In his famous children’s book, Japanese author Tarō Gomi taught us that “Everyone poops.”

When you have a pet, this lesson becomes crystal clear, as you soon learn that your little bundle of fur is actually a poop machine. Luckily, you can teach cats to use a litter box which, at the very least, contains all the poop in one place. But considering your litter box is the only thing separating piles of doody from the rest of your living space, you want to make sure you get the right one. Good thing we’ve been there, huh?

Pet Mate 42036 Arm & Hammer Large Sifting Litter Pan

$16.83

For an affordable litter box, Pet Mate offers a great gimmick that’s sure to make your waste removal duties a whole lot easier — a sifting pan! With a sifting pan, you don’t even need to scoop the litter. You simply lift up the sifting pan, and the clean litter falls back down into the box while the dirty litter remains in the pan. It’s a great mechanism that makes an otherwise standard box an especially great purchase for any cat owner keen on saving time.

AmazonBasics Hooded Cat Litter Box

$20.99

A good hooded litter box will change your life. They’re designed to keep odor contained, and while they won’t eradicate the scent completely (especially if you go too long without cleaning them out), your home will smell a lot cleaner. The AmazonBasics is a good, inexpensive option that’s definitely worth the price.

IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box

$28.08

A great solution for cats that tend to track litter, the IRIS Top Entry Cat Litter Box provides a ridged top that catches excess litter on the way out. It’s easy to remove and dump back into the box whenever you clean, so you don’t need to worry about the risks of walking around your house barefoot anymore.

Petmate Clean Step Litter Dome

$36.95

Cats enjoy privacy just like humans do and the Petmate Clean Step Litter Dome offers one of the most private feline toilets on the market. On top of giving your cat privacy, the dome design also serves to contain litter and odors, and it’s surprisingly easy to clean too. It also doesn’t look terrible, at least as far as litter boxes go.

Good Pet Stuff Company Hidden Cat Litter Box

$56.99

While litter boxes are a necessity for any household with cats, they’re not aesthetically pleasing. Even the best-designed litter boxes still look like…well, boxes full of poop. Therein lies the beauty of the Good Pet Stuff Company Hidden Cat Litter Box. It looks like a large decorative planter, so when the entry hole is turned towards the wall, nobody would suspect there’s actually a litter box inside.

Dan Kahanis a writer & screenwriter from Brooklyn, usually rocking a man bun. Find more at dankahanwriter.com