Every litter box has a scatter zone. Your cat hops out, a few granules ride along on each paw, and a kick of litter lands past the edge of the box. A mat is the usual fix, and two styles pet parents often weigh are honeycomb mats with open cells and soft fabric mats.
They handle the scatter in different ways. A honeycomb mat sits at the exit and catches litter in its cells. A fabric mat like Lovewag's sits under the box, catches litter on top and stops spills with a waterproof barrier. Below, they go head to head in six rounds, then side by side.
The short answer
If catching every granule is your only goal, a honeycomb mat wins that round. For most homes, a washable fabric mat is the better buy: it sits under the whole box, holds back leaks with a waterproof barrier, goes in the washer, grips the floor and looks like a rug.
Best cat litter mat material
Washable fabric wins for most homes
- A waterproof barrier under the whole box
- Machine washable, most styles in 2-packs
- Looks like a rug and grips the floor
The best cat litter mat is the one that handles all of the mess around a box, not just the granules. Litter on paws is the obvious problem, but a cat litter mat also meets the occasional miss over the edge, the hairball by the box and daily foot traffic in a room you live in. A litter mat that does one of those jobs brilliantly and the rest poorly ends up replaced.
That is why fabric takes the verdict, even though honeycomb wins the round it is famous for. You can shop all mats by pattern; 28 x 41 is the size Lovewag lists for under litter boxes.
Litter mat comparison rounds
Six rounds around the box
Each round below puts a washable litter mat against a honeycomb mat on one job. The scores are editorial ratings for pet parents, not a lab test: they come from what each maker publishes, read side by side. For Lovewag that means the product pages and the Lovewag mat FAQ. For honeycomb, it means Gorilla Grip's own description of its Honeycomb Cat Litter Mat, as of October 2026.
Your litter plays a part too. Cat litter tracking depends partly on the grain: the Wikipedia overview of cat litter types notes that large clay grains are less likely to be tracked than sand. A washable cat litter mat only handles what leaves the box.
Trapping litter
Fabric 6Honeycomb 9
Honeycomb wins this one, and it is the reason the style exists. Gorilla Grip says litter stuck to paws is "captured within the large honeycomb holes on the top layer," then falls through to a bottom layer, and you tip the mat to pour it back into the box. A fabric mat catches granules on its surface instead, and the fix is to shake out debris regularly or vacuum between washes. That is quick, but not as neat as tipping.
Leaks & urine
Fabric 9Honeycomb 7
Both makers say liquid stops at the mat. Gorilla Grip describes a "leakproof bottom layer" that "contains liquid mess," so a wet spot collects underneath with the litter and the whole mat needs a rinse. On the fabric side, an absorbent top layer sits over a waterproof, leak-proof barrier, so a miss over the box edge is caught on top while the barrier protects the floor.
Cleaning
Fabric 9Honeycomb 6
Our mats go in a home washer: cold water, a gentle cycle, any household detergent and no bleach, then tumble dry low or air dry, every 1 to 2 weeks. Gorilla Grip's honeycomb mat is cleaned by rinsing with soap and water and drying it completely, so you need a tub, sink or yard to rinse it in and a place for it to dry. Tipping out litter is easy; the full clean is the chore.
Comfort on paws
Fabric 8Honeycomb 7
Closer than you might expect. Gorilla Grip calls its honeycomb mat "super soft and gentle on paws." The fabric gets a small edge for its flat, soft surface with no open cells under a paw.
Looks in your home
Fabric 9Honeycomb 5
A litter box often lives in a bathroom or a bedroom corner, so the mat is on show every day. Gorilla Grip sells its honeycomb mat in beige, black and gray. Our mats carry rug patterns, from the soft taupe and ivory of Taupe Checkers to the warm clay and dusty blue of Rustic Terracotta, made to blend into your home rather than look like a temporary fix.
Grip on the floor
Fabric 8Honeycomb 4
A mat that slides when a cat leaps out sends litter farther. Gorilla Grip's own honeycomb listing carries a plain warning: "This mat is NOT slip-resistant." Its mesh mat, a different design, does advertise a textured backing. Our mats have a non-slip backing to keep them in place. It works best on clean, dry floors, so sweep under the mat each time you wash it.
Add it up and the fabric mat takes five of the six rounds. Honeycomb's one win is a big one, though, so if litter across the floor is your single complaint, read the cards for who each mat suits before you decide.
Honeycomb vs fabric litter mat features
Feature by feature
A honeycomb litter mat is a double layer litter mat: holes on top and a leak-proof layer below, in Gorilla Grip's description. Shoppers often search for a rubber litter mat too, but Gorilla Grip's honeycomb listing does not name its material, so the table leaves it out. Our product pages do not list fiber content or thickness either, so neither column guesses.
Prices are as listed at the time of writing, October 2026, and the sizes are not identical, so compare area as well as price. The Taupe Checkers washable litter mat is in stock in 36 x 48 only right now, a size Lovewag lists for larger potty zones. Rustic Terracotta is in stock in the 28 x 41 litter box size.
| Feature | Fabric | Honeycomb |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Under the whole litter box | At the box exit |
| How it holds litter | On the fabric surface | In the holes, then a bottom layer |
| Liquid protection | Absorbent top, waterproof barrier | Leakproof bottom layer |
| Cleaning | Machine wash cold, gentle cycle | Rinse with soap and water, dry fully |
| Grip | Non-slip backing | Maker says not slip-resistant |
| Looks | Rug patterns | Beige, black or gray |
| Sizes | 16 x 24 to 54 x 72 inches | 24 x 15 to 35 x 24 inches |
| Price at writing | $28.99 for two 28 x 41 mats | $9.99 to $32.99 per mat |
| Pack | Mostly 2-packs, one down while one washes | Single mat |
Who each litter mat is best for
Match the mat to the box
If you have been searching for an iPrimio litter mat or an Easyology litter mat alongside a Gorilla Grip cat litter mat, the first question is the same for all of them: do you want a mat that traps litter at the exit, or one that sits under the box and handles everything around it? This post quotes only Gorilla Grip's claims, because its listing is the one we could check in full.
For a fabric mat under a standard box, start with the 28 x 41 size mats, the size Lovewag lists for under litter boxes. Then check the cards below against your cat, your box and the room it lives in.
Choose fabric for
- Boxes in living spacesThe mat is on show every day, and a rug pattern suits the room.
- Cats who miss the edgeThe absorbent top and waterproof barrier sit under the whole box, not only the exit.
- Busy householdsToss the mat in the washer instead of rinsing it in the tub.
- Slick floorsA non-slip backing helps keep the mat in place as your cat jumps out.
Choose honeycomb for
- Heavy litter kickersThe holes hold stray granules until you tip them back into the box.
- Tight budgetsGorilla Grip lists its smallest honeycomb mat at $9.99, as of October 2026.
- Garages & utility roomsLooks matter less there, and rinsing a mat outside is easy.
Some pet parents end up using both: a fabric mat under the box for spills and floor protection, and a small honeycomb mat at the exit for the most determined kickers.
Honeycomb & fabric litter mat pros & cons
Where each one falls short
No mat is perfect around a litter box, and the fabric side has real trade-offs. Our product pages do not list fabric content, thickness or a warranty, and the mats hold litter on top rather than inside, so you shake or vacuum them between washes. Stock moves as well: several patterns are in one size only at the time of writing.
The weak spots of honeycomb are just as plain, and most come from the maker itself. Gorilla Grip warns that its honeycomb mat is not slip-resistant, cleans it by rinsing and drying rather than machine washing, and suggests letting creases soften flat for at least 24 hours after it arrives rolled or folded.
Lovewag fabric mat
Pros
- Absorbent top layer over a waterproof, leak-proof barrier
- Machine washable on a cold, gentle cycle
- Non-slip backing that keeps it in place
- Rug patterns that suit a living space
- Most styles sold as 2-packs in the 28 x 41 size
Cons
- Holds litter on top, not in pockets
- Needs a shake or a vacuum between washes
- No published fabric content, thickness or warranty
- Some patterns are in stock in one size only
Honeycomb litter mat
Pros
- Holes trap litter that falls off paws
- Tip collected litter back into the box
- Leakproof bottom layer, per Gorilla Grip
- Low entry price, from $9.99
Cons
- Maker says it is not slip-resistant
- Rinse and dry by hand, per the maker
- Sits at the exit, not under the box
- Plain colors only
- May need 24 hours flat to lose its creases
Cat litter mat questions
What pet parents ask us
Short answers to the questions pet parents ask most about litter mats, based on what Lovewag and Gorilla Grip each publish about their own mats.
What is the best cat litter mat?
For most homes, a washable fabric mat with a waterproof barrier and a non-slip backing. It sits under the whole box, catches misses and goes in the washer. If scattered litter is your only complaint, a honeycomb mat traps more granules at the exit.
Do honeycomb litter mats work?
They do the job they are designed for. Gorilla Grip describes litter dropping through the honeycomb holes into a bottom layer, and you tip the mat to pour it back into the box. The trade-offs, again in the maker's own words: you rinse it with soap and water, it has to dry completely, and its listing warns that the mat is not slip-resistant.
Can you wash a cat litter mat?
It depends on the mat. A Lovewag mat is machine washable: cold water, a gentle cycle and any household detergent, no bleach, then tumble dry low or air dry. Wash it every 1 to 2 weeks and shake out debris in between.
Gorilla Grip's honeycomb mat is rinsed instead: soap and water, then let it dry completely. Whatever mat you own, follow the care instructions its maker gives.
What size litter mat do you need?
Go bigger than the box. Lovewag lists its 28 x 41 mat for under litter boxes, so the box sits on the mat; measure your box and leave as much landing room as you can on the side your cat steps out. For a large box or two boxes side by side, the 36 x 48 covers more floor. Gorilla Grip calls its honeycomb sizes, up to 35 x 24 inches, ideal for small to medium litter boxes.
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