What is in this guide
Choose a tray with enough usable room for your cat, an entry it can manage and space around it for daily cleaning. In a small home, compare the complete working footprint, including the opening and removable lid, before choosing the model with the smallest advertised dimensions.
Start with the usable space inside
RSPCA Australia suggests starting with a large open tray at least 1.5 times your cat’s length. That is a sizing starting point, rather than a reason to buy whatever a shop labels “large”. The cat still needs room inside the tray. [S1]
When comparing listings, write down both the outside dimensions and the internal base dimensions. If the seller provides only one set, ask which it is. A broad rim, sloping walls or an entrance platform can occupy part of the advertised footprint. Look at an overhead photograph as well as the measurements.
For a corner tray, check the shape of the usable floor. The longest diagonal alone will not tell you how much room there is to turn. For a hooded tray, ask for the internal height too. A tall-looking shell is not enough information if the measurements include a handle or decorative top.
If your existing tray works well for your cat, record its internal measurements as a reference. A replacement that fits the room beautifully but offers less usable space deserves another look.
Compare the entry before the side height
Animal Welfare League SA notes that kittens and elderly cats may find high sides difficult to access. It also says some cats like covered trays and others do not. Start with what your cat already uses comfortably rather than assuming a more enclosed design is an upgrade. [S2]
Check the height of the actual entrance, which may differ from the surrounding walls. If a tray has a lowered doorway, note which side it is on. A doorway facing the wrong direction for your available floor space can undo the benefit of an otherwise suitable shape.
Treat top-entry designs as a separate access decision. Look at how the cat would reach the opening and where it would land on leaving. Do not assume the lid makes the setup compact until you have allowed for that movement and for lifting the lid yourself.
An open tray is a reasonable first comparison point. A cover should earn its place through suitability for your cat and your cleaning routine, rather than appearance alone.
Measure the space you need to operate it
Make a cardboard or paper outline of each shortlisted tray’s external dimensions. Place it in the intended spot, then open the nearby door, pull out the washing basket and stand where you would scoop. This is a household fit check, not a test of the tray’s performance.
For a covered model, add the space needed to lift, hinge or slide off the lid. Check where you would put that lid while cleaning. A shelf above the tray might leave enough room for the closed unit while preventing you from opening it.
Leave a clear approach to the entrance. Avoid treating the space immediately in front as storage for spare litter or cleaning bottles. RSPCA Australia recommends accessible, quiet locations away from food and water; the guide to where to put a litter tray in a small home deals with choosing that location in detail. [S1]
If the only available spot requires buying a tray too small for the cat, reconsider the spot before placing the order.
Check how the tray comes apart and gets washed
Look for photographs or instructions showing the base with the lid and rim removed. Can you reach every corner with your scoop? Are clips accessible when the tray is against a wall? Will dismantling it require shifting the whole unit each time?
Then consider the full wash. Check whether the base fits the place where you intend to clean it and whether you can carry it through the bathroom or laundry doorway without awkward tilting. In a small rental, this can matter as much as the space it occupies between cleans.
RSPCA Australia recommends removing waste daily and emptying and cleaning trays regularly. A tray should make those jobs manageable in the home you have. [S1] Smooth, reachable surfaces and straightforward assembly are useful inspection criteria, but they do not establish how long a particular product will last.
For broader checks on construction photographs, instructions and vague marketing language, use how to compare pet product quality before buying.
Separate useful features from extra equipment
Ask what each accessory adds to the footprint. A scoop holder might save a separate container, but check that you can reach it in the planned position. A supplied mat only helps your layout if it fits the exit area. Neither should compensate for insufficient tray space.
An enclosure sold as furniture needs two sets of measurements: the cabinet and the tray that fits inside it. Include the space needed to open the cabinet and remove the base. Do not assume a cabinet will work simply because its exterior matches the gap beside a cupboard.
Automatic models also need their own assessment. If one enters your shortlist, read what to check before buying a self-cleaning litter box rather than judging it solely by its advertised footprint.
For mats, supply storage and the surrounding cleaning setup, keeping the litter tray area tidy in a small home covers the next stage. Keep those decisions separate enough that accessories do not dictate an unsuitable tray.
Use one comparison sheet before ordering
Record these details for each candidate. An unanswered question is a reason to contact the seller, rather than guess from a styled photograph.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Usable interior | Internal length, width, shape and covered height if relevant |
| Entry | Opening dimensions, threshold height and direction of approach |
| Outside footprint | Full dimensions including projecting handles or holders |
| Cleaning clearance | How the lid comes off and where it can be placed |
| Washing route | Whether the removable base fits your cleaning area |
| Supplied accessories | What you will actually use and where it will sit |
Allow for the number of trays too. RSPCA Australia recommends two separated trays for one cat, and at least one per cat plus one in multi-cat homes. A single elaborate unit does not remove that planning requirement. [S1]
Before buying, take the two most promising sets of dimensions back to the floor outline. Choose the one that gives your cat suitable usable space and lets you reach, remove and wash the tray without rearranging the room.
How we checked this
Checked on 30 October 2026 against Australian animal welfare guidance. The design comparisons and measuring exercises are editorial advice. No products were tested, ranked or priced.
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