Litter tracking mat

A litter tracking mat is a textured rubber or honeycomb mat placed directly outside a litter box entrance, designed to pull loose litter granules off a cat's paws as it steps out, before the litter can spread across the rest of the apartment. In a small home where the litter box is often only a few feet from a living area or kitchen, tracked litter is one of the most common daily annoyances, and a mat is usually the simplest fix.

The mesh or waffle pattern works mechanically, not chemically, catching litter in small holes or ridges as a paw presses through them, so effectiveness depends on the depth and shape of the holes rather than on the mat's size alone. A larger mat helps mainly by giving more chances for a paw to land on it, since most cats need at least a couple of steps to shed the litter caught between their toes.

When choosing one, look for a mat that is easy to shake out or vacuum, since a mat that is a hassle to clean tends to get skipped after a few weeks. Pairing it with a top-entry or enclosed litter box style reduces tracking further, but a single litter box style change rarely eliminates the need for a mat entirely.