Keep Your Litter Box Tidy With One Of Our Favorite 11 Cat Litter Scoops (2024)

Our Top Picks

Our favorite cat litter scoop is durable, easy to use, easy to clean, and, most important, effective at removing waste from a wide range of cat litters. The DurAnimals DuraScoop Original Cat Litter Scoop is made from a single piece of rust-proof aluminum, so there’s no risk of the handle snapping off during use. Not only does this make day-to-day scooping easier—it will never bend, no matter how deep you scoop—but it also means that the DuraScoop will serve you well for years.

The soft, comfortable, ergonomic non-slip, phthalate-free grip includes a thumb stop and finger grooves.That powerful grip helps you scoop efficiently, without added wrist or arm strain. The wide, sifting scoop also makes it more efficient, since you can comb through a broad swathe of your litter box all at once. This makes the DurAnimals litter scoop especially fantastic for multi-cat households.The difference compared to most litter scoops is substantial. However, the broad, deep scoop also means that wielding the DurAnimals can take a little extra muscle to sift through deep piles of litter.

The smooth aluminum construction also makes the DuraScoop easy to wash, and we’ve found that banging it against the side of your litter box a couple of times is usually enough to knock stuck-on litter off of the scoop. We also like that the handle has a little loop at the base, which makes it easy to store the scoop on a hook or nail next to your cat’s litter box.

The DurAnimals DuraScoop Original Cat Litter Scoop is available in blue, pink, and green.

_{Materials: Hand-polished cast aluminum, rubberized grip | Sift Width: 5.5 inches | Length: 13.25 inches}

If you have just one cat or a small litter box, the inexpensive Van Ness Regular Litter Scoop may be all you need. This basic scoop is made from high-impact plastic, which makes it sturdier than most cheap scoops. It also has surprisingly beefy dimensions for its budget price point, with a five-inch sifting surface and an 11-inch overall length. It’s easy to wash with a little soap and water too. The handle has a hole so you can hang it up when you’re done.

A giant version of this budget litter scoop is also available.

_{Materials: High-impact plastic | Sift Width: 5 inches | Length: 11 inches}

Metal litter scoops are strong and are not made out of petroleum-based plastic, but our favorite, the Petmate Metal Litter Scoop, also has a soft, pliable rubber grip that’s easy to hold.

A layer of chromium oxide in the metal prevents corrosion, and it won’t break when you need to really dig in the corners. The main downside of this metal scoop when compared to our Best Overall scoop—the DurAnimals DuraScoop Original Cat Litter Scoop—is that its metal construction doesn’t extend fully into the handle, which introduces a little flexibility that reduces your scooping leverage.

_{Materials: Die-cast aluminum and thermoplastic rubber | Sift Width: 5.5 inches | Length: 13 inches}

The iPrimio Cat Litter Scooper is made from aluminum but also has a nonstick coating, similar to what you’d find on a skillet (the manufacturer even suggests spraying it with cooking spray occasionally). This ensures that stuck-on cat waste shakes off easily. The iPrimio nonstick scooper also has a broad and deep sifting shovel, providing comparable performance to our Best Overall pick.

_{Materials: Aluminum scoop, foam handle | Sift Width: 5 inches | Length: 13.25 inches}

A longer handle means less bending and stooping, which is especially useful if you have a bad back or related issues. The Petmate Ultimate Litter Scoop has a soft rubber grip, with grooves in the palm and a thumb depression to prevent slipping. It has a nice angle to the design, so the scoop can be used in a more upright position. It also features a scalloped edge, which is nice for sifting through litter but has the downside of occasionally breaking apart clumped litter.

_{Materials: Molded plastic scoop, rubber grip | Sift Width: 6 inches | Length: 17.5 inches}

If you have arthritis or other hand or wrist issues, you might appreciate this scoop with a unique design. Unlike most other scoopers, this one is nearly flat instead of more like a shovel, with peaked “blades” on the face. It’s designed to sift itself, letting litter fall through so you don’t have to shake it back and forth, saving your hand, wrist and shoulders from that added weight and motion. Of course, this more open design also means that smaller pieces of waste may remain behind in your box.

The durable plastic construction is easy to clean. The pointed corners of the scoop can also be used for strong scraping of heavier messes. Although it’s offered in several assorted colors, the color sent to you is a random selection if you order online.

_{Materials: Plastic | Sift Width: 5 inches | Length: 14 inches}

Not all scoops work well with pellet litters. If the slats are too narrow, the clean pellets won’t fall through during sifting, and you’ll inadvertently toss clean litter. The PetFusion QuickScoop has wide enough slats for pellet litters but will also do a serviceable job with standard clumping cat litters. It’s made of ABS plastic, which is stronger than standard polypropylene cat litter scoops. The front edge is flat, thin, and sharp for efficient scraping, especially in the corners. The shovel is designed with high sides, so you’ll lose less waste while sifting. It also has a comfortable, ergonomic grip.

If you like the PetFusion QuickScoop, check out PetFusion’s Universal Litter Scoop Holder, which uses silicone bristles to scrape off sticky litter.

_{Materials: ABS plastic scoop, rubber-coated handle | Sift Width: 4.8 inches | Length: 13.2 inches}

With foam padding at the top of the handle and the ability to extend the reach to help you scoop from a more convenient distance, the Yangbaga Metal Cat Litter Scoop is made for comfort. The length of the handle is simple to adjust from 16.4 to 32.8 inches—which is almost three feet.

This scoop is made of durable stainless steel and the shovel has a depth of two inches along with an ample five-inch sifting surface. There is plenty of room to accommodate heavy-duty scooping, but the strength of the handle diminishes as it gets longer. We recommend scooping and dropping into the trash more frequently to prevent overloading the Yangbaga Metal Litter scoop.

^{Materials:Stainless steel, foam padded handle |Sift Width:5.2 inches |Length: Handle extends up to 32.8 inches}

I wish all scoops came with their own matching holder. That’s because a holder means a dirty scoop never touches another surface. That’s ideal in any scenario but especially if you have young children.

Designed with a clip on the back, the So Phresh Litter Scoop can rest on a level surface or hang on the side of most litter boxes. A few feisty kitties have confused the unit as a toy, but it’s otherwise stable and sturdy.

The So Phresh Scoop and Holder comes only in gray, but it’s a nice neutral color that’s good at blending in.

_{Materials: Plastic | Sift Width: 5 inches | Length: Handle is 12 inches}

The Sprinkle & Sweep Litter Box Scooper makes scooping out those litter box clumps quicker and easier. It has durable steel tines and a wide sifting width of 6.5 inches to help you effortlessly separate the clumps and leave the litter where it belongs.

This scooper also helps keep clumps intact while minimizing the level of dust emitted. The overall scooping experience is straightforward which helps to extend the use duration of the litter.But the space between the tines is relatively wider than other scoops and it allows for smaller pieces of clumps and kitty poop to fall back into the box.

The handle is made of durable beech wood, and unlike other scoopers, this one has a docking port for you to place the scooper in when done.

^{Materials:Steel, wood |Sift Width:6.5 inches |Length: 11 inches}

A scoop holder gives you a place to store your litter scoop that’s out of sight and not touching other surfaces in your house, preventing the spread of microbes from your cat’s waste. The Bawuie Universal Cat Litter Scoop Holder is large enough to hold even very large scoops (though it may tip over more easily when storing heavy metal scoops). The removable plastic liner makes this a cinch to clean.

_{Materials: Plastic | Sift Width: Not applicable | Length: 8.5 x 6 x 3.5 inches}

Final Verdict

We like the DurAnimals DuraScoop Original Cat Litter Scoop because of its sturdy, rust-proof aluminum construction. It’s durable enough that you’ll be using it for years to come, with a wide shovel that’s especially effective at scraping the corners. If you’re looking for the most basic effective scoop available, check out the Van Ness Regular Litter Scoop instead.

FAQ

• How often should you scoop cat litter?

  “On average, you should scoop twice daily. But more often may be needed for certain cats to ensure they use the litter box consistently—and not your sofa!” Nagelschneider tells The Spruce Pets. “It’s also very important to replace the litter entirely every 30 days. Silica litters and other litters that do not clump where you can remove the urine out each day leaves a dirty box for your cat. Imagine using a toilet that has not been flushed for 30 days.”

• How do you scoop cat litter?

  “Take the litter scoop in one hand and dig into the litter and under the stool or urine-clumped litter.Shake the scooper a bit to shake off loose litter, and throw away the discards,” says Nagelschneider. “Be sure to maintain a litter level by adding more litter a few times a week. About 4 inches is generally the best depth for cats.”

• Why can’t you scoop cat litter while pregnant?

  Cat feces can contain the common single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis, an infection that is asymptomatic in most human carriers but can also present as flu-like symptoms or, in severe cases, cause brain, eye, and organ damage. Since toxoplasmosis can be congenital—transmitted from mother to child—the Centers for Disease Control advises that pregnant people "avoid changing cat litter if possible."

  If you must change cat litter while pregnant, the CDC advises that you wear disposable gloves and wash your hands afterward.

• How do you clean a cat litter scoop?

  Always check cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer first.

  “I recommend soaking the scooper in a diluted bleach-and-water solution; then use a scrub brush designated just for the litter box and litter scoop,” says Nagelschneider.

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