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Last updated on October 1, 2026
The best high sided litter boxes for cats that kick litter keep the mess in the box while your cat digs, so you’re not sweeping up a ring of litter several feet away every day.
Some cats dig gently. Others practically excavate, and a standard low-sided pan may not contain what they throw. Below are five boxes with real owner evidence for containing kicked and scattered litter, each suited to a different setup.
The best high sided litter boxes for kickers have walls tall enough to catch litter thrown backward during digging, plus enough room inside that your cat isn’t digging right against the edge.
If urine is the problem rather than litter, our high wall litter box guide compares open boxes by wall and entry height. If you’re still deciding whether a high-sided box suits your cat, start with our high sided litter box explainer.
High sided litter boxes help keep litter contained inside the box and reduce mess around the litter area.
Quick Picks
Best for Heavy Kickers: IRIS USA Large Top Entry
Best Open High Back: IRIS USA High Walls with Handles
Best for Multi-Cat Homes: SpaceTime Extra Large High Sides
Best High-Sided Stainless Steel: WoofiGo Stainless Steel High Sided
Best Low-Profile Stainless Steel: Kirecoo XXL Stainless
| Box | Style | Best For | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRIS Top Entry | Top entry, one piece | Cats that fling litter everywhere | Cats must climb in |
| IRIS High Walls | Open, high back | Diggers who need room | Open front still lets some litter out |
| SpaceTime XL | Open, nearly 14 in sides | Multi-cat homes | Flexible plastic |
| WoofiGo High Sided | Stainless pan, tall plastic walls | Kickers in odor-prone homes | Walls are plastic, not steel |
| Kirecoo XXL | Open stainless pan | Kickers who want an all-metal box | 7.68 in walls, the lowest here |
IRIS USA Large Top Entry Litter Box
Why It Stands Out
It’s technically a top-entry box rather than a traditional high-sided pan, but the owner feedback on litter scatter is unusually strong.
One owner in a three-cat home had a vigorous digger whose litter-flinging was a major household problem. She reports that the box contains all of it, even though the cat still digs just as hard. Another owner estimated roughly 90% less litter on the floor with the box alone, and about 99% less once she added a mat.
It’s a single molded piece, which one owner of eight different boxes specifically credits with avoiding the seam and tray problems she’d had elsewhere. Another owner’s 17 lb cat was still using it 18 months later.
Possible Downsides
Because cats have to climb in through the top, it may not suit cats that have difficulty jumping or climbing, including some senior or mobility-limited cats.
Best For
Cats that throw litter everywhere no matter what box they’re in.
IRIS USA Cat Litter Box with High Walls and Handles
Why It Stands Out
This is the traditional choice: an open box with a tall back. Multiple reviewers credit the high back walls with containing digging messes. One large-cat owner found it wider than most XXL boxes sold for big cats, giving her cat real room to turn and dig.
The built-in handles make lifting and emptying easier, and reviewers say the flexible plastic resists dried-on residue.
Possible Downsides
The front is open by design. If your cat kicks forward as well as back, some litter will still leave through the entrance, so a mat helps.
Best For
Cats that dig hard toward the back of the box and need space to do it.
SpaceTime Extra Large Litter Box with High Sides
Why It Stands Out
Its sides are just under 14 inches, in a 22.6 by 14.8 inch footprint. Reviewers repeatedly and independently confirm those sides stop litter from being kicked out. It’s roomy enough for a 15 lb cat, owners in multi-cat homes report several cats using it, and one owner of senior cats ordered four.
It works with both clumping clay and crystal litter, with no sticking reported for either.
Possible Downsides
The plastic has some flex. Some owners like that when emptying the box, but anyone who prefers a very rigid pan may want a stiffer design.
Best For
Multi-cat homes that need a roomy, high-sided box as part of their litter box setup.
WoofiGo Stainless Steel High Sided Litter Box
Why It Stands Out
A stainless steel pan sits inside tall plastic walls, about 23.5 by 15.6 by 12 inches overall, with an open top. One owner’s cat had started kicking litter out of her old box, and switching to this larger WoofiGo stopped it.
The stainless pan doesn’t hold odor the way scratched plastic can, which helps in homes where an old box has started to smell.
Possible Downsides
The high walls are plastic, not steel, so only the pan gets the stainless steel benefits.
Best For
Kickers in homes where odor from old plastic boxes is also a problem.
Kirecoo XXL Stainless Steel Litter Box
Why It Stands Out
One reviewer with two large cats that kick hard says it fully contains their litter. It’s an open, all-metal pan, so it suits owners who want stainless steel throughout. The smooth, rounded rim is comfortable to handle even when the box is full and heavy.
Possible Downsides
At 7.68 inches, its walls are the lowest here. That’s enough for these kickers, but not for a cat that pees standing up. Those cats are covered in our high wall litter box guide.
Best For
Moderate kickers in homes that want an all-stainless open box.
Low sided litter boxes can allow litter to be kicked onto the floor when cats dig and cover their waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my cat kick so much litter out of the box?
Digging and covering are normal, and some cats are just much more enthusiastic about it than others. Litter depth, litter type and box size all affect how much ends up outside. A cramped box puts your cat right against the edge, so even ordinary digging sends litter over.
Will a top entry box stop litter kicking?
A top-entry box can greatly reduce litter thrown out during digging, because the high walls surround the litter area. It won’t necessarily stop litter carried out on paws or scattered when a cat jumps out, so a mat can still help.
Does a litter mat help with kicking, or just tracking?
Both, in different ways. High sides and top entry contain litter thrown during digging. A mat catches whatever still comes over the edge or leaves on your cat’s paws. Our best cat litter mat guide has picks.
Is a covered box better for cats that kick litter?
Covered and top-entry boxes generally put more barriers around the litter, which can help contain enthusiastic digging. But cats have individual box preferences, so an open high-backed box can be a better compromise for a cat that doesn’t readily use an enclosed design.
