Litter box for polydactyl cats

A polydactyl cat digging awkwardly in a narrow tray is a really common problem — those extra toes need significantly more lateral space to spread and dig properly, and most standard trays just aren't wide enough. Most litter boxes are too small to begin with: cats need a tray at least 1.5 times their body length, and that's before you factor in extra-wide paws. Covered boxes tend to make things worse, since the enclosed walls restrict movement even further. Can you tell me how big your cat is roughly, whether there are any other cats in the house, and what's actually happening when they dig — are they hitting the sides, scattering litter everywhere, or just avoiding the box altogether?

That makes complete sense. With polydactyly, the paw spread is wider and the digging motion is less controlled — he's not being lazy, he's literally running out of room to manoeuvre. Going near the edge is a sign he's compensating for not being able to turn and position properly. For a 5kg cat with a long body, you're looking at needing a tray that's genuinely large — at least 55–60cm long and wide enough that he can pivot. Is the current tray covered or open, and roughly how big is it?

Right, so he's almost certainly been working around that tray for years rather than using it comfortably — 40cm is genuinely too short for him even without the extra toes. Here's what I'd get: the Savic Senator Open Cat Litter Tray in the large size. It's 58.5cm long and importantly it's also quite wide, which gives polydactyl paws room to spread sideways as well as dig forward. The high back panel contains scatter, which should help with your litter-everywhere situation. It's open top so no entrapment issues, and the low front entry means he doesn't have to awkwardly clamber in. It's a straightforward upgrade that addresses exactly what you're describing — space, scatter control, and ease of movement.

Definitely worth it alongside the bigger tray, especially with a polydactyl cat — those extra toes act like little rakes and carry litter out with every step. A mat with a deep honeycomb or grid texture catches it before it spreads across the floor. The Vivaglory Large Cat Litter Mat works well and is big enough to place in front of a tray the size of the Savic. But the tray itself is the priority — sort the space problem first and you'll see a big improvement even before the mat arrives.

It almost always is. Most people upgrade the litter brand three times before they think to upgrade the tray. A cat that can actually move and dig properly is a much tidier cat — good luck with him.