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Danny's Cats

Litter and hygiene

Top-entry litter box

Updated

What is a top-entry litter box?

A top-entry litter box is a covered box the cat enters through an opening in the lid, climbing down into the litter and back up to leave. The design keeps kicked litter inside, but it means climbing rather than stepping in, the opposite of the low entry Cornell and Battersea recommend for kittens, older cats and cats with mobility problems.

How does a top-entry box work?

The cat jumps or climbs onto the lid, drops through a hole into the litter, then climbs back out the same way. With walls rising all the way to the lid, litter kicked during digging lands back inside. Some lids are textured to catch litter from the paws as the cat walks off: Modkat says the lid of its XL box doubles as a walk-off surface in top-entry mode.

Which cats does a top-entry box not suit?

Cats that find climbing hard. Cornell says young kittens, elderly cats and cats with mobility problems need boxes with low sides, Battersea says a low-entry tray makes getting in and out much easier for kittens and older cats, and the AAFP and ISFM guidelines say the opening of any box should allow easy access.

Some models can also be set up with a front door. Modkat offers front entry on its XL box for kittens, senior cats or cats that prefer a more traditional entrance.

Is a top-entry box a covered box?

A top-entry box is a kind of covered box, because its lid encloses the cat. The welfare advice on covers applies to it too: Cornell says covers hold odors in, and the AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend open boxes whenever possible, partly because an open box is easier to keep an eye on.

Keeping a top-entry box for a cat that is slowing down

A tidy floor is no help if the cat stops using the box. Watch an older cat get in a few times, and offer a low-entry open box if it hesitates. A cat that suddenly avoids the box should see a vet.

Questions about top-entry litter box

Do top-entry litter boxes reduce scatter?

Reducing scatter is the main selling point of a top-entry litter box. With walls on every side and the opening on top, kicked litter tends to land back inside, and some lids are designed to catch litter from the paws on the way out. This is a maker's design claim; we found no veterinary research on it.

Can a senior cat use a top-entry litter box?

Some senior cats can use a top-entry litter box, but a climb through the lid is the opposite of the low entry Cornell and Battersea recommend for older cats and cats with mobility problems. If your older cat hesitates, struggles or starts going outside the box, offer a low-entry open box and talk to your vet.

Where this comes up

Sources