The Disposable Litter Box - Cat Info Detective

The Disposable Litter Box

Skye Blake-updated, white background

Hi fellow travelin’ felines! Skye Blake here with info about a great travel helper… the disposable litter box.

Anybody who takes a trip knows there isn’t much space in just about any type of transportation they take.

paw prints coming in from a distance

So, when a cat is out traveling how does one carry a litter box, among all the other necessary supplies?

The information here is for general knowledge… always see your vet with questions about your cat’s individual needs.

Who Is Skye Blake?

Skye Blake-updated, white background

Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not a veterinarian) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, studies their information, then passes it on to you! 

Sometimes there’s not enough evidence for easy answers, so Skye gives you all sides, explains the situation as thoroughly and clearly as possible, and links you to experts on each page.

Sources are at the bottom of each page so you can do more snooping.

The Traveling Litter Box

British Airways airplane; disposable litter box

Luckily some creative, clever people have been working on ways to help with the problem of traveling with a litter box.

So far, they’ve invented two options… collapsible and disposable boxes, each having their own pros and cons.

We explore collapsible boxes at “The Collapsible Litter Box“.

automobile on a winding highway; disposable litter box

For now, let’s see what disposable boxes can do for the travelin’ cat…

Let’s start by reviewing what we cats need and what humans need from litter boxes while traveling together.

There are many different types of trips and modes of transportation available, so both may need different litter box setups for different trips.

Siamese cat held by person getting chin scratched

For example, traveling for weeks or months in a recreational vehicle (RV) requires sturdier litter boxes, while moving cross-country and being in a car for a couple days needs something portable or disposable.

If your cat’s not going to be using the great outdoors for her litter box, you should plan ahead and decide if taking your regular box makes sense or if it’s better to take at least one collapsible and/or some disposable boxes.

disposing of cat litter; disposable litter box

Whatever you decide, be sure to keep the same litter your cat likes to use. Introducing new letter while on a trip could be disastrous!

If you have to use something different, ease your cat into it for a few weeks at home before your trip.

Some people recommend liners, but they often are a problem since your cat’s sharp claws can easily poke holes and/or shred them, making them useless for containing the mess.

Mother cat and 3 kittens; disposable litter box

Don’t forget extra litter and a scoop!

Disposable litter boxes are handy for various needs, such as traveling or short-term fostering situations.

They come as rectangles or triangles (for corners).

Be sure they’re big enough for your cat to comfortably dig, turn around, and cover waste.

What Cats Want

calico cat on back
  • A quiet place to go in safe territory
  • A box where he can stand up, turn around and cover his business (1 1/2 times the size of your cat)
  • The same litter he uses at home

What People Want

man biking with cat on shoulders; disposable litter box
  • A convenient litter box setup for easy disposal of waste
  • Portability – easy to pack and carry
  • Easy to clean or just throw away

Pros & Cons of Disposable Litter Boxes

clump of green litter in scoop

Pros

  • Most are biodegradable, made from pressed paper and cardboard
  • Plastic boxes don’t leak and come in nesting packs so the top one can be thrown away with a clean one available underneath
  • Lightweight
trash bag or litter liner
  • Some come with litter as a pack, giving you convenience of having it all together
  • Many come in different sizes
  • Usually made of nylon or other materials that are easy to clean

Cons

kittens in a carrier
  • Some can leak if left wet for a period of time
  • Some can be shredded from claws scratching the bottom
  • Plastic boxes aren’t biodegradable
  • Most are open boxes with no option to zip close, so litter must be kept separate until needed

List of Disposable Litter Boxes

automobile - convertible on a lane; disposable litter box

Here’s an example of a disposable litter box… Kitty Sift Disposable Sifting Litter Box

Products and brands mentioned on this page are for your convenience and information only… I make no money from them.

cat watching other cat in litter box

Curious about other types of litter boxes, litter, and accessories? Check out “Supplies For Cats“.

If you’re having problems with a cat peeing or pooping outside the litter box, take a look at “Behavior” to find out what might be causing this and how to fix it.


Sources

Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.

Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.

Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.

Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.

However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.

When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.

List of Sources

Disclosure

I make a small commission on some of the sources listed below if you choose to purchase them from here.

Some products listed link to companies that sell them, whether or not I make any money.

“16 Stand-Out Cat Litter Box Furniture Options to Fit Your Style”, The Dog People

77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat“, by Susan M. Ewing, Fox Chapel Publishers International, Ltd., 2018

A-K

The Best Kind of Litter Box for Longhaired Cats“, by Jet Perreault, Petful, Dec 5, 2014

Cat Speak“, by Bash Dibra with Elizabeth Randolph, New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., New York, NY, 2003

The Cat Whisperer“, by Mieshelle Nagelschneider, Bantam Books, The Random House Publishing Group, New York, NY, 2013, www.bantamdell.com

Cat Wise“, Pam Johnson-Bennett, Penguin Books, an imprint of Random House LLC, New York, NY, 2016

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting & Owning a Cat“, by Sheila Webster Boneham, PhD, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., New York, NY, 2005

Decoding Your Cat” by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, editors: Meghan E. Herron, DVM, DACVB; Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, DACVB; Carlo Siracusa, DVM, PhD, DACVB, DECAWBM, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, New York, NY, 2020

L-Z

“Litter Box Happiness for Cats of All Ages”, Dr. Sophia Yin, CattleDog Publishing, January 25, 2017

“Litter Box Solutions for Aging Cats”, Litter Robot

“Litter Training”, Kitten Lady

“The Special Needs of the Senior Cat”, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Feline Health Center

Total Cat Mojo” by Jackson Galaxy with Mikel Delgado, PhD, Tarcher Perigree, Penguin Random House, LLC, New York, NY, 2017

Think Like a Cat, How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat – Not a Sour Puss“, by Pam Johnson-Bennett, Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Penguin Books, Penguin Group (USA) Inc, New York, NY, 2000, 2011

“What’s the Best Litter Box for Senior Cats”, FitSeer.com

“What Your Cat Wants”, by Francesca Riccomini, Thunder Bay Press, Octopus Publishing Group, San Diego, CA, 2012, www.thunderbaybooks.com

Product Sources

Amazon

Chewy

Hauspanther

Petco

PetSmart

Updated July 15, 2023

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