Suhaco Low Entry Litter Box Review: The $54 Fix
A Suhaco low entry litter box review covering the 3 inch entry, 23.6 by 15.7 inch footprint, high sides for digging and why entry height matters more than any feature.
An eight centimetre entry on a 23 inch box, which solves the most common cause of accidents in old cats.
The verdict: The most common reason an old cat starts urinating outside the box is that getting into the box hurts, and a low entry pan with high sides elsewhere fixes that for fifty four dollars. Buy it if your cat is stiff, hesitates at the box, or has started having accidents beside it. Skip it only if you have already ruled out a medical cause with your vet, because urinating outside the box is a medical sign at least as often as a mechanical one.
Suhaco Low Entry Litter Box for Senior Cats, extra large with high sides
~$54
An extra large open top litter box measuring 23.6 by 15.7 by 6.3 inches with a low 8 centimetre entry, anti splash pedals and a smooth wipe clean surface.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Dimensions | 23.6 inches long by 15.7 wide by 6.3 high |
|---|---|
| Entry height | 8 centimetres, roughly 3 inches |
| Design | Open top for airflow, high sides elsewhere |
| Litter control | Anti splash pedals to reduce scatter |
| Cleaning | Smooth wipe clean surface |
Specifications above come from Suhaco's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Three inches of entry height is the number that matters, and it is low enough for a cat who can no longer step over a standard box wall.
- High sides everywhere except the entry means a cat can still dig and cover without spraying litter across the room, which is the usual compromise low boxes force.
- Twenty three inches long is genuinely large. Cats prefer boxes considerably bigger than most on sale, and a big box is used more willingly.
- Open top rather than covered, which suits older cats who want to see what is around them and which vents ammonia rather than concentrating it.
Where it falls short
- A low entry means more litter tracked out, so a mat is not optional.
- It is a plain plastic pan, so there is nothing automated and you are scooping daily. For an old cat that is arguably a feature, because scooping is how you notice change.
- Plastic scratches over time and scratched plastic holds odour, so it is a consumable on a multi year timescale.
- It does not solve a medical problem, and litter box avoidance in an older cat is frequently medical.
What owners report
Published owner reports on low entry boxes follow a strong pattern: owners of cats that had begun having accidents describe the problem stopping once the entry height came down. That is consistent with what vets report about arthritis and box avoidance.
Complaints are about litter tracking, which follows directly from the low side, and about plastic quality at this price. Several reports mention buying two, one for each floor of the house, which is exactly the right instinct for a senior cat and cheaper than any automatic box.
Who it suits
- Cats over about ten, or any cat showing stiffness or hesitation.
- Cats who have started urinating beside the box rather than in it, after a vet visit.
- Households that need a second and third box on other floors.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who has not yet ruled out a medical cause for box avoidance.
- Households where litter tracking is intolerable and no mat is possible.
- Cats who specifically prefer a covered box, though most seniors do not.
Alternatives worth considering
NE14pets KittyGoHere Senior Cat Litter Box, large litter pan
~$45
A three inch entrance from a maker that designed specifically for senior, arthritic and enclosure averse cats, and states that vets recommend it. Nine dollars less, with lower sides overall so more litter escapes.
Check price on AmazonNeakasa M1 Plus Automatic Cat Litter Box
~$400
Automatic cleaning with an open top design, for cats that can still manage the entry. Three hundred and fifty dollars more, and it solves your problem rather than the cat's.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Low entry vs high sided litter box
- Covered vs uncovered litter box
- Senior cat not using the litter box
- KittyGoHere senior litter box review
- How many litter boxes for a senior cat
- Signs of arthritis in cats
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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A Stainless Steel Fountain for a Senior Cat
Chronic kidney disease is the most common serious diagnosis in older cats, and moving water is the easiest way to raise daily intake. Stainless steel stays cleaner than plastic, which matters on a bowl that runs all day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How low should a litter box entry be for a senior cat?
Around three inches or lower. The relevant test is whether your cat has to lift a hind leg high or hesitate before stepping in. Most cats over twelve have arthritic change, and the effort of a high sided box is exactly the sort of small daily pain that makes a cat choose the carpet instead.
My old cat is peeing outside the box. Is it the box?
It might be, and it might not. Urinary tract disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, arthritis and cognitive dysfunction all cause this. See your vet first. Then make the box easier to use, add more boxes, and put one on every floor she uses. Our page on senior cats not using the litter box works through the causes.
How many litter boxes does a senior cat need?
The usual guidance is one per cat plus one, and for an older cat the placement matters as much as the count: a box on every floor, away from noisy appliances, and never requiring stairs. A stiff cat with one box upstairs will find somewhere downstairs.
Will litter get everywhere with a low entry?
More than with a high sided box, yes. A large mat in front of it catches most of it. That is a much smaller problem than a cat who will not use the box at all, and our litter mat page covers which mats actually work.
Should I get a covered box instead for odour?
Most senior cats do better with an open box. Covers concentrate ammonia inside, make the box harder to enter, and remove the ability to see approaching threats, which matters to an animal that feels vulnerable. Our covered versus uncovered comparison sets out the evidence.
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