The best cat litter mats

• Even with low-tracking litter, you still need a mat to contain scatter.
• The best cat litter mats trap litter to prevent it from being spread all over the house.
• I tested mats with my three cats and consulted veterinarians to select the best ones.
• Our top pick for the best cat litter mat overall is the Easyology Premium Cat Litter Mat.
• See also: the best litter boxes, cat litter, and cleaning products for pet owners.

As an owner of three cats, I know that things are rarely as simple as they should be when it comes to litter box preferences and habits. Two of my cats will use one litter box for solid waste, another for liquid waste, and one for nothing at all. The only thing the three really have in common about their litter box habits is that they all tend to scatter litter outside the box and track it all over the house.

Tired of the constant vacuuming and sweeping, I set out to determine whether cat litter mats really work and, if so, which one outshines the rest. Before starting my quest, I consulted two veterinarians: Justine Lee, DVM, author of "It's a Cat's World, You Just Live In It," and Jeff Werber, DVM, former pet expert for CBS News in Los Angeles.

What to consider when choosing litter mat

What I've learned is that cat litter mats come in all shapes and sizes, some with attractive patterns and many with unusual textures. According to Lee, there are five key considerations when buying a litter mat. It should easy to clean, soft on your cat's feet, relatively wide, large enough to be able to clean up the mess, and effective at trapping litter.

Lee said that many people use cheap throwaway rugs (my previous method). However, Lee personally uses and recommends litter mats because they "help eliminate litter from being carried from the litter box into the bedroom or to the rest of the house — not only for hygiene but for health reasons too."

The primary goal of a cat litter mat is to prevent litter from being tracked all over the house and most mats accomplish this in one of two ways: 1) by using texture or special materials to trap litter so it can't be spread, or 2) by providing a physical barrier, like a tray, to contain the mess. Even the best litter mat won't stop a few grains of litter from ever reaching your floors, but some of them are certainly worthy of your consideration.

With Lee's tips in mind, I set out to test some of the most popular litter mats with my three cats to determine which ones work best.

Here are the best cat litter mats you can buy:

• The best litter mat overall: Easyology Premium Cat Litter Mat
• The best litter trapper: Litterbox.com Litter Trap Mat
• The best waterproof litter mat: PetFusion ToughGrip Cat Litter Mat
• The best litter mat for sensitive paws: iPrimio Cat Litter Trapper EZ Clean Mat
• The best for litter mat for multi-cat households: Gorilla Grip Original Premium Cat Litter Mat

Read the original article on Insider