5 Best Large Cat Litter Boxes for Big & Multi-Cat Homes

You order a litter box labeled “extra large,” unpack it, pour in the litter, and feel pretty good about your choice.

Then your 17-pound cat steps inside.

His front paws fit. His back paws fit. His rear end, unfortunately, has decided to remain in another ZIP code.

That is the problem with shopping for a large cat litter box: “XL” and “jumbo” are marketing labels, not standardized measurements. A box can look enormous on a product page and still leave a long-bodied cat cramped once you account for tapered walls, storage compartments, or a bulky hood.

Quick answer: For large cats, prioritize usable interior floor space first, then entry height, wall height, and whether your cat actually prefers an open or covered box. For multi-cat homes, buy enough appropriately sized boxes rather than expecting one oversized box to serve the entire household.

Our Large Cat Litter Box Picks for 2026

Pick	Best For	Published Size	Main Trade-Off
PetSafe Multi-Cat Litter Box	Best overall for multi-cat homes	Interior approximately 21.5 × 17 × 7.5 in	Integrated storage makes the entire unit bulky
Petmate Giant Litter Box	Best open box for large cats	25.56 × 18.3 × 10.02 in overall	Still may be short for exceptionally long cats
Frisco High Sided XL	Best simple high-sided value	24 × 18 × 10 in overall	Tapered base reduces usable floor space
Petfamily Extra Large Hooded Box	Best roomy covered option	24.8 × 20 × 16.5 in overall	Not every cat likes a hood
Modkat XL	Best premium covered design	21 × 16.5 × 17 in overall	Premium design, but not the largest floor

Before You Buy: Measure the Cat, Not the Product Label

If you remember only one thing from this guide, make it this: a box should fit the cat who will actually use it.

Feline house-soiling guidance from AAFP and ISFM recommends a rectangular litter box roughly 1.5 times the cat's length from nose to the base of the tail. That gives a cat room to enter, turn, dig, choose a position, and cover waste without constantly bumping into the walls.

That recommendation exposes an awkward truth about commercial litter boxes: even some products marketed as giant may still be undersized for an especially long Maine Coon, Ragdoll, or large domestic cat.

Before shopping:

1. Measure your cat from nose to the base of the tail.
2. Multiply that body length by roughly 1.5.
3. Compare the result with the usable floor of the box whenever interior dimensions are available.
4. Consider whether your cat needs high sides for scatter or spraying.
5. Check whether the entrance is comfortable for your cat's age and mobility.

Shopping shortcut: Exterior dimensions can be misleading. Tapered walls, wide rims, hoods, steps, and storage compartments can make a box considerably smaller inside than it looks on the specification sheet.

How We Chose These Litter Boxes

This is a research-based buying guide. We did not perform hands-on laboratory testing of these boxes, so the rankings do not pretend to represent measurements we made ourselves.

We compared current manufacturer and major-retailer specifications and prioritized:

• Usable space: especially interior or base measurements when available
• Entry accessibility: because tall walls are useful only if your cat can comfortably get inside
• Scatter and spray control: particularly for high-peeing cats and enthusiastic diggers
• Open vs. covered design: because cats differ in their preferences
• Ease of scooping and cleaning
• Multi-cat practicality: including how easy it is to keep several boxes clean
• Value: whether the extra features solve a real problem rather than simply making the box more complicated

We also deliberately avoided ranking a product highly just because the manufacturer calls it “jumbo.”

1. PetSafe Multi-Cat Litter Box — Best Overall for Multi-Cat Homes

There is a particular moment in a multi-cat house when you realize scooping is no longer a tiny chore.

You scoop one box. Turn around. Someone has already used another.

The PetSafe Multi-Cat Litter Box is our research-based overall pick for households that want a reasonably roomy open box plus a more organized cleanup system.

The unit includes a large metal scoop and a removable side compartment that can hold waste bags, the scoop, or collected solid waste before disposal. Retailer-published interior measurements are approximately 21.5 inches long, 17 inches wide, and 7.5 inches high.

Best for

• Multi-cat households that scoop frequently
• Cats that prefer an open box
• Owners who like keeping waste bags and the scoop beside the box
• Cats that need more turning room than a typical small pan provides

Pros

• Good interior width for a commercial box
• Open design gives cats clear sight lines and multiple ways to leave
• Integrated waste and scoop storage is genuinely useful for frequent cleaning
• Works with ordinary clumping litter as well as other compatible litter types

Cons

• The attached storage section increases the total footprint in your room
• It is not the longest option in this guide
• Very long cats may still need something larger

Who should skip it? If your primary problem is fitting an exceptionally long cat rather than managing a busy multi-cat litter station, the Petmate Giant—or a genuinely oversized nontraditional pan—may give you a better use of floor space.

2. Petmate Giant Litter Box — Best Open Box for Large Cats

If your cat's main complaint about ordinary boxes is simply, “Where exactly am I supposed to put the rest of me?” the Petmate Giant is one of the most straightforward options on this list.

Petmate currently lists the box at approximately 25.56 × 18.3 × 10.02 inches overall. It has high sides, an open top, and a sloped front entry. Current retailer information also reports a usable inner area around 22.5 × 15.5 inches at one measured level inside the pan.

Petmate says the pan can hold more than 30 pounds of litter. That capacity can be useful, although more litter does not mean you can scoop less often in a multi-cat household.

Best for

• Large cats that dislike covered boxes
• Longer cats that need more floor space
• Enthusiastic diggers that benefit from higher sides
• Owners who want a simple pan without complicated parts

Pros

• One of the roomier widely available open commercial pans
• No hood reducing headroom or escape options
• High sides help contain some litter scatter
• Simple shape makes routine scooping easy

Cons

• The front entry is still around six inches high, which may be uncomfortable for some cats with significant mobility problems
• Even this box can be too short for an exceptionally long Maine Coon
• Petmate does not offer a matching liner for this giant size

Who should skip it? Cats with arthritis or other mobility limitations may benefit from a larger box with a lower entrance rather than being asked to climb over a relatively high front wall every time.

3. Frisco High Sided Cat Litter Box, Extra Large — Best Simple High-Sided Value

Not every litter problem requires a complicated solution.

Sometimes the cat fits reasonably well, but every digging session ends with enough litter on the floor to make you wonder whether they were trying to excavate the basement.

The Frisco High Sided Extra Large uses a simple open design with approximately 10-inch-high sides and a lower front entrance. Its overall measurements are about 24 × 18 × 10 inches.

There is one measurement shoppers should pay attention to, though: the walls taper. Retailer information gives the bottom floor at roughly 19.75 × 12.875 inches.

That makes this a good reminder that “24 inches long” does not always mean your cat gets 24 inches of standing room.

Best for

• Average-to-large cats that kick litter over ordinary low pans
• Cats that prefer an open box
• Owners who want a straightforward high-sided design
• Homes that need several boxes without buying several premium models

Pros

• High sides without a full enclosure
• Lower front entry than the surrounding walls
• Simple to scoop and wash
• A practical design for buying multiple boxes

Cons

• Tapering significantly reduces the usable bottom footprint
• Not our first choice for a truly giant or extremely long cat
• Open front can still allow some litter to escape

Who should skip it? If your cat routinely positions their rear end over the edge of a standard large box, prioritize a longer usable floor rather than simply taller walls.

4. Petfamily Extra Large Hooded Litter Box — Best Roomy Covered Option

Some cats want an open panoramic bathroom. Others happily march into a covered box and clearly have no interest in discussing interior design with you.

For cats that already tolerate covered litter boxes, the Petfamily Extra Large Hooded Litter Box is one of the roomier covered options we found in current U.S. listings.

Its published assembled dimensions are approximately 24.8 × 20 × 16.5 inches, with a front doorway around 8.2 × 7.8 inches. The clear upper cover can also be removed.

Best for

• Cats that already prefer or comfortably use covered boxes
• Owners dealing with significant litter scatter
• Homes where a taller enclosure helps contain mess around the box

Pros

• Wider external footprint than many hooded competitors
• Removable top gives you flexibility if your cat rejects the cover
• Clear upper section feels visually less enclosed than a completely opaque hood
• Tall sides help contain scatter and some high-aim urination

Cons

• Published exterior dimensions do not tell us exactly how much usable floor space remains inside
• A hood can trap odor if the box is not scooped frequently
• Some cats simply dislike enclosed litter boxes

Who should skip it? If your cat has ever avoided hooded boxes, do not buy one simply because you prefer the cleaner appearance. Cat preference matters more than whether the bathroom setup looks tidy to us.

5. Modkat XL — Best Premium Covered Design

The Modkat XL is the pick for a different shopper.

You may not need the absolute largest rectangle you can fit through the door. You may instead be trying to contain tracking, deal with a side-peeing cat, and keep a litter station in a visible part of the home without buying something that looks purely utilitarian.

The Modkat XL measures approximately 21 × 16.5 × 17 inches overall and can be configured for front entry, top entry, or a combination of the two.

The front entrance begins about 6.25 inches above the floor, while the box also includes reusable liners and a walk-off platform intended to reduce litter tracking.

Best for

• Medium-to-large cats that comfortably fit its floor area
• Side-peeing cats that benefit from a high seamless base
• Owners prioritizing tracking control and appearance
• Cats already comfortable with covered litter boxes

Pros

• Flexible front- or top-entry configurations
• Tall enclosed base helps contain urine and litter
• Reusable liner system simplifies full litter changes for some owners
• Cleaner furniture-like appearance than a basic open pan

Cons

• It is a premium-priced option
• The floor footprint is smaller than the largest open boxes in this guide
• Top entry is a poor choice for many senior or mobility-limited cats
• Not our pick for an exceptionally large Maine Coon simply because the product name says XL

Who should skip it? If maximum interior length is your first priority, spend your money on space rather than design features.

One Large Litter Box Does Not Replace Multiple Boxes

This is especially important because several products use the words “multi-cat” in their marketing.

A box can be convenient in a multi-cat home without meaning that every cat should depend on that one bathroom.

AAHA/AAFP feline guidance uses the rule of thumb of one litter box per cat plus one additional box, ideally placed in separate accessible locations rather than grouped together as one giant litter station.

So for two cats, think in terms of three appropriate boxes—not one enormous box that both animals must negotiate.

Separate locations also make it harder for one cat to guard access to every toilet.

If your multi-cat household includes a newcomer who is still learning the layout of the home, our room-by-room guide for bringing a new cat home can help you establish a safe starting space before expanding territory.

What If None of the Commercial XL Boxes Are Actually Large Enough?

This is not a failure of your cat.

It is sometimes a failure of the litter-box aisle.

Feline behavior guidelines specifically acknowledge that many manufactured boxes are too small and suggest alternatives such as large storage containers when a conventional litter box does not provide adequate room.

Large-cat owners also commonly turn to under-bed storage containers, sturdy storage totes, or large concrete/mortar mixing trays because these can offer a longer uninterrupted floor than many products sold as “jumbo.”

If you go that route:

• Choose sturdy, non-sharp material that can be cleaned easily
• Make sure the container is stable when filled with litter
• Create a smooth, safely finished low entry if your cat needs one
• Avoid rough cut edges
• Make sure wall height suits your cat's mobility

For a truly giant cat: A boring 30-inch-plus storage container that your cat can turn around in comfortably may be a better litter box than a beautiful commercial “XL” model with a cramped interior.

High Sides or Low Entry? Choose Based on the Cat in Front of You

Large boxes often try to solve litter scatter by making the walls taller. That works well for some cats—but wall height and entry height are not the same thing.

A healthy young cat may step over a six-inch entrance without thinking about it.

An older cat with arthritis, weakness, balance problems, or painful joints may see the same entrance very differently.

For a mobility-limited cat, prioritize:

• A broad, stable floor
• A genuinely low entry
• Enough width to turn without twisting tightly
• Higher walls only where they do not block access

If this is your first time setting up the rest of your cat's environment too, our first-time cat owner guide covers the broader home basics.

Covered vs. Open: There Is No Universal Winner

Covered boxes are appealing to humans because they hide the litter and can contain scatter.

The cat may have a different opinion.

An open box offers better visibility, more airflow, and easier escape. That can be particularly useful in multi-cat homes where one cat might feel vulnerable entering or leaving a confined box.

A covered box can work perfectly well for an individual cat who willingly uses one—especially if it is roomy and kept very clean.

The mistake is assuming that a cover automatically gives a cat “privacy.”

Watch what your cat actually chooses.

Five Questions to Ask Before Clicking Buy

1. Can my cat turn around without touching both sides?
   If not, keep shopping.
2. Am I looking at interior measurements or just exterior dimensions?
   A wide rim or tapered base can steal several inches of usable room.
3. Can my cat comfortably step through the entrance?
   This matters especially for seniors and cats with mobility limitations.
4. Does my cat prefer open or covered boxes?
   Your preference for hidden litter should not override a strong feline preference.
5. Can I fit enough boxes in separate locations?
   The perfect giant box is still not a substitute for adequate litter-box distribution in a multi-cat home.

Which Large Cat Litter Box Should You Buy?

If the biggest problem is managing several cats and frequent scooping, start with the PetSafe Multi-Cat Litter Box.

If you have a large cat that prefers an open box, the Petmate Giant is our strongest straightforward option.

If you mainly need high sides without spending for premium features, the Frisco High Sided XL makes sense—as long as your cat fits the tapered interior.

If your cat genuinely prefers a roomy covered box, look at the Petfamily Extra Large Hooded.

And if you want a polished enclosed design with tracking control and your cat fits comfortably inside, the Modkat XL is the premium pick.

But there is one answer that matters more than any ranking.

If your cat climbs into your expensive new “jumbo” box, turns halfway around, and still has to decide which body part stays outside, send the marketing label back with the box.

Your cat does not need an XL litter box. They need a litter box that is actually large enough for them.

One Last Health Note: Do Not Blame the Box for Every Bathroom Problem

A better litter box can solve problems related to crowding, access, litter scatter, or preference. It cannot fix a medical problem.

If your cat suddenly strains repeatedly, cries in the box, makes frequent unproductive trips, produces little or no urine, or seems painful, do not assume they are simply protesting a new litter box.

In particular, inability to urinate can be a life-threatening emergency. Our cat urinary blockage emergency guide explains the warning signs and why immediate veterinary care matters.