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Rankings re-checked weekly · Last re-checked 11 September 2026
·Prices updated daily·AI-assisted, run by Jaco Olwagen
Neakasa's M1 Plus is an open-top sifting drum with no hood, so timid and large cats take to it faster than to a covered globe. The listing rates it for cats from 1 kg to 15 kg with a kitten mode, so it covers a kitten and an 8 kg Maine Coon alike, and six infrared and four weight sensors pause the cycle when a cat steps in. Waste is sifted into an 11 L drawer and sealed by the pull-and-wrap bag, with about two weeks between empties for one cat. It needs clumping litter and a 56 x 51 cm patch of floor at 66 cm tall. Owners report quick adaptation and odour that stays in the drawer; reviews consistently mention litter flicked over the open rim and an app that takes patience to pair. Rank 1 as the self-cleaning unit that fits the widest range of cats, sold by the brand's Australian storefront.
Odour control
9.2
Ease of cleaning
9.4
Entry and size
9
Litter containment
8.6
Value
7.4
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Open top, no hood to refuse
+ Rated for cats 1 to 15 kg
+ Kitten mode and safety sensors
+ Sealed pull-and-wrap drawer
Cons
− Litter flicks over the open rim
− Half a square metre of floor
− App pairing takes patience
Open-top drumCats 1 to 15 kgKitten mode11 L sealed drawerCat-detect sensorsApp control
PetSafe's SmartSpin is a rotating drum that sifts clumps into a sealed drawer with a deodoriser, backed by a two-year manufacturer warranty. It is built for cats up to 11 kg, so a ragdoll fits and a big Maine Coon does not, and the 30 cm entry rules out kittens and arthritic seniors unless you add a step. The app logs each visit and the cat's weight, which is the early warning for kidney and thyroid trouble in older cats. It takes about 53 x 49 cm of floor at 67 cm tall and runs on any clumping litter. Owners report cats taking to it straight away and the sealed drawer holding the smell; the recurring notes are litter that must clump fast enough to survive the spin, a full strip-down that means undoing a row of screws, and a drum a tall cat finds tight. Rank 2 because it is sold and warranted from Australia by Amazon AU, at a price well under the imported flagships.
Odour control
9
Ease of cleaning
9
Entry and size
7.8
Litter containment
8.8
Value
7.8
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Two-year warranty, sold by Amazon AU
+ Weight and visit logging in the app
+ Sealed drawer with deodoriser
+ Any clumping litter
Cons
− 30 cm step up, no kittens
− 11 kg limit leaves out big Maine Coons
− Fussy first setup
2-year AU warrantyCats up to 11 kg30 cm entry heightSealed waste drawerWeight tracking appAny clumping litter
The sweet spot: solid performance without breaking the bank.
3
Catit
Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan
About 57 x 50 x 47 cmLift-up hoodCarbon filter
Best Value
Rank #3
Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan
Our Verdict
The hooded box for a big cat or a two-cat home: a jumbo interior, a lift-up hood for scooping and a carbon filter, as long as your cat accepts a cover.
Catit's Jumbo is the hooded box the rest of the shelf is measured against. Amazon lists it at about 57 x 50 x 47 cm and Catit's own size is 57 x 46 x 43 cm, which gives an 8 kg ragdoll or Maine Coon room to turn and two average cats a box they will share. The hood lifts up on a locking slider so you scoop without pulling the whole cover off, a bag anchor holds the liner open, and a carbon filter in the lid takes the edge off ammonia in a closed laundry. Owners report it is the sturdiest plastic hooded box they have owned and that it swallows a digger's mess; reviews consistently mention replacing the filter every month or two, hood clips that crack with age, and cats that refuse the swing door until it comes off. Rank 3 as the mainstream hooded pick, from a brand with Australian distribution.
Odour control
8.4
Ease of cleaning
7.8
Entry and size
8.6
Litter containment
8.8
Value
8.2
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Jumbo interior for an 8 kg cat
+ Hood lifts on a locking slider
+ Carbon filter in the lid
+ Bag anchor for liners
Cons
− Some cats refuse the swing door
− Filters need replacing
− Hood clips crack with age
About 57 x 50 x 47 cmLift-up hoodCarbon filterBag anchorLocking sliderSwing door
A stainless tray answers the buyer whose plastic box smells however hard it is scrubbed. suzzipaws' extra-large pan is about 60 x 41 cm with 30 cm sides, a clip-on rim that overlaps the seam so sprayed urine runs back inside, and a grated footboard so an old or short-legged cat steps in rather than jumps. At 37 L it takes a deep bed for a Maine Coon or two average cats, and the metal wipes clean and holds no odour. Owners report it ends the plastic smell for good and that clumps slide off the base; reviews consistently mention the grate step filling with litter that has to be tipped back, the rim needing a firm push to seat, and a heavier carry to the bin than plastic. It is open, so it does nothing for odour in a small flat. Rank 4 as the stainless pick with the deepest review pool, sold from Australia with free delivery.
Odour control
7.8
Ease of cleaning
8.8
Entry and size
8.2
Litter containment
8
Value
8.6
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Steel holds no odour
+ 60 x 41 cm with 30 cm sides
+ Clip-on rim contains spray
+ Footboard step for old cats
Cons
− Open, so no odour control
− Grate step fills with litter
− Heavier to carry than plastic
60 x 41 x 30 cmStainless steel30 cm high sides37 L capacityLitter grate stepScoop and holder
Top entry is the fix for litter across the floor and for a dog that raids the tray. Petmate's box is about 52 x 38 cm and 39 cm tall, with walls high enough to contain a cat that sprays and a hinged, grated lid that scrapes litter off the paws on the way out. It suits an agile adult cat up to about 5 kg; a 7 kg ragdoll fits but cannot turn comfortably, and kittens, arthritic seniors and overweight cats should have a low-entry tray instead. Owners report tracking drops to almost nothing, mostly thanks to the lid grate; reviews consistently mention lifting the lid to scoop, a grate that needs a shake every few days, and plastic thinner than a hooded box. It ships from Amazon's US store, so allow a longer delivery and a short warranty. Rank 5 as the one top-entry box on the shelf with a deep review history.
Odour control
7.6
Ease of cleaning
7.4
Entry and size
6.8
Litter containment
9.4
Value
8.4
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ Grated lid stops tracking
+ High walls contain spray
+ Keeps dogs out of the tray
+ 95 percent recycled plastic
Cons
− Needs a jump, no seniors or kittens
− Tight for a cat over 5 kg
− Ships from the US, 30-day warranty
Top entryAbout 52 x 38 x 39 cmGrated lidHinged lid95% recycled plasticMade in USA
Every multi-cat home needs more trays than fancy boxes, and this is the tray. ZEEZ's Birba is an Italian-made open pan of about 56 x 39 cm with a back wall of about 21 cm that catches the spray from a digger, a lower front lip for stepping in, and non-slip feet so it does not skate on tiles. It suits any adult cat up to about 6 kg, and a pair of them meets the one-box-per-cat-plus-one rule for two cats. There is no hood or filter, so it belongs in a room with airflow rather than a closed flat, and it needs a daily scoop in summer. Owners report the high sides keeping litter in and the back wall stopping the spray, and more than one says it is the tray that finally kept the floor clean; the note against it is that it costs more than a supermarket pan. Rank 6 as the honest cheap open tray, sold by Amazon AU with a one-year warranty.
Odour control
6
Ease of cleaning
8.6
Entry and size
8
Litter containment
7.4
Value
8.8
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ 21 cm back wall for diggers
+ High sides keep litter in
+ Made in Italy, one-year warranty
+ Cheap enough to buy two
Cons
− Dearer than a supermarket pan
− No hood or filter
56 x 39 x 21 cm21 cm high backNon-slip feetMade in Italy1-year warranty
Not every cat needs walls. A kitten, an arthritic cat and a cat after surgery all need a tray they can step into, and vets put that entry at no more than about 10 to 13 cm. POOWEE!'s plain pan is 42 x 31 cm with 8 cm sides, in easy-clean plastic, from an Australian-owned litter brand. It suits a kitten, a senior or a small cat up to about 4 kg, and it makes a cheap plus-one box. It is too small for a 5 kg adult that digs, and with sides this low it will not contain a sprayer, so a healthy adult should move up to the Birba at rank 6. Early reviews split on size exactly where the measurements say they should: owners buying for a kitten or a smaller cat are happy, and those who wanted it for a big cat found it too small. A few also expected more from the listing photo. Rank 7 as the plain, honest kitten and senior tray, sold by Amazon AU.
Odour control
5.4
Ease of cleaning
8.4
Entry and size
6.6
Litter containment
5.6
Value
9
Tick marks show the category average
Pros
+ 8 cm entry for kittens and seniors
+ Easy-clean plastic pan
+ Australian-owned brand
+ Cheap plus-one box
Cons
− Too small for a 5 kg digger
− No containment for a sprayer
42 x 31 x 8 cm8 cm low entryKitten and seniorAustralian ownedEasy-clean plastic
We score each box on five dimensions. Odour control is the barrier between box and room: a sealed drawer, a filtered hood or a material that holds no smell. Ease of cleaning covers scooping access, whether the surface releases clumps and how often a full change is due. Entry and size sets entry height and floor area against kittens, seniors and big cats. Litter containment is sides, lids and grates against tracking and spray. Value sets all that against the day's price. Ratings and review counts come from Amazon AU owner feedback, prices and stock are checked daily, and we do not buy or test the products: specifications come from the listing, owner sentiment from the pattern of reviews.
Scored 0–10 on Odour control, Ease of cleaning, Entry and size, Litter containment + more
Measure the cat from nose to tail base and multiply by one and a half: that is the interior length to look for, about 60 cm for an average cat and 70 cm plus for a ragdoll or Maine Coon. Entry height matters next: under about 13 cm for kittens and arthritic seniors, a step or a 30 cm climb for a fit adult. Sides of 20 cm or more keep a digger's litter and a sprayer's urine inside.
Self-Cleaning, Hooded or Open
A self-cleaning drum suits a working household that hates scooping and a cat over the maker's minimum weight, on clumping litter only. A hooded box suits a cat that likes privacy and a home that wants the mess out of sight. A top-entry box suits an agile cat in a home with a dog or a tracking problem. An open tray suits kittens, seniors and any cat that refuses a cover, which is more of them than you would think.
Plastic or Stainless Steel
Plastic is light and cheap, but claws scratch it and urine soaks into the scratches, which is why a two-year-old tray smells after a wash. Stainless steel does not scratch or absorb and rinses clean; it costs more and is heavier to carry to the bin. Whatever the material, look for smooth corners, a removable hood or rim, and a surface that releases clumps rather than gripping them.
Summer Smell, Small Flats
Ammonia builds fastest in a hot, closed room, and a laundry in a January heatwave is exactly that. Scoop twice a day in summer, keep the box out of direct sun, and in a flat choose a hood with a carbon filter, a sealed self-cleaning drawer or a stainless tray that holds no smell. A box near a window that opens beats any filter.
One Per Cat, Plus One
The RSPCA and the Australian Veterinary Association give the same number: one litter box per cat, plus one, in separate quiet spots rather than a row. Cats guard boxes, and a bullied cat that cannot reach a tray goes on the carpet instead. Scoop daily, change the litter fully every week or two, and wash the box with plain hot water; scented cleaners put cats off.
What More Money Buys
The cheap end buys a plain tray that does its job for a kitten or as the plus-one box. The middle buys a hood, a filter and a door, or stainless steel that outlasts three plastic boxes. The top end buys a self-cleaning drum with sensors, an app and a fortnight between drawer changes, and for a two-cat home that is the point at which the price makes sense.
Size a litter box from the cat. Vets ask for at least one and a half times the cat's body length from nose to tail base: about 60 to 65 cm of interior for a 40 to 45 cm domestic shorthair, 70 cm or more for an 8 kg Maine Coon or ragdoll. A kitten or an arthritic senior needs an entry no higher than about 10 to 13 cm; a digger or a sprayer needs sides of 20 cm or more. Then count: vets and the RSPCA recommend one box per cat plus one, so a two-cat home needs three.
The types answer different cats. A self-cleaning unit sifts clumps into a sealed drawer after each visit; it needs clumping litter and most makers set a minimum cat weight. A hooded box traps odour and hides the mess, but some cats refuse a cover. A top-entry box ends most tracking and keeps the dog out, but the cat must jump. A high-sided open tray suits diggers and sprayers, stainless steel stops the smell that soaks into scratched plastic, and a low plain tray is the kitten and senior box.
To get to seven we went through the whole Amazon AU shelf, checked each listing against Amazon's product data for stock, condition and seller, and kept to boxes sold from Australia wherever the type allowed. We do not buy or test them; the rest is specification and owner review patterns.
The Australian angle is heat and space. In a January heatwave an open tray in a closed flat is smelt from the door, so apartment cats want a hood, a sealed drawer or a scoop twice a day. Renters cannot vent a laundry, so a carbon filter or a stainless tray earns its place. Two cats need three boxes, not one big one, and the self-cleaning premium buys back the scooping, not the extra box.
Cat Litter Boxes — Frequently Asked Questions
What size litter box does my cat need?+
Measure from the nose to the base of the tail and multiply by one and a half. A 40 to 45 cm domestic shorthair wants about 60 to 65 cm of interior, and a ragdoll or an 8 kg Maine Coon wants 70 cm or more. Few plastic boxes reach that, so buy the largest that fits and skip anything called small once the cat is grown. Sides of 20 cm keep a digger's litter in; an entry under 13 cm suits kittens and old cats.
How many litter boxes do two cats need?+
Three. The rule vets and the RSPCA give is one box per cat plus one, placed in separate quiet spots rather than side by side, because cats treat a row of boxes as one box and a dominant cat can block it. A self-cleaning unit counts as one box, not three. In a flat with no room for three, two big trays scooped twice a day is the compromise, with the second in a different room.
Are self-cleaning litter boxes worth it in Australia?+
For a two-cat home or anyone who works long days, usually. A sifting drum clears clumps after every visit, so the box never sits soiled through a hot afternoon, and the sealed drawer holds a fortnight of waste for one cat. The costs are the purchase, clumping litter only, a minimum cat weight on most units, and a footprint of about half a square metre. A cat that dislikes noise or a moving drum may refuse it, so keep the old tray for a month.
Hooded or open litter box, which is better?+
For the house, hooded: it hides the mess, contains spray and holds odour behind a carbon filter. For the cat, often open: a hood traps ammonia at nose height and some cats refuse a cover or a swing door outright. If you go hooded, buy the jumbo size, remove the door at first, change the filter monthly and scoop daily. If your cat sprays or digs, a high-sided open tray or a stainless box with a rim contains the mess without a lid.
What is the best litter box for a kitten or an old cat?+
A low tray. A kitten under four months and a cat with arthritis both need an entry of no more than about 10 to 13 cm, which rules out top-entry boxes and most self-cleaning drums, and a hooded box with a high door step is borderline. Start a kitten in a plain 8 cm tray and move up as it grows; an old cat that has started missing the box may simply need lower sides, a larger litter area and a box on the same floor as its bed.
How do I stop litter tracking in a small apartment?+
Three things in order. A top-entry box or a high-sided tray with a grate step scrapes litter from the paws before the floor. A mat under and in front of the box catches the rest; the self-cleaning units here ship with one. Then change the litter: heavy clumping clay tracks far less than lightweight or crystal types. A hood with a low door helps too, as long as the cat accepts it.
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