10 Best Cat Litter Boxes for Small Apartments & Limited Space

Litter boxes can get pretty funky pretty fast. When you’re in a small space, there’s no place to hide from the smell. You have to face it.

So it makes sense to use a litter box that reduces the ghastly smell associated with such a creation. There are many options available.

Covered, open, plastic, steel, round, square—and well, you get the point. Then there’s the whole issue of what size to get.

Can your pleasantly plump cat maneuver those curves into the litter box without bumping into the sides? Your furry friend needs a certain level of comfort to handle that business.

But you don’t have to feel overwhelmed.

We’ve put together a run-down of the top ten litter boxes to help you keep your apartment smelling fresh and your cat happy. In this guide, you’ll find some of the best litter boxes for small apartments.

Best Litter Boxes for Small Apartments: Review Criteria

You want to make sure that you keep your apartment as clean as you can when you have cats. After all, you will want to get your deposit back if you decide to move one day.

You can’t afford to use a sub-par litter box that leaks urine on the floor. Nor can you put up with poorly designed boxes that allow excess cat litter to get stuck in your carpet, leaving nasty stains. 

This guide will show you what features to look for in the best litter boxes for small apartments so your space will look just as nice the day you leave as it did the day you moved in.

Odor Control

Cats may be small but when they relieve themselves the scent can be as off-putting as anything coming from a fully grown human.

Your best bet for masking unpleasant smells is a covered litter box. The hood will help block the funk and put up a barrier to keep curious dogs and kids at bay. 

Size

You want your cat to have enough room to step inside, turn around, scratch, and squat without bumping into the side of his box. A box with lower sides can work quite well for smaller cats. Your larger feline friends will need a box that is over 20 inches long or wide.

Material

Durable, heavy plastic is what you need for a litter box. This kind of material will be long-lasting and easy to clean. A non-stick surface is ideal for quickly getting rid of your cat’s messes.

Top 10 Best Litter Boxes for Small Apartments

1. Purina Tidy Cats Hooded Litter Box

Easy to remove pads: Purina’s hooded litter box helps control odors by keeping them closed in. Also, the hood comes in handy if your cats tend to lift their bums to pee.

Having a cover stops nasty messes. You’ll appreciate that you don’t need to use bags. Plus, the pine is safe because it breaks down into the sawdust.

The downside is that it isn’t 100% odor-proof. Things can still get funky if you’re not removing the waste regularly.

Prevent this from being an issue by cleaning the box daily. “Scoop the poop” is your new mantra.

2. Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box with Cat Litter Scoop

Sleek design: Iris’ classy cat litter box isn’t just a head-turner, it functions well too. The top is large enough for you to scoop the pine litter out to flush solid waste.

Even though it's not closed off completely, this litter box does a much better job of holding in odors than an open box.

On the other hand, litter can pour through the holes when you’re dumping it. Keep this from being an issue by being careful to pour it slowly and at an angle that prevents spillage.

3. PetSafe ScoopFree Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box

Leak protection: PetSafe’s self-cleaning litter box takes one more thing off your busy plate by cleaning the litter box itself. Also, it features a handy button that will start the rake if there's a foul-smelling waste and you can't wait 20 minutes for the rake to automatically turn on.

The maintenance required is minimal. You’ll only need to scoop out waste once a week and change the litter once a month.

Plus, it has an easy to remove purple top that makes scooping waste a breeze. Unfortunately, poop can stick to the rake and you’ll have to manually scrape it off. How do you fix the issue?

Cut down some plastic drinking straws to size. Split them lengthwise with scissors. Put them around the tines of the rake. This will keep the rake clean since the poop will no longer stick.

4. Petphabet Covered Litter Box

Eliminates litter scatter: Petphabet created a litter box with a high back and lid that reduces spillover. Your cats will have some privacy and won’t feel as if they could be blindly ambushed by other cats while relieving themselves.

You’ll appreciate how easy it is to clean. The material is durable. Plus, it’s spacious considering how compact it is. This roomy and rounded litter box can fit up to two small cats at a time.

The downside is that you’ll probably need to toss your current scooper. A straight litter scooper won’t work on a curved litter box. But that’s easy to fix. Just buy a curved scooper.

5. Petmate Booda Dome Clean Step Cat Litter

Large cat-friendly: Petmate delivered a fancy-looking litter box that your kitty will be proud to use. Plus, the dome covering keeps unpleasant scents at bay.

The steps do a great job of keeping litter inside the box. On the other hand, urine could trickle down the stairs and end up on your floor.

This all depends on the spot where your cat urinates. But this doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Place a gorilla mat under the litter box. It will catch any little streams that escape the box.

6. Omega Paw Improved Roll 'n Clean Self Cleaning Litter Box

Does not require electricity, liners, or filters: This roll box by Omega Paw is easy to clean and keep fresh. Long gone are the days of scooping.

Just roll it to the right then roll it to the left and you're good. The boxes’ poop collector holds a lot and disposes of waste very well.

On the other hand, the max litter line isn’t helpful. You’ll need to go over it to keep your cats happy. But a word of caution, filling it too much will cause the litter to spill out. You’ll need to test the amount to add to it so you get enough litter without causing spillage.

7. iPrimio Ultimate Stainless Steel Cat XL Litter Box

Durable: The ergonomic design features rounded edges so there are no sharp sides to irritate your kitty. Since it’s stainless steel, you don’t have to worry about rust issues.

Plus, the nonstick coating makes it easier to clean the box. The downside is that this doesn’t have a hood so your home can start to smell like cat pee if you’re not careful.

Prevent this from being an issue by using pine litter to cut the odor. Use the equine (horse) pine litter. It’s cheaper than cat pine litter and works just as well.

8. Good Pet Stuff Hidden Litter Box

Filtered vented system: Good Pet’s hidden litter box looks lovely and fits any space. It’s very inconspicuous, which is great if you’re living in a tiny apartment and don’t want to have an obvious-looking litter box in the middle of your living room.

Also, the material is really easy to paint over so you can better match the container to your decor.

The downside is that the leaves and straw could be potentially dangerous if your cat chews on them. If your cat is prone to getting into stuff, just toss the leaves and straw.

9. Pet Mate Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan

Antimicrobial protection: Pet Mate’s large litter box features two regular pans and a sifting pan. This gives you an efficient way to clean your cat's litter box.

All you have to do is simply lift the sifter pan to separate soiled and clean litter. Heavier loads won’t be a problem because the bottom is reinforced.

Plus, the antimicrobial protection helps prevent stains. However, you can’t let the cat litter get even a hair above the plastic bin’s edge.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with that stuff everywhere. Keep this from being an issue by not letting the litter get anywhere near the bin’s edge.

10. LitterMaid Single Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box

High walls: LitterMaid’s rake removes waste for a clean, fresh start so you can kick your feet up instead of cleaning cat poop. This beauty requires no daily scooping.

That means you have a scoop-free clean-up for up to seven days. The paw cleaning ramp helps prevent tracking around the box. Plus, its high walls help prevent litter scatter.

The downside is that this litter box can be fairly loud. Be sure to put it in an area where the noise won’t bother you once it goes into the self-cleaning mode.