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Have you ever wondered where to put a litter box?
One topic that has been brought up quite often recently, is litter box placement. For example, where do you put your litter box?
Under the bed, in a closet, basement, or even a laundry room?
Let’s face it after we’ve cleaned the litter box, we all want to forget about it and let the cat enjoy her toilet.
But sometimes the litter box simply is in a space where you would never think of putting a cat litter box.
Have you ever spent time in your home wondering if the litter box could be better hidden?
There are some pretty creative ideas out there for hiding those pungent and unappealing details of indoor cat ownership.
This is due to an increase in more modern designs of litter box furniture such as side tables and bookshelves.
If you also happen to own a cat and have recently moved into a new home, it may be worth your while to start thinking about where you are going to put your kitty’s litter box.
You probably already have one or even two cats, which means you may need more than one box.
With this, I challenge you to find the most creative places to put the litter box in your own house.
If you’d like to have some novel places to keep your kitty’s litter box, then this blog post will tell you where I have had a lot of success putting my cat’s box.
But there are so many options in choosing the perfect cat litter box location that I thought I’d devote an entire blog post to the subject.
Factors to consider when putting a litter box in your home:
1. Ease of access:
You need to make sure your cat can get to the box easily, even if you’re not around. Make sure the doorways are wide enough for your cat and that there aren’t any hazards to getting in and out of the box.
2. Privacy:
Your cat will likely want some privacy while she goes about her business, so try to find a spot that’s not overly exposed. That said, you don’t want her using it as an excuse to hide away from family life, so avoid dark corners or anything too secluded.
3. Odor control:
If you have more than one cat, consider putting two litter boxes fairly close to each other and in separate rooms if possible. This will reduce territorial problems between cats and cut down on odors.
4. Litter box size:
Don’t forget about the size of the litter box itself when considering where to put it. A large pan with high sides is best to avoid tracking.
Where is the best creative place to put a litter box?
Creative places to put a litter box inside your home include:
1. Behind a privacy screen:
These are screens designed from water-resistant, tough corrugated plastic. They are then covered with stain-resistant material.
This privacy offers a cat ways to hide, by shielding the litter box inside a carpeted bench.
Your cat can simply sit or even play on top where she can see her surrounding.
Avoid high traffic areas such as the kitchen and the sitting room and every place where there is a lot of noise.
Basements and garages are poor areas to place the cat’s litter box since they are too dark to see and remote with cold cement floors.
An older cat, a kitten, or one with mobility problems will find accessing these remote places difficult to reach in time as their bladder control may give way.
Cleaning and scooping such kind of litter cabinet is also a nuisance.
2. The bathroom:
It works as a convenient location as it is convenient for her and easy to access and also to clean out.
Take note that you shouldn’t place the litter box where it will be difficult for her to complete the litter box activity.
Remember to leave the bathroom door open at all times to allow easy entry and exit, otherwise, they may end up soiling your home. You can also create a cat door.
3. The utility room:
It’s a great choice especially if she is adjusted to noisy places.
This is more comfortable and better for your cat as compared to the basement.
What do you use your utility room for? Do you keep your washing machine, dryer, furnace, or even air conditioner?
What’s in this room will determine how well your cat will adjust to the place. The loud noises of the spin cycle may scare your cat preventing him from using the litter box cabinet.
4. A spare bedroom:
This is a great area since it is a low-traffic and quiet place.
Just remember to keep the door open always or invest in a cat door large enough to allow your huge cat to enter and leave the room.
Invest in a simple door jammer or even better have a cat door as this will keep the room private and ensure the children or other pets don’t disturb your cat when eliminating or resting.
Make sure the cat’s litter box is in an easy-to-find place, away from carpeted surfaces and walls which are difficult to wash should your cat spray.
If you decide to place the box on a carpeted area, place a litter box carpet protector.
5. In a closet:
A small walk-in closet is a great place for a litter box if it’s not too close to where you store your shoes. A no-door closet works well too, as long as it’s not in a high-traffic area. Just keep the door open so that your cat can get in and out easily.
The Dos and Don’ts of litter box placement:
- Have a litter box for each of your cats, plus one additional box.
- The litter boxes should be in an accessible, quiet, and well-aerated space. Each hidden litter cabinet should be easy for the cat to access. In case you have an older cat at home, a kitten, or one with a mobility problem due to arthritis or any other sickness, make it as accessible as possible.
Pro tip:
- In a multiple-cat household, keep the litter boxes far apart. At home, if you have multiple cats, there’s a likelihood that you will find that confrontations have occurred as each cat maps out their territory. For this reason, ensure you place the litter boxes in separate places around the house, away from each other, preferably in a cabinet. This will ensure that they stay out of each other’s territory and don’t attack each other when eliminating which is when they are most vulnerable. They have the freedom to avoid each other unless they deliberately search each other out.
- Do not keep the cat box near the water and food bowls. Separate where you locate the litter box and where you place the cat’s food and water dishes.
Cats avoid eliminating close to where they eat or drink and where they sleep.
- Should you have a pet dog, place the litter box where the cat can eliminate peacefully without disturbance. Litter box furniture such as a cabinet would be ideal considering that some dogs get to enjoy eating cat feces and you want to keep that at bay.
This offers the cat ways to hide and access the hidden litter box in the cabinet but keeps the dog out since the cat door is too small to fit.
- Don’t keep on shifting the litter box position.
Is it safe to have a litter box in my room?
Several factors come into play when considering whether to bring the cat’s litter box into your room.
- Your state of health:
Adults in good health may have no issues interacting with a dirty litter box and there are almost zero risks of infection as long as proper hygiene is observed.
However, if you share the room with children and a pregnant woman, I would discourage you from bringing the litter box into your room.
The risk of toxoplasmosis is higher and in worst-case scenarios, can lead to a miscarriage or birth defect.
Cats can also be hosts of intestinal parasites like worms and can be transmitted to human beings.
Considering children and pregnant women have a weakened immune system, it’s best to keep the litter box out of your room.
- Presence of children:
Kids are playful, and adventurous and will quickly turn the litter box into a sandbox. They may end up picking the dirty litter and the risk of infection is high.
- Allergy:
If you are allergic to cat litter, then it goes without saying that the last thing you want to do is spend a night with a litter box adjacent to you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do you hide a litter box in a small apartment?
When it comes to a small apartment where space is limited, the last thing you want is to have a humongous litter box blocking the entry to your room.
Clever ways to put a cat litter box in a small apartment or small house include:
- Inside a linen closet.
- Place it inside a furniture cabinet
- In the laundry room in a corner away from all the noise.
- Inside a bathroom cabinet. Just ensure that it is accessible 24/7.
Once you’ve stationed the litter box, monitor and see if any behavioral changes occur. Adjust where need be.
Where should you put a litter box without a room?
If you don’t have room to designate as a littered room, you’ll need to get creative.
You can put it up:
- An enclosed porch or enclosed balcony. Ensure that it is safe for your cats and has good ventilation. Make sure it’s accessible year-round and that the temperature doesn’t get too cold or hot for your cats’ comfort.
- Under a sink or stairway. If you have a large enough vanity or cabinet, you can put the litter box under an indoor sink or the stairs of an interior staircase. Make sure your cat can easily get in and out of the space, and that there are no harmful chemicals stored there that could hurt him if he got into them (such as ammonia or bleach).
Do I need a litter box on every floor?
Yes, you need a litter box on every floor of your house.
Every level in your house should have a litter box to cater to aging cats or those with mobility issues and to prevent litter box accidents.
Conclusion:
I’ve spoken with many cat owners who have seen creative litter box solutions. These solutions can be fun, creative, and functional.
While most litter boxes are placed in the garage, the basement, or beneath the sink, those looking for a more creative place can try one of these solutions.
We hope these places have been a good source of inspiration for your creative kitty litter box ideas!
Hopefully, this article will help you find a perfect solution.
