Have you been dealing with cats that spread litter around the litter box? Sick of stepping barefoot on litter grit every morning? With the right litter mat, you can contain your cat's messes and make cleanup a lot easier. (Or if your cat has been doing their business in places other than the litter box, this guide can help.)
Just as our bathrooms can be a sanctuary, cats can be very particular about their litter setup, so the best litter mat is one that catches litter without detracting from your cat's routine. It should also be durable and easy to clean.
Our favorite litter mat is the Pieviev Cat Litter Mat, which uses a honeycomb grid to catch litter, which can then be easily disposed of, or poured back into your litter box. It’s also durable, soft on your cat’s paws, and affordable.
Here are the best cat litter mats.
Best Overall
Pieviev Cat Litter Mat
Double layer design captures litter
Durable, but soft on paws
Waterproof
Affordable
Wet messes are tough to clean out of the honeycomb grid
The Pieviev Cat Litter Mat is our favorite cat litter mat for most litter box configurations. It utilizes an innovative double-layer honeycomb design, so litter falls through the top layer, to be stored in the bottom layer. The two layers can be flexed apart like an envelope, so you can simply pick up the mat and funnel the collected litter into the trash or back into your litter box.
The Pieviev is made of EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam, which is the same material often used in flip-flops and foam clogs. It doesn't contain any phthalates—plasticizing chemicals that may interfere with hormone production in humans and animals—so it's non-toxic too. Plus it has a rubber-like squishiness that's both durable and soft on your cat's paws. Even if your cat enjoys scratching the EVA mat, the Pieviev will be able to stand up to years of abuse.
The one downside to its honeycomb construction is that wet messes can gunk up the holes separating the top and bottom layer. But this litter mat is also waterproof, so you can rinse it off with a hose or in the sink.
The Pieviev litter mat is available in three colors and two sizes, including an extra-large 30 by 24 inch design.
Size: 24 x 15 inches or 30 x 24 inches︱Color: Black, Gray, Brown︱Material: Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
Best for Multiple Cats
Cosyearn XL Cat Litter Mat
Extra large size
Durable
Soft on paws
Liquid likely to run off on to your floor
Large enough to accommodate multiple litter boxes, the Cosyearn Cat Litter Mat XL is perfect for a multiple cat household. Measuring 47 by 36 inches, the Cosyearn provides a lot of runway for cats coming out of a litter box, capturing more of the litter particles that get stuck in their paws.
The Cosyearn Litter Mat XL has a coarse woven pile, like a scrub brush or door mat, but is made from PVC vinyl, so it won't absorb stains or smells. Instead, it can be easily cleaned in a sink or with a hose. A vacuum should be able to handle most everyday litter spillover. It's less useful at soaking up anything too messy: While technically waterproof, the XL litter mat doesn't have any place to retain water, so liquid will run off on to your floor, or even pool beneath the mat.
This litter mat has a spongy, semi-carpet feel, so your cat might hang out on it even when they're not using the bathroom. The Cosyearn XL is available in black, brown, or gray color options.
Size: 47 x 36 x 0.5 inches︱Color: Black, Brown, Gray︱ Material: PVC
Best for Wet Messes
PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Litter Mat
Durable
Soft on paws
Waterproof
Ridges do decent job of containing liquid messes
Doesn’t deal with litter quite as well as other designs
Still possible for liquid to run off
While all mats will struggle with excessive wet messes, the PetFusion ToughGrip Litter Mat is better than most at containing litter. The ToughGrip uses long, wavy ridges instead of holes or fibers to capture loose litter. This gives it a more open format that is much easier to clean. The ToughGrip also has a raised lip around the border of the mat, which can somewhat contain standing liquid (though there are small divots cut from the mat's edges, so it's unlikely to fully prevent liquid from running off the mat). Combine that design with its waterproof silicone construction, and you have a cat litter mat that's a cinch to wipe down or rinse off.
The PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Litter Mat comes in two different sizes.
Size: 30 x 23 inches (Standard), 38 x 26 inches (X-Large)︱Colors: Gray︱Material: Silicone
Best Budget Mat
ANDALUS Cat Litter Mat
Durable
Soft on paws
Very affordable
Hard to clean wet messes out of
Small size
This simple mat is by far the most affordable cat litter mat we recommend. However, it does have some substantial limitations, and might be best for small cats, small spaces, or even kittens.
Measuring only 15.75 by 11.75 inches, the mat can provide a landing spot for your cat outside of the litter box, but isn't likely to catch as much litter as cat litter mats with larger footprints. It's available in brown, gray, navy, black, and beige colors.
Size: 15.75 x 11.75 inches (Small), 23.5 x 15.75 inches (Large), 35 x 23 inches (Extra Large)︱Color: Black, Beige, Gray, Brown, Navy︱Material: Polyvinyl Chloride
Best Looking
Mighty Monkey Durable Easy Clean Cat Litter Box Mat
Durable
Soft on paws
13 different color options
Pile design is tougher to clean
The Mighty Monkey Litter Litter Mat uses a carpet-like synthetic pile to capture litter from your cat's feet. This gives it an aesthetic that's less like a rubbery mat and more like a rug. But the real draw is its wide range of color choices. While most of our other recommendations come in staid browns and grays, the Might Monkey litter mat is available in 13 different colors, including turquoise, forest green, pink, and navy blue.
Size: 24 x 17 inches (Large), 35 x 23 inches (Extra Large)︱Color: Dark turquoise, turquoise, forest green, latte, slate gray, taupe, chocolate, graphite, navy blue, light blue, purple, black, pink︱Material: Plastic
Best Novelty
Moonshuttle Headshaped BlackHole Litter Mat
Cute design
Soft on paws
Waterproof
Dual layers makes cleaning easy
Design makes wet messes tough to clean
Small
Who can resist this litter mat shaped like a cute little cat head? The Moonshuttle Headshaped BlackHole Litter Mat uses the same dual-layer design as our best overall cat litter mat, with honeycomb holes trapping litter in a bottom layer that can be easily dumped out. It's one of the best designs we've tested when it comes to trapping kitty litter and preventing your cats from spreading it around the house. Plus, it's made from EVA rubber foam, which is soft, non-toxic and durable.
The main downside to the Headshaped Blackhole Litter Mat is its relatively small size and round shape, which might make it a little easier for your cat to dodge around it.
Size: 21.2 x 18.5 x 0.75 inches︱Color: Dark Gray, Beige︱Material: EVA rubber foam
Our favorite cat litter mat is the Pieviev Cat Litter Mat, which uses a dual-layer design that's extremely effective at trapping litter. It's also easy to maintain, since you can fold it open and dump out the excess litter. But households with multiple cats or a large litter box area might want to consider the Cosyearn Litter Max XL, which provides a lot of litter-trapping surface area. It's even big enough to fit under multiple litter boxes at once.
What to Look for in a Cat Litter Mat
Design
We recommend three basic design types, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. If your primary concern is preventing as much dry litter from making it away from the litter box as possible, check out dual-layer cat litter mats. They are great at capturing and containing loose litter. But if your cats sometimes go to the bathroom right outside of the box, then the dual-layer design can become a major mess. For sloppier cats, check out a foam rubber mat instead. They're a little less effective at retaining litter, but they're much easier to clean. Finally, there are cat litter mats that have a carpet-like pile. These do a great job of snagging litter off of your cat's paws, but it can be tricky to get the litter out of them. These are best for people who regularly vacuum and want a cat litter mat that behaves as much as possible like the other rugs and carpeted spaces in their home.
Materials
Most cat litter mats are made from some variety of plastic, typically an EVA foam or vinyl. Most are waterproof and non-toxic, but it's worth looking for brands that are more transparent about the materials used. Look for designations like "BPA-free" or mats that contain zero phthalates, which indicate a plastic material without the chemicals that can potentially disrupt your cat's endocrine system.
Dimensions
It's worthwhile to take the time to measure your litter box and its surroundings before selecting a cat litter mat. The more surface area you're able to create, the more opportunities the mat will have to capture loose litter from your cat's feet. While measuring in advance may seem obvious for anyone with a designated litter box area, one dimension that's not often considered is a product's height. Particularly if a mat will have to fit partially under a door, make sure that it will be thin enough to allow clearance.
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Why does my cat pee on the litter mat?
There are a few different reasons why a cat may pee or poop outside of the litter box. The most likely cause is behavioral, with your cat either dissatisfied with the current setup or responding to some other environmental stress. For example, if you've recently adopted an additional cat, your other cat may pee outside of the litter box to assert their control over territory.
To alleviate the behavior, first clean the litter box and the area around it. Cats often refuse to use a litter box that's not up to their standards of cleanliness. If that doesn't work, you may need to make more drastic changes, including moving the litter box to a different location, selecting a larger litter box, or trying out alternatives to your current cat litter.
Cats also sometimes ignore previous litter box training because of a medical issue. This could be anything from a kidney problem to arthritis that makes it difficult for them to enter the box. If your cat is consistently pooping and peeing outside of the box, you should consult a veterinarian.
For more tips, check out our guide to solving common cat litter box problems.
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How do you clean a cat litter mat?
Different mat designs will require different cleaning techniques. Dual layer designs can be picked up and dumped easily over a trash can. Other designs will require vacuuming to clean. Most mats can also be washed more thoroughly with household cleaning products, or even hosed off outside.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
Ellie Welles is a writer and product expert for The Spruce Pets. Her writing has previously appeared in Newsweek. As the owner of a very finicky cat who doesn’t always use the litter box, litter mat research has been a priority in her own life. She tested many mats to make these recommendations but ultimately, with all things cat, your mileage will vary given your own cat's idiosyncratic needs and traits.