- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
Cats love a clean litter box. Vets recommend scooping once a day to encourage good litter box habits. A good cat litter, the right box, and the right scooper can make all the difference to the cat, and to you—the person who has to keep the whole thing tidy. That’s why we dug in to come up with a list of the best cat litter scoopers for quick, effective cleanups of your kitty’s box.
The trick, as we discovered, is to find a scooper that’s designed to work best with the cat litter you use. Tough metal and plastic cat litter scoopers work fine with just about any type of litter. Lightweight plastic litter scoopers are best suited for lightweight, non-clumping cat litters (such as sand, paper, wheat, corn, nutshells, or silica beads). And if you use plastic liners in your cat’s litter box, you’ll find a scooper on our list that’s specially designed to avoid damaging the liner.
While lightweight plastic scoopers are slightly less expensive than metal ones, make sure to pay attention to the quality of the plastic handle. We’ve selected the cat litter scoopers with really comfortable grips so you won’t end up with marks from plastic handles digging into your palm.
Handles are important when it comes to metal scoopers and heavier-duty plastic ones that can handle clumping litters as well. Be picky. Read the reviews. And read on for our picks of the best cat litter scoopers that will get the job done right.
The Best Cat Litter Scoopers
iPrimio Cat Litter Sifter
Designed and tested by cat owners, the iPrimio cat litter scooper (also sold as Purple Pet iPrimio Scoop Monster) has a non-stick coating and a 13-inch solid-core ergonomic handle. The squared shape of the sifter is the best at getting into the corners of rectangular or square litter boxes. At my house, we like the stick-on wall hanger that comes with it—just hang the scooper up next to the box. This tool is 12 inches long and 5 inches wide and works well with both large and small litter boxes.
Shop on ChewySand Dipper Jr. Adjustable Cat Litter Scooper
The Sand Dipper folks think outside of the box—or at least a good distance away from it. The extendable pole-style handle of this cat litter scooper keeps you 29 to 41 inches away from the litter box while digging in. It’s ideal for pet parents who want to avoid litter dust or odor. Simply adjust the handle to the length you like and lock that in place. This one’s best for cleaning clumping and fine-grained litters. There’s also a 29-inch, non-adjustable version available.
Shop on ChewyDurAnimals DuraScoop Original
Referred to by one satisfied buyer as “a monster scoop,” this 13.25-inch-long scooper is best for taking on clumping cat litter. It’s one piece of cast aluminum, with the handle coated for comfort. It gets some great ratings, though a few folks say they wish there was a small version easier to maneuver in a small litter box. The sifter bucket is 5.5 inches wide, and the scoopers come in a variety of bright colors (chosen randomly).
Shop on ChewySunGrow Non-Stick Cat Litter Scoop
This aluminum number with a comfort-grip handle is priced about the same as a plastic cat litter scooper—making it a great choice for just about any type of litter (except for bulky pellets). It’s plenty large, at 14 inches long and 5.5 inches wide, and firm metal runs the entire length of the handle.
Shop on ChewyPetFusion QuickScoop Litter Scoop
This strong plastic scooper is one of the best for handling even heavy clumps of clay-based cat litter. Unlike the curved sifting baskets on many other scoopers, this has a flat, sharp front edge designed to get underneath waste. It also has a comfortable, easy-to-grip handle. It’s 13 inches long, 4 3/4 inches wide, and comes with a convenient stick-on hanger.
Shop on ChewyPurple Pet Power Grip Cat Litter Scooper
This is one of the best cat litter scoopers—it’s a longer version of the iPrimio scooper listed above. This model claims to be three times stronger and easier on your hands and features a longer (17-inch) handle with a special (right-handed) grip that’s powered by the palm of your hand rather than wrist strength. Some people love it, others prefer the regular version of this ultra-sturdy scoop. It comes with a solid stick-on holder so you can hang the sifter up right next to the box.
Shop on AmazonNature’s Miracle Just For Cats Litter Scoop and Caddy
A lot of good design went into this excellent plastic scooper, which works best for non-clumping cat litters. It comes with a container, so you aren’t dropping debris all over the floor, and—best of all—the container attaches to the side of most litter boxes. Convenient! It’s very affordable and very popular. The anti-microbial coating on the set makes it easy to keep everything clean. It’s 11 inches long and 6.4 inches wide.
Shop on ChewyPetmate Curvations Litter Scoop
Fans of this affordable-yet-durable plastic-resin cat litter scooper praise its comfortable handle with a hole for hanging on a nearby hook. It’s 13 inches long with a 5-inch-wide sifter.
Shop on ChewyCatit Litter Scoop for Silica Bead Litter
This large scooper is best for silica-bead cat litter—the distinctive round holes are designed for it. The scoop is 12.5 inches long and has a wide (6.5 inch) front edge—that’s big! Buyers say that it also works well with pellet litters.
Shop on ChewyPetmate No-Tear Scoop
This cat litter scooper will help you avoid damaging plastic liners, thanks to its rubber front edge. It’s great for lifting solid waste out of pellet or non-clumping sandy litters. The rubber edge is not a good choice if you have to remove sticky clumping litter, however. It measures 13.25 inches long and 5.5 inches wide at the front.
Shop on ChewyFurther Reading
- Take a Deep Breath—We’ve Found the Best Odor-Reducing Cat Litter
- When Your Cats Are in It Together: The 10 Best Cat Litters for Multiple Cats
- Come Clean With These Dust-Free Cat Litters
Featured image via Chewy