The Ultimate Litter Box Guide: Choosing, Testing & Keeping It Fresh
Published On: 9/26/2025
Last Updated On: 9/26/2025
By Callie, Seymour, Yebba, and Mama and our Hooman Ashley!
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😹 Why the Litter Box Is Kind of a Big Deal
Listen, hoomans — we know you love your couches, rugs, and sanity. That’s why the litter box matters. For us, it’s not just a bathroom. It’s a territory, a comfort zone, and a dealbreaker if it’s not right.
Good news? Our hooman has tested it all, and now we’re spilling the litter (literally) on how to choose, test, and keep your litter box clean enough to impress even the pickiest cat (looking at you, Mama).
📦 Step 1: Choosing the Right Box
Not all litter boxes are created equal. Here’s what makes the difference:
Size matters – Bigger is better. We need room to turn, dig, and cover.
Covered vs. uncovered – Some of us like privacy (Callie), while others hate feeling trapped (Mama). Testing is key.
High sides for diggers – If you’ve got a cat who launches litter like confetti (hi, Yebba), tall sides save your floors.
Multiple cats = multiple boxes – The golden rule: one per cat, plus one extra.
Our hoomans have tested dozens of litter boxes over the last 10 years, and our current go to for the last 3 years has been this XL Stainless Steel Litter Box : we love the tall sides, and XL litter pan for extra digging room! Prior to this litter box, we had bought 2 Litter Robots off of Facebook Marketplace. While some of us loved the self cleaning feature, others (Mama) didn’t like the suffocating feeling of being inside the Litter Robot. Our hoomans felt like it was pointless to keep 2 Litter Robots running for 4 of us cats when only 2 of us liked it, so aftering trailing the XL Stainless Steel Box, they decided to add on 2 of those boxes to their arsenal of poop room products to make our dream poops come true!!
🐈 Step 2: Testing Different Litters
Litter is personal. What smells fresh to you might feel like gravel to us. Here’s what we’ve tried:
Clumping clay litter – Easy for hoomans to scoop, but dusty for us.
Natural litters (corn, walnut, wheat) – Softer on paws and eco-friendly, but sometimes leave a smell.
Crystal litter – Great odor control, but can be crunchy underfoot.
Unscented always wins – Please skip the perfumes. Our noses are better than yours.
Pro tip: Try a litter test box with different types side by side. We’ll let you know which one wins — trust us. Our hoomans proudly use Dr. Elsey's Ultra UnScented Clumping Clay Cat Litter!! A 40lb bag is less than $25, it’s unscented, and the clumping aspect on this litter is stellar- allowing us to bring our stinkiest of poops to the table, with NO shame!
🧽 Step 3: Keeping It Clean
Here’s where the magic happens (and where our hooman earns extra cuddles):
Daily scooping – Non-negotiable. If it smells to you, it’s unbearable for us. Check out moms #1 Cat Litter Poop Scooper. A stainless steel powerhouse.
Weekly wipe-down – Quick wash with mild, unscented soap. Wipe downs with Nature’s Miracle Litter Box Scrubbing Wipes
Monthly deep clean – Our hooman does a full scrub, which we detailed in our Deep Clean Litter Box Guide.
Fresh litter added regularly – Don’t just top it off forever. Dump, clean out the litter box and refresh so we’re not pawing through history.
Mama’s note: “If the box isn’t clean, I’ll find somewhere else. Don’t test me.”
Check out our hooman’s How to Deep Clean a Litter Box for Multiple Cats: Step-by-Step Guide (free)!!
🐾 Why This Matters for Multi-Cat Homes
With four of us under one roof, litter box harmony is key. Clean boxes = fewer squabbles, less stress, and no “accidents” outside the box.
Think of the litter box as an investment in our health, happiness, and your carpets.
So, there you have it, hoomans — the litter box isn’t just a plastic bin in the corner. It’s our throne, our spa, and yes, sometimes our battleground. When you pick the right box, the right litter, and actually keep it clean, you’re not just saving your rugs… you’re keeping us healthy and happy.
✨ Want to go from “litter chaos” to “purr-fection”? Start with our favorite XL Stainless Steel Litter Box and Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Unscented Litter. Then follow our Deep Clean Guide and you’ll have cats who purr with gratitude instead of plotting carpet revenge.
Because at the end of the day, a happy litter box = a happy cat = a happy home. Trust us, your couch will thank you. 🐾
