Let’s be real, cats are the monarchs of our households, so they deserve the full royal treatment—and the best cat litter box can be hard to find. The rise of cat-friendly furniture is exponential. Cat owners are finding the opportunity to use their feline’s favorite perching place as intentional decor, turning mundane scratching posts into eye-catching statement pieces. Companies like Tuft + Paw, Furrytail, and Meowingtons are pouncing at the opportunity to create modern furniture for felines and their furry friends alike.
“More and more, people consider their pets as family members and respect their needs, even in architecture and house decoration,” says Sylvia Lucas, founder of The Cat Design, a Barcelona-based cat-furniture company. “I think we’re just at the beginning of the trend.”
But no matter how many or few cat accessories you choose to buy or if you’re looking for budget-friendly options, there’s really no getting out of owning a litter box. In larger homes, it may be easy to hide a litter box in the laundry room or behind a closed door, but in small spaces where every inch counts, a stylish litter box is more than just a luxury for your cat. Think about the type of litter box you’re looking for: a covered litter box, a self-cleaning litter box, an enclosed litter box, a top-entry litter box, one with a waste drawer, or maybe a scoop-free automatic litter box. And no matter what you think you want, there are a few practical considerations to take into account outside of pure aesthetics.
“Litter boxes should be at least 1.5 times the length of a cat’s body in at least one dimension,” explains Dr. M. Leanne Lilly DVM, DACVB from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. For the most part, they should allow access without the need for jumping. M. Leanne notes that “this is especially critical as cats get older.”
She also recommends following the “n+1” rule, meaning you should have a box for every cat in the house, plus an additional one. There are a few specific things you should look for in a litter box. Does it offer odor control? What kind of cat litter (or blend) are you using? Are you interested in the best automatic litter boxes?
Multicat households are tasked with storing kitty litter, liners, carbon filters, litter scoops, and an extra litter pan or three. With so much prep and accessories involved, keeping things organized is key—and the last thing you want is an eyesore of a litter box filled with old litter and solid waste. With all of this in mind, we’ve selected nine of our top picks that will look good in your home and be comfortable for your cat.
Frisco Extra Wide Indoor Unheated Cat House
First off, we love that the product name calls out that this litter box is “unheated.” That’s cute (and informative!)—and there is a heated version available too. Inside, there’s a comfy sponge litter mat and a removable, machine-washable fleece cover for easy cleaning. Plus larger cats will find this extra-wide design helpful.
Rifiuti Litter Box Enclosure