Cat Throwing Litter Out of the Box

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When a cat throws litter out of the box, check the box’s size, sides, cover, litter depth and cleanliness first. PetMD lists several causes of litter kicking, including shallow litter, a box that is too small or dirty, and burying instincts. Cornell’s house-soiling guidance covers box fit. Ask your vet first if the behavior is new, because a sudden change in habits can have a medical cause. This guide does not give health advice.

Quick answer

• PetMD says litter kicking can come from litter that is less than 1.5 inches deep, a box that is too small or dirty, burying instincts, or habits learned from a mother cat.
• PetMD says the first step is a vet visit if the behavior is new, and that a cat kicking litter is not a concern on its own when the habit is not new.
• Cornell’s house-soiling guidance says larger cats need bigger boxes, kittens and elderly cats need low sides, and covers hold odors in from a cat’s point of view.
• PetMD says a litter mat may not stop kicking, but it helps stop litter from tracking beyond the box. The listing we opened describes high sides and a top entry.

Causes PetMD lists

PetMD’s article on kicking litter lists these causes. Each one comes from that article, and we have not added to it.

• Shallow litter. PetMD says litter less than 1.5 inches deep is too shallow, and cats struggle to cover their waste.
• A box that is too small. PetMD says a box that is too small can make a cat dig more than usual.
• A dirty box. PetMD says dirty litter boxes tend to intensify digging.
• Burying instinct. PetMD says cats bury waste, and indoor cats may keep the instinct.
• Learned habits. PetMD says kittens copy their mother’s digging, and kittens separated early may miss that learning.
• Scent marking. PetMD says cats have scent glands in their paws, so digging and kicking leave a scent signal.

PetMD does not say which cause applies to a particular cat. You will need to check each one against your home.

Health comes first

PetMD says to schedule a checkup with your veterinarian if the behavior is new, or if you notice other sudden changes in your cat’s bathroom habits. Cornell’s house-soiling page says medical problems can change litter box use, and it recommends a thorough physical examination before behavior is treated. Do not change the box as a substitute for that check.

Box fit: what Cornell says

Cornell’s house-soiling page covers litter box problems in general. It does not discuss litter being thrown out of the box. Its box-fit points are these: larger cats need bigger boxes; kittens and elderly cats need boxes with low sides; covered boxes help people with odor and stray litter, but from a cat’s point of view covers hold odors in; and a home needs as many boxes as cats, plus one.

Box-fit check	What Cornell says	What PetMD says	What the listing we opened says
Box size	Larger cats need bigger boxes	Box should be large enough for the cat to enter and turn around	20.5 x 14.75 x 14.38 inches, 2.78 pounds
Sides	Kittens and elderly cats need low sides	Large boxes with a low entry and tall sides	High sides contain spraying; the front opening is described as lowered for older or senior cats
Litter depth	Not discussed	Less than 1.5 inches is too shallow	Not stated
Cover	Covers hold odors in from a cat’s point of view	Not discussed	Filtered top lid, removable
Number of boxes	One per cat, plus one	Not discussed	No cat count is given

Steps to check, in order

1. Get a health check if the behavior is new. PetMD and Cornell both point to a veterinary examination first.
2. Check the box size against the cat. Cornell says larger cats need bigger boxes. PetMD says the cat should be able to enter and turn around.
3. Check the litter depth. PetMD says litter under 1.5 inches is too shallow for a cat to cover its waste.
4. Keep the box clean. PetMD says a dirty box can intensify digging, and Cornell notes some cats refuse a box with any urine or feces.
5. Check the sides and entry for the cat’s age and body. Cornell says kittens and elderly cats need low sides. PetMD recommends a low entry with tall sides for large boxes, and the ASPCA says high sides can be hard for older or physically limited cats. The sources disagree here, so match the box to your own cat.
6. Add a mat if litter is spreading. PetMD says a double-layered mat can help stop litter from tracking beyond the box, but may not stop kicking.
7. Add boxes if there is more than one cat. Cornell and the ASPCA both say a box for each cat, plus one.

None of these steps is a guaranteed fix. PetMD says a mat may not stop kicking, and the sources we read do not say that a box change stops litter being thrown.

The box we opened

How we chose

We searched Amazon once for the phrase high sided cat litter box and opened one listing with high sides and a top entry. The causes come from PetMD’s article on kicking litter, and the box-fit points come from Cornell’s house-soiling page. Both were checked on 2026-10-19. We did not measure any box.

What we could not verify

• Which cause applies to a particular cat. PetMD lists causes without ranking them for any one cat.
• Whether a higher-sided box stops litter being thrown. We found no source that says so.
• Whether this box fits a particular cat. The listing gives no cat count and no entry height.
• Whether the tracking and odor claims hold. They are the listing’s claims, and we did not test them.

Mistakes to avoid

• Treating a sudden change in habits as a box problem alone. Ask your vet first.
• Buying a box that is too small for an adult cat, which PetMD and Cornell both warn against.
• Leaving litter too shallow. PetMD says less than 1.5 inches is too shallow.
• Changing litter suddenly. Cornell says to switch gradually.

Related guides

For box size in a small home, see our small-apartment litter box guide. For a box that handles cleaning for you, see our self-cleaning litter box guide.

FAQ

Why does my cat throw litter out of the box?

PetMD lists shallow litter, a small or dirty box, burying instincts and learned habits as possible causes. Cornell’s house-soiling page covers litter box problems in general and does not discuss litter being thrown. If the behavior is new, ask your vet.

Will high sides stop litter being thrown?

The sources we read do not say this. The listing says high sides contain spraying and help control odor. That is the listing’s claim, and we did not test it.

How many litter boxes should I have?

Cornell says as many boxes as there are cats in the house, plus one. The ASPCA says the same.

Is a lower entry better for an older cat?

Cornell says elderly cats need boxes with low sides. The listing says its front opening is lowered for older or senior cats. PetMD says top-entry boxes may not suit senior cats. Check the entry against your cat before you buy.

Does a mat stop kicking?

PetMD says a mat may not stop kicking, but it can help keep litter from tracking beyond the box.

Bottom line

Check the litter depth, the box size and the cleanliness first, and ask your vet if the behavior is new. PetMD lists causes, but the sources we read do not say which one applies to your cat, so do not expect a box change alone to fix it.

Sources

• Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling, checked 2026-10-19 (page updated January 2015). Cited for odor and covers, low sides for kittens and elderly cats, box size for larger cats, sudden litter changes, box count, and the veterinary examination point.
• PetMD, Why Do Cats Kick Litter Everywhere?, checked 2026-10-19. Cited for the causes listed, the 1.5-inch litter depth, box size and entry, litter mats, and the vet visit point.
• ASPCA, Litter Box Problems, checked 2026-10-19. Cited for high sides being hard for older or physically limited cats.
• Amazon listing for ASIN B0B7M15C9F, checked 2026-10-19. Specs and bullets are as the seller states them. We did not measure the product.