Teaching most cats to use a litter tray is fairly straightforward. Keeping the area around the litter tray neat and tidy is not. Particles of litter can get everywhere! A litter mat is designed to trap the litter in one place. Here’s a useful guide to the best cat litter mat.
The Best Cat Litter Mat
A generous sized mat (although an even bigger size is available) with a series of grooves and tight mesh to trap litter and gently clean kitty’s paws. The mat is durable and long-lasting with a slip-resistant backing that keeps it in place.
There is no coarse material on this cat litter box mat that may cause discomfort or injury. It’s made from soft and safe materials and it is 100 percent phthalate free. The mat is easy to clean by simply shaking off, vacuuming and rinsing (hosing) down before leaving to dry. Available in a choice of seven colours.
Generous size to capture more litter
Durable and long-lasting
Thick, rubber non-slip backing
Gentle on paws
Safe – 100 percent phthalate-free
- Brand: Gorilla Grip
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
Large litter box mat that is available in a choice of six colours. It traps 37 per cent more stray litter than regular mats and is effective for pine and crystal litter as well as regular litter.
The soft fibres gently clean kitty’s paws without causing irritation. The heavy-duty natural rubber backing stops the mat from sliding and protects floors from discolouration. It’s tough enough to not tear during washing. For safety, it’s 100 percent phthalate and BPA free. Cleaning is easy – simply shake it off, vacuum and rinse.
Read our in-depth Easyology Cat Litter Mat Review.
Large enough to prevent litter flicking off the side
Fibres trap 37 per cent more litter
Effective for pine, crystal and regular litter
Soft fibres won’t irritate paws
Robust rubber backing and made from safe materials
- Brand: Easyology
- Model: 333
- Weight: 2.3 pounds
Slightly more compact (30 x 23 inches) litter box mat available in three colours. It has a honeycombed, dual-layer design that is scratch resistant and 100 percent safe. The litter falls through the layer and gets trapped. It is emptied by pressing it gently to open up the two layers and tipping it up over a refuse bin to allow the trapped litter to fall out.
The Blackhole cat litter mat is suitable for clay, crystal, corn, clumping, wheat, and pellet cat litter. It’s made of a soft EVA foam rubber that is gentle on paws and easy to wash with soap and water once the litter has been emptied out. Water-proof backing protects your floors.
Patented dual honeycomb layer to trap litter
Lightweight and easy to empty out
Gentle on paws and scratch resistant
Made from non-toxic materials
Wash with soap and water
- Brand: BlackHole Litter Mat
- Model: hvdf
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
Keeping a pet can be a daunting task, especially if yours is quite messy and loves a regular house tour. It can be quite embracing to have your pet kitty’s tracks all over your home every now and then. That is why getting a good litter mat for your feline friend is important to for both you and your cat. If you are looking for a top-quality litter mat to keep your home super clean and your feline friend comfortable and happy, then this super cool one from iPrimio should be your number one choice. Made of premium nylon material and expertly designed to trap even the tiniest granule of litter, finickiest you will find this mat definitely worth your money. You don’t have to worry about accidental tripping with this litter mat. It’s firm, stays in place and cannot be easily moved by your cat or dog.
Traps all forms of litter material, no matter the size, can be used with a puppy pad
Made of quality nylon material, has an extra smooth surface for all-paw sizes
Waterproof material that repels urine with its plastic film
Easy to be cleaned. Simply shake off litter and it’s good as new. Can be vacuumed or washed with water
Extra Large size – 30 x 23 inches, covers a good size area
- Brand: iPrimio
- Model: XLBlackCatTrapper
- Weight: 8 ounces
Most litter mats out there do the basic task of trapping litter from your cat’s paws, but a really effective quality litter mat can do that and so much more. Another great litter mat we just can’t have enough of! Talk of a litter mat that does more than keeping your house cleaner and your kitty fresher! This litter trapper mat is made of high quality, durable PVC material to keep your cats litter right where you want it. Soft enough for your cat’s paws yet effective for trapping all litter forms, this mat is highly recommended because it’s specially designed with the latest litter lock technology to keep litter away from your floors. It is also phthalate-free, guaranteeing you and your household would not be exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. Easy to shake out litter, can be vacuum cleaned easily or just rinsed with water.
Made of Super durable PVC material
Liquid resistant, soft on kitty’s paws
Comes in large, 35 x 23 inches size, giving your cat more room
Elegant design that comes in gray color
Can be washed easily with water
- Brand: Pawkin
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
A mat measuring 35 x 23 inches, although a jumbo size (47 x 35 inches) is available. It is constructed with deep grooves and mesh to catch litter. Manufactured from soft material and phthalate-free so it’s safe and comfortable for your kitty.
The mat is durable and scratch-proof with a slip-resistant backing. It’s available in a choice of seven colours and is cleaned by shaking it off (or vacuuming) and cleaning with mild soap and water.
Deep grooves and mesh to catch litter
Phthalate-free
Soft on paws
Brush off litter and clean with mild soap and water
- Brand: MIGHTY MONKEY
- Weight: 1.8 pounds
As the name suggests, this is a huge mat with dimensions of 47 x 36 inches. It is easily big enough for two litter boxes and is available in a choice of seven colours and made from pet-safe materials.
It traps 37 percent more litter in a clever patented and attractive design of mesh. Suitable for all kinds of litter yet gentle on paws. It’s sturdy enough to stay in place as you vacuum it but light enough to pick it up. You can wash it with warm soapy water.
Very large mat to easily fit two litter trays
Mesh traps 37 per cent more litter
BPA and phthalate free
Robust enough to vacuum in situ
Clean with soapy water and rinse
- Brand: Easyology
- Model: PV10029
- Weight: 5 pounds
Slightly smaller (23.25 x 14.9 inches) kitty litter mat available in four colours. It is also available in large and extra-large sizes. This patented design actually spreads your kitty’s paw pads and allows litter particles to drop out to be trapped within the holes on the mat.
This cat litter box mat is made from 100 percent safe materials. To clean you just pour loose litter off and rinse in warm soapy water before air-drying.
Special design to spread paws to release litter particles
100 per cent safe
Available in four colours
Clean in warm soapy water
- Brand: Petlinks
- Model: 49507
- Weight: 1.48 pounds
A good-sized mat (36 x 24 inches) with a mesh top surface to catch the litter. The mesh is soft on paws and available in grey or beige.
The mat is BPA and phthalate free so it is both safe and environmentally friendly. It won’t damage your floor surface either. The non-slip backing keeps in place. To clean, simply shake off the loose litter and hand wash in cool water.
Mesh top surface to catch litter
BPA and phthalate free
Non-slip backing that won’t damage floors
Clean by shaking off and hand washing in cool water
- Brand: CleanHouse Pets
- Weight: 2.55 pounds
Avoid the headache of litter tracking all over your home with this exciting Pievev Cat Litter Mat. Even for messy cats and the famed litter diggers, this litter mat can trap all types of dirt and is really soft on all-paw types. It’s 30 x 24 inch size is large enough for any average litter box. This litter mat has a water-resistant and slip-proof feature to ensure your cat remains clean and happy. Cleaning this mat is easy too, just lift it and the littler falls through its honeycomb designed double layer. You don’t have to worry about urine or faces smell with this litter mat. It is fitted with a deodorant that leaves a lasting, sweet smell.
Made of EVA Foam Material for ultimate kitty comfort
Gathers litter easily with its honeycomb, double-layer design
Liquid resistant, would not soak water/urine
Easily washable
Free from harmful chemicals
- Brand: Pieviev
- Model: PIE-003
- Weight: 1.13 pounds
Best Cat Litter Mat Buying Guide & FAQ
What to Consider When Buying Cat Litter Mat
Cat litter mats are a useful addition to any household that is lucky enough to have a kitty living with them.
However, there is a lot of choices out there and it is important that you pick a mat that suits your home. Here are the main things that you should consider before you rush off to buy a cat litter mat:
- How good is it at trapping litter? There is no point in having a litter mat if it cannot capture litter before it reaches the rest of your floor. All litter mats have some sort of method for doing this which is either based on grooves, mesh or holes.
- Will it trap all sorts of litter? There are numerous types of cat litter available these days. Some owners prefer clumping clay (bentonite), some like silica gel crystals or pine, whereas other prefer wheat or walnut shells. It is important to check that the mesh or holes in the mat will work with your preferred type of litter.
- Will your kitty tread on it? Cats are pretty fussy about what they like to walk on. If your kitty does not like the feel of the mat on their paws they will simply leap over it and spread litter on the floor surface beyond the mat! There is no point in having a mat if they are going to do that. If the mat feels uncomfortable on your palm when you press your hand onto it, there’s a good chance your kitty won’t like it either.
- Water resistance. Very few mats claim to be completely waterproof and there is really no need for them to be. However, it is a good thing if they have water resistance to stop ‘little accidents’ from reaching your floor surface. This is very useful if you have a hardwood or laminate floor. If your puss has a habit of urinating from time to time on the mat itself, some mats are manufactured to be urine-resistant and they would be the best cat litter mat for you.
- Can you move it? Some of the larger mats may be more difficult to move. It may seem like a good idea to fit two litter boxes on one mat but the larger mats can be unwieldy when you want to shake them off or hose them down. Would two smaller mats be more practical?
- Size of the mat. There are several sizes of mat available. It is important that you measure the space where you want the mat to fit so that it does not stick out into walkways where it could cause a trip hazard.
- How will you clean it? Loose litter can be cleaned off some mats using a vacuum. With others, you have to separate two layers to get at the trapped litter and it is easier to simply pour this into a refuse container. Mats that need to be shaken out are not much use to you if you live in a flat with no garden. Cleaning urine and poop off a mat is a bit trickier. For most mats, this can be hosed or scrubbed off with a mild detergent and then rinsed.
- Your kitty’s toilet habits. Whilst some cats can be relied upon to place their poop perfectly in the centre of the litter box on every occasion, others are not so successful. So, if your puss regularly leaves sticky poops on the mat, a plain silicone version that can be wiped down would be best the best cat litter mat for you. Some owners have found it hard (not to mention unpleasant) to try to scrub cat poop out of the fine mesh versions of a kitty litter mat.
- Safety aspects. Mats that skid across the floor is dangerous for both cats and humans so it is always wise to pick a non-slip option. Mats should be made of non-toxic materials and many are advertised as BPA and phthalate-free which is safer for your cat and for the environment. The mat must be strong enough to withstand being repeatedly picked up and cleaned. Your puss may also decide to use it as a scratch mat so it will need to withstand that as well.
- Color and design. This is always a personal choice. Some mats come in up to eight colour options so you can pick one that suits your décor.
Benefits of Using Cat Litter Mat
- Why you need a cat litter mat?
There are many types of cat litter but the one thing that they have in common is that they are small particles and they can get all over the house! Litter gets flicked out of the tray when it is being used and gets stuck on the bottom of your kitty’s paws. When they head off to other parts of the house, they take the litter with them! This can mean that cat owners spend hours cleaning their homes instead of enjoying their cat’s company.
There are a few things that you can do to stop this from happening. The obvious option is to sweep it up but, as you may already know, this can turn into an almost continuous process. The next option is to use a cat litter box which is essentially a tray with three enclosed walls. This is a good way of preventing litter from being flicked out but will not stop litter from getting stuck on your cat’s paws. The only way of preventing this is by using a kitty litter mat.
Take a look at our guides on the Best Cat Litter and Best Cat Litter for Kittens.
- Do you have to buy one?
Enterprising cat owners soon decided to solve this problem themselves using things that they had lying around the home. One choice was to use an old yoga mat. It’s made out of spongey material, it grips litter. Others used shelf liner which is designed to contain spills and crumbs. The vinyl sheet shelf-liners are good for protecting floors from stains whereas the rubbery, perforated shelf-liners are good for trapping litter from your cat’s paws. The problem is that you need the cat litter tray mat to do both!
Other cat Moms and Dads resorted to carpets. They used remnants or even mats and then shook them out a few times a week. Thicker piled carpets seemed to work best. A variation of this was the welcome mat/doormat which is designed to trap small particles of dirt to prevent them being tramped all over your house. However, they are prickly which is fine when you are wearing shoes but not so great when you have soft and sensitive paw pads!
- The best option
Homemade versions are not manufactured from pet-friendly materials and are not necessarily phthalate free. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are added to plastic to make it flexible. However, there have been concerns about the harm that it can cause to both human and animal health as well as to the environment. The same is true for BPA (bisphenol A) which is another industrial chemical.
Another problem with all of these home-made options is that none of them fulfill all of the criteria that you need from a litter tray mat. Cleaning them is not easy and they may not be non-slip (especially carpets), they may not stand up to cat scratching without looking rough (yoga mats) and may irritate your kitty’s paws (welcome mats). Therefore, the only satisfactory option is to buy a specially designed cat litter tray mat.
The usual advice is that you need one litter tray for each of your cats and one extra. That means that you need the same number of mats. Many cat owners like to have litter trays and mats upstairs as well as downstairs.
Cat Litter Mat Maintenance
There are three general stages to cat litter mat maintenance:
- Removing loose cat litter
The first stage is removing the litter. In some mats, it will look obvious on the surface of the mat so you may want to remove it every day to keep the area looking neat. In other mats, it is less visible because it is trapped in deep holes or between two layers. However, it still needs to be regularly removed in case there are soiled/wet bits of cat litter that could become moldy or starts to smell.
The small mesh-type mats can be shaken outside but if you don’t have an outside area you could vacuum them using a nozzle hose attachment. Most owners find that it only takes a few swipes of the hose to remove the litter. Mats with dual layers can be cupped over and the litter poured into a refuse container. The same is true for silicone mats which may even have a spout cut into them.
- Cleaning the mat
Cat litter mats are not machine washable so this is one cleaning task that you will have to do by hand. Some owners have had good results by running them under a tap or cleaning with a hose. However, remember that they can be contaminated with poop and therefore could contain harmful bacteria so keep them away from kitchen sinks and food preparation areas.
For soiled mats, you can use warm water on some mats and a mild detergent. ‘Little accidents’ can be wiped off silicone mats using damp tissue paper.
- Drying the mat
Mats have to be air dried (preferably not in direct sunlight) before they can be put back into use. This prevents a build-up of mould and protects your floor surface.
Best Cat Litter Mat FAQ:
Q: What is the purpose of the holes in the litter mat?
A: Many litter mats have holes in the top surface. Some holes are small and these mainly act as a trap for the litter. However, some have bigger holes and these serve a second purpose. They actually spread open the pads on your kitty’s feet encourage the litter to fall out of the small crevices between the racks. The litter then gets trapped in the holes.
Q: Is a cat litter mat safe for my cat?
A: Great efforts have been made to ensure that cat litter mats are safe. Most mats are phthalate and BPA free so they are non-toxic. They are also made from non-slip material so it will not skid across the floor even if your cat leaps onto it.
Q: How do I shake off the sand that accumulates on it?
A: This depends on what type of mat you have. With the mesh-type mats and silicone mats, it is simply a matter of shaking them out somewhere convenient. The mats with two layers require you to separate the layers and pour litter into a refuse container.
Q: Is a cat litter mat immune to cat scratching?
A: Nothing in your home is immune to cat scratching! Scratching is a normal, instinctive behavior for cats. They scratch to remove dead outer layers from their claws, to mark territory and to flex their feet and claws whilst stretching their bodies. Many mats are scratch proof and will be able to withstand the attentions of your kitty’s claws.
Q: How should I place my cat litter mat?
A: The main job of a litter is to catch litter as your puss exits the litter tray and walks away. Therefore, position it under the tray and on their exit route so they have to walk all four paws across it. This may take some trial and error at first.
Our Top Pick
The Gorilla Grip mat is a good-sized, durable mat made with a series of grooves and tight mesh to trap litter. The slip-resistant backing keeps it still and it does not irritate cat’s paws. It is safe (100 percent phthalate-free) and easy to clean by simply shaking it off (or vacuuming) and rinsing. You get to choose from seven attractive colors.
Related Post: Arm and Hammer Cat Litter Review
Sources:
- Toileting, Cats protection
- Jane Williams, Homemade Cat Litter Tracking Mats, The Nest
