Litter Boxes That Keep Litter In
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A litter box that keeps litter in usually has high walls, an enclosed or top-entry shape, or a mat for stray litter. Those features help with scatter, but none of the sources we read measures how much litter a box keeps in. A cover also changes what the cat sees. This guide compares two listings, sets out what Cornell and PetMD say about covers and mats, and lists what is not verified. Check the current price on Amazon.
Quick answer
- Containment comes from box design: high walls, an enclosed or top-entry shape, a raised edge and a mat. No source we read tests how much litter any of them keeps in.
- Cornell says covers hold odors in from a cat’s point of view, so an enclosed box is a trade-off.
- PetMD says a double-layered mat can help stop litter from tracking beyond the box, but may not stop kicking.
- The two listings we opened describe containment features: a high-sided top-entry box, and a fully enclosed stainless steel box with a raised edge and an anti-tracking mat.
What keeps litter in
| Feature | What the listings say | What they do not say |
|---|---|---|
| High walls | The Amazon Basics box says high sides contain spraying and help control odor | Interior size and entry height in inches |
| Top entry | The Amazon Basics listing says a top entry cuts litter tracking dramatically (listing claim) | Any measured tracking figure; PetMD says top-entry boxes may not suit arthritic, senior or overweight cats |
| Raised edge and seamless corners | The XXL box says these prevent leaks and contain litter (listing claim) | Test results |
| Anti-tracking mat | The XXL box includes a mat measuring 35.4 x 23.6 inches | Mat material and thickness |
| Lid | Both boxes have a lid; the Amazon Basics lid is filtered and removable | Whether the lid stops litter from being kicked out |
What Cornell says about covered boxes
Cornell’s house-soiling page says people like covered boxes for reducing odor and stray litter, but from a cat’s point of view, covers hold odors in. It also says that if another animal disturbs a cat in its box, a covered box should be replaced with one that gives a 360-degree view, and the box should have more than one way out. Cornell advises as many boxes as cats, plus one.
What PetMD says about mats and tall sides
PetMD’s article on kicking litter recommends a large box with a low entry and tall sides to contain the mess, and suggests adding a litter mat. It says mats are often double-layered, with a top layer of soft holes that catches litter, and that a mat may not stop kicking but helps keep litter from tracking beyond the box. PetMD also says top-entry boxes may not suit cats with arthritis, senior cats or overweight cats. Both listings we opened are top-entry or covered designs, so those points apply to them.
The two listings we opened
1. Amazon Basics Large Cat Litter Box with High Sides, Top Entry
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-19): 20.5 x 14.75 x 14.38 inches; 2.78 pounds; model 355557; grey. The page offers Top Entry and Open Top options; the top entry version is the one we read. The listing does not state an interior size or entry height in inches.
Pros (the listing says): high sides contain spraying and help control odor; the top entry design is described as cutting litter tracking dramatically; the filtered lid is removable for scooping; a matching scoop stores on the box.
Cons (the listing says or does not say): the containment claims are the listing’s own; the listing gives no cat count; it has a lid, so it is a covered box. PetMD says top-entry boxes may not suit cats with arthritis, senior cats or overweight cats.
Best for: a home that wants high walls and a top entry in one large box. Skip if: another pet disturbs the cat in the box, since Cornell advises a view all around in that case.
View on Amazon (affiliate link)
2. XXL Stainless Steel Sifting Litter Box with Lid, Fully Enclosed
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-19): 23.62 x 15.75 x 17.32 inches; 11 pounds; model PN-CLB-XXL-SS-LGRY; 8 inches deep pan. The listing’s comparison table, first column, gives a 94 L capacity, 36 L of litter capacity, a cat weight rating of up to 15 pounds (7 kg) and two exits. The page did not confirm that this column matches the color we read.
Pros (the listing says): the raised edge and seamless corners are described as containing litter and blocking moisture; high walls, an elevated step board and an anti-tracking mat are described as minimizing scatter; the box can be fully enclosed or semi-enclosed; a litter brush and filter bags are included.
Cons (the listing says or does not say): the title names pine pellets and non-clumping litter, and does not name clumping litter; the box is large and weighs 11 pounds; the containment claims are not test results.
Best for: a large-cat or multi-cat home that uses the litter types named in the title. Skip if: you use clumping litter, or the space cannot take a box measuring about 24 by 16 inches.
View on Amazon (affiliate link)
Comparing the two boxes on the numbers
The two listings differ most in size. The Amazon Basics box measures 20.5 x 14.75 inches on the floor, and the XXL box measures 23.62 x 15.75 inches. The floor area is about 302 square inches for the first and about 372 square inches for the second. Those are our calculations from the listing figures, as length times width, and they ignore the lid and the handle.
The XXL box also gives a litter capacity of 36 L in its table. The Amazon Basics listing does not give a litter capacity, so the two boxes cannot be compared on that figure. Choose by floor space and by the features each listing describes.
How we chose
We opened one listing from the high-sided search and one sponsored result from this search. Both describe containment features in their own text. The search also returned other enclosed boxes; we did not open them, so they have no card. Covered-box points come from Cornell’s house-soiling page, and mat and entry points come from PetMD, both checked on 2026-10-19. We did not measure any box.
What we could not verify
- How much litter either box keeps in. No source we read tests this.
- Whether the XXL box’s leak and moisture claims hold. They are listing claims.
- Which column of the XXL comparison table describes the color we read.
- Whether an enclosed box reduces scatter for a particular cat. The sources we read do not say this.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying a covered box for a home where another pet bothers the cat in the box. Cornell advises a view all around in that case.
- Assuming a box with a lid stops all scatter. None of the sources we read tests that.
- Choosing a large box without checking the space. The XXL listing gives a footprint of about 24 by 16 inches.
- Skipping the mat. PetMD says a mat helps keep litter from tracking, though it may not stop kicking.
Related guides
For a compact option, see our small-apartment litter box guide. For box cleaning, see our self-cleaning litter box guide.
FAQ
Will a covered box keep litter in?
The listings make containment claims, and no source we read tests them. Cornell says covers hold odors in from a cat’s point of view.
Do I need a mat?
The XXL box includes an anti-tracking mat. The Amazon Basics listing does not describe a mat. PetMD says a mat helps keep litter from tracking beyond the box, but may not stop kicking.
How many boxes do I need?
Cornell says as many boxes as there are cats in the house, plus one.
Does a high wall stop spraying?
The Amazon Basics listing says high sides contain spraying. That is the listing’s claim. Cornell’s section on urine spraying does not discuss box walls.
Is a top-entry box a good choice for an older cat?
PetMD says top-entry boxes may not suit senior cats, cats with arthritis, or overweight cats. Consider a low entry for those cats.
Bottom line
Pick containment by features you can check: height, entry, lid and mat. Then match the size to your cat. If another pet makes the cat uneasy in the box, Cornell advises a view all around and more than one way out, so a covered box may not suit.
Sources
- Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling, checked 2026-10-19 (page updated January 2015). Cited for odor and covers, the 360-degree view and exits point, and the box count.
- PetMD, Why Do Cats Kick Litter Everywhere?, checked 2026-10-19. Cited for the mat, the tall-sides and low-entry point, and top-entry boxes and senior or arthritic cats.
- Amazon listings for ASIN B0B7M15C9F and ASIN B0FBN4L2GF, checked 2026-10-19. Specs and bullets are as the seller states them. We did not measure either product.
