Six Easy Ways to Stop Cat Litter From Going Everywhere

What is the solution to stop cat litter from going everywhere? Cat litter goes everywhere because the litter sticks to the cat’s fur and paws, after the cat has used the litter box.

To make matters worse, some cats kick and fling litter everywhere.

So much sticking, kicking, and flinging! No wonder we have problems with it!

It’s no fun stepping in cat litter, especially with bare feet! It’s not quite as bad as stepping on Lego blocks, but it’s up there!

Six Ways To Stop Cat Litter From Going Everywhere

Table of Contents
1. Use A Decent Litter Mat To Stop Litter In Its Tracks
2. Is The Litter Box Working As It Should To Stop The Spread Of Litter?
3. How To Reduce Litter Tracking With A Cardboard Box. Huh? Read more…
4. Choice of Litter – Some are Low Tracking
5. Invest In A Robust Vacuum Cleaner
6. Grooming
7. Toilet Train The Cat

1.Use A Decent Litter Mat To Stop Litter In Its Tracks

A litter mat sounds like an obvious solution to stop litter spreading, and it is, but there are different types of litter mats.

Ask yourself these questions about the current litter mat you are using.

Is the litter mat you are using large enough?

Does it cover enough surface area to really do a good job?

Does it actually stop the litter and trap the litter?

Unless you are only protecting the surface of the floor from the litter box, most of the litter mat should be in front of and to the sides of the box and not underneath it.

Some litter mats don’t really stop the spread of litter. You need the best litter mat.

This is also true of the Welcome door mats we have at the front door of our home.

Some work well, don’t they? Others just don’t. The one I have at the moment is pretty to look at, but not really doing a great job.

The litter mats shown below all have one thing in common. They are effective at trapping litter because they have been designed to solve the “cat getting litter everywhere” problem.

These mats are called litter trappers because there are two layers which actually trap the litter. The top layer has a honeycomb structure for the litter to fall through.

To empty the mat, pick up the mat and empty the litter back into the litter box. Voila! If any litter gets lodged in the top layer, the mat can be rinsed.

This litter mat is also lightweight, some litter mats are really heavy.

It is also worth running the vacuum over the litter mat when vacuuming in the general area.

This simple change to using a bigger and better litter mat can make a big difference with litter spread.

The incredibly popular Pieviev Litter Mat below comes in two sizes, the largest being 30″ x 24″, which is large.

Here are some other cat litter trappers.

2. Is The Litter Box Working To Stop The Spread Of Litter?

Whatever type of litter box you have, always go for the biggest litter box that will comfortably fit in the space you have. Yes, that will mean the box will take more litter but go for a good budget option to solve this problem.

Is the litter box you are currently using, an open top litter box? Think about a covered litter box or a top entry litter box to help stop litter spreading.

A top entry litter box is the best box to reduce litter tracking.

Is a top entry litter box, it the best choice for your cat?

Top entry litter boxes are not suitable for kittens and may not be suitable for senior cats.

Many of the top entry boxes have a textured surface on the top designed for the litter to stay on top of the box. Not 100% guaranteed to work, some cats cut out the middleman and fly out of the box without even touching the textured top of the litter box.

You may not think you need a giant litter box, and you don’t want to be tripping over the litter box, however, research shows that larger litter boxes are definitely better for kitty and definitely better for stopping the spread of litter.

Consider the space you have and whether a bigger box could be an option.

A larger litter box will mean less litter on the floor.

If your cat is large, there is a good chance that litter is going to be difficult to contain.

The problem may be that the litter box is too small. This article is about litter boxes for large kitties.

If your cat hasn’t used a covered litter box or a top entry litter box before, the cat may need some transition time to adjust to the new litter box.

Leave the old litter box in place for some time, so that the cat has time to adjust to the new box.

3. How To reduce Litter Tracking With A Cardboard Box

A cardboard box can help contain the litter with very little extra effort and no cost.

Wait a minute! I may have to order something online to get another cardboard box – just kidding!

This is a handy tip that doesn’t involve buying a new litter box or anything else and it works brilliantly well.

Often, the litter box we already have is quite adequate. Even if something better comes along, it just isn’t always practical or economical to keep updating. Did I say that?

What to do with the cardboard box?

Using your current litter box, place a larger cardboard box over the litter box. Leave the front open or cut a large front opening if necessary for the cat to enter and exit.

Alternatively, leave the base, the sides, and the back of the cardboard box. Cut away the top of the box and the front. Experiment to see what works best for you.

This actually makes an enclosed litter box.

You will need to source the right size cardboard box. We know how much cats like boxes so it will work like a charm.

This will help contain the litter with very little extra effort and no cost.

4.Choose A low tracking Cat Litter

Choosing the right litter can make a big difference in reducing litter tracking.

Some litters stick to a cat’s paws and fur, leading to litter being tracked throughout the house.

To get rid of this problem, consider using a low tracking litter that has larger particles. It will be less likely to stick.

Some examples of low tracking litter include wood pellet litter, paper based litter, or crystal litter.

Wood Pellet Cat Litter

Crystal Cat Litter

Paper Cat Litter

5. Invest In A Robust Vacuum Cleaner For Cat Litter Spread

Not all vacuum cleaners are created equal however, there are vacuum cleaners that do specifically target pet hair.

Choose a vacuum that is going to do the job of picking up cat litter and cat hair.

This article covers choosing a pet vacuum cleaner, a handheld vacuum or a carpet sweeper, and explains the functions of the different appliances.

A TIP: Sweep the litter into a corner before you vacuum.
It saves time.
Aren’t we all about saving time?

Do we like vacuuming? Ho hum! There are ways to make the chore easier.

Yes, Mr Dyson I’m talking to you. I’ll admit, I’m a convert. It’s a piece of cake to whip around vacuuming cat litter and cat hair.

Done daily or thereabouts 😂, it is not so much of a chore.

I do not have a robot vacuum, but friends who have, speak glowingly of them.

Borrowing one if possible before purchasing, would be useful to see if it would work in your situation.

6. Grooming

If your cat likes to groom itself after using the litter box, a designated area with a mat or towel, may help reduce the litter going too much further. This can help prevent litter from being tracked around the house.

Most cats will not require the following advice, however if you have a long haired breed, the hair between the toes, on the cat’s paws, may need to be trimmed on occasion. The hair can become excessively long and trap litter. It should then be done sparingly and with a pair of rounded end scissors.

This is not a practice that is generally advised because the tufts are there to cushion and protect the paws from the ground.

Some cats with luxurious paws can find the excess hair on their paws irritating and may lick at the area or try to pull out tufts.

If you suspect this may be a problem, get specialist advice from a vet or groomer.

7.Toilet Train The Cat – No more Litter

OK, this is somewhat controversial and I have only included this idea for those cat owners who really want to try this method.

I have not done this and have no desire to do this, however I would welcome any comments from cat owners who have done this successfully, or tried and kitty wouldn’t cooperate.

I direct you to this article that gives good advice if this is the path you choose to follow.

Low Tracking Cat Litter

Last update on 2026-01-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API