My near-life-long history of cat ownership has given me some authority to speak on some of the pain points associated with feline coexistence. At the very tippy top of that list is litter mess — those tell-tale white and powdery tracks peppering all your floors, coupled with granules of litter that seem to evade even the most consistent of vacuum routines. While regular floor cleaning will always be necessary for cat owners, there are certainly some additional items and helpful product swaps out there that can make it less of a full-time job by significantly reducing the amount of litter your cat tracks around the house — many of which I use myself. Shop them yourself in the list ahead.
1. Mesh-Top Litter Catching Mat by Gorilla Grip
In my experience, a litter-catching mat is one of your best defenses against far-flung litter granules scattering your home, and this one by Gorilla Grip not only has a high-ranking mention from Wirecutter, but it also has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon across 53,100+ ratings. Available in 10 sizes and several colors, this water-resistant and non-sliding mat features a thick-coiled mesh top layer that captures excess litter from your cat's paws. $20+ at Amazon
2. Woven Sisal Litter Mat from Chewy
Although my own litter mat was purchased years ago, this one from Chewy is very similar and is made from woven sisal that is surprisingly durable. I like the material because it's easy to clean, either with a vacuum or by shaking it outdoors, and doesn't appear to bother either of my cats' paws. You can shop it in two sizes. $10+ at Chewy
3. Mid-Century Inspired Litter Box Enclosure from Wayfair
Desperate to hide the obtrusive appearance of my cat's litter box in my home, I invested in this clever mid-century-inspired cabinet that not only looks good, but keeps the floor tidier than if the box were just out and exposed. The slatted door has a push-open closure to reveal the compartment that holds my cat's open-top litter box (he enters easily through the opening to the left), and the two functional drawers on top are surprisingly generous enough to hold my cat's litter and grooming essentials and more. To keep things extra scatter-proof, I still keep a mat, similar to the one featured earlier on this list, placed under the box inside the cabinet. $252 at Wayfair
4. Shark Wand Vacuum for Easy Clean-Up
When it's time for the daily task of litter box tidying, you don't always want to haul out a full-sized vacuum or even bother with a broom and dust pan. This wand vacuum by Shark makes the chore as pain-free as possible, and thanks to its diminutive size, it's even easier to reach around the tight corners of the box, along baseboards, or inside litter box hutches like the one featured above. Weighing less than 1.4 pounds, Shark's tiny but mighty creation still promises suction power that you can rely on, comes with two crevice tools and a charging dock that's equally as petite. $100 at Amazon, $100 at Chewy, $84 at Walmart
5. Dust-Free Tofu Litter from Michu
Several months ago, I made the switch from traditional clay litter to tofu litter after a vet we spoke to revealed that its no-dust formula can actually be healthier for pets and humans, while also reducing mess. The Michu brand litter in the peach scent is the one I use, and it's made from 100% natural and biodegradable soy or pea fibers that leave literally no dust and powdery residue to speak of. I also think the larger-sized grains are less likely to escape the box compared to clay formulas, and in terms of clumping, absorption and odor-control, I agree with the vets — this is a superior choice. $28 at Amazon, $30 at Chewy
6. Roborock Robot Vacuum and Mop
If you want to get ahead of litter mess altogether with as little effort on your part as possible, then a robot vacuum may be just what you need. This particular Roborock robot vacuum also has a mopping feature, so not only will you be free from litter grains getting stuck to the bottoms of your feet, but you'll also do away with any chalky residue left behind by kitty paws. Amazon customers who are also cat owners confirm that the Roborock Q7 M5+ excels at maintaining litter mess, with the help of its powerful 10000Pa suction and crevice catching arm. Like most automatic vacuums, the Roborock allows you to schedule cleaning times and intuitively maps your entire home, plus the charging base only needs to be dumped every five to seven weeks. $250 at Amazon
7. Dome-Style Litter Box with Litter-Catching Steps
Low-walled litter boxes can often be a mess waiting to happen, especially if you have a cat that likes to kick the litter out of their box every time they go to the bathroom. The Pawhut dome box has a capsule-like design that can help keep both odor and loose litter contained, while also providing a bit of privacy for your pet. The base features a removable base that makes it easy to access the little tray for scooping, and the box's entrance has litter-catching stairs for even more mess prevention. $85 at Chewy (regularly $126), $88 at Amazon
8. Top-Entry Litter Box from Chewy
Amazon customers have given this tall-sided litter box 4.6 stars across nearly 34,000 ratings and tons of cat-owner testimonials praising it for its mess-reducing design. "We love that it minimizes the mess and significantly reduces the amount of litter tracked more than a few kitten-sized steps away from the litter box," one Chewy shopper wrote. This sleek-looking box has a top-sided entry boarded by built-in grooves to help capture litter each time your pet jumps out of the box to exit. $40 at Amazon, $40 at Chewy
9. Litter Robot 4 Automatic Litter Box
"If you have cats that like to kick litter outside of their traditional boxes, this is definitely a game-changer because I'm not having to sweep multiple times a day. They barely track anything outside of the box now," one Amazon customer wrote in their review of the Litter Robot 4, an automatic litter box that even former HuffPost editors have enthusiastically endorsed. This self-cleaning litter box smartly detects when your cat uses and exits the box before turning on the noiseless sifting process that separates the waste from the litter into a pre-bagged bin that couldn't be easier to dispose of. Using the companion app, you can also keep track of your cat's bathroom habits. You can even purchase the Litter Robot trap mat, which fits perfectly around the semi-circular base of the Litter Robot. Bundle: $749 at Amazon, $699 at Chewy
