For two-cat homes
The Best Litter Tray for 2 Cats (2027)
The best litter tray for 2 cats in 2027: roomy boxes and trays sized for sharing, with high sides and low-tracking designs.
The short answer
The best litter tray for 2 cats in 2027 is the Nature's Miracle High-Sided Litter Box for its roomy footprint and tall walls at a budget price. Choose the IRIS Top Entry if tracking is your main problem, and remember the rule: two cats do best with two to three trays, not one.
Our top picks at a glance
- Nature's Miracle High-Sided Litter BoxA roomy high-sided open box that contains kickers and sprayers at a budget price.Best litter tray for 2 cats
- IRIS USA Top Entry Cat Litter BoxA top-entry box with a grooved lid that cuts tracking and keeps dogs out.Best for low tracking
- Van Ness Pureness Giant High-Sided Cat Litter PanA giant open pan with high sides that contain litter scatter and spray.Best giant tray on a budget
- IRIS USA High Sided Cat Litter Box with Scatter ShieldOpen-top acceptance with high walls and a snap-on shield for diggers and sprayers.Best with a scatter shield
What owners report
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- A roomy tray with tall walls finally gives a large cat space to turn without kicking litter out
- Top entry lids that catch litter on exit make a visible difference to floors in shared spaces
Common complaints
- One large tray alone still invites guarding, so most pairs do better with trays in separate spots
- High walls help with scatter but open tops still let odour drift into the room
The picks, ranked
Every product in this lineup was picked for this use case, ranked with our strongest choices first. If a product from the wider category does not genuinely fit this scenario, it is not listed here.
| # | Product | Award | Type | Scent | Clumping | Weight / size | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nature's Miracle High-Sided Litter Box | Best litter tray for 2 cats | High-sided open litter box | Not applicable, unscented | Works with most clumping litters | About 23 x 18.5 x 11 in | Plastic |
| 2 | IRIS USA Top Entry Cat Litter Box | Best for low tracking | Top entry litter box | Not applicable, unscented | Works with most clumping litters | About 20.5 x 16 x 14.5 in | Plastic |
| 3 | Van Ness Pureness Giant High-Sided Cat Litter Pan | Best giant tray on a budget | Open litter pan, high-sided | Not applicable, unscented | Works with most clumping litters | About 21.25 x 17.6 x 9 in | Plastic with high-polish finish |
| 4 | IRIS USA High Sided Cat Litter Box with Scatter Shield | Best with a scatter shield | - | - | - | - | Plastic |
Best litter tray for 2 cats
Nature's Miracle High-Sided Litter Box
A roomy high-sided open box that contains kickers and sprayers at a budget price.
Roomy, high-sided, and budget priced, this is the tray size two-cat homes should start with: space to turn, walls that contain digging, and a lowered front entry.
Strengths
- High sides contain digging, kicking, and spraying
- Roomy footprint gives two cats space and suits larger cats
- Lower front entry balances containment with easy access
- Simple open design cats accept immediately
Limitations
- Open top will not contain odor like an enclosed box
- Large footprint needs floor space
- Basic plastic needs liners or regular scrubbing to stay fresh
| Type | High-sided open litter box |
|---|---|
| Scent | Not applicable, unscented |
| Clumping | Works with most clumping litters |
| Weight / size | About 23 x 18.5 x 11 in |
| Material | Plastic |
Best for: Two-cat homes, high sprayers, and vigorous diggers that need space and tall walls.
Skip if: Your cat has mobility issues and needs a very low entry point on every side.
Best for low tracking
IRIS USA Top Entry Cat Litter Box
A top-entry box with a grooved lid that cuts tracking and keeps dogs out.
The grooved top-entry lid strips litter from paws before cats reach the floor, and the enclosed body suits tidy shared spaces if both cats accept top entry.
Strengths
- Top entry keeps litter inside and curious dogs out
- Grooved lid catches litter from paws on the way out
- Roomy interior suits most cats and shared multi-cat use
- Enclosed design contains odor and spraying better than open trays
Limitations
- Top entry is a learning curve and not for every cat
- Not ideal for kittens or mobility-limited cats
- Lid and corners need regular wiping to stay fresh
| Type | Top entry litter box |
|---|---|
| Scent | Not applicable, unscented |
| Clumping | Works with most clumping litters |
| Weight / size | About 20.5 x 16 x 14.5 in |
| Material | Plastic |
Best for: Two-cat homes and tidy owners who want less litter scattered across the floor.
Skip if: Your cat is elderly, arthritic, or unlikely to accept jumping in from the top.
Best giant tray on a budget
Van Ness Pureness Giant High-Sided Cat Litter Pan
A giant open pan with high sides that contain litter scatter and spray.
An open pan cats accept instantly, with high sides that keep the weekly dig from redecorating the floor. A strong second or third tray for a two-cat rotation.
Strengths
- Open design is the format most cats accept without training
- Giant footprint gives large cats room to turn and dig
- High sides reduce litter scatter and urine spray over the edge
- High-polish finish resists stains and odor buildup, and it is made in the USA
Limitations
- Open top contains less odor than enclosed boxes
- Basic plastic design with no liner system, cover, or entry step
- Colors may vary, so you cannot choose the shade you receive
| Type | Open litter pan, high-sided |
|---|---|
| Scent | Not applicable, unscented |
| Clumping | Works with most clumping litters |
| Weight / size | About 21.25 x 17.6 x 9 in |
| Material | Plastic with high-polish finish |
Best for: Large cats and multi-cat homes that want a roomy open pan cats accept easily, at a budget price.
Skip if: You want a covered or top-entry box for maximum odor and scatter control.
Best with a scatter shield
IRIS USA High Sided Cat Litter Box with Scatter Shield
Open-top acceptance with high walls and a snap-on shield for diggers and sprayers.
High walls plus a snap-on shield contain what two digging cats kick up, while the open top keeps the easy entry cats accept. It is the containment upgrade for shared boxes that sprayers and kickers make necessary.
Strengths
- High walls plus a removable scatter shield contain kicked litter and spray
- Open-top format is the design most cats accept immediately, with easy entry
- Roomy large footprint gives two cats space to turn and dig
- Smooth plastic surfaces wipe and wash clean without liners snagging
Limitations
- Open top does not contain odor like enclosed boxes
- The shield is one more piece to remove and wash
- Determined kickers can still clear the lowered front entry
| Style | Open top with scatter shield |
|---|---|
| Size | Large |
| Entry | Low front, high sides and back |
| Material | Plastic |
| Model | CLH-12 per IRIS USA |
Sources: Amazon product listing, IRIS USA
Best for: Two-cat homes, high sprayers, and vigorous diggers that need containment without a hooded box.
Skip if: Your priority is odor containment; an open box cannot seal smells like a hooded design.
Questions, answered
How big should a litter tray for 2 cats be?
At least one and a half times the length of your largest cat, which in practice means looking at boxes around 23 inches long or more, like the Nature's Miracle high-sided box. Bigger is almost always better.
Do two cats really need three trays?
One per cat plus one extra is the vet and behaviorist standard. In small homes, two large, well-kept trays in separate spots are a workable compromise for many pairs.
Top entry or open tray for two cats?
Open trays are accepted by nearly every cat and are safer while you learn a pair's habits. Add a top-entry box for tracking control once you know both cats will use it.
Where should trays for two cats go?
In separate, quiet, always-accessible spots, away from food and water. Putting all trays side by side counts as one location to a cat and invites guarding.