What Is The Best Cat Litter Mat?
Cat litter mats are supposed to trap cat litter that gets tracked out of the cat box. Basic mats don’t work well however and now there is a much better option. New mats are made with two layers. The top layer has holes that allow litter to fall through and get trapped. The bottom layer is solid and waterproof. It collects litter which can be vacuumed or poured out. I have tried many other styles. Two layer mats are my answer to what is the best cat litter mat.
Two Layer Litter Mats Trap Litter Better Than Other Styles
There are many brands that take advantage of this two part litter trapping design. Many of them should work well to trap litter. Whatever mat you get, I definitely recommend getting a two part litter mat. I have tried the velvety style mats which are nice and soft but they don’t do anything to trap litter. I have tried the rubber mats with grooves. Those would be my second choice after a two layer mat. Those work pretty well. The mats with curly, plastic fibers trap small litter but not larger litter pieces. They are also hard to clean since there is no easy way to get the litter back out of the mat.
Two Layer Cat Litter Mat Brands
Here are some brands of two layer cat litter mats.
They have more pros than cons and get high ratings in reviews on Amazon. The smaller Pet Champion mat is the brand that I am using. It is great but a bit small. I wish it came in a larger size. It is so affordable you could buy two however for less than many other mats. It is sometimes sold out on Amazon however.
FOCUSPET Cat Litter Trapping Mat
This is one of my first place choices. If you want a larger mat this is the one for you. It has some trade offs with the Pet Champion Mat below.
Pros:
- Large size. 30 inches by 22 inches.
- More affordable than other large size mats
- Waterproof
- Non slip bottom so it won’t slide around
- Rounded bumps on top layer make sure litter will all fall through to bottom
- One side open to dump out litter, three sides attached.
Cons:
- Some say the larger size and stiffness make it harder to empty litter out without spilling
- Some cats don’t like to walk on it but others don’t mind. Some cats don’t like to walk on the other mats either. Cats are picky so it is hard to guess.
Pet Champion 2 Layer Sifting Easy Clean Waffle Pattern Litter Mat
This is the mat I use and one of my choices tied for first place.
Pros:
- The most affordable two layer mat you will find!
- Works well and actually traps litter
- Waterproof
- Gets good reviews by users. Over 100 reviews on Amazon.
- You can walk on this barefoot and not get litter on your feet! This is partly due to the stiffness of the foam layer on top.
- The small size and light weight makes it very easy to tip this mat over the garbage or back over the box to empty out the litter.
Cons:
- Small. This mat is too small to put a litter box on top of it and still have it extend out to catch litter. You could set it in front of a small box if you have a small or neat cat. If you have large or rambunctious cats that spread litter all over or you want the mat to be under the box as well, you will need a larger mat or you might need several of these. I would definitely recommend getting several.
- Very stiff, and some reviews say it can slide on the floor. I have it on top of another flat mat so it does not slide around for me.
- Stiffness means some cats might not like to walk on the top layer. However some cats don’t like the other mats either. My 4 cats don’t mind this one.
KAG Cat Litter Mat
Pros:
- Two sizes available, large is 24 by 30 inches.
- Soft top layer foam for sensitive paws.
- Easy to dump litter out.
- Comes in multiple colors including black and grey.
- Has high ratings with over 120 reviews on Amazon.
Cons:
- Some say it is too soft and litter gets embedded in foam.
- Some say too soft so cats can claw it up.
- Some reviews say the bottom can get stuck to the floor and leave a sticky mess.
- Hard to vacuum litter back out.
- One reviewer said the smell attracted their cat and so their cat ended up peeing on the mat.
Black Hole Litter Mat Extra Large
Pros:
- Soft on paws.
- Extra large size. 25 inches by 36 inches.
- Keeps litter off cat’s feet and yours.
- Comes in multiple sizes and colors including grey, black for Extra large size and also lime green and pink in large size.
Cons:
- Slips around and litter slides out.
- Openings on both sides makes it easier for litter to get out and harder to empty without making a mess.
- Cats like to pee on it.
- Hard to get cat pee smell out of it.
- Makes house smell bad.
iPrimio Jumbo Size Cat Litter Trapper Litter Mat
Pros:
- Largest size option than other brands at 30 by 32 inches.
- Soft top layer for paws.
- Catches litter
- Two sizes and two colors available.
- Made in the U.S.A.
Cons:
- Only one side of the mat has the top and bottom layers attached. The other three sides are not attached so it is much easier for litter to escape.
- Small litter particles can become embedded like other soft topped mats
- Some reviewers say it slides around and litter does not stay inside
- Some reviewers say their cat likes to chew on it.
- The sides do not lay flat on the floor according to some reviewers.
Which 2 Layer Cat Litter Mat is Best For Your Cat?
I am partial to the Pet Champion mat but you need to buy several and put them together which is less convenient in some ways. If you had one under the litter box and one in front of it you could just leave the one under the box in place and empty out the one in front. The small size and light weight make this mat easy to empty out and clean. The stiffness of the top layer makes it harder for litter to adhere to it and large holes make it easy to clean.
If your cat is very sensitive and needs a very soft mat to walk on however, the other mats may work better. Some of them like the Blackhole and IPrimio mat can slide on the floor however and some reviewers say litter gets stuck to them.
For these reasons I recommend the FOCUSPET Cat Litter Trapping Mat if you want a larger mat or one that is softer than the Pet Champion. FOCUSPET is not the largest mat but it’s 3 sealed sides, honeycomb design to make sure litter falls through, waterproof bottom layer and non-slide bottom make it the best mat tied with the small but easy to use and affordable Pet Champion.
My Recommendations for Cat Litter Boxes and Litter
If you want to keep litter in the box, I also recommend a top entry litter box. You can read my recommendations here. Best Cat Litter Boxes to Keep Litter In.
Would you like a cat litter that is natural, non-toxic, low dust, naturally anti bacterial and controls odor without the mess of clay litters? Check out my favorite litter here. What is the Best Cat Litter? This litter also repels insects unlike corn or wheat based litters.
Jessica
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Please leave any thoughts or questions in a comment below! I would love to hear from you.
Hi Jessica,
I have never seen this type of two-layer styled cat litter mats before. The idea is such a genius. This is going to solve the problem of the mess that forms around the cat litter box, like what I see in my neighbour’s house, whom we frequently visit, just to play with her cats.
Am going to show this this of great recommendations to her. Thanks for the detailed reviews!
Hello Joo,
I am glad you found this useful. I was so excited to see how well even the small, affordable mat works for my cat boxes. I can walk right up to the box to scoop it out now and not have to worry about stepping on litter! It is so simple and yet such a genius solution to a problem every cat owner has.
Thanks,
Jessica
I have some cat loving friends so this article is great for when it comes time for gift giving (I think practical gifts are the best!)
I would love to see a diagram or picture of some of the mats so I can decide which would suit. And forgive my cat care ignorance, but how often would you clean a Cat Litter Mat? Does it just depend on how messy your cat is?
Yes, that entirely depends on how many cats you have, the type of litter you use, the type of cat box you have and more factors. A neat cat using a top entry cat box may get very little litter outside the box. A rambunctious cat that likes to dig with a low sided cat box, may get a lot of litter out. The litter is clean and dry in the mat so there is no need to clean it regularly. I keep the cat boxes scooped twice per day however and clean them every time I change litter.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
As someone who has family members, each with two cats a piece, one of the struggles I believe I’ve heard them talk about was keeping litter from getting on the floor. This review of these mats is extremely helpful. One of the aspects that is disappointing with more than one of the products is that several people have found them hard to empty. As a bit of a germaphobe, that would be difficult for me to handle!
Speaking of being a germaphobe, there any reason you found in your research as to why the cats seem to like to pee on the Black Hole litter mat? That seems grossly odd!
Hi Steve,
I know that some cats are attracted to the smell of some rubber products and it encourages them to pee on the item. This is a common problem with bath mats and rubber backed throw rugs. I have to say the Pet Champion brand mat use doesn’t have this affect on my cats so that is another reason I like it!
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
How did I not know that these things existed? We use a fine, flushable, environmentally friendly type litter. It is good and the cats love it but it honestly gets under our feet like sand. I am going to look into these as anything that reduces the sand feeling has to be a good thing.
I will have to reread however as our cats are a bit precious and will not walk on anything too hard but then will claw anyrihing that is too soft to pieces.
That said, thanks so much for this info – it is a life changer.
Paul
I am glad you found this useful Paul. I was shocked like you that I had not discovered these mats sooner! They really make a world of difference! I am so glad I tried one and discovered just how well they work!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you find one that works great for you,
Jessica
This would make it easier for me to handle cat litters Jessica,I got so stressed up everytime my cat uses the litterbox because it’s so messy and the pine sawdust is always everywhere around near the litter box. It’s even more annoying to clean because sweeping them off or vacuuming isn’t enough, I also needed to mop the area lest it will smell really bad. how often do we need to wash the litter trapper map though?
Hello Riaz,
How often you wash it would depend on the type of litter you are using, how dirty it is and how much litter ends up in the mat.
If the litter that ends up in the mat is dry and clean then it will not smell and will not really need to be washed. If there was dirty litter on the mat I would clean it.
These mats have made life much easier for me. I don’t have to vacuum as much as I used to.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
Cats can be very playful and while playing litter every where these are good mats and good ideas to prevent all that’s littering .I have a friend with few cats in the house I will let them know of this nice mats atreast their houses will look good again after all littering is done away with by those mats
Hello Charles,
Yes, litter has a way of going everywhere. These mats really help keep it contained and keep the floor clean.
Thank you for recommending these mats to your friends and thank you for stopping by,
Jessica
Good article on the cat litter mat, although i am not a lover of cats but it is highly recommended to those who are interested in getting one, as i am going to recommend one of the cat litter mats to my mum as she complains of the mess the cat does in her house but which of them do i recommend for her?
I recommend the Pet Champion mat (it is the smallest and most affordable) but you might have to buy two and place them next to each other. I also recommend the FOCUSPET mat which is larger.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
My cat is incredibly picky. I tried to make him use a cat mat but he refuses to step in the right spots and makes a mess of the whole litter box. Since I stopped using it, he’s actually a bit cleaner around the litter box. I don’t understand him at times.
How often do you have to clean your champion mat? I might consider getting one if he tries spreading the litter all over the place.
So far only dry, clean litter has gotten on the mat so I don’t have to clean it, just dump it out. I only have to dump it out about once per week but I also have 4 cats.If you just have one cat it would hold the litter for a very long time.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
Wow Meow!
Cat litter definitely works better when it stays in the box but as all cat owners know, it just don’t work that way. You have provided several options for some excellent products that will minimize the flung litter conundrum. That upgrade on the box itself is something else I am very interested in and am going to give a second look.
I use newspaper now and it seems to get the job done, is disposable, and is where a lot of the news as of lately belongs.
I have a small closet that is designated for just that and even without he newspaper is fairy easy to grab the broom and give it a sweep.
Hello Paul,
I am glad you liked this. Yes, the top entry boxes really cut down on the amount of litter that escapes the box. My problem is that I have very large cats so I leave the lids off the boxes so they have enough room to move around easily. With the lid off, they can simply leap straight out of the box and some litter sticks to their paws. If the lid is on the litter box and they have to crawl up out of the box, the grooved lid helps collect the litter. My cats are very large however with the largest at 16 pounds with very long legs and tail so he is probably close to three feet long! He also has long fur so I don’t want him to be scrunched up in the box!
For a regular size cat the top entry box with the lid on is the way to go.
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
Wow, I have not seen these! My daughter has two cats and they make such a mess! I’ll surprise her with a purchase of one. I appreciate your through review. Interesting to know the pros and cons of each based on size, softness, and even smell. Who would think a cat would pee on a rubber smell? Thanks again!
Hello Monica,
These are a great invention and really solve a problem common to most cat owners. I hope your daughter enjoys having them as much as I do!
Thanks for stopping by,
Jessica
Thank you for this article about the best cat litter mats. I never had any cat companions so I was not aware of the issue of litter getting out and getting everywhere. So basically, you would surround the kitty litter box with some of these mats, and then they would prevent the litter from spreading any further?
also, sorry if I missed it but how often do you have to replace these?
Thanks for the link to healthy PAWS pet insurance on the side. I went and picked on that to check it out and it looks like a great pet insurance program.
Hello Chuck,
I have had mine for over a year and there is no sign I would need to replace them. I imagine they will last several years at least and would last longer unless you have a cat that scratches them a lot. My cats don’t seem to mess with them at all.
I am glad you liked the Healthy PAWS health insurance information as well.
Thank you for stopping by,
Jessica
Thank you Jessica for the information. I love the pics you chose for the related topics. I have four cats of my own so this hits close to home on the subject of cats and litter. One of the biggest contentions we all face as cat owners is dealing with the smell of litter waste. I’ve come home from out of town once and the waft of urine that met me at my door almost knocked down. That’s why this info and requests are so enlightening and brings good news for our nose. Thank you.
Hello,
These mats do not address odor but they help keep your house clean since the litter does not get tracked all over the floor. I am glad you liked this.
Jessica
I have been thinking about what I’ve been after and what is available when considering purchasing a cat litter mat, thankfully I’ll be able to select a cat litter mat that simplifies my life and keeps your house cleaner and happier, these cat litter mat recommendation can mean the difference between a quick and easy cleanup, or a certified disaster zone. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, I agree. Thank you for stopping by.
Jessica