14 Best Sifting Litter Boxes
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Sifting litterboxes are the ultimate in simple-to-clean boxes, making them ideal for individuals on the road. Because you won't be using a scooper, there will be no dirty tools laying about your house.
However, there are dozens of brands, and some of them are rather flimsy, making it difficult to select the ideal one for your home.
We've chosen ten of the best sifting litter boxes to review so you can see how they differ.
We'll tell you about the benefits and drawbacks we encountered while using them, as well as how our cats loved them.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has also included a brief buyer's guide in which we examine how sifting litter boxes function and what you should look for while shopping.
Continue reading as we examine durability, size, convenience of use, and other factors to help you make an informed purchase.
Reviews
Petmate Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan – Overall Winner
The Petmate Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan is a three-pan device that is incredibly simple to operate.
When you remove the top pan, the litter falls through, leaving only clumps and garbage that you may discard and place the pan at the bottom of the stack.
Each tray has antibacterial qualities built in and is incredibly durable. The reinforced polymer is easy to clean and scratch-resistant.
We had a good time reviewing the Petmate and believed it performed wonderfully. The only issue was that it was too small for our larger cats.
Overall, we believe this is the best sifting litter box on the market this year.
Pros
- System of three pans
- Antimicrobial defense
- Bottom reinforcement
Cons
- Small
Hooded Litter Box Purina Tidy Cats – Best Covered Sifter
The Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Hooded Litter Box is a simple, all-in-one system that works slightly differently than the majority of the other brands on this list.
It employs a hard litter that allows your cat’s urine to pass through to a tray beneath that has an absorbent pad. The litter will last several weeks if you only replace the pad as needed and scoop away the solid waste.
The absorbent pads capture pee and decrease odor, while the litter dehydrates excrement to remove odors from within. The hooded litter box cover provides seclusion for your pet while it does its business.
The Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Hooded Litter Box has one disadvantage: it is too tiny for some of our larger cats, and if more than one cat uses it, the pad can become full and spill onto the floor.
Pros
- Keeps litter contained within the box
- Simple to use
- Long-lasting
- Controlling odors
Cons
- Small
- Some cats dislike it.
SiftEase Litter Box Sifter – Ideal For Multiple Cats
As the best sifting litter box for several cats, we recommend the SiftEase Litter Box Cleaner Sifter. The heavy-duty polyethylene is long-lasting and will withstand heavy use for many years.
It’s simple to use; simply empty your litter box into the sifter to separate the rubbish from the excellent litter. Dump the rubbish into the trash and replace the good litter in your litter box.
The SiftEase’s disadvantage is that, although having broad, easy-to-grab handles, it might be difficult to move the litter box into the sifter and then back into the box.
It also generates a lot of dust, depending on the type of litter used.
Pros
- Simple to Use
- Materials that are long-lasting
- Large dimensions
Cons
- Heavy
Petmate Corner Sifting Litter Pan – Smallest Size
Our pick for the best compact sifting litter box is the Petmate Corner Sifting Litter Pan. It’s a brand created in the United States with a distinctive triangular design that allows it to tuck neatly into a corner with the smallest footprint.
The plastic materials are remarkably long-lasting, and this pan will last you for many years. It has great high walls that will assist keep the litter inside, and it removes waste from the litter flawlessly.
The Petmate Corner Sifting Litter Pan has a high price tag when compared to other brands of similar size, and it can be difficult to shift and would benefit from the addition of handles.
If you like to use a mat under your litter box, it can be difficult to find one that is the right size and shape for this brand.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Durable
- Minimalist footprint
Cons
- Expensive
- Change is difficult.
SmartSift Self-Cleaning Litter Box by Catit
Our recommendation for the best eco-friendly covered top is the Catit SmartSift Self-Cleaning Litter Box.
The cover will keep litter and odors inside the box while also giving the cat some privacy when performing its business.
It’s simple to operate, and the mechanical lever does the majority of the job for you, sifting the liter and placing the garbage in a bag that can be discarded.
It is also the best sifting litter box for pine pellets, making it particularly eco-friendly. It comes with two liners to get you started, as well as an embedded carbon fiber litter deodorizer to help reduce odor.
The Catit SmartSift is an intriguing design that makes cleaning out the litter quicker, but it may be too large for certain individuals, and it will require extra labor when doing a deep clean.
The plastic feels fragile compared to other brands, and the directions that explain you how to assemble and run the machine are hard to follow.
Pros
- Noiseless
- Simple to use
- There are two liners included.
- Carbon filtration
Cons
- Bulky
- Flimsy
- Inadequate directions
Lift-to-Sift Litter Pan So Fresh
The So Phresh Lift-to-Sift Litter Pan is our top option for the most versatility when it comes to using it with numerous litters.
It has a simple three-pan design that allows you to pour the dirty pan into a clean one while removing debris using a sifter.
We discovered that it worked effectively and was simple to operate, making it ideal for houses with more than one cat. The high rim keeps the litter contained in the box.
The disadvantage of So Phresh is that it employs larger-sized holes to accept larger litters like Skoon, but it also lets some waste to fall through, and depending on the type of litter you use, it can break up clumps.
We also noticed that the plastic on this brand is quite thin, and we’re not sure how long it will endure.
Pros
- A straightforward three-pan design
- Most litters are compatible.
- Suitable for several cats
- A wide rim
Cons
- For many litters, the holes are too huge.
- Plastic that is thin
How to Choose the Best Sifting Cat Litter Box
Let’s take a look at a few things to think about before purchasing your next sifting litter box.
What Is the Function of a Sifting Litter Box?
Sifting litter boxes allow the user to strain the litter in the most efficient way possible to remove clumps and feces.
While there are numerous methods for sifting litter, the most frequent and least expensive option is using two standard trays that resemble a conventional litter box and a third pan with several holes or slots to sift the litter.
Place the sifting tray into one of the normal trays, fill it with litter, and wait for your cats to use the box before removing the waste with the sifter.
Pour the liter from the first box on top of the sifter in the empty second box, and repeat.
We discovered that many people do it this way, but the disadvantage is that urine can run down into the pores and grooves, clogging the sifter and making cleaning more difficult.
We recommend using the box without the sifter as a conventional litter box. It will make it easier for your cats to use it, and when it gets filthy, you can pour it into the second box using the sifter, collecting the waste on the sifter pan.
Who Is Appropriate for Sifting Litter Boxes?
For two reasons, we recommend that everyone use a sifting litter box. The first benefit is that it makes cleaning your litter box quick and easy.
Shoppers are wonderful, but cats can hide their tiny gifts quite well, and they may manage to avoid one or two cleanings.
Urine also has a tendency to gather in the bottom, where it can seep into the plastic and leave a persistent odor.
With a sifting litter box, the litter is constantly sifted and switched, allowing you to complete a deep clean more frequently without wasting litter.
Size
The size of your next litter box is one of the first things you should consider, and size can be deceiving with sifting pans because there are often numerous components that can look substantial but yet not have much space for your cat to do its business.
Examine the available litter area carefully, and we recommend choosing the largest size possible because it will be suited for larger cats, and it is more difficult to push the litter out of larger boxes.
Durability
Once you’ve determined the suitable size, we recommend double-checking the materials to ensure your pick is long-lasting. Many companies save money by using thinner plastic that splits readily.
We attempted to highlight any flimsy boxes in our reviews and urge that you personally check any models if you continue to shop.
Cleaning Ease
Though the litter is simple to clean using sifting boxes, you will still need to clean the many trays and other components it may contain.
With one crucial exception, the simpler the system, the easier it is to clean. There are various brands of disposable sifting boxes made of paper mache.
These sifters cannot be cleaned and tend to collect waste as you use them, so we recommend avoiding them wherever possible.
Sifting Litter Boxes: Covered vs. Open
Another issue to think about is whether you want to utilize a covered or open sifting litter box, and we have both on our list. Covered boxes are beneficial if your cat kicks a lot of litter outside the box.
It will help keep odors at bay and provide your cat solitude when doing its business.
The trapped odors, on the other hand, can make it unpleasant for your cat to use, and any dust or perfumes will be concentrated and potentially hazardous to your pet.
Some cats may struggle to get through the opening and refuse to utilize it. We advocate utilizing open boxes whenever feasible to promote maximum airflow for your cat.
If it is spitting out a lot of litter, consider a larger box or one with higher walls.
What Kind of Litter Works Best?
For the greatest results, we recommend using any normal clumping cat litter. The clumping will aid in the elimination of urine and feces during the sifting process.
Non-clumping litters have a tendency to puddle at the bottom and move from tray to tray, resulting in a greater odor.
What Are the Drawbacks of Sifting Litter Boxes?
Unfortunately, there is a considerable disadvantage to sifting litterboxes. As you pour the litter through the sifting panel, a huge amount of dust will be released into your home.
Even low dust brands produce enough dust that we recommend sifting the litter outside exclusively.
Conclusion
When it comes to sifting litter boxes, we recommend the Petmate Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan as our top selection. This brand is simple to use and has a reinforced bottom for further durability.
It employs a straightforward three-pan design, with each component made of antibacterial material for added safety.
If you have many cats who use different boxes, the SiftEase Litter Box Cleaner Sifter is a good solution that can help you reduce the amount of work you have to do.
It’s not a stand-alone box, but its huge basin will help you efficiently sift litter from any brand.
The Catit SmartSift Self-Cleaning Litter Box is our top selection for the best sifting litter box for pine pellets.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes you enjoyed reading these reviews and discovered a couple you’d want to try.
If this guide to the best sifting litter boxes has helped you save time on your daily chores, then share it on Facebook and Twitter.
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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