Extra Fancy for Litter: Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan

We purchased the Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan so our writer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

Cat owners only need a few essential items to take care of their pets: food, water, love, and a good litter box. I love my pets but cleaning their litter box is one of my least favorite tasks. I tested the Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan to see if the sifting option would make this chore easier or faster.

The litter box came with everything I needed to set it up: two litter pans, the sifter pan, and instructional diagrams. The diagrams were particularly helpful since the packing order of the pans differs from how they are used. It will come packaged with the sifter on top, but you will need to rearrange that. When ready to use the pan, the sifter should be nested between the top, filled litter pan, and the bottom, empty one.

After my cat did its business, I dumped the pan of dirty litter into the sifter, with the empty, clean pan underneath. Do this step slowly, especially if you use a dusty litter. Depending on your litter, this may be a more significant issue for you than it was for me. As long as I dumped the litter slowly, there was only minimal dust.

To sift the waste out, I lifted the sifting pan, and the clumps came up while the clean litter went through to the new, clean pan underneath. This step is straightforward as long as you keep the litter pan steady. I shook it and tilted it to get the waste to one side. The sides of the sifter pan are high, so I wasn't concerned with the wastes falling out as I sifted.

I had some trouble spilling litter as I poured it into the sifter pan. This issue was more pronounced when I had a particularly full litter pan. When I filled it to the recommended fill line, I always dumped out a significant amount of litter as I sifted the waste. I started filling it just below the line, so it wouldn't be so heavy. I only have one cat, so I felt comfortable using a little less litter.

After collecting the waste, I dumped it into a bag. This step was tricky since I prefer to use a small, biodegradable waste bag. The sifter pan (and litter box) is large, so getting the waste into the small bag without spilling it was difficult. I ended up getting a few particles of litter—thankfully only unsoiled pieces—on my bathroom floor, which I vacuumed.

The bottom litter pan, now filled with clean litter, became the top litter pan. I wiped clean the empty litter pan, putting it on the bottom with the sifter pan in between them. Having two pans is a nice feature since urine can sometimes soak to the bottom or sides if you do not frequently empty or clean the pans.

Because this is a large litter pan, it is cumbersome to handle, especially when it is full of litter. You need to lift and dump the entire pan into the sifter and empty pan every time. After a few weeks of use, I reverted to using a litter scooper to get the clumps out of the litter box. It was faster and less messy for me. If you have multiple cats, you may find that the sifter is faster.

The Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan is well-made, even if you don’t intend to use the sifting pan as designed. I liked that it comes with two litter pans. They are treated with Microban to create an antimicrobial surface and have a reinforced bottom. I never felt like the litter pans were flimsy, even when full of litter.

My cat tracked litter out of the pan when she walked out, but this is a common issue with almost all litter boxes that I have tried. The best remedy is to place a rug or other surface under the box that will catch the tiny litter particles when your cat enters and exits. 

The sifting pan works best with standard clay-clumping cat litter. You can use it with other varieties, including pine litter, wheat litter, or grass litter. You will need to scoop the waste out and then use the sifting layer to rearrange the pellets into the new pan.

Overall, I liked the Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan for its size and capacity, as well as the reinforced, antimicrobial litter pan surfaces. The sifting pan wasn’t as easy for me as simply using a handheld scoop. But because this litter pan includes two full litter pans, it is still an excellent buy retailing around $30. I have purchased similarly made litter pans in the past, and they have always lasted without cracking or breaking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this litter box have a cover?

No, the Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan does not have a cover. It is an open litter box. My cat prefers an open litter box, so this did not concern me.

How many pieces are included in this litter box?

The Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan includes two litter pans, a sifter pan, and instructions. All of this is held together with two side clips, which I removed and discarded.

Can I use this litter box with multiple cats?

Yes, the Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan is perfect for a house with multiple cats. It is large—19 inches by 15 inches. It also has deep, 8-inch sides. If you add more “users” to the litter box, it will need to be checked and changed more frequently. I used this litter box for one cat and emptied the waste daily.

Arm & Hammer Sifting Litter Pan vs. Litter Genie Litter Box

If you're not interested in sifting, I recommend looking for a litter box with high sides like the Litter Genie Litter Box. This pan keeps the litter contained as your cat enters and exits the litter box. The Litter Genie is made of flexible material and handles, making it easier to complete box changes in one pour. If you like to do total litter changes frequently, this is your best bet. The Litter Genie Litter Box retails around $22.