Scrubbing a litter tray is the job nobody mentions when you get a cat, and there are situations where it goes from unpleasant to impractical: a rented cottage, a long car journey, a cat on cage rest after surgery. A tray that gets used for a week and a half and then goes out with the rubbish removes the problem rather than moving it around.

These are pressed from recycled fibres with an acrylic coating on the inside face, and that coating is what makes them last, because it stops urine wicking into the fibre and softening the base. That softening is exactly where plain cardboard trays fail after two days. Each tray holds up for around ten days of normal use, and at 39 x 31 x 7.5cm they are a sensible footprint for an adult cat.

• Made from recycled fibres and biodegradable
• Acrylic-coated interior for leak resistance
• 39 x 31 x 7.5cm
• Around ten days of use per tray
• Five trays in each pack
• Useful for holidays, vet stays and recovery at home

On how many you actually need. The rule that keeps cats using their trays is one tray per cat plus one spare, so a two-cat household wants three down at any time, and a single pack covers that for under a fortnight rather than a month. At 7.5cm the sides are also low compared with a household tray, so an enthusiastic digger will kick litter onto the floor.

Who it's for: Travelling cats, holiday lets, foster homes, and anyone who wants a fortnight off scrubbing.