Best Litter Boxes For Kittens – 3 Weeks Up To A Year Old

Choosing the right litter box for a kitten will depend on the age of your kitty and how long you want your feline to use it. There are various options that will fit your specific needs according to your kitten’s stage of life.

What to consider when choosing a litter box for a kitten

You can choose any litter box where your kitten can accommodate comfortably to do its business. But when your feline friend has specific needs you must pay attention to some details to get the proper litter box. The following criteria need to be considered when looking for a cat box for your kitten:

Easy access to the box

Several litter boxes are labeled as small but they feature pretty high sides, taller than 5 inches. If your kitten has never used a litter box you need to choose one with lower sides (3-4 inches) so it can be easily accessed by the short legs of your feline friend.

Good stability

The litter box needs to have a wide base and be tall enough so that you can put 1.5 to 2 inches of cat litter without the litter box walls being too shallow. A good amount of cat litter will make the box stable enough not to be tipped over in case your kitten plays in the litter box. For baby kittens, the weight of cat litter required is less since they are more lightweight.

Temporary Use

The litter box for kittens is meant to be used for a transitional period in which your kitty will learn how to use the litter box and will form habits when doing it. This is the main goal of getting a litter box for your little kitten. That’s why it’s not recommended to invest a lot of money in a litter box during this period. The best approach is getting a pack of litter pans with small, medium, and large sizes that will cover the whole period of time of your kitten being very young (3 weeks) up to when your kitten is growing into adulthood (6 months). After this period it’s better to get more quality litter boxes. We listed these better-quality litter boxes at the end.

If used for training/cage

If you need a litter box for a rescued kitten or you need to confine your kitty in a cage for a transitional period in the household you want a litter box small enough that will fit inside a cage.

Safe Construction & Materials

The litter box can’t contain sharp pieces or edges that may harm your playful kitten. Also, the materials must be FDA compliant.

Open or Covered?

According to a comparative study there isn’t a special preference for cats between open or covered litter boxes. The main factor for a cat to opt for one over the other is cleanliness. However, we suggest using open litter boxes for kittens younger than 6 months old. The reason is that you will need to train your kitten to put your little guy inside the litter box several times a day. An open litter box makes this so much easier. Also, covered litter boxes tend to incentivize cats to not cover their waste and this is a habit that your kitten must develop. Once your kitten reaches 6 months old you can switch to a covered litter box for your kitty if you want.

Best transitional litter boxes for kittens of 3 weeks old up to 6 months

Most of these brands have small, medium, and large sizes that we included as options because medium sizes litter boxes are kind of small for kittens over 3 months old. Consider that these litter boxes are for temporary use. Consequently, we didn’t pick expensive fancy ones, but economical litter pans with quality good enough to accomplish their purpose during this transitional period in which your kitty will be adopting and using the litter box comfortably and safely. Our size recommendation ensures a spacious litter area for your little guy.

When a kitten reaches de age of 3 weeks old it will start exploring the litter box. During this period you will have to help your kitten to enter the litter box every time to get him used to it.

Van Ness Litter Pan

This litter box is made with FDA-approved materials ensuring safety in case the plastic is chewed by the kitten. It offers easy access for the kitten to get inside the box. It’s made with polished plastic that is easy to clean. If your kitten is 3-4 weeks old adopting a litter box for the first time, the small size is suitable. This size also fits well in a cage.

• Dimension small size (L x W x H): 14-3/8” x 10-3/4” x 4” (for kittens 3-6 weeks of age)
• Dimension medium size (L x W x H): 16” x 12” x 4” (for kittens 6-12 weeks of age)
• Dimension large size (L x W x H): 18.38” x 14.88” x 5” (for kittens 12 weeks age up to 6 months old)

In the following video I made for a cat litter, I show how the Vanness cat litter pan (large size) looks after a couple of years of use. I bought this litter box for my cat Sophie when she was a kitten and now she still uses it when we travel with her. You can see on the video the litter box is still in very good condition, with no odors built up in the plastic at all. You can see my cat using the litter pan in this video, for reference, she weighs about 7-8 pounds.

Pros

• Made with safe FDA-compliant materials
• Easy to clean
• Odor and stain resistant
• Easy access for the kitty
• Good for potty training kittens
• Good price
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Not easy to carry when full of litter

Recommended for:

Cat owners that want a low-price transitional litter box that is easy to access for your young short-legged kitten. A great option if you want a litter box that is smooth on the inside making it easy to clean on the sides and bottom. Follow the chart sizes according to your kitten’s age for a nice fit. Find all the sizes of Van Ness litter boxes at this link.

Pawise Cat Starter Kit

This cute lovely litter pan is ideal for baby kittens that are using a litter box for the first time. Suitable for kittens from 3 weeks up to 6 weeks old, depending on the cat’s breed. It comes with a scoop, a small feeding station with a food and water bowl, and a ball and mouse toys. You can choose pink for your little princess or light blue for your little king. Dimension (L x W x H): 14.5”x 10.5” x 4”

Pros

• It comes with everything you need to start with your new kitten: litter pan, scoop, food and water bowl, mouse, and ball toys.
• Cute lovely colors pink and light blue and designs for your little princess or your little king.
• Polished plastic for a nice finish
• Odor and stain resistant
• Low sides make it very easy for your baby kitten to enter the pan
• Good for potty training your kitten
• Good fit for use inside a cage

Cons

• The food dish is kind of too deep for a little kitten.
• Price is a little higher than other small litter pans (due to the extra accessories, but the pan won’t be used for more than 3 weeks approximately).
• Not suitable for kittens older than 6 weeks

Recommended for:

First-time cat owners that need a starter kit for their new little baby kitten. The best option if you want to potty train your kitten into using a litter box for the first time until your kitty reaches 6 weeks old. Get it on Amazon with 5% off on this link.

Petmate Litter Pan

For cat owners that like Petmate products this litter box won’t disappoint. This litter pan is well made, sturdy with smooth edges, featuring a side grip for easy lifting or moving. This unit is made with pre-consumer (virgin-grade) plastic that is BPA-free. The small size is recommended for 3-6 weeks old baby kittens as the first litter box and for potty training. The small size also fits perfectly in a cage.

• Dimension small (L x W x H): 14.05″ x 10.05″ x 3.5″ (for kittens 3-6 weeks age)
• Dimension medium (L x W x H): 16.05” x 12.05” x 4” (for kittens 6-12 weeks age)
• Dimension large (L x W x H): 18.5” x 15.3” x 5” (for kittens 12 weeks up to 6 months old)

Pros

• BPA-free plastic
• Easy access for small kittens
• Rimmed sides for easy grip
• Soft edges, safe for the kitten
• Slick plastic makes it easy to clean
• Good for potty training your kitten, suitable for cages (Small size).
• Good price
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Design with waves difficult to scrape the sides of the litter box.

Recommended for:

Use as low price temporary litter box for kittens. Good option if you want a litter box that is easy on your hands when lifting it. Check the chart size to choose a roomy litter pan for your kitten. Visit the link for the Petmate Litter Pan on Amazon here. (Not recommended if you want a litter box with smooth walls).

Best Litter boxes for kittens from 6 to 12 months

If your kitten has grown out of its baby stage it is time to get a larger permanent litter box for your adolescent kitten.

SpeedySift cat litter box

Innovative convenient sifting litter box system that works with offset-stacked liners that form a solid base at the bottom of the litter box. The unit is made from weatherproof polypropylene corrugated plastic. Your kitten uses the litter box and then you simply lift the top, grab the first liner from the corners and lift it, sifting the litter and separating the clumps from the clean litter. Then simply dispose of the liner with the bagged waste. For more details of this innovative system check the Sifty litter box full review.

• Exterior dimensions (L x W x H): 20.9” x 17.9” x 4.9”
• Dimensions inside (L x W x H): 17.5″ x 13.5″ x 11″

Pros

• No scooping
• Easy to clean through a sifting system
• Sturdy and well constructed
• Smart and very well-thought-out design
• Walls are water and stain proof
• Customizable high walls that protect the floor from litter or urine
• The lightweight top is easy to lift but it stays put firmly at the same time
• Designed and patented in the USA

Cons

• Some cats that scratch a lot could damage some of the liners
• You are required to purchase more liners to keep using this box

Recommended for:

6-month-old kittens that will grow weighing up to 15 lbs at maximum. This unit is ideal for cat owners that don’t want to scoop the litter box and prefer an easy, fast, and more hygienic process when doing it. Get your SpeedySift on Amazon here.

Iris Top Entry litter box

Is harder for cats to adopt to top entry litter boxes when they’re adults. However, if you have a 6-month old kitten it won’t be so hard to get him to adapt to it. This unit is made of BPA-free Polypropylene Resin and it features a top lid that removes excess litter from the cat’s paws, reducing litter tracking. Iris top entry litter box works well for cats that kick a lot of litter when doing their business. Check details on the Iris top entry cat box review and learn more about how this works.

• Dimensions Medium (L x W x H): 17.32″ x 13.39″x 12.20″
• Dimensions Large (L x W x H): 20.47″x 16.14″x 14.56″

Pros

• The top entry litter box conceals the cat waste better
• It contains odors
• It stops litter spillage from going onto the floor or carpet
• It provides cats with privacy
• Scooper hangs outside the litter box for quick cleaning
• The enclosed cat box stops urine from going outside the box
• It comes in 2 sizes: Medium and Large
• Made in the USA

Cons

• The top lid could break if your cat is overweight
• It doesn’t have liners

Recommended for:

6 months old kittens and adult cats. If your cat is over 9 lbs choose the large size. Very good if you don’t have much room you can place the litter box in plain sight without having to see the cat waste. Get Iris Top Entry Litter Box on Amazon here.

Note: If you are interested in top entry litter boxes, check the Modkat top entry litter box review

Tidy Cats Breeze System litter box

This litter box works with pellets instead of cat litter. The pellets contain silica that absorbs the odors of the cat’s waste. Your cat needs to go through a learning process of not digging too much. The urine goes through the pellets down to a tray that is lined with absorbing pads. This way the system separates solids from liquid, eliminating the odor problems of common litter boxes. For more details check the review of the Tidy Cats Breeze System to see how it works. This litter box is made in Japan.

• Dimensions Regular: 20.3″L x 15.2″W x 11.8″H
• Dimensions XL: 27.6″L x 18.5″ x 13.8″

Pros

• Good quality
• Good management of the cat urine
• Urine odor control
• No need of scooping deeply to find litter clumps
• Nice design

Cons

• Pellets need to be replaced periodically and they are expensive
• Some cats could eat the pellets
• Feces sit on top of the pellets and it takes a few minutes for the odor to be absorbed
• If your cat urinates high against the walls, it could leak

Recommended for:

Cat owners who need to control cat urine odors in a better way than just scooping huge litter clumps of cat urine that usually stick to the bottom and sides of the litter box. Suitable for kittens from 6 months old to adult cats weighing up to 20 lbs. Check the right size for your cat. Visit Tidy Cats Breeze on Amazon here.

If you have a new kitten make sure to provide your little guy the best experience when using the litter box for the first time. This is one of the most important aspects in the cat’s life so let’s make your kitty happy by getting the best litter box for him.