wondering at what age you think I should switch her over to this? She’s only about 8 weeks old right now so I don’t think this would be good for her, haha. Thanks!
I think it would probably be a good fit once she reaches around 6 months or so, because at that point most cats are pretty well near full grown and don’t have much height left in them. Hope that helps! Best of luck with the new kitten 🙂
Hi, I am moving from a house into an apartment with my cat this year and have been thinking about investing in a new litter box that works in the small space. After reading reviews and knowing my cats habit of making a HUGE mess digging, I was thinking about getting this top entry box. I don’t know if you can help but my cat is 12, still fairly active and able to jump, but still quite picky and getting older. Would you recommend me trying this box?
Hi! If your kitty is kitty 12, I would recommend getting the XL model because there is the option for front entry as well. We tried top entry, and both kitties figured it out quickly. But we did not secure the top enough one time after cleaning, and the top collapsed under one of our cats. This scared him and he was clearly distressed wanting to go in, so we converted it to the front entry option (took about 5 minutes), and have had no problems ever since!
So with the XL, you can try top entry, but convert to front entry if need be as kitty gets older. :-). Hope this helps!
This is really good advice, Emily! Thanks so much for chiming in to help!
Last year when my oldest cat turned 11 years old, I wondered also if she could get used to a top-entry box, but within 2 days, she got the hang of it. But just in case yours doesn’t like it, don’t buy one of those expensive ones from Amazon. Just go to Walmart, Home Depot, etc and buy one of those storage totes with a lid. Trace around a dinner plate on one end of the the lid and use an exacto knife (be very careful) to cut a hole in the lid. This is what I did, and my cats love it. And they track less litter with this kind of box. Try it out!
Really clever way to test out the waters, Ros! Can’t imagine a cheaper way to create a DIY top entry litter box.
We just bought the Modkat XL for our two 4 year-old boys and set it up about 4 hours ago. Like you, I’m terrified that they won’t like it or take to it or it’ll stress them out. As I’m writing this, however, one of my cats is definitely digging in the box and just used it. So HOPEFULLY, it’ll work out well. We’ve followed a lot of your advice and will have to just give them a day or two to see what happens (which will be hard for this worried cat mommy!!). What I like about the XL is that, worst comes to worst, it can easily be transitioned to a front-entry box (and can be transitioned if something happens and it’s hard for one to jump up onto the top of the box).
GAH I hope this all works out! 🙂
It sounds to me like it might’ve already gone well – especially since, from my experience, it’s a lot easier to get a second cat to learn how to do something if you’ve got a first that knows how and can show the second cat how to do it by example. They’re pretty good at imitating one another. But do let me know how things turn out! Would love to know if you had to do anything extra or if they took to it way more easily than you imagined!
Hi! So our only issue was that, although the cats figured out the top entry, they didn’t seem all that crazy about it. And then, somehow, the top collapsed when one of them was on it (human error in securing the top, I think). After that, the one wouldn’t use the top entry.
BUT, because we got the XL, we changed it to front entry, and have had no problems since. Since the hole is still in the top, it gives them more headspace and I think they like that!! 🙂
Sounds like things turned out perfectly, then! 🙂
Actually, I was wondering about the Modkat XL’s side entry use when I first saw it pop up on the market, maybe you could answer a couple questions for me:
Since the side entry is a bit high up – do you find it reduces litter tracking better than most side entry litter boxes? Because it seems like it’d do great with tracking even if your cats only ever used the side entry. And how deep does the litter go with the side entry? Because it seems you can still make it quite deep, which I loved about the regular Modkat since it means there’s always clean space for Avery to find a place to “go” in.
Thanks for the update by the way!
I bought one of these for my 12yo kitty 2 years ago, and she adapted quite nicely. So nice for my small apartment!
Since my old girl passed away, I adopted a 3yo shelter cat and we started with a traditional box. This morning I took it away and left the Clever Cat out—with old litter/pee clumps in so she’d get the idea—and the new girl just pooped in the bathtub! Any feedback on help her figure things out (besides closing the bathroom door)?
Maybe you should have left the old box out, perhaps putting it beside the top entry box, while at the same time encouraging her to use it. After a day, move the old box a foot or 2 away from the new box, and keep doing that until she knows what to to. Then take the old box away completely. That is what I did with all 3 of my cats, but they learned to use it very quickly, wihin 2 days. This is the best type of litter box I have ever used because the cats track way less litter on the floor.
I love this advice, Rosslyn! I’d definitely try this system!
Rebecca, have you had any luck in the meantime?
I’m using a combination of strategies…closing the bathroom door, and leaving 1-2″ of water in the tub as a precaution. Then I left the top off the Clevercat, put her in it a couple times, then spent a few minutes petting her (yes, I petted a cat in a litter box) to get her more comfortable. Since then, she has used the box as a high-sided litter box. I’m going to wait a little while longer before adding the lid. A few days ago I did forget to put water in the bathtub and she pooped in there, so I’m taking things slow!
I have a cat (he was abandoned a little over a year ago, so vet says he thinks Cat is 4-6 yers old). He peed in the top entry off the bat but pooped outside the box twice now. I have taken the lid off hoping he might poop in it wit the lid open, but a little concerned. He is a big boy so he may be feeling it is too tight a fit. I had been using a hooded box but he kicks litter everywhere.
If he’s a big boy you may need to try one of the bigger litter boxes and fill it with litter that’s a bit deeper. My cat Avery is very tall, and he always hates when either the litter is too thin or the box is not big enough for him. He too is a digger, and I often end up with mounds of litter outside the box if I have a pan. The Modkat has been the perfect size for him, but I worry about getting a smaller top entry box for this reason (I think he’d avoid using it).
Hi I’m looking at adopting a kitteh from a shelter. Since I have no old little then from them do you think they’ll want t to use a top entry?
I would say it depends on the size of the kitten and if it’s easy for him or her to jump to the height of the top entry litter box. If it’s easy for him or her to jump up and down, the litter box will be perfect. If not, it might be a good idea to build or buy a temporary litter tray until the cat’s grown a little bit then try switching.
Ok, makes sense. Thank you very much for the reply, and the post!
Absolutely!
If the kitten is under 6 months old, probably starting off with a regular litter box is the best because he’ll be too small to jump in and out of a top entry box. But if he’s older than that, he should be able to jump that high to get in and out.
Hey there,
Thanks so much for your helpful hints. My wife and I just bought a top entry box for our two male Siamese/Himalayans. They were using two open boxes. Removing them, they have begun using the top entry, but less frequently and we just found feces outside the box. They also aren’t covering, which they always did. Could it be as simple as them needing time and potentially a second box? Also, while they aren’t heavy (12-14), they’re LONG. Could size be preventing them from covering? The box says “up to 20 lbs”. Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated!
Thanks,
Benjamin
They sound like they need a second box for sure with regards to going outside the box. Maybe they have a hang up where they really don’t want to do a #2 where another cat’s already done one? Not sure.
With regards to the covering, it really should get better over time. Avery wasn’t covering well initially, but he soon got back to *his* normal (covers around 75% of the time). If the covering doesn’t resolve itself in the long run, it could definitely be the height of the box.
I find that if I really overfill the litter, thus minimizing some of the head space/clearance Avery’s got, he will often hop out quickly once he’s done, not covering up his litter adequately or at all. So to “fix” this, if I accidentally overfill, I usually dig a little in the middle and pile the litter on the sides, and that works out.
I don’t think pounds is a good measurement of there being enough space because if your cat is tall, it might not be enough head space though the box may be plenty wide enough. Avery’s very tall and the Modkat has been perfect for him, but I haven’t tried any of the smaller top entry litter boxes so I have no personal experience with this (yet!) to pass on. Your litter box could be just fine, but you might want to try getting a second one that has more height to it to see if that makes any difference with the covering. Just in case it helps – the Modkat is 15″ tall and it’s plenty of space, and Avery is one of the tallest cats I’ve ever seen. Not Maine Coon levels but getting there.
I’m a day in and my cat isn’t digging the top entry. I threw the old pan out, so that’s not an option. I had to physically put her in it yesterday and then she realized oh this is my litter and she went to the restroom. I think she has been holding it ever since because she went in and looked at it today and started to walk away and again I picked her up and put her in the litter pan and then she pottied and jumped right out as fast as she could… She doesn’t seem to be liking it but I don’t have another option because she started peeing standing up and was peeing all down the wall and I am not having that. Any other suggestions I would be most welcome to hearing.
Just be patient with her…she’ll catch on. But maybe she will never dig/bury again, who knows. I have one cat that never learned how to do that. At least all 3 of my cats learned how to use their new top entry box within 2 days, which I was really happy about.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Rosslyn! 🙂
I’m so sorry she doesn’t seem to be taking to it. Just realized it’s been a couple days since you wrote this – has there been any change in her behaviour?
If she just won’t take to it, a fully enclosed covered litter box seems to be the only option that makes sense. Something like this one so there’s no way the pee is getting outside the box. But I’d love to know if after a couple more days she changed tune and accepted the new litter box – as I suspect you’re right that if she liked top entry litter boxes it would be the best. They really do help in that respect. Also would love to know which litter box you grabbed out of curiosity if you’re happy to share.
So my husband and I have 3 cats, one of them is a digger which is why I’m looking at top entry. My concern is whether they’d deviate from their popular litter box and use it or if we should keep things how they are.
I have a feeling they would continue to use their old litter boxes and pretty much ignore this one if it’s new and not the only option. Cat’s aren’t big fans of change.
Feel you on the digger angle. I guess I would say, if it bothers you enough to switch all your boxes over (Petmate’s Top Entry Litter Pan is a good option for that since it’s so incredibly cheap), I’d switch them all over and see how that goes.
Otherwise, if you want to leave out your old boxes, I’d probably pass on getting a top entry litter box. I have a feeling you’d end up with all your cats, including your digger, just using the old boxes and ignoring the new one. Or if they take to it, maybe the digger would be the one to end up still using the old boxes, thus defeating the point of the whole switch.
I have to resort to a top entry box now because one of my 3 cats recently learned that she can pee standing up 😫. Females are supposed to squat. Of all the female cats I’ve had in my life, she’s the first one who does that. All 3 of them are used to covered litter boxes since they were babies, so no problem there. I made my own litter box with a 68 liter storage tote, and I made the entry on one of the short sides, but sometimes she pees out the doorway! So that’s why I want to try the top entry way. Before I cut a hole in the lid, I am first trying a thick cardboard lid (secured in place) to see if they are able to figure out how it works. If they all learn what to do, I wil cut a hole in the lid. I hope they like it!
I love this idea! Wish I could see pictures of your DIYs. Would have to agree with you that top-entry litter boxes, if your cats take to them one way or another, sound like the perfect solution to your female cat’s “pee projectile” problem. 😉 Also, had no idea whatsoever that females are supposed to squat and why! All male cats in the family so I didn’t even clue in to why squatting was necessary until you explained!
Pawesome tips fur training, but we like our boxes open and Smooch doesn’t always use a box – it depends on how high his sensitivity chip is engaged! [oops]
Thanks fur sharing such a great post and if the P.A. decides to get us a covered box one day, we know exactly where to come 🙂
Big hugs
Basil & Co xox
Thanks for the complements, Basil & co! & thanks even more for the hugs 🙂 The PA definitely knows you guys you guys supurr well! Glad you get just what you like – the open boxes! xoxo
I have to agree with a few of the comments above. As much as I would like a covered or better—enclosed little box–, they are big cats here and need room to move around.
Avery’s a very tall cat, but slim and certainly not a long-hair. He doesn’t have any trouble with the Modkat and I think he’d be fine with the other top-entry boxes, but for cats bigger than him, and even for cats his size that are more particular about litter boxes, I’m not at all sure how they’d fare. Almost wish I could bring one over to someone’s house to see how a few other cats would do!
Either way, it’s of course an excellent point that cat size should be a huge consideration when it comes to any decision about trying top entry boxes. I don’t think I’d hesitate to give one a shot, just would be sure to have a backup in case things go south. That being said, I work from home, so this makes watching to make sure everything goes okay (and being able to rush in to help if necessary!) much easier.
Thanks for stopping by & for the comment, Greg!
Great tips for getting used to a new litter box ! We never tried a top-entry box, but it looks very enclosing at the first glance. Purrs
Thanks!
It is very enclosed, for sure. As The Island Cats pointed out, if you cats aren’t fans of enclosed litter boxes, these are probably not a good idea!
Hi. I can definitely see the appeal of a top-entry box to humans! I think my cat Pierrot would most likely be fine, but my other cat Annie has very short legs and can barely jump up on the couch. I might consider this if it weren’t for her. These are some great and thorough tips!
That’s a very good point – ease of use could be a huge issue if the couch is a difficult spot to jump to. Don’t want any cats stuck inside!
Interesting. But honestly, we don’t like litter boxes where we feel enclosed so we haven’t tried a top-entry box.
Definitely not a good idea for kitties that don’t like enclosed boxes, you’re very right there!