It stands to reason that you want the best for your Bengal cat. after all they're part of the family. This is why it's important that litter boxes for Bengal cats are going to give them the privacy and comfort they prefer.
In this post, we’ll cover the following:
- Is Your Bengal Cat Picky About Litter Boxes?
- How to Choose the Right Litter Box
- Our Top Five Picks for Litter Boxes
Is Your Bengal Cat Picky About Litter Boxes?
No cat is going to enjoy going in litter boxes that are messy. After all, who wants to stand in their own mess when trying to relieve themselves?
However, when it comes to Bengal cats, they do tend to be far pickier than the average domestic cat. Bengal cats are far more selective when it comes to where they go to the bathroom and are far less tolerant than most cats when it comes to cleanliness.
Bengal Cats Have Their Own Preferences
Because of their intelligence, quite often there's an attitude that comes along with it and this means they can be picky about not only the kind of litter boxes you provide for them, but also their privacy and the type of litter you provide for them.
Bengals tend to like their privacy and this means they tend to want to be in a closed area when they're trying to take care of their “business”. So, this means that it's important that you provide them a private place for their litter boxes as well as a litter box that may offer them some extra protection and privacy.
Bengal cats can be extremely difficult when it comes to a dirty litter box. Depending upon the personality of your Bengal, it could be as little as one pile of poop showing to several. This is something that you will need to take notice of when it comes to your own cat.
Your Bengal doesn’t want to go to the bathroom outside of their litter boxes, however, if you don't keep it as clean as they want it to be, you could end up with them finding someplace cleaner to go. Unfortunately, will likely be on the floor next to the litter box.
That being said, Bengals generally do not have litter box issues especially if you are a responsible owner. Here's a video that show you how you can keep a litter box clean.
How to Choose the Right Litter Box
When it comes to finding the best litter box for your Bengal, the most important thing is that you know what the needs are of your cat. Depending upon these needs, the decision really isn't that difficult.
For most cats, you can find a good one at your local grocery store. If you are looking for something that's simple you just need to make sure that the litter box is at least 18 inches in width and 4 to 6 inches deep. You need to have it this deep in order to fill it up with a proper amount of litter. When you have enough litter in the box, your cat is going to feel a lot more comfortable when they are using it.
That being said, Bengal cats aren’t just an ordinary cat.
They have a very strong personality due to their intelligence and most Bengal cat owners find that getting them a simple litter box isn’t always enough.
When Choosing Your Litter Box
When you are shopping for litter boxes for your Bengal, there are a few things that you will want to consider:
- If you want to provide your Bengal with a covered one, make sure that the cover is one that can be removed easily in case your Bengal turns out not liking a box that is enclosed. Even though covered boxes will cut down on odor and increase privacy, your cat may not prefer this type of box. It all depends on their personality.
- Since Bengals tend to often be larger than the average domestic cat, you are going to want to make sure that the litter box is a bigger one, especially if it's a covered. You want to make sure that you give them enough room in it for them to turn around comfortably. If they're not comfortable, they're not going to want to use it.
- Make sure that the litter box you pick, especially if it's one that is covered or self-cleaning, is one that is sturdy, made of non-toxic materials and is as quiet as possible. It's important that your Bengal is not made to feel uncomfortable when using their litter box or you could end up with some litter box issues that may end up being very unpleasant.
- When looking at litter boxes, make sure that you get the one that suits your lifestyle. If you don't mind cleaning every day, you can get a simple (and cheap) standard litter box. If you want to clean every few days, it may be best to consider a sifting litter box. If you're looking for a fully automated litter box, then you can find those too, which will make it much easier to keep clean. Just make sure you choose the one that suits your lifestyle.
Our Top Five Picks for Litter Boxes
After doing our own research, we've come up with a list of our top five personal picks that we think might help shorten your shopping time when finding a little box that will fit the needs of your Bengal cat.
Below you'll find a few of the best litter boxes that are available for Bengal cats, especially for those who prefer their privacy.
Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box
ABOUT: This litter box by Iris is not only a unique looking style of box but it includes a top entry to it that is easy for any size cat to access, especially heavier cats, up to 20 pounds. Your Bengal may enjoy how roomy it is giving them plenty of room to be able to move around in. When you first see this product, you don't even realize it's a cat litter box.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: This Iris litter box has an easy to enter top opening and there are grooves that are on the lid that make a nice mat that keeps the litter from scattering all over the floor. Instead, the litter is left behind when your cat exits the litter box. Another nice feature is the convenient hook that comes with the box that allows you to hang the litter scoop on the front of the litter box. It's a good size measuring 20.5” x 16.1” x 14.6” and weighs just a little under five pounds.
PROS: It has a unique look to it that actually makes it attractive compared to other products similar. It's also made of a durable non-stick material that makes for very easy cleaning of the litter box. The top entry is easy for even larger cats to access and the grooved top of the box cuts down on the litter from getting all over.
CONS: The main concern seems to be the lid and how it attaches to the box itself. The question here is the durability, especially for heavier cats when jumping on top of it.
Favorite 25” Large Top Entry Enclosed Hooded Cat Litter Box
ABOUT: The Favorite 25” Large Top Entry cat litter box is a litter box that is different from so many others on the market because it has top entry to it instead of the traditional front entry. For many this is a great way to help keep down on the litter mess getting outside of the box and onto the floor. The design is intended to cut down on messes and to help keep down the odor.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: The key feature is it's top entry design which helps keep down odors and messy litter getting on your floor. The enclosed litter pan gives your Bengal the privacy they want and it has non-stick surface that makes it easier to clean. Another important feature is its size. It measures 25” L x 19.5” H. The size of the bottom is 18” L x 12.5” W and the waist is 25” L x 19.5” with top measuring 18” L x 12.5” W. The entry of this litter box is nine inches in diameter and the top itself is extremely easy to remove. Finally, it comes with a one piece free spare locker that can be used as backup. It also comes in a side entry version.
PROS: Like with any cat, Bengals too can make a mess with their litter and this can be frustrating. This litter box's key feature of top entry is one way that helps to cut down on that typical problem. Being enclosed is also a great help in cutting down on the odor often associated with litter boxes.
CONS: Even though it is not a common issue with this litter box, there have been some instances where the top does not securely fit to the bottom of the litter box.
Clevercat Top Entry Litterbox
ABOUT: This is an award winning top entry litter box and it gets rid of the messy litter tracks, helps to avoid spills and cuts down on the odor that is associated with litter boxes. For those cats that tend to be diggers in their boxes, the threat of litter flying all over is eliminated with this Clevercat litter box.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: The way this box is designed, if you have a dog that seems to like to get into cat litter boxes, this design should eliminate that problem with it's top entry. The design also helps to cut down on the litter tracks and because of being enclosed, it will help to cut down on odors as well. To make cleaning of the box easier, Clevercat designed their own heavy duty litter box liners that make it easy and quick for you to clean the box out. The top entry is a good nine inches in diameter.
PROS: Kittens seem to find this type of box easy to adapt to, so this might be a good one if you are trying to teach a kitten how to use the litter box. Seems to cut down on litter trails by nearly 95% which helps cut down on clean up. Has its own liners specifically for this design and makes cleaning out the box mess free.
CONS: Even though the idea of a box liner is good, for some cats it might cause problems since some cats may try to shred the liner. Even though it seems to be a relatively good size, this could pose issues for cats that are over 15 pounds. It also may not be ideal for older cats or those who might have any kind of disability.
Modkat Flip Litter Box Kit Includes Scoop and Reusable Tarp Liner
ABOUT: This flip litter box pretty much seems to cover it all with the flip lid, its hanging scoop, a reusable tarp litter liner along with its front entry. Even though the trend seems to be top entry litter boxes, there still could be cats that simply don't like this idea. This is where the design of this box might be a solution if your cat won't go for the top entry.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: A key feature of this box is that it has a seamless base that helps to prevent leakage. The inside is a good size for most cats giving them the needed space to be able to turn around and get comfortable to take care of business. The lid features three different positions it can be put in. The way it's designed it offers three different types of privacy for your Bengal. The options are fully open, half-way open and totally closed. The lid also easily opens far enough making it easy and quick to scoop and clean. Another feature that's different from other boxes is the tarp liner that can last up to three months. This of course depends on how often your cat uses the Flip box and how many cats might be using it. This particular litter box was actually seen being used on the show “My Cat from Hell”.
PROS: One of the favorite things about this product is the lid. Not only does it give cats different types of privacy, if your cats ends up not liking the top on, this lid can be removed in order to accommodate the preference of your cat. Being able to remove the top also tends to make it easier to clean up.
CONS: This could nearly have been the perfect litter box except for the fact that it's not quite as big as some of the other products reviewed. This means it might not be ideal for larger cats. The price also might be a drawback for some people.
Petmate Top Entry Litter Pan
ABOUT: This Petmate litter box comes with a lid that is attached which helps to make keeping your cats litter box area much cleaner. On the lid it has a nice texture on it that is non-slip for your cat making it safer for them to use. Petmate is a company where their products are made in the USA and they utilize green techniques when it comes to their manufacturing of products.
OUR RATING:
PRICE:
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FEATURES: The lid on this litter box is big enough for most cats to fit in easily and the lid has a nice non-slip texture on it. There is a special grating feature on the lid that is designed to help the litter fall back into the box when it's opened up. The built-in handles is one of the key features because it makes it easier for you to move it or to clean it.
PROS: Has a good-sized opening for small to large cats and the non-slip texture on its lid is a good safety feature. When the lid is opened up most of the litter is put back into the box through the grating. It is easily cleaned and moved with it handles that are conveniently built in.
CONS: Not all products are perfectly designed for everyone and it seems that this design could have a few minor flaws in it. One seems to be the lid itself. Even though most of the litter that collects on the lid will return to the box when you swing it open, some tends to remain and can get on the floor. Where the lid opens up at, the hinges, there does seem to be some difficulty scooping the box out at that section.
After reviewing all of these cat litter boxes it's our conclusion that the ultimate winner in this case would be the Iris Top Entry Cat Litter Box. Even though each one of these products have their own good qualities that put them in our five favorites, the Iris is the clear winner since it seems to fit many criteria that Bengal cat owners are looking for.
This litter box tends to be one of the bigger products available and will easily accommodate those larger Bengals. It also seems to be one that truly keeps down the messy litter trails on the floor and the reduction of odors coming from the box appears to be somewhat taken care of as compared to some of the other products on the market.