8 Best Cat Litter Mats to Prevent Mess

The litter box is one of the messiest parts of pet parenting — especially if your cat ends up tracking litter through your home. If you’re looking for a way to make cleaning up after your feline friend a little less arduous, investing in a cat litter box mat is a great idea. 

These mats can help keep your home tidier by trapping any stray litter that either gets kicked out of the box or tracked by your cat’s paws.

However, not all litter mats are created equal — and if you choose the wrong type your cat may even boycott the area, leaving you with an even bigger mess to deal with. We’ve rounded up 8 of the best cat litter mats, plus offered some guidance for pet parents on how to choose the right mat for your cat.    

Our Top Choices

All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author. However, Vetstreet may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.

• Best Overall: Gorilla Grip Thick Cat Litter Trapping Mat 
• Best Premium Pick: Blackhole Large Cat Litter Mat
• Best Value: Petmate Flex Rubber Cat Litter Mat 
• Best Extra Large Mat: Niubya Premium Cat Litter Mat  
• Best Waterproof Mat: Pawtitas Waterproof Trapping Cat Litter Mat 
• Best Multipack: UPSKY Set of Two Cat Litter Mats 
• Best Personalized Mat: Drymate Black and Gray Pawprint Personalized Cat Litter Mat  
• Best Patterned Mat: So Phresh Cat Litter Tracker Mat  

Best Cat Litter Mats of 2024: 8 Options to Consider

Best Overall Cat Litter Mat

Our Pick: Gorilla Grip Thick Cat Litter Trapping Mat

This bestselling mat is available in 7 different sizes and 19 colors, so you’re bound to find the right combination for your home. The sturdy mesh loops and deep grooves work together to trap litter that’s either kicked out of the box or caught on your cat’s paws. The lightweight material is easy to clean — simply shake out, vacuum, or rinse down with a little soap.   

Highlights 

• Easy to clean 
• Lots of sizes to choose from 
• Durable 
• It has nearly 40,000 reviews on Amazon

Things to Consider 

• Expensive 
• May slip on hardwood or tiled floors 

Premium Cat Litter Mat 

Our Pick: Blackhole Large Cat Litter Mat

This versatile mat has a two-layered honeycomb design to trap cat litter. Most cats are happy walking over the soft texture. When you’re ready to clean this mat, simply open the ends and pour the litter that’s trapped inside out. If necessary pet parents can quickly clean this by finishing with soap and water. One thing to watch out for is that because it opens at both ends, litter can spill out while you’re cleaning.   

Highlights 

• Suitable for all types of litter 
• Measures 30” x 23”
• Waterproof 

Things to Consider 

• Smells strong when new 
• Litter can spill out when cleaning 

Best Value Cat Litter Mat  

Our Pick: Petmate Flex Rubber Cat Litter Mat  

This small cat litter mat is a great value for the money, and the perfect option if you’re traveling with your cat. The texture of this mat is designed to trap litter and it can easily be cleaned by either shaking it out, vacuuming, or rinsing under water. The plastic material used to manufacture this mat is non-slip, durable, and high-quality.   

Highlights 

• Great value for the price 
• Measures 17” x 14”
• Easy to clean
• Waterproof 

Things to Consider 

• Small size 
• No option to choose a color 

Best Extra Large Cat Litter Mat  

Our Pick: Niubya Premium Cat Litter Mat  

The more times your cat steps on their cat litter mat, the fewer chances litter will be tracked around your house. So, sometimes choosing the largest cat litter mat is your best bet for trapping as much litter as possible. This extra large cat litter mat does a great job. The hard-wearing material is also good at resisting scratches, so this mat should last for a long time.   

Highlights 

• Measures 47” x 35”
• Choose from five colors
• Waterproof  
• Non-skid backing

Things to Consider 

• The size makes it a bit hard to clean 

Best Waterproof Cat Litter Mat 

Our Pick: Pawtitas Waterproof Trapping Cat Litter Mat 

If your messy cat not only tracks litter everywhere but sometimes misses their litter box entirely, then a waterproof litter mat is essential. After an accident, this mat can easily be cleaned by rinsing it down with soap and water. It can also be vacuumed to pick up trapped litter. The soft texture of this mat also appeals to sensitive cats who may not like the harder texture of some other mats.    

Highlights 

• Choose from three colors 
• Measures 35” x 23”
• Non-slip backing

Things to Consider 

• Not machine washable 

Best Cat Litter Mat Multipack  

Our Pick: UPSKY Set of Two Cat Litter Mats

If you’ve got more than one cat, you’ll likely have more than one litter box. This multipack includes two mats with a sturdy mesh structure that traps litter within the loops. The PVC plastic is hard-wearing and includes a non-slip backing. It’s reasonably waterproof, although not completely. And if your cat happens to get some pee on the mat, it can be hard to remove the smell entirely. 

Highlights 

• Measures 24” x 16”
• Choose from three colors 
• Multipack is great for homes with multiple cats

Things to Consider 

• Not machine washable
• Can be difficult to remove all litter when cleaning  

Best Personalized Cat Litter Mat  

Our Pick: Drymate Black and Gray Pawprint Personalized Cat Litter Mat   

If you love personalized products for your cat — then this mat is the obvious choice! Enhance the subtle gray paw-print design by adding your cat’s name or a sweet message to make you smile while cleaning. The soft texture of this mat is great for fussy cats that may not like harder surfaces or those with more ridges. 

Highlights 

• Machine washable 
• Non-slip backing 
• Measures 28” x 20”
• Cute personalized option to make it your own

Things to Consider 

• Not waterproof 
• Very thin 

Best Patterned Cat Litter Mat  

Our Pick: So Phresh Cat Litter Tracker Mat   

A lot of cat litter mats might be practical, but they’re not exactly attractive to look at. This So Phresh not only protects your house from getting litter tracked everywhere — but it looks pretty great too. The eye-catching geometric design in neutral shades suits most home decor, but this is also available in several other patterns if you prefer.    

Highlights 

• Machine washable
• Available in a range of patterns 
• Water-resistant 
• Measures 29” x 32”

Things to Consider 

• Not as effective as some other mats 
• Moves around on smooth floors like tiles and wood 

Cat Litter Mats: Buyer’s Guide

There are a few different types of cat litter mats to choose from — so how do you know which one will be best for your cat, and the type of kitty litter they prefer? Here are a few factors to keep in mind as you’re choosing a cat litter mat. 

Texture 

You’ll find cat litter mats in a range of textures, from double layers of rubber to soft foam, rubber mesh, and more. When it comes to choosing a texture, LeeAnna Buis, certified feline training and behavior consultant from Feline Behavior Solutions says comfort is key. “The last thing you want is for your cat to avoid the litter box because the mat doesn’t feel good on their paws,” she says. “If it hurts when you stand on it, chances are your cat won’t love standing on it either.” Cats with dry or sensitive paw pads may also be cautious about walking on a litter mat. 

Noise

You also want to avoid cat litter mats that make noise. “Some people will lay a plastic cat litter mat or tarps down under the litter box,” says Buis. “However, that crinkly texture and sound can be unappealing to cats.” 

Size

Ideally, you want your mat to be large enough to cover the area of the floor that your cat most commonly walks over as they exit their litter box. Depending on where your cat’s box is located, there are a few options. You can use a jumbo cat litter mat with the litter box placed in the middle or to one side, or one or two smaller mats to cover the area.       

Cleaning 

All litter mats need to be cleaned regularly, so choose a mat that works with your preferred cleaning method. Some can be thrown in the washing machine, others can be rinsed with soap and water, while some should be emptied or vacuumed. Make sure to check the cleaning instructions before you buy.  

Cat Litter Mat FAQs

Why does my cat pee on the litter mat?

If your cat is peeing on the mat outside their litter box, there’s probably an underlying reason. First off, it’s important to rule out any medical conditions like urinary tract infections or feline idiopathic cystitis. Cats may also go outside their box if it hasn’t been cleaned out regularly enough, if it’s located in a high-traffic area, or if there aren’t enough boxes in a multi-cat household.  

Can you wash cat litter mats?

Many cat litter mats can be washed, but it’s always worth checking the recommendations of each manufacturer. If washing is your preferred method of cleaning (rather than vacuuming or hand rinsing) then choose a machine washable mat for the ultimate convenience. 

Do cat litter mats work?

Most pet parents find that cat litter trapping mats do a great job of stopping litter from being tracked around their house. You may need to experiment a little and find the best type of mat for your kitty’s preferred litter. Any of our recommendations above do a great job at catching all types of cat litter. Most mats won’t catch 100% of litter, so while you should find you need to clean a lot less, your cat may still kick or track some litter throughout the house. 

How can I keep kitty litter off of the floor?

The best way to keep the majority of kitty litter off your floors is to use a litter mat for your cat. Choose an extra-large mat so that there’s more chance of it trapping as much litter as possible. 

Cat Litter Messes: Tips & Advice

Now you’ve chosen your cat mat for the litter box — it’s time to start using it. But should you train your cat first? “If the mat is comfortable and unintrusive, you shouldn’t need to do any training,” says Buis. “Just offer some verbal praise the first few times you see them walking on it.”

And if you do run into any issues, she recommends setting the mat in the middle of the room away from the box and using a toy to lure your cat back and forth across it. “Have a little play session on and around the mat, says Buis. “That will help them feel more comfortable with it and build positive associations. But if they won’t walk on it, that’s a good sign it’s not the right litter mat for them.”

You could also try switching the type of cat litter box you use — those with a deep lip around the inside are generally better at preventing litter from being kicked out. If you have a large-breed cat, then upgrading to a bigger box or one with a cover, can also help prevent litter-kicking problems.   

No cat litter is 100 percent guaranteed not to track around your house, but some types are lower-tracking than others. Clumping cat litters are often low-tracking because there’s less chance of individual bits getting caught in your cat’s paws. Litters with larger pieces like pine or crystal also tend to track less. You may need to experiment to find the perfect combination of litter and mat that works for your cat, but once you do, you can look forward to less cleaning — and more snuggle time!