The Best Cat Litter Mats of 2024

When looking into the best litter mat for your cats, there is a lot to consider. Does it actually trap litter? That’s the first question on all our minds, and it is definitely essential when you’re making your choice.

But there are other factors to consider. Does it slide all over the floor as your cat flies out of the box? Can you customize it to fit your space? Does it poke your cat’s sensitive paws as she steps out of the box?

Let’s take a look at the top 10 best cat litter mats available from Amazon and see how they compare.

Our Top 10 List

#	Preview	Product	Our Rating	Link	Price / Value
1		Smiling Paws Pets Cat Litter Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
2		Gorilla Grip Original Premium Cat Litter Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
3		Easyology Premium Large Cat Litter Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
4		BlackHole Litter Mat for Cats	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
5		iPrimio Large Cat Litter Trapper Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
6		Pawkin Litter Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
7		Mighty Monkey Cat Litter Trapping Mats	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
8		Easyology Jumbo Litter Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
9		CleanHouse Premium Cat Litter Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10
10		Pieviev Cat Litter Mat Litter Trapping Mat	4.5/5	Check Today's Price	9.5/10

The Smiling Paws Pets litter catcher mat is one of the best mats of its type on the market. It’s made from BPA- and phthalate-free materials with a woven loofah-style upper side for catching litter. It also has a leak-proof laminated bottom to avoid urine soaking through to the floor. The base is also slip-resistant to keep it in place.

The woven part of the mat is plusher than most, coming in at almost a half an inch thick. That’s a lot of room for litter! Don’t leave it too long, though, or it may never come out of the tight weave. The mat is thicker and heavier than most, also, weighing in at 3.6 lbs, and making it more durable and longer-lasting. For a standard size of 35″ x 23.5″, that’s pretty hefty.

Uniquely, the Smiling Paws Pets mat features a completely woven top, without the fancy designs or grooves that other mats have. The only decoration is a little kitty in the corner, and it is CUTE.

The Gorilla Grip Original Premium Durable Cat Litter Mat is precisely that—durable and premium quality. It is made with phthalate-free materials and a plush, diamond-shaped design that is both effective at catching litter and pleasing to the paw.

The Gorilla Grip mat comes in four shapes/sizes. Along with their standard extra-large size, 35″ x 23″, they also offer jumbo (47″ x 35″) for extra messy cats, as well as a half-circle (30″ x 20″) and corner (32″ x 32″ x 35″) to suit every home.

Funny side note: In the Amazon product description, they mention how the mat makes a great place for an afternoon snooze. I have hesitations about that (but my cat proves that to be a correct statement). Another funny note, they remind folks not to put food or water near the litter box. I hope that is common knowledge, but it’s sweet of them to tell us.

The Premium Large Cat Litter Mat by Easyology has a pleasing and eye-catching diamond design—it looks more like a small, cute rug than a litter mat! It also has an excellent litter-catching design, made with quality mesh and deep grooves.

Easyology claims that their patented design captures up to 27% more litter. While I’m not down on the floor counting individual particulates for my science experiment, I can say that it DOES do a good job catching litter.

Like most mats on the market, the Easyology Premium offers slip-resistant backing to hold the mat in place. It also recommends the typical cleaning solutions of vacuuming, shaking out, or soaking and rinsing.

First of all, great name, guys. I definitely wish discarded litter fell into a black hole somewhere. What a change that would make for cat owners worldwide!

BlackHole’s honeycomb design is different than what we’ve seen so far with the woven-mat style. It also has a dual-layer system, which means trapped litter falls into a black hole between the mats so you can dispose of it or pour it back into the box, depending on how clean it is.

The BlackHole mat is fully waterproof, which is excellent for those of us with messy, fussy, or old cats—so, everyone. They’re made of a soft, EVA foam rubber. They recommend washing with soap and water, which is relatively easy since you can actually get into the inside pocket where the litter is stored.

The iPrimio Litter Trapper Mat says it captures more litter than your average litter trapper mat, due to the size of its holes. Larger holes mean more litter falls in! Makes sense.

Better yet, it opens up on the side for easy litter disposal and functional cleaning. Plus, you can slide an absorbent puppy pad between the layers in case your cat misses the box on occasion.

Their sizing seems a little odd in comparison: their “large” size is actually smaller than most, only 30″ x 23″. But, they do offer a small and a jumbo size. Unfortunately, you can’t buy it straight off the “large” listing on Amazon. You’ll need to click through to their iPrimio Amazon site and scroll to find the size you want.

Pawkin’s Litter Mat has a patented “litter lock” mesh, which, when compared side-by-side, is deeper, making the overall pad thicker and plusher. The mats are phthalate-free—a must-have for mats like this, as we know by now. They’re made of a high-quality liquid-resistant PVC that’s easy to clean via vacuum or a washdown.

Nice interlocked diamonds-and-lines design, gray in color, 35″ x 23″. Pretty typical litter trapper mat.

What sets Pawkin apart for me is the manufacturer. Pawkin is a US-based, small, family-owned business. They went out of their way to respond to an honest (and not super positive) review posted about their product and offered a refund without being asked. They are proud of their product and go the extra mile to satisfy their customers. That kind of customer care is almost unheard of nowadays, particularly when you find the product on Amazon. Kudos, Pawkin.

This mat is made with all the good stuff – phthalate-free material, 1/3″ thick grooves and mesh to catch every little bit, slip-resistant backing, easy vacuum cleaning, the works. Their extra-large is the familiar 35″ x 23″ size. It’s also available in a large 24″ x 17″.

It has a unique and pleasant visual pattern and is available in 8 colors, including “latte,” a fancy purple, and my favorite, the pretty light blue.

Easyology is back with their jumbo-size litter catcher mat. It shares all the features of its large-sized counterpart—decorative design, quality mesh, deep grooves, slip-resistant backing, patented design catches more litter.

But this baby is HUGE. It’s the largest litter catcher mat on the market, coming in at a whopping 47″ x 36″. This mat’s so big that they call it “lightweight” at 5lbs. Which it is, frankly, when you consider the size.

We can appreciate this jumbo mat so much that we’ll forgive them for the hilarious Photoshopped photo on Amazon.

CleanHouse Premium Cat Litter Mat is another quality choice if you’re looking for a woven-type litter catcher. Phthalate-free PVC, BPA-free, non-toxic. It comes in two colors, gray and beige, and features cute paw print designs on each corner.

Their extra-large is pretty standard, 36″ x 24″. They don’t appear to offer any different sizes, unfortunately.

CleanHouse is another company that offers a 100% money-back guarantee for life if you aren’t satisfied with their product.

Last up on our list, but not least, is the Pieviev litter trapping mat. This mat features the honeycomb design and dual-layer system, making it easy to dispose of or reuse the litter, as we’ve seen before.

It’s water- and urine-proof because of the non-slip layer on the bottom of the mat, so you know your floors are safe. The open sides make for easy cleaning as you can reach all the way inside. The super-soft EVA material is BPA and phthalate-free.

Pieviev offers a 5-year money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied. Not as good as some of the lifetime offers, but still better than nothing.

Buying Guide

Effectiveness

The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a cat litter trapper mat is, of course, how well it performs when trapping litter.

Litter mats have several different methods of trapping litter. Most have a weave designed to collect and hold the litter or small holes that sieve litter down into a secondary layer of the mat.

Durability

Any quality litter mat should stand up to regular use—and sometimes abuse. Cats can get playful with all number of things we wouldn’t consider a toy. Claws and teeth can tear a low-quality litter mat to shreds in seconds.

Not only is this going to cost you in the long run, but it can also be dangerous for your cat (more details on this later in the article). Quality of materials and construction are vital.

Liquid Resistance

Every cat can potentially have a mess around the litter box, whether it’s a one-time accident or a regular occurrence (kittens, anyone?). Making sure your mat is water- and urine-resistant is a significant factor to consider.

If you have hardwood or laminate flooring, urine soaking through onto the floor can stain and ultimately ruin the flooring surface, especially if left for too long. Not only is this detrimental to the integrity of your flooring, but it is also a health hazard for you and your pets.

Of course, it is best to clean up any messes right away, no matter what litter mat you have. Unfortunately, this is not always an option.

And trying to get soaked-in urine out of a carpet? I don’t even want to go there.

Odor Resistance

Similarly to liquid resistance, it is highly beneficial to make sure your mat is reasonably odor resistant, as well. Odd, chemically smells can actually encourage your pet to misuse the mat, because the smells are upsetting or confusing to your cat’s sensitive nose. An excessively unpleasant odor is definitely something to avoid.

Many mats do have a particular “new mat” smell, as a result of the manufacturing and shipping processes. Letting your mat air out before you introduce it to your cat is always a good idea.

Skid Resistance

Most litter mats have a skid-resistant backing on their mats, helping keep it in place under the box. Not all mats are created equal, however.

Consider the type of flooring you have when selecting a mat. Some will work best with a hard surface, like wood or laminate, while others may perform better on carpet or tile. The best mat is the one that stays where you put it.

The Best Size for Your Needs

Do you live in an apartment? A house? A converted garage? Considering the size and shape of your living space can ultimately save you hassle in the long run when finding the right litter mat.

If you have a large area designated for your litter box, a jumbo-sized mat may be in your best interest. However, a smaller, better-functioning mat may be the right choice, especially for smaller spaces.

One way to do it is to use a litter box that probably won’t require a mat to begin with. Such can be a litter box with top-entry or a box inside of an end table.

Design and Shape

The designated litter box area in your home comes into play again when choosing the right shape of mat to suit your needs. If it doesn’t cover the areas where your cat actually steps when they leave the box, it isn’t going to do you any good, no matter how effective it is.

Choosing a mat that aligns with the habits of your cat and the shape and size of the box can save you plenty of hassle. Also, you may consider altering the configuration of how your box is set up to use the mat most effectively. Aligning the box so that the cat is forced to step out onto the mat, for example, can help make any mat more effective.

Construction Materials

Most mats are made from PVC plastic or rubber. Both have their pros and cons, and it’s essential to factor construction into your choice.

If your cat tends to leave messes outside of the box, rubber may be your best bet, as it’s easier to clean thoroughly. PVC plastic can be more affordable upfront, but if you are continually replacing your mat due to messes, it will cost you more overall.

Easy to Clean

Every litter mat is going to require some cleaning. Every cat is going to leave messes around the box, even if she’s just occasionally tracking out a little poo by accident.

If your cat is really messy, the easier-to-clean rubber type with holes that trap litter may be your best bet, as they tend to be more accessible when it comes to a deep clean.

If your cat is only an accidental culprit, the tight-weave PVC models may work perfectly well. You will eventually have to deep-clean the mat, though, or consider replacing it altogether if the mess is too much to thoroughly clean.

Ease of Use

This depends more on you than your cat. If you are comfortable picking up and aggressively shaking out your litter mat and have the appropriate space to do so), a heavy-duty mat may work for you.

If you find that kind of physical activity difficult or stressful, a smaller mat cleaned more often may be a better fit.

Paw Comfort

The feel of your mat is a big deal. If you find it uncomfortable on your hands or feet, chances are your cat will, too. Cats will refuse to step on it, performing daring, messy escapes from the box to avoid it. This makes having the litter mat moot, frankly.

If it’s really uncomfortable and he’s forced to step on it to get to the box, you may end up finding some unwanted gifts elsewhere in your home. That’s a sure sign your cat is protesting your choice.

Safe for the Health of your Pet

Many PVC plastics are made with BPA and phthalates—both of which are chemical components that make plastics more flexible and durable. Both, however, are very unsafe for your cat should they ingest it. Most mats advertise they are free of these substances but you should check before you buy.