This post was updated in July of 2026 to reflect the latest litter mats.
Everyone who owns a cat knows that stepping on cat litter is no pleasant experience. It can be anything from a little ‘Ugh, again?’ in your head to ‘Owww! Dang, that really hurt!’
At the least though it is a huge annoyance to constantly have cat litter all over your house. Litter mats are the first line of defense in stopping litter tracking. If you’re looking for more details on litter tracking, check out this article.
If you’re looking for the best cat litter mat on the market then look no further. I’ve pulled together a compilation of the best mats out there all into one place for your convenience. Several of them have my detailed reviews linked as well, so take a look at those!
it’s the most bought and most reviewed mat in this entire roundup, from a brand name you already trust for basic pet gear, and it delivers the “grabbing” style trapping of pricier mats without the pricier price tag.
Amazon Basics’ own litter trapping mat earns the top spot in this roundup fair and square. It uses a crisscross diamond mesh design with a deep edge border, so it functions like the higher-end “grabbing” style mats we love without carrying an aftermarket brand’s price tag. It’s also, by a wide margin, one of the most bought and best-reviewed mats in this whole list, which tells you plenty of other cat owners have already put it through its paces. If you just want a mat that works without overthinking which “system” is best for your setup, this is the easy call.
This is the one mat here purpose-built with room to slide in an absorbent pad, which most competitors don’t specifically plan for.
iPrimio built its reputation on a two-layer design most other mats only kind of stumbled into — iPrimio actually engineered around it, with enough space between layers to slide in an absorbent pad if urine outside the box is a recurring issue in your house.
That’s a small design choice that makes a real difference if you’ve got a cat prone to accidents near (not always in) the box. It’s held up well over the long haul too, with owners regularly reporting years of hard use without the mat breaking down. If liquid containment specifically is your top concern rather than just tracked litter, this is the pick built for that job.
One word of warning before you make your choice:
This one uses the same fold-and-pour mesh trapping concept as pricier competitors, at one of the lower price points in this whole roundup.
Motsamla’s mat uses the classic “trap it, then pour it back” approach — a mesh-coil top layer designed to let litter fall through and sit there until you’re ready to dump it, rather than tracking across your floor. The brand describes this as an improved, tested redesign over earlier versions, worth knowing if a Motsamla mat let you down before.
It’s made of environmental PVC built to handle daily wear, and at 35″x23″ it covers the ground right outside a standard box. If you want that trap-and-pour concept without paying a premium for it, this is a solid, budget-friendly way to get it.
Need to cover some major ground? At 46″x35″, it’s the largest footprint of any mat on this list, the clear go-to if you need serious ground covered.
If you’ve got multiple litter boxes lined up, or a cat who treats the box like a launch pad, you need a mat with real square footage — and LittleTiger’s XL Super Size mat delivers exactly that. It’s sized to comfortably cover multiple boxes without leaving bare floor exposed on the edges. It’s phthalate-free and designed to hold up to a proper garden-hose rinse when things get messy, not just a light vacuuming. If square footage is your priority over anything fancy in the design, this is the one to grab.
The PetFusion ToughGrip silicone construction owners consistently describe as tough enough to survive years of daily use, and the one mat here you could genuinely put a hose (or in a pinch, a power washer) to.
The ToughGrip breaks from the standard litter-mat playbook a little — instead of loops or mesh designed to grab litter, it’s really more of a flexible, low-profile silicone tray, with raised ridges and an outer lip doing the work of holding litter in. That silicone construction is also what makes it far and away one of the most durable mats on this list — it’s practically impossible for a cat to damage through normal use, and cleanup is as simple as sweeping, vacuuming, or picking the whole thing up and dumping it out.
It even folds in half with a built-in spout, so you can pour clean litter straight back into the box instead of scooping it by hand. If you’ve got a cat who’s rough on mats or you just want something built to last years instead of months, this is the one.
This is the mat that keeps showing up in reviews from people running multiple litter boxes at once, and it tracks with what I’ve personally seen fostering cats myself.
Pawkin has been a mainstay in this category for years, and it uses the same “grab and pull” style as some of the bigger names here, but it’s earned its own loyal following, especially among owners managing more than one litter box at a time. That’s not a coincidence — reviewers running multi-cat and foster households in particular report years of repeated washing, even bleach sanitizing, without the mat falling apart. That tracks with what I saw myself during my own years fostering cats: when litter boxes are getting heavy daily traffic from more than one cat, you need something that can take a beating and keep working, and this is exactly the kind of mat that holds up to that. It’s a small, family-owned business too, which is a nice bonus if that matters to you.
it’s explicitly designed to double as a feeding mat or general household mat too, not just a litter mat, which none of the other picks on this list are built to do.
Garoopion’s silicone mat is a lighter-weight, easy-to-clean option that adds some genuine flexibility most mats on this list don’t bother with. Its raised edges are built to keep water and urine from seeping past the mat’s border, and the silicone material wipes, sweeps, or rinses clean without much effort. What sets it apart from most of the other mats here is that it’s explicitly marketed as multi-use — the same mat that catches litter can double as a feeding mat elsewhere in the house if you ever want to repurpose it. It’s a nice option if you like the idea of buying one mat that can pull double duty.
It’s one of the best-reviewed picks in this entire category, and the sheer number of size and shape options it’s sold in tells you it’s a brand that’s found real staying power with cat owners.
Gorilla Grip might make you think of surfboard wax before cat gear, but don’t let the name throw you — this is one of the best-reviewed litter mats you’ll find, and it’s easy to see why once you look at what it’s actually doing. The deep grooves and mesh surface are genuinely effective at pulling litter off paws, and the non-slip backing does exactly what it promises, staying put instead of bunching up as your cat comes and goes.
It’s also sold in an unusually wide range of sizes and shapes, from extra-small up through jumbo, corner, and half-circle versions, so there’s a real chance you can match this brand specifically to your exact litter box setup instead of settling for a generic rectangle.
It keeps the price low without cutting the basics: trapping grooves, a non-slip waterproof backing, and no unnecessary extras.
Niubya’s mat is exactly what you want if you just need something affordable that gets the job done without a lot of extra bells and whistles. It uses litter-trapping grooves and a non-slip, waterproof backing to handle the basics well, all without a premium price tag attached.
It’s sold in a few different sizes, which is genuinely useful if you’ve got a small setup, but it also means you need to pay attention to make sure you’re actually ordering the larger option if that’s what your litter box needs. Once you’ve got the right size selected, it’s a solid, budget-conscious way to cover the basics.
Its “EZ Open Edge” double-layer design lets you lift the top layer off completely and dump or recycle the trapped litter, which no other mat on this list makes quite this simple.
Waretary’s mat is a standard rectangle rather than a corner-fitting shape, so it’s worth knowing upfront if you specifically need something to tuck into a corner litter box setup. What it brings instead is a genuinely useful “EZ Open Edge” double-layer design, letting you lift the top layer off entirely to dump or recycle whatever litter got trapped underneath, rather than shaking or vacuuming it out.
It’s made of soft, washable EVA material that’s gentle on paws, and it’s phthalate-free with no chemical smell out of the box. If easy disposal matters more to you than a corner-specific shape, it’s a solid, sizable option.
It’s built with a foldable design most of the other mats here don’t offer, which matters if you need to tuck it away or travel with it.
UPSKY’s litter mat trapper covers the budget-friendly, large-format territory well, without asking you to spend much to get there. It’s made of recyclable PVC and built with an anti-slip backing that’s gentle on sensitive paws.
What sets it apart a bit is the foldable design, which makes it easier to store flat or tuck away temporarily than most of the rigid or bulky mats elsewhere on this list. If you need something you can fold up when it’s not in use, or move between spaces occasionally, this is worth a look.
This one skips the “grab and hold” texture most mats use in favor of a softer cushioned surface, specifically so cats won’t avoid or jump over it.
The SmartGrip takes a different approach than most of the mats on this list — instead of loops or mesh designed to grab at litter, it uses a softer, cushioned material with an outer catch channel to stop litter that’s already rolling or bouncing away. The upside of that softer surface is that it’s noticeably easier on paws, which matters if you’ve got a cat who’s picky about texture and tends to avoid or leap over rougher mats.
PetFusion also makes a point of stating they don’t buy incentivized reviews, a small but honest stance worth noting in a category where that’s more common than you’d think. Just know going in that this one’s sold through third-party marketplace listings rather than a standard direct listing, so pricing and availability can be a little less predictable than the other mats here.
Coming in at under two pounds and a thin profile, it’s the easiest mat on this list to pick up, shake out, or move around, which matters most if your litter box lives in a tight space.
PetLike’s mat is the pick for tight spaces on this list. It uses a familiar grooves-and-mesh approach to capture litter from the box and from paws, but it’s built to be genuinely lightweight and thin, which makes it easy to lift, shake out, or shift around a small bathroom or laundry room setup.
It’s also independently lab-tested phthalate- and BPA-free, so you’re not trading safety for the lighter build. If your litter box lives somewhere with limited floor space, this is a sensible, low-bulk option.
The half-circle paw silhouette is purpose-built to sit flush against a wall or the front of a litter box, not just a novelty shape.
DM’s half-circle paw print mat is here for anyone who wants something that looks a little more intentional than a plain rectangle sitting next to the litter box. The half-circle silhouette isn’t just for looks, either — it’s genuinely useful for tucking flush against a wall or the base of a litter box rather than sticking out awkwardly the way a full rectangle sometimes does.
It’s made of durable, water-resistant PVC with a full-bottom slip-free grip, so it holds up to daily use despite the more novelty-leaning shape. If your litter box sits against a wall, that shape ends up doing double duty as both function and decor.
its genuinely compact footprint makes it the go-to on this list for setups where a full-size mat just won’t fit.
This paw-print mat is the compact, decorative-shape option on this list, built for litter boxes that live somewhere too tight for any of the larger mats here. Rather than trying to force a big mat into a small space, it embraces a genuinely small footprint — a single paw-print silhouette rather than a full rectangle. It’s made of the same water-resistant PVC and slip-free grip backing as the half-circle pick above, just in a smaller single-paw shape. If you like the idea of a shaped, decorative mat but need something a little smaller, this is the pick.
Choosing a litter mat is a key part of combating litter tracking throughout your house. The market is flooded with all types of mats and in all honesty there’s a lot of overlap between feature and function. I’d say the key things to keep in mind are:
If you have any other mats you like or tips worth mentioning then please please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Additional References iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper Website, Petfusion Website, PawkinWebsite
If you’ve got a problem with cat litter tracking then you’re just like one of about 36 million other US households that own a cat. It is a rather frustrating problem, particularly when you’re walking around with bare feet and you step right one a bit piece of litter that jabs into the bottom of your foot!
I’ve written another article on cat litter tracking in general, but the cat litter mat is by far one of the most important pieces. The cat litter mat is the first line of defense in stopping litter from getting past the first few feet outside of the litter box. Once it gets past the first few feet you’ll find it everywhere.
There are a wide variety of mats out there and while you could choose one randomly you’ll be far better served by selecting one that’ll fit your specific cat/situation. I chose the top four mats out there and not only are full reviews of each available at links below, but a side by side comparison is available for ease.
Beyond the obvious it traps litter, what other things are important in choosing a cat litter mat? The key things that I like to keep an eye on are:
| Litter Mat | Smiling Paws Cat Litter Mat | Easyology Cat Litter Mat | iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper | Moonshuttle Blackhole Cat Litter Mat |
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| Rating | ||||
| Litter Trap Method | Single Layer Grab | Single Layer Grab | Double Layer Drop | Double Layer Drop |
| Litter Empty Method | Shake & Vacuum | Shake & Vacuum | Pick Up & Pour | Pick Up & Pour |
| Water Proof | Waterproof | No | Waterproof | No** |
| Skid Proof Bottom | Skid Proof Bottom | Skid Proof Bottom | No | No |
| Special Notes | Best overall combination
BPA Free |
Huge variety of colors | Space available for an absorbent pad to catch liquids & minimize spills | Easiest mat to pour out captured litter from |
| CatGenie Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible & Easy to Return Granules | Compatible & Easy to Return Granules |
| Sizes Available |
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| Purchase Options | Show Me The Lowest Price | Show Me The Lowest Price | Show Me The Lowest Price | Show Me The Lowest Price |
| StuffCatsWant Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |
| Material | Commercial Grade BPA Free Vinyl | PVC Plastic | EVA | EVA |
**Moonshuttle indicates the product is waterproof, but numerous consumers have indicated it is not.
Given all the mats available I’ll freely admit that I would personally lean toward either the Smiling Paws Mat or the Blackhole Litter Mat. The key deciding factor for me would be whether or not my cat is a long haired cat or not.
Long haired cats in general tend to get more litter stuck in their hair and thus I would aim for the Smiling Paws mat that has the ‘grabbing’ type system available. Short haired cats on the other hand would typically push me to lean toward the Blackhole Litter Mat instead.
I know there are a ton of mats out there and it can be difficult to see which mat best fits the needs of you and your cats. Hopefully you found this article helpful. I know seeing all of the details in one place helps me come to a decision more quickly and easily.
If you’ve used any of the above mats and have any additional experience or info you’d like to share please comment below or shoot me a note at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article to reflect your thoughts. If you’ve got another mat I should review please also message or email me.
Please do ask me any questions you might have regarding any of the mats!
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
References: Moonshuttle Blackhole Cat Litter Mat Website, Smiling Paws Website, iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper Website, Easyology Cat Litter Mat Website
Product: Smiling Paws Pets Cat Litter Mat
Cheapest Place to Buy: Find the Best Deal
StuffCatsWant Rating: 5 out of 5
This Smiling Paws Pets Cat Litter Mat is a top of the line mat designed to help control litter tracking in the house. Not only does it work like a charm, but it comes with several other benefits that most other mats don’t combine into a single mat. I’ve featured as the top mat in my top 10 best cat litter mats article for exactly this reason.
The mat covers a large surface area and is made of a very durable material that is specifically designed to lightly grab at litter and other “stuff” that might be stuck to your cat’s paws. It does a great job of this and successfully stops the bulk of litter from being tracked all over.
It also doesn’t have a rough feeling to it that will cause a lot of cats to avoid walking on it like many mats do.
Smiling Paws also comes fully equipped with a built in non slip backing AND it is waterproof. So not only will it not slide around, but in case of any accidents it also won’t be letting the urine drain through to the floor. Since you can easily spray it down with a hose or shower head as well it is easy to clean.
CatGenie owners have also indicated that this product successfully captures CatGenie granules and ensures they don’t get far!
Compare Smiling Paws To Other Top Mats
The Smiling Paws Pets Cat Litter Mat is another excellent mat if you’ve got a litter tracking problem at home. The biggest differentiator for this particular product is that it combines all of these features into a single mat: size, no slip backing, waterproof, BPA free & more. The biggest drawback I’ve noted is that it can take some time to vacuum the litter out of the fibers if they’re really suck in there.
If you’ve used the Smiling Paws Pets Cat Litter Mat and have any addition experience or info you’d like to share please comment below or shoot me a note at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article to reflect your thoughts.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
References: Smiling Paws Website
Product: Easyology Cat Litter Mat
Cheapest Place to Buy: Find The Best Deal
StuffCatsWant Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This Easyology Cat Litter Mat is a top of the line mat designed to help control litter tracking in the house. I’ve featured it in my top 10 best cat litter mats article for exactly this reason. If you’ve got a cat or cats that are prone to dragging litter all over the place then you should consider an Easyology mat.
The mat covers a large surface area and is made of a very durable material that is specifically designed to grab at litter and other “stuff” that might be stuck to your cat’s paws. It does a great job of this and successfully stops the bulk of litter from being carted all over.
As an added benefit it is one of the few litter mats out there that comes with a built in non slip backing on it so it won’t slide all over wood or tile floors. Easyology has a ton of different colors to choose from, most other mats only come in black or beige.
I don’t personally have a CatGenie, but numerous people have indicated that this product successfully captures CatGenie granules without any problem. Getting them out is a bit more of a hassle though if you want to put them back into the system.
The Pros:
Do things get stuck in the fibers?
Compare The Easyology Mat To Other Top Mats
The Easyology Cat Litter Mat is another excellent mat if you’ve got a litter tracking problem at home. The biggest differentiator for this particular product is the large size and the fact that it has a built in no slip pad on the back. The biggest drawback is that it isn’t waterproof which may be a deal breaker for many people, especially if you’ve got a cat prone to missing the litter box.
If you’ve used the Easyology Mat and have any addition experience or info you’d like to share please comment below or shoot me a note at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article to reflect your thoughts.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
References: Easyology Cat Litter Mat Website
Product: iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper
Cheapest Place to Buy: Find The Best Deal
StuffCatsWant Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper is a top of the line mat designed to help control litter tracking using a unique two layer design. If you’ve got a cat or cats that are prone to dragging litter all over the place then consider an iPrimio mat. Cats that jump out of the litter box will have a lot of their litter trapped by this mat. I’ve featured it in my top 10 best cat litter mats article for exactly this reason.
If you have a cat that has urine accidents from time to time this model is designed to allow for the insertion of an absorbent pad that can easily soak up urine. The base is also water proof so nothing will leak through onto the floor below.
The mat covers a large surface area and is made of a very durable material called EVA. It is easy to wash with a hose or a shower head, but do note that the edges are not made to reflect water and will absorb it. This means it may take time to dry if you soak it down.
Another item worth noting is that this is not the type of material that is often used to “grab” at litter from the paws of your cat. This means it is nice and smooth and less prone to irritate your cat’s feet ensuring they won’t try to avoid the mat.
The extra large design of the holes also make it a perfect pairing with the CatGenie and since it is easy to dump the granules out of the mat it is easy to retain them.
The Pros:
Are the holes really bigger than other mats?
Compare The iPrimio Mat To Other Top Mats
The iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper is an awesome mat, especially if you’ve got a cat that tends to miss the box with urine or with vomit. The biggest differentiator for this product is that it is completely waterproof on the bottom, so anything that lands on it will not leak through onto your wood/tile/carpet below.
The other major benefit is the holes are larger than that of the Blackhole Mat so even with larger formats of littler you won’t run into problems.
The biggest drawbacks I’ve noted is that similar to the Blackhole Mat in that it is easy to accidentally dump litter all over the place when emptying it and it is on the pricier side.
If you’ve used the iPrimio Mat and have any addition experience or info you’d like to share please comment below or shoot me a note at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article to reflect your thoughts.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
References: iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper Website
Product: Blackhole Cat Litter Mat
Cheapest Place to Buy: Find The Best Deal
StuffCatsWant Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This is hands down one of the best purchases we’ve made for our cats since we got them. I’ve already got an article out there on helping control kitty litter tracking, but I’ll freely admit that this is by far one of the best methods for controlling it. I’ve featured it in my top 10 best cat litter mats article for exactly this reason.
The Blackhole mat has a special design that has two layers, the layer your cat steps on and the layer that the kitty litter falls into and gets trapped in. The two layer design ensures that once litter falls down it doesn’t get kicked back out.

This mat is super easy to pick up and dump trapped litter out of (just be careful since both sides pop open) back into the litter box or into the garbage.
It should also be noted that the mat is made of super easy to clean material. You’ll also be happy to hear this mat can be sprayed off with a shower head or a hose with a little bit of soap and water. Good as new.
I haven’t used a CatGenie, but according to other reviews the Blackhole Litter Mat is 100% compatible with the CatGenie and will have you no longer stepping on plastic granules throughout your house! Wohoo! Added bonus.
The Pros:
Is this compatible with the granules from a CatGenie?
Compare The Blackhole Mat To Other Top Mats
I really can’t say enough good things about this mat. If you’ve got a litter tracking problem then this is definitely your solution. It is super easy to use, super easy to clean up and it comes in at an affordable price for those of you being driven insane by constantly stepping on cat litter.
If you’ve used a Blackhole Mat and have any addition experience or info you’d like to share please comment below or shoot me a note at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article to reflect your thoughts.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
References: Moonshuttle Blackhole Cat Litter Mat Website

While not all cats use litter, the bulk of them certainly do. It is usually the easiest way for us humans to provide a good place for the cats to relieve themselves. But litter can be a pain in the neck. Anyone who has picked up a couple 40+ pound bags of litter can relate.
The biggest hassle though, is litter tracking. You’re walking around on your nice clean floor and ugh…You now have litter stuck all over the bottom of your feet. Gross, and it can be really painful too. Or probably the worst, when you find a streak of something on your table or counter.
Let’s dig into how to stop cat litter tracking for good.
While litter ends up all over your house for multiple reasons, the biggest one is often the litter box itself. The biggest reason is just that the litter box doesn’t contain it when your cat decides to kick litter everywhere.
Most traditional litter boxes only have walls that stand 5 or 6 inches. This means when your kitty tries to bury their business they end up scattering litter all over. Once it is on the floor it will track it all over the place. You’ll want to consider a couple of options to help alleviate this problem:
While a high sided box or a fully enclosed box is the first step, it typically won’t stop litter tracking completely. There are mats that are custom designed to trap litter as your cat exits the litter box. Here are comprehensive reviews of the most well known:
A good mat is imperative. It’ll do way more than any regular rug you can find because of the special design, they are also a heck of a lot easier to empty than your traditional rugs.
That rhymes and you know it rhymes. But in all seriousness, litter itself comes in a bunch of different forms. Your standard clumping litter is the most likely type to stick to your cat and get tracked out of the box.
You might consider switching to another litter. If you do decide to make a switch be sure to read up on switching out your litter gradually. While some cats are fine with a quick switch, most aren’t too happy if you switch litters on them all of a sudden.
While this is probably a last resort, and should be handled by a professional unless you have a super relaxed cat, you can get the fur between your cats paw pads shortened up. With long haired cats especially, this can be one of the biggest reasons that litter gets stuck to their feet. Shortening the hair up a bit can help keep the litter sticking to a minimum.

All of these methods will inch you toward a tracking free household, but very likely you’ll still get a few little bits here and there outside the litter box.
If you’ve got wood or tile floors keep a broom and a dustpan nearby and sweep the area on a consistent basis.
If a broom won’t work consider a dust buster. My wife and I have The Shark and it does a great job not only for litter, but also for cat hair as well. The more you confine the mess the less it’ll get out and about!
Changing the Game CompletelyNow there is one other option available for those of you that wish transcend us mere mortals that still use litter on a daily basis. Cats, especially younger cats, can be trained to actually use the toilet. I have never even attempted this method, but you can find details on such methods in a couple of different places:
You really shouldn’t attempt this if your cat is older or if they might have any injuries because it can make it way too difficult for the cat to get up onto the toilet. This is also noted as a long and arduous process, so it isn’t for the faint of heart. One last thing to keep in mind, in general cats don’t flush, so you might constantly be finding stuff in your toilet….
If you have any other thoughts on how to stop cat litter tracking then please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.