What do you think about covered kitty litter boxes?

United States
May 5, 2008 7:08am CST
The dust from my cats litter is making my wood floor look horrible so I'm thinking about getting a covered one. My problem is that Bigguy is so big I don't know if he would be comfortable using one. I've actually tried measuring him and when I start shopping for one I'll have to make sure it's big enough for him. What are the pros and cons of the covered litter boxes? Do any cat owners here use them and what are your experiences with them?
5 people like this
16 responses
@jwfarrimond (4473)
5 May 08
I've ever had one, but I think that if you had more than one cat, there might be a problem of them not using it because there is no way out other than the door and that might be a problem if the cats had status issues with each other.
2 people like this
• United States
6 May 08
Since I only have the one cat there shouldn't be a problem. I can't imagine two cats going in at the same time anyway but who knows huh?
7 May 08
No problem then. I have four, and while they mostly get on OK there are some issues especially between the youngest and the two older ones - mutual dislike
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
5 May 08
I've been thinking about doing the samething. Buying a covered cat litter box~ I don't see any harm in it unless you can't find one that your cat won't fit into. I'm wondering if it would mask the smell as well? I'm going to invest in one soon.
2 people like this
• United States
6 May 08
I would think the covered box does hide the smell and that's another reason I would like to get one. When my ss check comes next month that's going to be my first purchase.
1 person likes this
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
6 May 08
I don't see anything wrong with that and I think I might invest in one too.. we have a huge litter box and I'm wondering if we can just buy the cover for it instead of the whole set all over again. Good luck with your purchase
5 May 08
I'd really like to have one myself, but my cats are so finicky and fussy and timid that I don't know if they'd use it. I hate them kicking cat litter all over the floor, but I also don't want to waste money on something they're not going to use. I'd also like to teach them to use the toilet, but I figure they're too old for that! I suppose you have to start these things when they're young.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 May 08
I've always wanted to be able to teach a cat to use the toilet! Of course Bigguy is much to old for that so I guess we'll just deal with the litter box right?
• United States
5 May 08
i like the idea of them,but my cats don't like them. i think they tend to trap the smell,even with the charcoal filter on top,which may be what they're objecting to.it probably smells worse to them with their sensitive noses. the one cat i had previous i ended up taking the lid off for.he liked it,but when he got to be 34 pounds..well,it just wasn't happening.he had a problem turning around in it. they still managed to fling the litter even with the cover.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
5 May 08
I don't have a covered littler box although I hear cats really like them because they give them privacy which they want. I would love to have one of those automatic litter boxes that cleans the stuff away after you kitty does his business they cost about $100 though. I think your kitties would like the covered one.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 May 08
The automatic ones do look awesome but you're right way too expensive for most of us. I know Bigguy loves his privacy so I think he would love a covered one!
1 person likes this
@dandj929 (423)
• United States
5 May 08
I have used a covered little box before for my cat. I bought a big one and it too my cat a little while to not be afraid to go through the little plastic door. But eventually he figured it out. The only downside to the covered one is that you have more to clean. You are going to have to take the top off often to clean the iside of the lid. When the cats kick the kitty litter it really makes a mess on the sides. But other than that I think they are great and keep the mess hidden from your visiting guests. Hope this helps.
• United States
6 May 08
My main reason for wanting to get one is my floor! Since I take the box he uses now and clean it in the bathtub it won't be a problem to take the whole thing in there to clean it. Thanks for the input!
@blackbriar (9075)
• United States
7 May 08
I have yet to find a covered litterbox that both the cats and I liked soooooooo instead, I bought a tote with a lid. Cut a door out of the side of it and there's the litterbox. It's bigger than the largest litterbox so my big boy, Tigg, can turn around in it and dig to his heart's delight. It cost 1/2 the price of a covered litterbox as well.
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
7 May 08
We use them - I think that they do better to contain the litter and odor, plus the cats like the privacy I think. They do make it an extra step for cleaning, plus you can not see at a glance that it may be filling up. We also use them for nest boxes for the chickens.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
6 May 08
I tried a covered box without success. The cats hated it!!! I finally bought a large remnant of carpet and placed it under the box. Problem solved. I also use clumping litter with one of the self cleaning litter boxes. There is a new style box that you have in the bathroom that actually flushes! You connect it to the water supply and it will convert the waste into a flushable solution that will drain into the toilet and you can flush it down. It doesn't use clay litter and it drys the litter stuff so that it is fresh and ready for the cat to use it again. My biggest problem with covered boxes is that the cat usually stands on the side of the box when they do their toilet stuff. They just don't really like standing in the litter when they use it. If your cat is bigger than average then they don't have room to "assume the position" when they potty. It'd be like our going into a toilet with a roof that is only 3 feet tall above the toilet. We just wouldn't use it! I also found that the covered box doesn't really keep as much of the dust in as one would think. Cats will carry the dust outside on their paws. Also the top keeps the odor in and when you remove the top it stinks worse than a septic tank. With the smell being kept in the box the cat will not really be as inclined to use the box. Even with the filter vent at the top of the box it still keeps in a large percentage of the smell. Cats just don't handle having their toilet smell like an outhouse and they will start pooping and peeing somewhere else. That's the biggest reason that I got carpeting to put under the litter box. Problem was solved. I think I got the carpet piece from a thrift shop or a carpet remnant from a flooring shop. I have had cats for the past 40 years and not one liked the covered litter box! The carpet under the box (I make sure it extends about 30 inches around all sides of the box) really worked wonders for both the cat and my housekeeping.
@luvnlife (31)
• United States
9 May 08
They are very good. Less mess than the others. I have 2, my youngest kitten is afraid of it. You still get litter on the floor though. Mats underneath help. I posted a discussion about the CatGennie please anybody let me know about it. Hope this helps.
@anawar (2404)
• United States
6 May 08
I wouldn't consider having a litter box without a cover. Cats need privacy too! You should be able to find the right size for your cat. They make larger sizes for cats like yours. Let me know how that measuring thing goes_ There is one drawback. Once the pan is covered, you may not be as attentive to changing the litter. Don't worry though. If you get too lax, your cat will leave you a piece of what belonged in the litter box where you can't miss it.
@Annmac (949)
7 May 08
I LOVE them! The one I have has a filter sponge to help cut down on any smells. The litter stays in the box, rather than on the floor, and they look better than an open tray. comes with a handle too so easier to move when needed! One of my cats was introduced to it as a kitten, as I always start them off on a shallow tray that they can get into easily, I just put the lid part over that and then when she was bigger transfered it to the deeper base! If your cat is used to a shallow open tray he may not like it at first but even my 17 year old quickly got used to it! I got them 4 years ago so he'd had 13 years of the open kind! He's only a small cat though. The only fault I find is that because it's covered, if I'm not around to empty it, hubby and son often forget! Neither of the Cats will use a 'dirty' tray and will in desperation find somewhere else to go and it's never out in the open!! Perhaps because they are used to being hidden away! I'd rather have cat litter on the floor than have to search for the source of the smell! My daughters cat just won't use one! He's a tall cat, and has developed the habit of being half out of the tray when burying. We think he's been an outside cat as well, but because of where she lives, is now an indoor animal.
• United States
6 May 08
I had one and ended up not using it. My cat did not like it. He would not go inside! I have the electronic kind and he really likes that one.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
6 May 08
I didnt really find too many cons to using the covered litter boxes other than my cat was less likely to cover things after he was done. Oh and he liked to go hide in one of the covered boxes when he got in trouble. Pros for it were he wasnt able to toss the stuff all over the room, it covered odours, my cat was more likly to use th box even if someone was in the room rather than going in a corner. He liked his privacy.
• United States
7 May 08
liked to go hide in one of the covered boxes when he got in trouble. Tigger used to do that as well. Now he just hides in my daughter's room or under our bed where we can't get to him. I found him once under my desk with his paws over his face as if I wouldn't be able to find him if he did that. lol He does happen to blend in pretty good with our carpet if he curls up and hides his face.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
6 May 08
Our litter box started off covered, but now we have taken the cover off. We really need to upgrade to a larger size box. Even though the box had a lid from when we first started using the box, after awhile our cats really didn't like the lid. I really didn't like having to take off the lid to see how dirty the litter box was or the OMG fumes when you took the lid off either. I am very happy with the no-lid box with no dust litter.
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
5 May 08
We used to have one and liked it a lot. It kept the dust down and helped keep the odor contained a bit too. Two of my cats really were fine with it, but my male was not comfortable using it, especially when he wanted to turn around. He is really big too and just was not happy with it, although he did use it, but would not even try to cover anything.