PetPivot

Quick answer: Cats do not show one universal preference for open or closed litter boxes. In a small controlled study of 27 cats, most showed no significant preference between covered and uncovered boxes, while equal numbers preferred each style. For an automatic box, choose by usable interior space, entry and exit, noise, ventilation, litter behavior and the individual cat's observed response. The useful question is not "Which style is best?" It is "Which complete setup is easiest for this cat to use repeatedly?" A large, clean closed box may be accepted more readily than a cramped open unit. A roomy open box may be easier for a large or cautious cat than a narrow enclosed chamber. Style matters, but it does...