Some cats will not use a hood, and no amount of persuasion changes that — they want to see what is coming. This is the open answer for those cats, and it solves the usual problem with open trays by building the sides up to 14.7cm. High enough that an enthusiastic digger throws litter at a wall rather than across your floor, low enough at the entry that getting in is still easy.

The tray is 201 stainless steel, which does not scratch the way plastic does and therefore does not hold smell. That is the entire argument for steel and it is a good one: a plastic tray that has been clawed for a year will smell no matter how you scrub it, while steel wipes back to clean indefinitely. The scoop is steel too, which sounds like a small thing until you have flexed a plastic one through clumped litter, and it stores in a slot on the side of the tray.

• Overall 60.2 x 40.2 x 29.7cm with 14.7cm high sides
• 201 stainless steel tray with PP surround
• Non-stick, non-porous surface that resists odour and bacteria
• Entryway gaps catch stray litter off paws
• Steel scoop included, with a storage slot on the tray
• Rated for cats up to 7kg; five-minute assembly, no tools

One thing to plan for. An open tray does nothing to contain odour — that is the trade for a cat who refuses a hood. Site it somewhere ventilated, scoop daily rather than every other day, and it is a non-issue. If odour is your main concern and your cat is relaxed about hoods, the enclosed steel version handles it better.

Who it's for: Large cats, enthusiastic diggers, multi-cat homes, and any cat who has firmly refused a covered tray.