The best eco cat litter trays for your feline friend

Shop more sustainably with these litter trays made from recycled materials.

eco cat litter trays

by Ruby Barry |
Updated on

We've got a list of the best eco cat litter trays, separated into biodegradable and recycled material trays. After all, we must buy a lot of stuff for our pets: food to cat litter. You name it, we've probably got it in our cupboards at home. As we look forward to a more sustainable future, what does that mean for our pets? How can we be more eco-friendly to make the planet a better place, not only for us but for animals too? That's where eco cat litter trays come in.

The trick to being sustainable is buying items that are either biodegradable or that are made from recycled materials. Although you would never think about it, litter trays use up copious amounts of plastic. As well as this, when you eventually throw away your cat or kitten litter tray if it reeks of urine, that's more non-biodegradable clutter in landfills across the UK.

We know it's hard to be 100 per cent eco-friendly 24/7, so little tricks like this can help you save the planet - your way. If you're not a fan of self-cleaning litter trays, an eco-friendly litter option is a great alternative to normal ones and functions the exact same way. Even if you've still got a plastic litter tray to hand - why not place a disposable litter tray inside it as a liner, making clean-up easier?

Best eco cat litter trays at a glance

Best eco-disposable litter box: EcoPetBox Disposable Cat Litter Tray - View on Amazon UK
Best recycled eco cat litter tray: Rosewood Eco-Line Litter Tray with Rim in Blue/Black - View on eBay
Best luxury eco litter tray: CURVER Cat Toilet House - View on Amazon UK

We've ensured our top picks look nice too, because who wants a nasty-looking litter tray? Only the stuff inside it should be nasty. Thank you to our cats for that one. On with the round-up...

Best eco cat litter trays 2024

Best eco-disposable litter box

These EcoPetBox disposable litter tray packs range from a three-pack (£10.99) all the way to a 40-pack (£71.49), so you can truly customise how many you'll need. Made from 100 per cent biodegradable liquid-proof recycled paper, they are light and easy to store. However, EcoPetBox's main selling point is "that changing the box is quick, easy, and much more hygienic, which reduces the risk of diseases spreading. There is no need to wash, disinfect and store used trays anymore."

Customer Review: "No one enjoys cleaning and changing kitty litter, but for me, these make an unenjoyable job a lot easier. These are pretty decent. I have a plastic liner underneath the actual tray and line them with biodegradable tray liners. If I don't change them in a week, they do get a little moist on the bottom but nothing alarming. I change them every seven to ten days. There's no leakage. I have two finicky older cats, and I think they quite like them. I certainly find them a lot easier as I just throw them in the biodegradable waste. They are definitely less stinky, and I'm quite conscientious about scooping at least two times daily. I've certainly noticed a difference between these boxes and the plastic ones. On the whole, I do recommend them. They are also a lot quicker to change over as you don't have to wash and wipe them down. I've also noticed they don't seem to get as mucky either."

Pros

  • Buying in bulk saves you money in the long run
  • Less chance of diseases lingering around your trays

Cons

  • It is not entirely clear how long these trays can last; reviews vary vastly on how much durability they have
Size:44 x 34 x 12 cm
Durability:Reviews state that one EcoPetBox litter tray can last from 10 days to 5 months (even after washing)

Best recycled eco cat litter tray

Rosewood Eco Line Litter Tray w/Rim Slate Blue/Blackamazon

Two awesome points about the Rosewood Eco-Line Litter Tray with Rim in Blue/Black. Firstly, it's made of 100 per cent recycled plastic "including empty shampoo bottles and food containers" made from the "equivalent of 20 x 1L bottles". Secondly, if you want to eventually throw it away it's 100 per cent recyclable, so you can chuck it in your recycling bin. Win-win. If you would prefer this tray with a lid, Rosewood sells the same Eco-Line product, which is below.

Customer Review: "Have two 6-month-old kittens who can really make living with them indoors unpleasant. This tray is brilliant it's sturdy, easy to clean, looks good and best of all keeps a lot of odours from escaping. The kittens love too and don't chuck litter everywhere bonus!"

Pros

  • Last much longer, around the span of a normal litter tray
  • Made from recycled bottles - and is recyclable

Cons

  • The bottom of the tray is not entirely flat so you may need to scrape clumps out of some nooks
Size:48 x 38 x 14 cm
Durability:Unspecified

Best eco litter tray with a hood

If your cat is constantly purring about sustainability, why not treat them to this Rosewood Eco Hooded Cat Toilet in Blue, which is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles? It has a deep base and large cat flap that comes with a replaceable carbon filter to control odour and a carrying handle makes it easy to move too. Sounds ideal. Plus, with the hood, your precious cat can be treated to the privacy it deserves. What more could you ask from a cat toilet?

Customer Review: "I wasn’t sure my two cats would use this because it’s enclosed, but they love it. It helps to keep the odours down and it’s nice not to see what’s in it. It is big but there’s plenty of room. One cat is quite large and he is fine in there."

Pros

  • Eco-friendly and trendy
  • Light to carry

Cons

  • Support the base when carrying
Size:41 x 38 x 57 cm
Durability:Unspecified.

Best bio-hybrid eco cat litter tray

Beco Pets Cat Litter Tray, Neutraljohn lewis & partners

Created from a bio-hybrid material that includes bamboo and cornstarch, Beco has truly made a revolutionary litter tray. By using these plant-based materials, Beco reduces the use of petroleum plastic in the product by 30 per cent. The Beco Pets Cat Litter Tray in Neutral comes with an attachable kickback hood, meaning less litter on the floor to step on in the morning while you make a cup of tea. It can be easily cleaned with soapy water, and the bamboo makes sure the structure of the tray is strong and durable.

Customer Review: "Fairly expensive for a litter tray but as this is made out of bamboo and not plastic, I'm more than happy to pay the extra. This is a good size litter tray, it's very sturdy and looks like a little speedboat. Very cute and my cats seem to like it too."

Pros

  • The design is super modern and chic
  • Kickback hood is effective in stopping litter spraying out

Cons

  • The design may not suit every cat
Size:16.5 x 40 x 51 cm
Durability:Unspecified.

Best luxury eco cat litter tray

CURVER Cat Toilet House (Litter Scoop and Floor Mat Included)amazon
Price: £146.89

Who knew a cat litter tray could be so fashionable? This CURVER Cat Toilet House (aka fancy litter tray) comes in black, brown or white and is made of 95 per cent recycled material. "Produced in Europe in partnership with the WFO association (Waste Free Ocean), the material used comes from plastics recovered during the cleaning of the oceans." The toilet house includes a scoop holder, charcoal filter section, removable slide tray, and floor mat too.

Customer Review: "This litterbox is by a wide margin the best I have used. It does a fantastic job of preventing the spread of litter, there is only a small amount that gets caught in my cat's feet but even that is reduced by the addition of the shelf inside and can be almost eliminated with the use of a litter tray mat. Cleaning it is incredibly easy due to the slide-out tray and even my particularly fussy cat has no problems using it. With regards to odour, the fact the litter tray is covered and includes a filter means that any odour is severely limited, and I rarely notice a smell. An all-around excellent tray that I would happily recommend."

Pros

  • It looks extra fancy and isn't an eyesore in your living space
  • The compartments mean you can store your scoop out of sight
  • Litter Scoop and Floor Mat Included

Cons

  • This tray is a little smaller than other trays, so may not be suitable for bigger cats
  • The bottom of the tray is not entirely flat so you may need to scrap clumps out of some nooks
Size:51 x 38.5 x 39.5 cm
Durability:Unspecified

Eco cat litter and accessories

Best recycled litter scoop

Made from recycled plastic, Tippaws' Litter Scoop is the talk of the cat community. Designed to make removing clumps from litter trays as easy as pie, this crafty tool has a large scooping area to make cleaning easy. Plus, the ideal-sized holes ensure maximum non-soiled cat litter returns to the tray, reducing waste. It's easy to clean, too. We're obsessed.

Customer Review: "I love the recycled ocean plastic scoop - it’s a lovely colour but also works really well with the Tippaws litter. The holes in the scoop are just the right size to sieve the litter and catch the clumps without wasting any clean litter. Also, I love the fact it’s made from recycled plastic. It shows this company are caring for our world and our oceans - not just our cats."

Pros

  • Made from recycled plastic
  • Designed to reduce litter waste

Cons

  • None that we can think of!

Best eco-friendly cat litter

Tried and Tested

Another entry from Tippaws: their Long-Lasting Clumping Litter. Made from plant fibres, this stuff is dust-free and perfect if your cat is notoriously smelly in the toilet department. It is extremely tight clumping and has a patented antibacterial formula, meaning you're not changing the litter as often, which is a relief. Who likes that job?

Customer Review: "I've never used clumping litter before so wasn't sure what to expect. I follow Tippaws on Instagram so I saw a video they posted about one bag lasting a large cat for 36 days. Thought I'd give it a go and it's completely changed my life! That may sound dramatic but I used to change litter trays every couple of days and now I am changing it every month. I would say you do need to know how to maintain the litter properly so worth watching the video on Instagram."

Pros

  • Superior odour control
  • 100% biodegradable and compostable
  • Made from natural ingredients
  • Antibacterial formula

Cons

  • None that we can think of!
Sizes:6, 12, 18 and 24L

VERDICT: Which is the best eco, litter tray for cats?

We chose the Curver Cat Toilet House as the crème de la crème of eco cat litter trays. It ticks all the boxes in terms of being made from recycled materials by a company that has a clear sustainability mandate. In addition, it has so many features that make using a litter tray more comfortable for your cat. You benefit from reduced odour and an easier-to-clean litter box.

FAQs

How long can you use a disposable cat litter box?

A disposable cat litter tray can last between 1-4 weeks. You'll benefit from less odour and no scooping or cleaning the tray. A great idea if you're travelling with your cat.

Can I put normal cat litter in a disposable cat litter box?

Yes, you can use any type of litter, including litter for odour and indoor cat litter. But, you may prefer to use eco-friendly cat litter which can either be made from recycled wood or plant-based materials.

Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Bauer Media Group, specialising in fashion and beauty. She’s owned cats for 25 years, and has over ten years of dog walking and sitting experience. It’s fair to say that she knows a thing or two about pets and how to enrich their lives.

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