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The best sifting litter boxes for efficient cleanup

PawTracks Contributor
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The way that cat sifting litter boxes work is that they have two baskets within the litter box. One is a basket that acts as the base of the litter box. Then, there is a second box on top of that. It acts as a sifting pan and is full of slits and holes. These holes are meant to be small and trap things like droppings in the sifting pan while letting the litter fall back down into the catching basket.

The convenience of a sifting cat litter box would be useful for most any cat owner. If you know of someone older who is taking care of a cat, a sifting litter box could be the perfect gift to help them with their pet maintenance. Or maybe you’re the one who is simply tired of having to shower after digging through your cat’s droppings and making a mess. Then this is an easy solution for you, as well.

Petmate Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan

Best Overall

The Petmate Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan is your best bet to an overall great cat sifting litter box. It comes with two regular pans and a sifting pan, which make it easier for you to transfer the sifting pan between baskets without having to worry about moving too much litter. The reinforced bottom of the sifting pan can handle the shaking and the weight of your cat’s droppings and soiled litter while letting the clean litter fall right through.

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Van Ness Sifting Litter Pan

Best at Reducing Litter Spillage

If you are worried about the litter spilling everywhere, worry no more with the Van Ness Sifting Litter Pan. This pan is especially designed with high frames around the sifting pan, which add height to prevent litter from spilling over. If you have pan liners, the frames can also help keep them secure without the worries of them slipping off and being buried underneath the falling cat litter.

PetSafe ScoopFree Automatic Litter Box

Best Self-cleaning Litter Box

For the ultimate in convenience, you can get yourself the PetSafe ScoopFree Automatic Litter Box and have the cleanups done for you! The crystal litter inside of the box is 99% dust free and won’t stick to your cat’s paws, eliminating little paw tracks around your home. It also has five times better odor control than other leading litter brands. The self-cleaning cycle can be customized and you just have to change the litter out once a week.

Your cats already groom themselves, so why not have something more automated to help you take care of the rest of their hygiene? These sifting litter boxes will help you clean up after your cat more efficiently so you can spend less time by the litter box and more time by their side.

Topics
4 best cat breeds if you have kids
Child kissing a siamese kitten.

Studies show that children raised with pets tend to be more empathetic toward people and animals. Caring for a pet teaches youngsters about respect and responsibility, and just being around animals helps reduce a child’s anxiety levels. Cats are popular animal companions for families with kids because they are low maintenance. In fact, according to an American Veterinary Medical Association Pet Owners Survey, more than 58 million cats live in U.S. households. If you’re thinking about adding a purebred cat to the family, here are four breeds that usually get along well with kids.
Siamese
According to the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), this ancient breed is the great communicator of the cat world. Siamese enthusiasts like that these beautiful slender cats with striking blue eyes are so vocal and demanding, but it’s not a trait that everyone enjoys. Siamese cats love people and are intelligent, confident, and curious. Their high energy, playfulness, and love of learning make them fun companions for children. Their fine short coats are easy to maintain, requiring only a brushing once or twice a week to keep the skin and coat healthy.

Background: According to the CFA, Siamese cats are believed to be descendants of the sacred temple cats in Siam, now called Thailand. The first Siamese cat to come to the U.S. was Siam, a female given as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1879, by the American consul in Bangkok. Siam quickly became a favorite of Fanny, the president's daughter. The breed soon spread to other parts of Europe and Asia and began appearing in English cat shows. They were being exhibited in American shows by the early 20th century.

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5 simple ways to keep litter from sticking to the box
Kneeling down cleaning a litter box with a cat sitting nearby

Cleaning litter boxes is a standard part of having a cat, but some boxes are more difficult to clean out than others. Sometimes litter sticks to the box, and then you have to scrub and scrape to get it out. It can make for a time-consuming and frustrating chore, but there are simple solutions to this common problem. When you understand how to keep litter from sticking to the sides of the box, you can save time and make cleaning out the boxes easier. These five strategies can help solve this pesky problem so you don't have to dread litter box cleaning time.
Try a nonclumping litter
Clumping litter can make the sticking issue worse, adhering to the box and turning into a sort of glue. If you're using clumping litter and are having this problem, switch to a nonclumping litter and see what happens. That litter change might solve the problem entirely.

If it doesn't, experiment with using more litter. Deeper litter has more time to absorb urine before it gets down to the box bottom and might prevent the sticking issue. If your cat likes to paw enthusiastically before doing his business, though, this technique might not work.

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Stop making your cats share a litter box — here’s why
Orange cat sitting in a covered litter box, looking out

When you have multiple cats in your home, cleaning the litter boxes can become a big task. But if you don't have enough litter boxes for all your cats, you could be headed for trouble. Multiple litter boxes definitely mean more cleaning, but they also mean happier, more secure cats who are more confident in their litter box habits. More boxes could contribute to fewer litter box accidents in your home, so in the long run, getting a few extra litter boxes could save you trouble. When you understand how cats think about using their litter boxes, you'll see why it's so important to have enough to go around.

Cats like litter boxes clean
It's no secret that cats are fastidious. That enjoyment of having things clean and tidy also extends to the litter box. When multiple cats use the same box, it will get dirty and start to smell much faster. Some self-cleaning litter boxes can be a solution to this, but it's also important to provide your cats with multiple litter boxes so they can choose a different box if they feel that one isn't clean enough. With plenty of boxes, you won't have to worry about keeping up with the cleaning quite as frequently, and your cats will be able to choose the box they prefer.
Cats are territorial
When you have multiple cats and only one or two litter boxes, it's possible that a dominant cat could decide that one box is his, and no one else is allowed to use it. With enough space in the home, most cats can get along fine and avoid confrontations, but if all your cats are trying to get into the same litter box room and space, it's possible for territorial fights to occur. One assertive cat might prevent the others from being able or from even wanting to get to the box, and they might just decide to use the carpet as their litter box instead.
Cats are solitary
In the wild, as well as in the home, cats don't like to do their business when others are around. That's why they prefer to have their boxes located in quiet areas where they can get a little privacy. Sharing a litter box can stress out a cat, especially if multiple cats are all trying to share one box. Make sure you give your cats multiple options with litter boxes placed in different quiet locations within the home. When your cat has choices, if one box isn't suiting his needs, he can go to another one where he can get his privacy.

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