Every plastic litter tray eventually starts to smell, no matter how often it is cleaned. The reason is physical rather than a failure of effort: claws score the surface, urine works down into the scratches, and no amount of scrubbing gets it back out again. Steel does not score the same way, so the tray you buy this year still wipes back to properly clean in three years' time.

The sides are smooth and non-porous, which means clumped litter and waste release instead of sticking, and a rinse does most of the work a plastic tray needs a scouring pad for. There is no coating to chip away, and steel tolerates disinfectant, hot water and repeated cleaning without degrading. The open shape suits cats who dislike a hood, and it works equally well for house rabbits, who tend to want a low, unobstructed entry rather than a doorway to squeeze through.

• Stainless steel that resists scratching and odour retention
• Smooth, non-porous sides that rinse clean
• No coating to chip or wear away
• Open shape, suitable for cats and house rabbits
• Three sizes, small, medium and large

Two things worth knowing. Steel is noisier than plastic when a cat digs, and some cats take a week or so to accept the sound and the cooler surface, so put it alongside the old tray rather than swapping straight over. Whatever you buy, the rule holds: one tray per cat, plus one.

Who it's for: Owners replacing stained plastic trays for the last time, and multi-cat homes where hygiene has to keep up.