Ad: This guide contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you’re replacing a scratched plastic litter tray, stainless steel is worth a look. The practical choice is between a plain pan you can wash in one piece, a metal base with a high surround, and a covered box with more parts to clean.
Our starting pick is the FURRYPAWS XL if you want an open top and a removable splash guard. Choose the ikitchen plain pan for the simplest construction, or the Poncotsen covered box if your cat already uses a hood happily. Check the usable size and entrance before buying: a metal tray that is too small is still the wrong tray.
Research-led recommendations; not hands-on tested. Selected UK listings checked on 1 October 2026. Dimensions below are seller-stated overall measurements, not measured internal space.
Which stainless-steel litter tray should you buy?
Open top with a splash guard: FURRYPAWS XL
The sensible first comparison if you want a steel base without a full hood. Listed at 58 × 38 × 28 cm; the removable surround gives more side containment than a bare pan. The selected XL grey listing is the No Mat option.
Check its cleaning benefits and limitations
Plain metal pan: ikitchen
No hood or detachable upper surround to wash. Listed at approximately 50 × 35 × 15 cm. Choose it only if that footprint fits your cat; the continuous rim has no lowered entrance.
Read the size and entry-height checks
Covered with a side-opening lid: Poncotsen XXL
For a cat that already prefers a hood. The selected deep-grey box measures 58 × 38 × 38 cm overall and has a lid advertised to open sideways through 100°. Allow clearance beside it for cleaning.
Stainless steel vs plastic: what is worth paying for?
The reason to switch is the washable metal base. A plain pan has fewer joints to dismantle, while a removable surround can help contain litter kicked against the sides. A hood changes access and privacy. These are useful differences you can choose around; none makes the box maintenance-free.
| Your priority | What to choose and check |
|---|---|
| Fewer parts to wash | A plain steel pan. Check its rim height and usable floor space. |
| Open access with higher sides | A steel base with a removable surround. Inspect the joint and wash both pieces. |
| A covered setup | A hood your cat accepts. Check cleaning clearance, entrance and internal headroom. |
| Easy entry for a cat that struggles to step over a rim | Prioritise a genuinely low entrance. None of these listings gives enough evidence for us to call it a universal mobility-friendly pick. |
Ignore promises such as “odour-free”, “scratchproof” or “lasts forever” when comparing listings. We have not verified those performance claims. Litter, waste and dirty joints can still smell, and clumps can still need soaking or scraping. Steel also does not make a tray antibacterial or replace scooping.
If your current plastic tray is intact, roomy and easy to clean, you do not need to replace it just to buy a different material. If cleaning the worn base is the recurring frustration, compare a steel pan before paying for an elaborate covered system.
FURRYPAWS XL: our starting pick for an open setup
This is the model to compare first when you want a steel litter bed and higher sides while keeping the top open. Scooping does not require opening a hood, and the upper splash guard comes off for washing. The listing describes an overlapping joint between the surround and base; check that area when cleaning rather than treating it as a sealed one-piece pan.
The selected grey XL version is listed at 58 × 38 × 28 cm. Those figures include the surround. They do not tell you the internal length at litter level or the height your cat must step over. The seller’s cat-weight claim is not a substitute for those measurements.
Buy it if: you want an open top with more side containment than a plain pan. Choose differently if: your main priority is a tray with no detachable joint, or your cat needs a confirmed low entrance.
The mat is an optional bundle, not included in our selected No Mat link. A higher surround can intercept litter kicked sideways, but it cannot stop litter carried out on paws or every high spray. Do not pay for an accessory bundle unless you need it.
ikitchen plain pan: the simplest steel option
The ikitchen pan is a straightforward alternative to boxes with a plastic surround or hood: a rectangular steel tray with a continuous rounded rim and rubber pads beneath its corners. If your aim is fewer pieces to take apart and rinse, this is the design to look at.
Its listing gives both 19.5 × 13.5 × 6 inches and a rounded metric size of 50 × 35 × 15 cm. Those are approximately equivalent, rather than precision internal measurements. It is smaller overall than the two 58 cm models above. Avoid buying it simply because the title says “large”.
Buy it if: its usable space fits your cat and a continuous rim is comfortable to step over. Skip it if: your cat needs a bigger toilet, a lowered entry or more protection against litter thrown over the sides.
The seller advertises rounded edges and non-slip pads. Check the delivered rim and stability before filling it. We have not tested its finish or slip resistance, and a 15 cm wall is not automatically an easy entrance for a kitten or an older cat.
Poncotsen XXL: for a cat that already likes a hood
The reason to consider this covered box is access for you. Its side-hinged lid is advertised to open through 100°, exposing the width of the tray for scooping and refilling. That can be a useful arrangement if lifting off a whole hood is awkward in your current setup.
The selected variant is Deep Grey, XXL – Horizontal Entry Door, listed at 58 × 38 × 38 cm. It has the same stated length and width as the FURRYPAWS XL; the extra height does not mean more floor space. Check the entrance, usable headroom and the space needed to open the lid beside a wall.
Buy it if: your cat already uses a covered tray comfortably and the side-opening lid suits your cleaning space. Choose the open FURRYPAWS instead if: you want easy overhead access without adding a hood.
This is a steel-base covered system, not a promise that every component is metal. It also has an advertised activated-carbon filter. Check replacement availability before ordering, and keep washing the hood and joints: a filter is not a substitute for removing waste. We have not measured its odour control or leak resistance.
Three checks before you order
1. Measure the space your cat can actually use
Catsan’s sizing guide suggests a tray around one and a half times your cat’s nose-to-tail-base length. A cat measuring 40 cm on that basis points towards around 60 cm of tray length. The shortlisted 50–58 cm overall lengths should not be assumed to meet that guideline: internal dimensions will be smaller.
Ask the seller for the internal floor measurements if they are missing. For a long cat or Maine Coon, compare our large litter tray guide and measure first. “XL”, “XXL” and capacity in litres are not standard fit guarantees.
2. Check the entrance and the joints
High sides and a low entrance solve different problems. Check the step-over height, not just the wall height. With a detachable surround, inspect how the upper section overlaps the base and whether you can reach the seam to wash it. With a hood, include opening clearance in your floor-space measurement.
3. Compare the selected version at checkout
These listings have size, colour or bundle choices. Confirm that the tray shown matches the version described here. Read recent reviews for the selected configuration, and check the seller’s return conditions before relying on a trial at home. A rating shared across several variants does not establish how this exact one performs.
How to clean a stainless-steel litter tray
Scoop waste regularly and wash the base, rim and any detachable parts. Cats Protection advises removing deposits twice daily and completely washing the tray at least weekly; covered trays may need more frequent full cleaning. Use the instructions supplied with your tray to check compatible cleaners.
For ordinary washing, start with hot, soapy water, rinse thoroughly and dry before refilling. A steel-tray maker, Fussy Cat, recommends mild unscented soap and warns against chlorine, bleach and abrasive cleaners for its products. Do not assume advice for one steel finish applies to every tray. Avoid mixing cleaning products.
If clumps stick, empty the pan and soften the residue with water before cleaning according to its instructions. Buying steel does not guarantee that your existing litter releases perfectly. Inspect for rough edges, damage or staining rather than assuming metal cannot deteriorate.
FAQs
Do stainless-steel litter trays stop smells?
They still need scooping and washing. Sellers promote steel as a non-porous cleaning surface, but the litter, waste, hood and joints remain possible sources of odour. We have not independently tested whether these models smell less than an equivalent clean plastic tray.
Is a stainless-steel litter box better for an older cat?
Material matters less than easy access. Cats Protection recommends low-sided trays for older cats or cats with mobility difficulties. Do not choose one of these models on a “suitable for seniors” listing claim without checking the entrance your cat must cross.
Will a metal tray be noisy?
Scratching against metal can sound different from scratching plastic. We have not measured these trays’ noise levels. If your cat is wary of changes, keep the familiar tray available while introducing the new one and keep the litter type familiar.
Do I need liners in a steel tray?
A washable pan does not require a liner for normal use. Cats Protection advises against plastic liners because some cats find them off-putting. If easier cleaning is your reason for buying steel, first try the intended scoop-and-wash routine.
Can one XL tray serve several cats?
Capacity does not replace enough toilets. Cats Protection recommends one tray per cat plus an extra, distributed around the home. Budget for the number you need before choosing a more expensive material.
Ready to choose?
Start with FURRYPAWS XL for an open steel base with a splash guard. Pick ikitchen for fewer parts, provided its smaller footprint fits. Pick Poncotsen for a covered arrangement with side-opening cleaning access. Compare current prices after checking those fit requirements.
How we selected these trays
We compared current UK listings for plain pans, open high-sided designs and covered boxes, then shortlisted three distinct cleaning arrangements. We rejected the smaller ICOYEA pan as an adult-cat default because its listed footprint is only about 40 × 30 cm. The Vivifying option we checked was another high-sided design, so it did not add a plain-pan choice.
Recommendations are based on documented construction, access and seller-stated dimensions. We have not handled these trays or tested their durability, noise, leakage or odour control. Product links take you to the selected Amazon listings to check price, version and availability. Cat-care advice is linked above to Cats Protection and Catsan; the cleaning example is linked to Fussy Cat.
Leave a Reply