Litter Mats for Kicked-Out Litter: What One Listing Says

Q: Will a litter mat stop my cat from kicking litter out?

The listing says the mat has a diamond groove pattern that traps litter in crisscross design. It does not say the mat stops kicking, and the sources we opened do not say that a mat does.

Q: How deep should the litter be?

The ASPCA page says cats usually prefer one to two inches of litter. It lists too deep litter among common litter-box problems. The sources we opened do not link depth to kicking.

Q: Can I use a liner in the box instead of a mat?

Cornell says many cats don't like liners, and the ASPCA page says most cats don't like box liners or lids on their boxes. A mat under the box is not a liner, and neither source discusses mats.

Q: Is the Amazon Basics mat waterproof?

The listing says the backing is waterproof and protects floors from accidents. That is the seller's claim. The sources we opened do not cover this mat's waterproofing.

Q: My cat stopped using the box. What now?

Cornell says cats who are having problems using the litter box consistently should be checked by a veterinarian. A mat does not replace that check.

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Short answer: A floor mat can catch litter that leaves the box. None of the sources we opened says a mat stops a cat from kicking litter out.

The person typing “cat keeps kicking litter out of box” wants less litter on the floor, and wants to know whether a mat fixes the cause. This page reads one mat listing and two veterinary-school and animal-welfare sources. It does not cover litter trays, and it does not explain why the kicking happens.

Quick answer

The listing we read says its “Diamond groove pattern traps litter in crisscross design.” That is the seller’s description. The listing does not report a trapping test.
Cornell’s house soiling page says: “A liner may help keep the box cleaner, but many cats don’t like them.” The ASPCA page says “Most cats don’t like box liners or lids on their boxes.” A mat under the box is not a liner, and neither source discusses mats.
Check the litter depth too. The ASPCA page says cats “usually prefer one to two inches of litter” and lists “too deep” litter among common litter-box problems. The sources do not link depth to kicking.
A mat does not replace a vet check. Cornell advises one for a cat that keeps having trouble with the box.

What the sources say about the box and the litter

The three sources agree that the box, the litter and how often the box is cleaned all matter. None of them describes a cat kicking litter. The table lists only what each source says. “Not stated” means the source does not address that point.

Point	The listing says	Cornell house soiling page	ASPCA Litter Box Problems
Trapping litter	“Diamond groove pattern traps litter in crisscross design” (seller’s claim)	Not stated	Not stated
Liners	Not stated	“A liner may help keep the box cleaner, but many cats don’t like them.”	“Most cats don’t like box liners or lids on their boxes.”
Depth of litter	Not stated	Not stated	Cats “usually prefer one to two inches of litter”
Cleaning	Not stated	For clumping litter, “remove feces and clumps daily”	“scoop and change your cat’s litter at least once a day”
Size	“Measures 35 by 24 inches (LxW)”; product details give “24 x 35 x 0.2 inches” as LxWxH	Not stated	Not stated
Vet check	Not stated	“should be checked by a veterinarian”	“Have your cat checked thoroughly by a veterinarian.”

The listing says: Amazon Basics Less-Mess mat

This is the only mat listing we read. The listing says:

Title: Amazon Basics Less-Mess Litter Trapping Cat Litter Box Mat, Soft on Kitty Paws, Waterproof, Scatter Control, 24″ x 35″, Grey
Brand: Amazon Basics. ASIN: B072569V1L.
Material: PVC. The listing says “Litter mats are made of long-lasting PVC material.”
Item dimensions: 24 x 35 x 0.2 inches (LxWxH). Item weight: 2.25 pounds.
Warranty: “Amazon Basics one-year limited warranty.”

The features below are the seller’s description. We have not verified them against any other source.

Waterproof backing, which the listing says “protects floors from accidents.”
A diamond groove pattern and a deep border along the edge, which the listing says “collect and contain the litter.”
A soft, step-able surface, which the listing describes as “comfortable for sensitive paws.”

View on Amazon

The listing gives two size orders. The product details give 24 x 35 x 0.2 inches as LxWxH, which makes 24 inches the length. The feature bullet says “Measures 35 by 24 inches (LxW),” which makes 35 inches the length. The listing does not say which is right. Measure your box and the floor space before you buy.

Skip it if you need a tray, since this listing is a mat. Skip it if you expect the mat to stop kicking, because the listing does not say it does. Limitation: the listing does not state which box sizes the mat fits, so check your box’s footprint against the mat size yourself.

How we chose

On 2026-10-19 we searched Amazon for “cat keeps kicking litter out of box.” The first page showed litter boxes and no litter mats, so we ran one more search, “cat litter mat large trapping,” and opened one organic mat listing. The same day we opened the Cornell house soiling page and the ASPCA Litter Box Problems page with curl and checked each quote against the page text. We considered one product. This is not a ranking, and we did not compare products against each other.

What we could not verify

The listing does not say whether the mat stops a cat from kicking litter out of the box.
None of the sources we opened says why a cat kicks litter out.
The listing does not say which litter box sizes the mat fits.
The sources do not address mats or trays placed under a box.
We read one mat listing and opened no tray listing. The title names trays, but this page covers only the mat.

Buying checklist

Measure the box’s footprint and the floor space you want covered. The listing’s two size orders differ, so use your own measurement.
Check the litter depth. The ASPCA page says cats “usually prefer one to two inches of litter.”
Decide whether you need a mat, a different box or both. The sources we opened do not say a mat fixes kicking.
If you think about a liner inside the box, note that Cornell says “many cats don’t like them.”
If the cat has trouble using the box, book a vet check. Cornell and the ASPCA both say so.

Mistakes to avoid

Expecting the mat to stop the kicking. The listing says the grooves “trap litter,” which is a claim about litter that is already on the mat.
Trusting one size. The listing gives “24 x 35 x 0.2 inches” and “Measures 35 by 24 inches (LxW).”
Leaving the litter deep. The ASPCA page says cats “usually prefer one to two inches of litter.”
Putting a liner inside the box to contain litter. Cornell says “many cats don’t like them.”
Skipping the vet when the cat stops using the box. Cornell says cats with problems “should be checked by a veterinarian.”

FAQ

Will a litter mat stop my cat from kicking litter out?

The listing says the mat has a “Diamond groove pattern [that] traps litter in crisscross design.” It does not say the mat stops kicking, and the sources we opened do not say that a mat does.

How deep should the litter be?

The ASPCA page says cats “usually prefer one to two inches of litter.” It lists “too deep” litter among common litter-box problems. The sources we opened do not link depth to kicking.

Can I use a liner in the box instead of a mat?

Cornell says “many cats don’t like them” about liners, and the ASPCA page says “Most cats don’t like box liners or lids on their boxes.” A mat under the box is not a liner, and neither source discusses mats.

Is the Amazon Basics mat waterproof?

The listing says the backing is waterproof and “protects floors from accidents.” That is the seller’s claim. The sources we opened do not cover this mat’s waterproofing.

My cat stopped using the box. What now?

Cornell says cats “who are having problems using the litter box consistently should be checked by a veterinarian.” A mat does not replace that check.

Bottom line

A mat can catch litter that is kicked out, and the listing says its grooves trap litter. The sources do not show that a mat stops a cat from kicking. Check the litter depth and your box size first, and see a vet if the cat has trouble using the box.

For the next step, see our guides to litter boxes for small apartments for room planning, self-cleaning cat litter boxes if you want less daily cleaning, the Litter-Robot 4 review for a fully automatic model, and cat trees for small apartments for vertical space away from the box. If you are moving food and water away from the box, see automatic cat feeders and cat water fountains. For play and perching, see interactive toys for indoor cats, window perches, and scratching posts for heavy scratchers.

Sources

Amazon listing, Amazon Basics Less-Mess Litter Trapping Cat Litter Box Mat, ASIN B072569V1L: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072569V1L (opened 2026-10-19). Cited for the title, size, material, warranty and the seller’s feature claims.
Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling (opened 2026-10-19). Cited for liners, cleaning and the veterinary check.
ASPCA, Litter Box Problems: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/litter-box-problems (opened 2026-10-19). Cited for litter depth, liners, cleaning and the veterinary check.

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