Last updated Jan 21, 2025
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Nothing’s worse than stepping in cat litter barefoot. Litter mats are popular because they catch the litter from your cat’s paws before it gets tracked onto your just-vacuumed floors.
Litter mats also help to protect your floors from any potty accidents and contain litter that’s kicked out of the box. You can even pour the spilled litter right back into the box (so long as it’s clean), saving you money and preventing waste.
In this article, we’ll discuss what to look for in a good litter mat, as well as our reviews on the top 10 cat litter mats available today.
At a Glance: Best Cat Litter Mats To Buy
Petlinks Purrfect Paws Cat Litter Mat
- Spreads out paws to remove litter from between toes
- Comfortable on a cat’s paws
- Comes in two neutral colors and three sizes
Fresh Kitty Jumbo Foam Litter Mat
- Great value
- Easy to clean
- Comfortable on cat paws
BlackHole Litter Mat
- Collects a great amount of litter from your cat’s feet
- Contains litter between layers, preventing tracking
- Easy to dump spilled litter back into box
CatGuru Litter Mat
- Softest litter mat
- Machine washable
- Absorbent and waterproof
PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Litter Mat
- Can be wiped down easily
- Easy to sweep, dump, or vacuum litter
- Side spout directs litter into box or garbage can when poured
iPrimio Premium Dog & Cat Litter Mat
- Material traps litter well
- Easiest litter mat to vacuum without attachments
- Soft on cat paws
Drymate Premium Debossed Paw Cat Litter Trapping Mat
- Simple design with several patterns to choose from
- Easy to vacuum or sweep
- Comfortable on cat paws
iPrimio Large Cat Litter Trapper Mat
- Two-layer design helps to prevent litter tracking
- Flips open for easy cleaning of second layer
- Easy to pour dry litter from mat to litter box or trash
Catit Cat Litter Mat
- Super affordable
- Large size for better coverage
- Easy to clean
The Original Gorilla Grip Litter Mat
- Suitable for big boxes or multiple litter boxes
- Water-resistant
- Textured backing prevents sliding
Why Trust Cats.com
I spent hours researching the best litter mats on the market by looking at product reviews, talking to cat parents, and considering my own real-world experience. Then, I tested the products on my own cats to see how they held up with daily use and if they succeeded at catching litter. I also tested how easily the mats could be cleaned.
Top Picks Explained
Although we’ve updated our picks since this video was filmed, we still love the products Mallory mentions in this video.
The 10 Best Cat Litter Mats
These rankings are determined by a variety of factors. Each cat will have different needs and preferences, so while the Petlinks Purrfect Paws cat litter mat is our top choice, it might not be ideal for your unique cat. To help you choose the right litter mat for your cat, we’ve broken down our recommendations by the easiest to vacuum, the best at trapping litter, and other key considerations.
#1 Overall Best: Petlinks Purrfect Paws Cat Litter Mat
The Petlinks Purrfect Paws litter mat is designed to spread out your cat’s paw pads when they walk on it, removing the litter that would otherwise get stuck between their toes. The mat comes in two colors and three sizes (I tested the large size.) I found it comfortable on my own feet, and none of my cats were averse to it. Shaking dry litter from the mat was very easy, as was vacuuming it with my vacuum’s hose attachment.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
During testing, one of my cats did have an accident on the mat. Its waterproof material kept the floors mostly clean, though the lack of raised sides allowed some urine to run off, so I wouldn’t recommend this one for cats that pee on their litter mats frequently.
What We Liked:
- Spreads out cat paws to remove litter between toes
- Comfortable on paws
- Comes in two colors and three sizes
What We Didn’t Like:
- No raised edge to trap urine accidents
#2 Best Budget: Fresh Kitty Jumbo Foam Litter Mat
The Fresh Kitty jumbo foam litter mat is a great value for the price. It has a stylish design that’s easy to clean, whether you’re wiping up messy paw prints or sweeping stray litter particles—though I wouldn’t recommend vacuuming this one, as it tends to bunch up and move around.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The mat is large but lightweight, which makes rolling it up and dumping the litter back into the box simple. The foam material is waterproof and soft on paws. However, there is no raised edge to hold liquids in place should your cat urinate outside the litterbox.
What We Liked:
- Great value
- Easy to clean
- Comfortable on paws
What We Didn’t Like:
- Doesn’t vacuum easily
- No raised edge to contain urine
#3 Best at Trapping Litter: BlackHole Litter Mat
This mat collected the greatest amount of litter for me during testing. It’s the best mat for people who want to clean by dumping dry litter back into the box or into a trash can. The two connected sides hold the litter between the layers and make spilling litter less likely. Since the top and bottom are completely unconnected, you aren’t trying to guide the litter through a small space and can easily wipe clean the bottom layer of the mat.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
This mat isn’t designed to be vacuumed or swept, though the holes keep the top layer free of litter, so it won’t look as messy between cleanings as some other mats. The lack of litter on the top layer also stops your cat from tracking as much litter from the mat to the floor.
The biggest con is that there are a lot of holes where clumped litter can collect, so this one isn’t our top choice for cats that pee on their litter mats.
What We Liked:
- Collects more litter than most other mats, keeping your floors cleaner
- Two-layer mat contains litter well
- Easy to dump litter without spills
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can’t be vacuumed
- Difficult to clean between holes
#4 Most Comfortable on Paws: CatGuru Litter Mat
If your cat likes soft things, they might appreciate the CatGuru litter mat, which is very similar to a large bath mat. Its plushness might also be comfortable for senior cats with arthritis. If you’re looking for a mat you can vacuum, though, you’ll want to avoid this one.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Compared to the others on this list, the CatGuru hides more of the litter mess between its raised fabric. It was easy to shake the litter back into the litter box, and the mat is machine washable which makes for easy cleaning. It’s aesthetically pleasing, with five colors available when ordering from Amazon and a nice, neutral gray available from Chewy. There are also several sizes to choose from.
The only problem I had with it personally was a bit of fear from my cats. They’re always wary of similar items on the floor, such as blankets or towels, but they did quickly warm up to the mat once they learned that nothing was hiding beneath it.
What We Liked:
- Soft and plush mat
- Machine washable
- Absorbent and waterproof
What We Didn’t Like:
- Cannot be vacuumed
#5 Easiest to Clean: PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Litter Mat
It’s clear that a lot of thought was put into the design of the PetFusion ToughGrip litter mat, including how to make it as easy to clean as possible. It’s made of silicone, and there aren’t any tiny crevices where clumped litter can gather. It even has a side spout to help you pour clean litter back into the box, so all you need is a quick shake and a simple wipe down if the mat is still dirty after the litter has been removed.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
While the raised edge and waterproof material are good for trapping liquids, some reviewers say that cat pee escapes from the side spout, making it unsuitable for cats that pee on their litter mats. If you prefer to vacuum your mats clean, the edge makes it difficult. However, my vacuum’s hose attachment worked perfectly for a quick clean up.
What We Liked:
- Easy to dump litter or vacuum with hose attachment
- Easy to wipe or scrub when needed
- Raised edges help to keep potty accidents contained
What We Didn’t Like:
- Urine might leak from the side spout if the mat is peed on
- Not easy to vacuum without attachments
#6 Easiest to Vacuum: iPrimio Premium Dog & Cat Litter Mat
The iPrimio’s soft, mesh material traps litter and holds onto it well. The plus side is that this stops litter from being tracked around the house. However, it also makes the mat difficult to shake off.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
If you’re someone who prefers to vacuum their litter mat, this one will be perfect for you. The litter comes off easily with a quick vacuum and the mat stays in place well without bunching up.
However, urine runs right off the mat and onto the floor, making it unsuitable for cats that tend to pee on litter mats.
The mat came with creases from shipping, but placing it in the dryer as instructed made it lie flat. Some reviewers have reported the backing of the mat sticking to walls or flooring and leaving residue behind, though I didn’t notice this problem myself.
What We Liked:
- Material traps litter well
- Easy to vacuum
- Soft on your cat’s feet
What We Didn’t Like:
- Holds onto litter when shaken clean
- Does not contain urine
- Some reviewers say the back leaves behind residue on walls or floors
#7 Best Basic Litter Mat: Drymate Premium Debossed Paw Cat Litter Trapping Mat
If you’re looking for a basic rug-style litter mat that will blend in with your home decor, this Drymate litter mat may work for you. It traps litter decently well and vacuums easily if your vacuum has a hard floor setting. For me, the carpet setting made the litter bounce and scatter, creating a bigger mess.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The mat can also be shaken clean, but not all of the litter comes off this way. Another flaw with this product is that many reviewers report damage to the waterproof backing after machine washing. Although I like the paw print design sold on Chewy, you can also find 21 other color options on Amazon.
What We Liked:
- Simple design with many color options
- Vacuums well using hard floor setting
- Easy to sweep
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some litter clings to mat when shaken
- Not machine washable
- Doesn’t trap litter as well as other mats
#8 Best for Large Litter Boxes: iPrimio Large Cat Litter Trapper Mat
This iPrimio mat has a similar style to the Blackhole litter mat we discussed above with a few variations. The first is that this mat is quite a bit larger, making it suitable for large cats and litter boxes.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The second difference is that, while the Blackhole mat is attached on two sides, the iPrimio’s double layers are only joined on one side. This makes it easy to flip open to wipe down the inside, but also makes it easier to spill litter when trying to pour it back into the box.
Like the Blackhole litter mat, the iPrimio is easy to clean so long as it stays dry. However, the small holes can make cleaning clumped litter difficult.
What We Liked:
- Two-layer design traps litter from your cat’s paws
- Easy to flip top open and clean bottom layer
- Easy to clean dry litter from the mat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Design makes litter more likely to spill during cleaning
- Holes might trap clumped litter
#9 Best Value: Catit Cat Litter Mat
For pet owners seeking an efficient yet budget-friendly solution to litter scatter, the Catit Cat Litter Mat stands out. Its generous size (40” x 25”) offers extensive coverage to contain mess.
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
The Catit performed well during testing, trapping litter without allowing moisture to seep through to the floor. I found it easy to vacuum all three litter types.
What We Liked:
- Super affordable
- Large size for better coverage
- Easy to clean
What We Didn’t Like:
- Material may unravel if your cat scratches it
- Some cats don’t like the feel of the material
#10 Best for Large Litter Boxes: The Original Gorilla Grip Litter Mat
Available in Jumbo sizes, this mat could work for folks with oversized litter boxes or multiple boxes. It features durable PVC fiber coils and deep grooves to capture stray litter. A textured backing helps keep the mat securely in place.
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Liz Coleman / Cats.com
While it does a fantastic job trapping dry particles, cleaning can become tricky if clumped litter gets stuck in the coils.
What We Liked:
- Suitable for big boxes or multiple litter boxes
- Water-resistant
- Textured backing prevents sliding
- It comes in several colors, including gray, pink, green, and light blue
What We Didn’t Like:
- It’s challenging to clean when litter gets stuck in the coils
- Harder to vacuum
- May not catch pellet litter as effectively
How to Choose the Best Cat Litter Mat
With a wide variety of products on the market, not all litter mats work equally. Which one is best for you will depend on your situation, but here are some things to consider before purchasing:
Size
First, you’ll want to measure the area around your litter box to determine how big of a litter mat you’d like to have. Larger mats will catch more litter, but can also look unsightly and won’t fit in everyone’s space. You want the mat to be at least as long as your litter box. Your cat should also be able to stand on it with all four paws.
Waterproofing
We highly recommend looking for a waterproof litter mat. It’s helpful for those cats that tend to poop or pee over the side of the box. Even cats that use the litter box perfectly will commonly go just outside of it when they’re not feeling well, so it’s a good backup plan for your floors. You’ll also want to look for mats that are either absorbent or have a raised edge to prevent urine from spilling off.
Durability
A good litter mat is made of durable materials that hold up to cat scratches. It should also be easy to clean if it gets dirty and shouldn’t hold onto smells.
Comfort
Lastly, look for a litter mat that’s comfortable to walk on. Cats might avoid the litter box if the mat hurts or feels weird on their paws. Keep your cat’s preferences in mind here. For instance, most of my cats love soft surfaces, but one won’t touch fuzzy blankets and similar items. Despite seeming comfortable, a plush litter mat would likely cause him to avoid the box.