Maine coons are few of the largest domesticated felines, and as such, they need gear that fits their size. They’re among the most beautiful cat breeds you can get, but it isn’t the beauty that strikes you about this cat at first glance – it’s its massive size! In fact, a Maine Coon holds the current Guinness World Record for being the longest domestic cat. Measuring at 48.5 inches long, this gray tabby is more than four feet long.
Being such a large cat breed, the Maine Coon has certain needs that a cat owner wouldn’t have to consider with a relatively smaller cat breed.
Don’t worry, we have all the information you need to know to pick the right big litter box for maine coon cats. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know when it comes to choosing the best litter box for your Maine Coon.
Best Litter Box for Maine Coon Cats
You can always start the search for litter boxes for yourself. However, that can be a dizzying experience with so many options, especially when you need one for a big cat like a maine coon. If you want a good place to start, these are our top recommendations:
Nature’s Miracle High Sided Litter Box
This is one of the best uncovered litter boxes for big cats like maine coon cats. The high sides prevent litter and urine messes from getting outside of the box. We also like the large size, which fits the average sized maine coon cat. It’s made of non-stick materials, which even makes cleaning the litter box a little less of a chore.
Another good point is the entry point. Older cats, those with arthritis or joint issues, or other health problems might struggle to get into some litter boxes. While this box has high sides all around, the entry point is much lower, so it’s easier for some cats to get into. Likewise, it makes a good fit for a maine coon kitten to grow into.
Pros:
- Low entry point
- Easy cleaning with non stick surface
- High sides keep litter and messes of the floor
- Large enough for maine coon cats
Cons:
- Fairly plain design
- Low entry might let some litter out
New Age Pet ecoFlex Litter Loo
If you hate the way these boxes look, this New Age Pet ecoFlex is a breath of fresh air. It’s designed to ‘hide’ the litter box, and it actually just looks like a typical piece of furniture. It’s more of a cover than an actual litter box, but it easily fits even the largest litter boxes, which you’ll need for your maine coon. It also helps keep odors in better than others, so you hide the look and the smell.
It looks like a typical end table with a more modern design, so it fits in any room, no matter where you have to put it. Not only that, it also gives you a little extra storage. So, if you have a big cat, and limited space, this is a great solution for you and your cat. If you’re worried about putting it together, don’t! It’s very simple, and you don’t need to break out any tools at all.
Pros:
- Hides any size litter box
- Keeps sight and smell at bay
- Quick and easy to put together
- Adds some storage, ideal when you have limited space
- Made for easy cleaning and maintenance
- Includes 10 year warranty
Cons:
- Doesn’t include the actual box
- A small amount of assembly is required
iPrimio Stainless Steel Litter Box
You probably haven’t seen very many stainless steel litter boxes out there, but if you have, it’s probably an iPrimio. You also might be wondering why you should buy a stainless steel litter box rather than a plastic one, which are the most common types. The first benefit is that they are, obviously, much more durable than plastic. So if you only want to buy one litter box for the rest of your life, a stainless steel litter box will do it.
Next, stainless steel doesn’t hold onto odors like plastic does, and it doesn’t stain either. Because it’s stainless steel, rather than another metal material, it also won’t rust. What else is good about it? It tends to be much easier to clean than plastic boxes, which can get clumps stuck on them much more easily.
The iPrimio has plenty of room for your maine coon. While other cat owners might be concerned that the only size available is XL, that’s no problem for a maine coon (and really, it’s more of a bonus). Plus, the company is known for making high quality cat products, so it’s an investment you can trust.
Pros:
- Comes in extra large size
- Stainless steel material is easier to clean and very durable
- Doesn’t stain or hold odors like plastic does
- Won’t slide- includes rubber feet to prevent slipping
- Cat safe, no sharp edges
Cons:
- Extra large is the only size option, although not an issue for maine coon cats
- Slightly heavier than plastic litter boxes
Petphabet Jumbo Hooded Kitty Litter Pan
This Petphabet Jumbo litter pan will catch your attention right away. Especially because it already looks much better than your typical box. If you want a covered litter box for Maine Coon to keep messes off your floor, then you’ll want to take a look at this one. While the hood (or lid) is there, it’s also clear. Depending on how sensitive your cat is to their privacy, they may use it regardless, or be a little finicky about the clear hood. Or, if your cat gets a little claustrophobic, the clear hood is a huge bonus. If reducing the mess is your biggest concern, this will do the trick.
While it’s not specifically designed for extra large cats, it is designed for multiple cats (at the same time!). With that in mind, you know your maine coon will have more than enough room to take care of their business. The entry hole is certainly large enough for your cat to comfortably climb inside, but it’s also high enough to keep litter from spilling out.
Another thing we love is the material it’s made of. The plastic is non-stick, and easy to clean, but it’s also anti microbial, which helps keep your home cleaner, and keeps odors at bay. If you need another bonus, it comes in plenty of different color options, so you can choose your favorite.
Pros:
- Large enough multiple cats (or your maine coon)
- Contains litter, keeps it off the floor
- Makes litter duty easier, less clumps sticking to the box
- Comes in a ton of different color options
- Clear hood allows a little privacy, but doesn’t feel enclosed
- Entry is high enough to keep litter in
Cons:
- Some cats don’t like the clear hood (lack of privacy)
- Could seal better
Horizon Poly Kat Kave Litter Box
This is a very spacious litter box, and it’s covered too. We also really like the design. It’s pretty sleek looking, and while you can tell it’s a litter box, it doesn’t really look like one right away. You can choose between two color options, both of which look equally clean and modern. While your cat won’t care too much about how it looks, they will enjoy the space, and privacy it gives them.
The Horizon Poly Kat Kave is ideal for indoor/outdoor cats, and it’s durable enough to sit in either place. If you choose this one, plan on having it for a very long time because of how durable it is. Not only that, it’s the biggest litter box out of those we’ve reviewed, so if you have an especially large maine coon, this is your solution. The litter box doesn’t have any clear spots (aside from the entry), so it’s great for cats that need a lot of privacy when they do their business.
Pros:
- Very large
- Durable enough for outdoors
- Provides plenty of privacy, includes hood
- Very sleek, modern design
Cons:
- Slightly pricier than some others
What to look for:
The first place you should start is knowing what to look for. Every cat is different, but when you’re dealing with such a large cat breed, you can follow some general guidelines.
Size
With cats as big as maine coon cats, size should be your first concern. Luckily, there’s a rule of thumb you can use to find a size of litter box that fits your cat. Measure your cat from their nose to the end of their tail. This is the minimum length that should cover two adjoining sides. Most litter boxes big enough for maine coon cats are labeled large or extra large, but it never hurts to look at the dimensions.
Side height
Bigger cats can kick more litter out of the box than smaller cats. That means you could end up with litter all over your floor, which eventually ends up being tracked throughout your home. There are a couple ways to combat this. First, look for a maine coon cat litter box with high sides. If you can’t convince your cat to use a covered litter box, tall side walls are your best bet.
Covered vs uncovered
A lot of cats like covered litter boxes, because they naturally like their privacy. As we mentioned, not all cats will use them, and if yours won’t, look for tall sides.
If your cat will use a covered litter box, you still need to check out the size. The entry hole should be big enough for your cat to comfortably get into. Not only that, you should also make sure the hood, or cover, is tall enough to accommodate your cat.
Design
We know what you’re thinking. Litter boxes are definitely not attractive, so who cares about design? Well, if you can’t keep it hidden away, you might be. There are plenty of litter boxes that have some nice bits of design about them. If you have to keep the litter box in a more visible spot, finding one with a neat design can make it less of an eyesore.
Choosing The Right Size
If you were to guess what the first criterion is when deciding the best litter box for Maine Coon cat, you would have to guess size – and you’d be right. Size is such an important factor to consider especially since size is one of the distinguishing features of this magnificent cat breed.
One thing about cats, is that they can effectively go about their business in a very small space. This means that if you get a smaller litter box than what your Maine Coon really needs, they would still be able to use it and cover it up. However, this will eventually lead to problems that you wouldn’t even have to consider if you just got the right size.
A smaller litter box will mean that your cat will be making a mess way more frequently than if you got the right sized litter box. Cats naturally cover up their waste. This is an animal instinct that has carried over to domestic cats after millions of years of evolution. Burying their waste makes it more difficult for predators to track them in the wild. A smaller litter box will not be able to hold all the debris from a large cat such as a Maine Coon burying their waste. This means you’ll be cleaning up after them more than you would like.
Another advantage of getting a large enough litter box is that a larger Maine Coon litter box would be able to hold way more litter material. Since one of the main functions of the litter material is to be absorbent, more litter in the box means that it would have more absorbent properties. This specifically affects odor control in your house. More litter material means that more waste can be absorbed effectively which will then in turn help control minimize the odor that the litter box will give off.
A smaller litter box would have less litter material which will then get saturated with waste significantly faster than a larger box would. If litter odor is something that especially bothers you or anyone else in the household, then make sure to get a litter box of the correct size.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to determine the correct size of a litter box. According to experts, a good rule of thumb is to get a litter box that is one and a half times larger than the length of your Maine Coon.
This means that if your cat is about one meter in length, then the dimensions of a proper litter box should be about 1.5 meters by 1.5 meters. Just make sure to measure the entire length of your cat for this part. The proper length of the Maine Coon should be measured from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.
Should It Be Covered?
There is a growing community of cat owners who recommend getting litter boxes with covers. However, this decision will ultimately boil down to whether your Maine Coon will use it or not. However, litter boxes with covers both have advantages and disadvantages.
Blends in nicely with your home decor: One ideal advantage for cat owners to get a covered litter box is because some find it unsightly to see an open litter box. The cover makes it so that the litter box essentially looks like a carrying case for the cat, and not necessarily an open toilet.
Controls odor better: Some also enjoy covered litter boxes as the cover helps control odor as well. Understandably, the cover helps minimize the spread of the odor as it acts as a physical barrier between the litter and the rest of the house.
No kids and other pets allowed: A covered Maine Coon litter box also helps keep things out – most especially other pets and small children. For cat owners who also have dogs in the home, they know that dogs can sometimes get into the litter box and make a mess. With this, you can keep dogs out. Covered litter boxes can also help prevent small children from getting into the mess.
While the advantages seem worth it, you should also be aware of the disadvantages.
Strong odor inside: While the cover helps control the odor from getting out, this means that the odor inside the litter box itself is especially strong. While you yourself won’t be able to experience this, your cat will. It might reach a point where the cat is too uncomfortable to use it at all. Furthermore, cats using this will also get stinkier faster because the concentrated odor inside.
Lesser airflow: Another disadvantage is that a covered litter box does not provide any airflow. While this is not necessary for the cat itself, airflow helps dry out the litter. With a cover on, the litter keeps moisture more since there isn’t any air to carry it somewhere else.
This is problematic as this can make the litter box an ideal environment for dangerous bacteria and fungi to proliferate. At this point, the litter box then poses a health hazard to both your Maine Coon and everyone else inside the house.
At the end of the day, the litter box that you choose should be the one that your cat will use. Unfortunately, this decision cannot be made with just the cat breed in mind since every single cat is different.
This means that if your cat is already used to using an open tray, then there’s a chance that they won’t use a covered one out of habit. If you specifically want your cat to use a type of litter box, then it should be the first one they use.
How Easy Is It To Clean
Your cat may be using the litter box but you’re surely the one to clean it out every now and then. This means that when deciding what type of box to get, you should consider how easy the cleaning will be.
Daily cleaning is highly recommended for litter box maintenance. This is to ensure your cat’s health since cleaning it regularly prevents dangerous microorganisms from growing rampantly.
If you decide to clean once a day, then this should be another factor when deciding whether to get a covered litter box or not. Understandably, a covered litter box requires extra steps when cleaning since you’d have to remove the cover and attach it again afterwards.
Manufacturers approach this problem by making the cover as easily detachable and installable as they can without making them too easy to remove by accident. However, since you’re the one who is going to be doing this on a daily basis, it’s your decision to make.
When it comes to cleaning, you’d be able to find self-cleaning litter boxes on the market. These are technologically-advanced litter boxes that come equipped with sensors and mechanical arms that regularly clean the litter box for you, giving you less work to do when it comes to cleaning litter boxes. Some are even so techy that they can connect to your home’s WiFi and come with an app for your smartphone.
Where To Put Maine Coon Litter Boxes
After you’ve decided the right one for your Maine Coon, then you can go ahead and get it. The next step to decide is actually where to put it in your home. While this may seem like a trivial factor, the placement of the litter box actually holds some importance.
For one, you should consider privacy. Just as we humans prefer privacy when doing our business, cats are the same. This means that an ideal place for a litter box should be away from a lot of foot traffic or activity. Many people even put their litter boxes inside bathrooms too! They just make sure to keep the doors open when not in use.
A good place would also be somewhere with sufficient ventilation. Putting it inside an unventilated room is asking for trouble since the odor won’t have anywhere to go. Do yourself a favor and make sure to choose a spot with appropriate airflow to keep the odor minimized. As mentioned, airflow and ventilation will also help dry out the litter box. This will not only help minimize odor but also keep the litter dry, preventing harmful microorganisms from multiplying.
Once you’ve chosen a perfect spot for your Maine Coon’s litter box, you need to wait and see whether your cat actually uses it. While you may have thought that the spot is perfect, if your cat isn’t happily using it, that means that there must be some other factors that you have not considered. Just like any part of cat ownership, it is best to look for feedback from your pet and see what they like.
Conclusion
Understandably, you’re reading up about these types of things because you just want the best for your cat. Litter boxes are especially important because the Maine Coon and cats in general are very particular about their cleanliness and hygiene. While you choose the best litter box for your Maine Coon considering certain factors, you should always remember that your cat has a say as well. Unfortunately, it is entirely possible to think you have the best option chosen and yet your cat refuses to use it. This means you have to get back on the drawing board and think again.
