Six Places to Hide Your Litter Box

Six Places to Hide Your Litter Box

By: Virginia Wells

If you are tired of smelling or tripping over your cat's litter box, there are a few innovative solutions you can try. However, before deciding on a place for your cat to do his business, it's important to know what is important for your cat.

Litter Box Rules

Location, location, location, just like in real estate, is also vital to successful litter box training. If your cat doesn't like the litter box's placement, he may not use it. For example, if you place the litter box too close to the cat's food and water dishes, the cat may avoid the box. Cats don't like to eat and eliminate in the same area. If the box is inconveniently located – say, down in the basement or on the top floor – kitty may find it too much trouble to get there, or may not be able to reach it in time.

If the box is located so kitty has to brave some stressor to get there, such as a loud appliance or a dominant cat's territory, he may find a safer place to eliminate.

If you obey these litter box rules, you can adapt them to your own living quarters in a functional and attractive way. Here are a few solutions for hiding your kitty litter box:

  • Furniture. There are several pieces of furniture sold that hide the litter box. These can be expensive, but they are generally attractive and functional. One type is usually made of wood and resembles a cabinet, so it can be placed in the main rooms of the house. These cabinets house the litter pan as well as supplies such as liners, litter and other accessories. Access is through two doors on either side.

    Another style looks like a large potted plant, but the litter pan is housed inside so odors are kept to a minimum. A flap door allows your cat easy access. This is functional enough so that you can keep it in the corner of a main room.

  • Kitty doors. Small kitty trap doors can be installed in doors to the basement, laundry room or even a spare closet. These allow your cat easy access to the litter box while keeping the box out of the main areas of the house.

  • Plants. One easy thing you can do is place the litter box in the corner of a room and surround it with large attractive plants. Along with being pleasing to your eye, your kitty may enjoy going through the bushes to get to his place and will enjoy the privacy and seclusion.

  • Bathroom. When you think about it, what better place is there for a litter box than the bathroom. It meets all of the criteria for good placement, such as privacy and easy access. You may even be able to place the box in the shower, making it easier to keep the surrounding area tidy.

  • Behind cabinet doors. You may have some extra space in an unused cabinet in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room. This allows you the same convenience of expensive litter box cabinets. You can either leave the door ajar or install a small kitty door. Cabinet space is usually sufficient to contain litter supplies, too.

  • Litter box covers. A litter box cover might be enough to camouflage the litter box and make it more attractive. Some do more than hide the litter box; they give your cat a carpeted place to lounge at the same time. These are usually constructed of wood and covered with carpet and lined with an easy-to-clean inner surface such as Melamine to resist stains. These are attractive and functional to be used in any room.

     
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