Cat Tray for Litter Box: Pans, Disposable Trays and Catch Mats

📅 Last updated: October 18, 2026

The best cat tray for a litter box depends on which tray you mean, so the short answer is to match the tray type to the job. For a plain, cheap, scoopable pan, the Petmate Basic Open Plastic Cat Litter Pan is the simplest pick. For a tray that doubles as a spill catcher, the Garoopion Silicone Cat Litter Mat in the 40 by 28 inch size is the roomiest option we found. If you run a PetSafe ScoopFree self-cleaning box, the PetSafe ScoopFree Disposable Crystal Cat Litter Tray is the matching refill, and the COSPARX Stainless Steel Reusable Litter Tray is the reusable alternative.

Shoppers searching for a “cat tray for litter box” usually mean one of three things: a replacement litter pan (the tray itself), a disposable or reusable tray that slots into a self-cleaning system, or a waterproof tray that sits under the box and catches scatter and drips. This guide covers all three, because the word “tray” is used for each of them and mixing them up is the most common buying mistake. Every product named below was found in the current product store, and every spec comes from the product listing. Where a spec is not stated there, we write “not listed”.

Idymere Stainless Steel High Sided Cat Litter Box | Sturdy Metal, Reduces Odor, Cat Litter Non-stick and Easy to Clean, Ideal for Indoor Cats, Kittens and Multi-cat Houses

Included for 'Cat Tray for Litter Box: Pans, Disposable Trays and Catch Mats' because the listing specifies Sturdy Metal and Reduces Odor, details this guide uses to compare options.

View on Amazon →

Kitty Sift Disposable Cat Litter Box Large, 6 Count, Durable Portable for Travel and Home, Eco-Friendly Disposable Litter Box Controls Odor

Included for 'Cat Tray for Litter Box: Pans, Disposable Trays and Catch Mats' because the listing specifies 6 Count and Durable Portable for Travel and Home, details this guide uses to compare options.

View on Amazon →

Jacooxi Cat Litter Mat for Litter Box, Silicone Large Cat Litter Trapping Mat - 34x22 in, Waterproof & Non-Slip, Durable & Easy Clean, Gray

Included for 'Cat Tray for Litter Box: Pans, Disposable Trays and Catch Mats' because the listing specifies Silicone Large Cat Litter Trapping Mat and 34x22 in, details this guide uses to compare options.

View on Amazon →

Petmate Open Cat Litter Box, Blue Mesa and Mouse Grey, Medium | Simple Open Top Litter Pan for Easy Cleaning, 1 Pack, Made in USA

Included for 'Cat Tray for Litter Box: Pans, Disposable Trays and Catch Mats' because the listing specifies Blue Mesa and Mouse Grey and Medium, details this guide uses to compare options.

View on Amazon →

Top Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall (simple pan): Petmate Basic Open Plastic Cat Litter Pan, because it does one job with no moving parts.
• Best Disposable Refill: PetSafe ScoopFree Disposable Crystal Cat Litter Tray, for owners of a ScoopFree self-cleaning box.
• Best Reusable Tray: COSPARX Stainless Steel Reusable Litter Tray, a metal swap for the disposable ScoopFree tray.
• Best for Travel and Guests: Kitty Sift Disposable Cat Litter Box Large, a six-count pack of throwaway boxes.
• Best Catch Tray (large): Garoopion Silicone Cat Litter Mat, 40 by 28 inches, for big boxes and messy diggers.
• Best Catch Tray (compact): Bulkniu Silicone Cat Litter Mat, 24 by 16 inches, for tight corners.

Comparison Table

See also: Double Litter Box Furniture for Two Cats: Sizes, Splits and 6 Picks • Big Litter Tray for Cats: Open Trays by Footprint and Wall Height

1. Petmate Basic Open Plastic Cat Litter Pan: Best Overall Simple Tray

• Size: 14 x 10.5 x 3.5 inches (listed as Small)
• Design: open top, plastic, multidirectional shape
• Cleaning: listed as easy to clean
• Weight and material grade: not listed

Best for: kittens, very small adult cats, a spare pan for a sick-day setup, or anyone who wants the plainest possible tray. Skip if: your cat weighs more than a small adult; 14 inches of length is shorter than most adult cats stretched out.

A pan this size is the baseline every other tray in this guide is measured against. The 3.5 inch wall height is low, which helps small and elderly cats step in, but it also means a digging cat will fling litter over the rim. A common rule from veterinary behavior sources is that a litter box should be about one and a half times the length of the cat from nose to base of tail; by that rule a 14 inch pan suits a cat that measures roughly nine to ten inches, which describes a kitten more than an adult. The listing names other sizes, so check the size line before buying.

The open-top design means no lid to clean and no trapped smell for you to ignore, but also no odor containment. Pair it with a silicone catch tray (picks 5 and 6) if the floor around it matters. Because the pan is so cheap, many owners keep a second one as a spare and rotate them on wash day.

Pros: very low cost tier; easy to wash in a tub; low sides suit kittens and seniors; nothing to break. Cons: small footprint; no splash protection; plastic can hold scratches that trap odor over time.

2. PetSafe ScoopFree Disposable Crystal Cat Litter Tray: Best Disposable Refill

• Format: three-pack of disposable trays
• Litter: crystal, described as no-scoop in the listing
• Scent: fresh (a lavender version is also sold as a separate refill listing)
• Compatibility: made for the ScoopFree self-cleaning system; other boxes not listed

Best for: households that already own a ScoopFree box and want the lowest-effort routine. Skip if: you have a standard pan, because this tray is not meant to be used on its own.

In this system the tray is the litter and the pan in one. A rake in the self-cleaning box moves waste into a covered section, and you swap the whole tray when the maker says it is time. The practical gain is that you never scoop, never dump a box, and never handle loose litter. The practical cost is that the supply is fixed to one brand, so you pay per tray for as long as you own the box. The maker publishes a recommended change interval that depends on how many cats use the box; read that interval on the packaging instead of guessing.

Crystal litter is a very different texture from clay. Some cats accept it right away, others dislike it under their paws. If you are switching, keep a small pan of the old litter nearby for a week and watch whether your cat still uses the new tray. A cat that starts going outside the box is telling you something; talk to your veterinarian if it persists, since litter box avoidance can also be a sign of a medical issue.

Pros: no scooping; no loose litter handling; tidy swaps; three-pack gives you weeks of use. Cons: locked to one system; recurring cost; crystal texture is not for every cat.

3. COSPARX Stainless Steel Reusable Litter Tray: Best Reusable Tray

• Material: stainless steel
• Use: reusable; listed as compatible with PetSafe ScoopFree self-cleaning boxes
• Litter: you choose and add it (not included)
• Dimensions and weight: not listed in the short title; check the full listing

Best for: ScoopFree owners who dislike paying for disposable trays and are happy to wash a tray instead. Skip if: you want a zero-effort routine; a reusable tray means rinsing and refilling.

The appeal of stainless steel is that it does not absorb urine odor the way scratched plastic can, and it survives a hot-water scrub. For a self-cleaning box that was designed around a throwaway tray, a reusable one shifts the cost from refills to your own time. It also lets you use a litter your cat already likes, which can solve the crystal-texture problem noted above, as long as the box’s raking mechanism handles that litter type. That last point is the one to confirm with the maker before you buy: a self-cleaning rake is designed around specific litter, and the wrong one can jam it.

Wash it with mild unscented soap, rinse well, and dry fully before refilling; strong fragrances can put a cat off. Metal also feels cooler underfoot in winter, which some cats notice.

Pros: reusable; metal does not hold odor like worn plastic; your choice of litter. Cons: compatibility limited to the listed system; manual cleaning; litter compatibility with the rake needs checking.

4. Kitty Sift Disposable Cat Litter Box Large: Best for Travel and Guests

• Pack size: six boxes
• Size: described as Large; exact inches not listed in the short title
• Design: disposable, described as durable and portable for travel and home
• Material: described as eco-friendly in the listing; composition not listed

Best for: road trips, hotel stays, houseguests with cats, post-surgery recovery rooms, or a one-off move. Skip if: you want a daily box for a cat that scratches hard at the floor of the pan.

Disposable boxes earn their place in the rare situations where washing a pan is impractical. A cat in a carrier-sized recovery space still needs a clean spot, and a throwaway box means the last one goes in the bin instead of the bathtub. For travel, the flat-packed shape saves space in a bag. Six boxes in a pack gives you about a week of daily changes for one cat, or a month of occasional use.

The trade-off is strength. A thin disposable pan will not survive a determined digger for long, and a wet box can sag when lifted, so slide it onto a rigid surface such as a baking sheet or a silicone tray (picks 5 and 6) before carrying it. Do not flush litter or pan material; throw it in the trash.

Pros: no cleanup of the pan itself; light and portable; handy for guests and recovery. Cons: not built for daily long-term use; wet boxes need support when moved; creates waste.

5. Garoopion Silicone Cat Litter Mat, 40 x 28 in: Best Large Catch Tray

• Size: 40 x 28 inches (a 34 x 22 inch version is also listed)
• Material: silicone
• Design: raised edges; listed as easy to clean; available in gray and black
• Thickness and weight: not listed

Best for: large or covered boxes, cats that kick litter in every direction, and owners who want a waterproof barrier on hardwood or vinyl. Skip if: your bathroom floor cannot spare a surface larger than a standard bath mat.

This is the “tray” in the sense of a shallow catch-all under the box. The raised edge turns the mat into a shallow basin, so urine from a missed shot or a splash stays on the silicone rather than reaching the floor. At 40 by 28 inches it fits under most large pans with room to spare on the exit side, which is where most scatter lands. Silicone does not soak up liquid, so a rinse in the shower and a wipe dry restores it.

A bigger mat also changes how litter behaves. Because the surface is smooth, loose granules slide to the edge instead of being ground into the floor, and you can tip the mat to pour them back into a dustpan. Place the box so the entry side faces the longest part of the mat; that is where the cat steps out and sheds litter from its paws.

Pros: large coverage; waterproof; rinses clean; two colors listed. Cons: large footprint; smooth silicone can slide on some floors unless the underside is textured (check the listing); can curl at corners when new.

6. Bulkniu Silicone Cat Litter Mat, 24 x 16 in: Best Compact Catch Tray

• Size: 24 x 16 inches
• Material: silicone, with a raised edge
• Design: waterproof; described as litter trapping and recycling
• Non-slip claim: listing text is cut off; confirm on the full page

Best for: small bathrooms, laundry closets, and small pans like the Petmate in pick 1. Skip if: you use a large or high-sided box, since the mat will barely extend past it.

Compact catch trays are for people who want some protection without rearranging a room. At 24 by 16 inches, it sits just beyond a mid-size pan and catches the first few inches of tracked litter. It is also a convenient tray for a food and water set, so the same product can double as a feeding mat in a studio apartment. It does not replace a larger exit mat, but it costs less and fits where nothing else will.

If you only buy one mat, size it to the box: the mat should extend at least a cat length beyond the entry. A mat that ends at the box edge catches almost nothing.

Pros: fits tight spaces; budget tier; waterproof silicone; easy rinse. Cons: limited coverage; not suited to big boxes; grip not confirmed in the short listing.

Also Consider

• Jacooxi Cat Litter Mat, 34 x 22 in: a mid-size silicone mat described as waterproof and non-slip. A good in-between if 40 x 28 is too large and 24 x 16 too small.
• ZOMISIA Cat Litter Box Liners Large, 20 count: 37 x 18 inch drawstring liners for lining a standard pan so cleanup is a pull-and-tie job. Check the pan’s size before buying.
• Jonny Cat Litter Box Liners Heavy Duty, Jumbo, 15 count: a thicker liner marketed as tear and leak resistant. Some cats claw liners, which can bunch up under the litter, so watch the first few days.

How We Chose

This guide is research-based. We did not personally use these products. We searched the current product store for litter trays, disposable boxes, reusable trays, and catch mats; read the listing details for size, material, and compatibility; and cross-checked the sizing guidance against general veterinary behavior advice on litter box size. We looked for products from established brands where possible, favored listings with clearly stated dimensions, and left out anything where size or compatibility could not be confirmed. Where a spec is not in the listing, the article says “not listed”. Price tiers are general ranges, not quotes. Always check the maker’s current page before buying, because sizes and compatible models change.

Buying Guide

Decide which “tray” you actually need

Write down the problem first. If your current box is cracked, stained, or too small, you need a replacement pan (pick 1 or a larger pan from a dedicated guide). If you own a self-cleaning box that takes a tray, you need a matching tray (picks 2 or 3). If the floor is the problem, you need a catch tray (picks 5 or 6). Buying the wrong category is the main reason people return these items.

Size the pan to the cat, not the room

A frequently quoted guideline is a box about 1.5 times the cat’s body length, measured from nose to the base of the tail. A cat that measures 18 inches wants a pan around 27 inches long. The 14 inch Petmate suits a cat up to roughly nine inches, so it is a kitten or travel pan. Adult cats usually need a pan in the 22 to 30 inch range. Height matters too: sides around 3 to 4 inches are easy for seniors, while 6 to 10 inches contain spray from cats that stand and dig.

Match the catch tray to the box footprint

For the mat to work, it should extend roughly one cat length (about 18 inches) past the entry. A 40 x 28 inch mat under a 20 x 15 inch box leaves 10 inches of border on each long side and plenty of runway. A 24 x 16 inch mat under the same box leaves almost nothing, so use it only with a pan of 18 inches or less.

Think about recurring cost and effort

A disposable tray system trades money for time. As a worked example, if a pack of three trays lasts a one-cat household a few weeks per tray, the yearly tray count is easy to estimate from the maker’s change interval; multiply by the pack price on the day you buy. A reusable steel tray removes that line item but adds a weekly rinse. Neither is wrong; pick the one you will actually keep doing.

Check material and smell

Plastic is light and cheap, but scratches hold odor. Stainless steel resists absorbing urine and survives hot water. Silicone mats rinse clean but can trap dust in the surface texture. If a pan has an odor after a thorough wash with unscented soap, replace it; do not mask the smell with strong fragrance, which many cats dislike.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying a disposable crystal tray for a box that is not designed for it.
• Putting a small mat under a large box and expecting scatter to stay put.
• Using strong-smelling cleaners; cats may avoid a box that smells of citrus or perfume.
• Switching litter type and tray type in the same week, which makes it hard to see what the cat dislikes.
• Ignoring sudden changes in litter habits. Talk to your veterinarian if your cat starts avoiding the tray, strains, or passes urine more often.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cat tray for a litter box?

It usually means either a shallow litter pan, a tray that slots into a self-cleaning litter box, or a waterproof tray under the box that catches spills and scatter. Check which one a product is before you buy.

Can I use a disposable tray in any litter box?

No. Trays like the PetSafe ScoopFree Disposable Crystal Cat Litter Tray are made for the matching self-cleaning box. A freestanding disposable box such as the Kitty Sift pack works on its own on the floor.

Are silicone litter mats safe for cats?

Silicone is a common pet-product material and the listings describe these mats as waterproof and easy to clean, but the listings do not give a safety certification. If your cat chews non-food items, watch it and ask your veterinarian before leaving any mat within reach.

How big should a litter mat be?

Aim for a mat that extends about one cat length past the entry of the box. For most adult cats that means at least 34 x 22 inches under a standard pan, or 40 x 28 inches under a large box.

How often should I replace a plastic litter pan?

Replace it when scratches, cracks, or odor remain after a thorough wash. Many owners do this once every year or two, though no single rule fits every cat and every litter.

Do stainless steel trays keep odor down better than plastic?

Metal does not absorb urine the way scratched plastic can, so it is easier to keep fresh. It still needs regular scooping and washing, and it does not remove odor on its own.

My cat stopped using the tray. What should I do?

Check cleanliness, litter type, and box placement first, then call your veterinarian, since litter avoidance can be linked to health problems.

Which One Should You Buy?

Choose by situation. A kitten or a spare box: the Petmate Basic pan. A ScoopFree household that wants no work: the PetSafe disposable trays. The same household that wants to reduce refills: the COSPARX reusable tray. A trip or a recovering cat: the Kitty Sift six-pack. A messy digger in a roomy space: the 40 x 28 inch Garoopion mat. A small bathroom: the Bulkniu mat. If you are unsure, start with a simple pan plus a mid-size mat; both are low cost, and neither locks you into a system.

Sources

• Petmate product page and listing details
• PetSafe ScoopFree product and refill information
• Kitty Sift, COSPARX, Garoopion and Bulkniu product listings
• American Association of Feline Practitioners litter box guidance
• Cornell Feline Health Center litter box articles

Last updated: October 2026

Related Reviews & Guides

Cat Litter Boxes

Best Self Cleaning Litter Box for Multiple Cats in 2026

Cat Litter Boxes

Auto Cleaning Litter Box: Best Picks by Running Cost and Upkeep

Cat Litter Boxes

Big Litter Tray for Cats: Open Trays by Footprint and Wall Height

Cat Litter Boxes

Double Litter Box Furniture for Two Cats: Sizes, Splits and 6 Picks

You May Also Like

Best Self Cleaning Litter Box for Multiple Cats in 2026Double Litter Box Furniture for Two Cats: Sizes, Splits and 6 PicksAutomatic Kitty Litter Box: Open-Top vs Globe vs Rake Designs