The dreaded stinky, unsightly, and downright annoying litter box. Ask any feline fan about how tracked litter, noxious bowel movements, and a clashing litter setup can ruin any vibe. Who wants a smelly plastic tub in the middle of a curated sunroom? Great news: You can make a hidden litter box that’s both chic and comfortable for your cat.
We spoke to five creatives about how they turned their furballs’ lavatories into tucked-away oases. From bench seating to private nooks—your entire home will approve.
Begin with the layout of your space and where you are willing to exist alongside some unwanted odors or debris.
“Mess is inevitable,” Amber Golob in Chicago of Amber Golob Interiors LLC says. “Where can you best cohabitate with their mess? How will it be easiest to clean up after them?”
Bathroom Buddy
Golob helped a client find the perfect spot for their box—right next to their own toilet!
“A brilliant aspect of this being a bathroom installation is something only cat parents may understand; they will follow you to the bathroom,” Golob says. “While there’s been speculation as to exactly why cats do this, they simply will. They notice and appreciate being considered in the function and flow of our families and homes, even if they show it in the strangest of ways.”
She recommends keeping a few considerations in mind when choosing how to set up your litter box situation: the size of your litterbox, ease of access, privacy, ease of cleaning, and customization materials.
For her client’s specific design, she took the following steps.
Step 1: Choose a litter box size
Choose a litter box that fits your cat’s needs. If you have more than one cat, this is especially important. Make sure to choose a litter box that your cat can comfortably turn around in. You can then decide where it’ll fit best.
“We encourage our clients to place their litter boxes in spaces designated to be cleaned, refraining from kitchens, living or family rooms, or bedrooms,” Golob says.” We just determined the bathroom to be the perfect spot! In this particular case, they didn’t have space to add anything in, so we innovated in space that already existed.”
Step 2: Plan the cat’s path
Choose your location. Make sure the litter box can fit and that your cat can easily enter and exit.
“We opted for an open passage on the side of our client’s vanity, though you may choose to go as far as adding a door for additional feline privacy,” Golob shares. “It all depends on your budget and craftsmen.”
Step 3: Account for access
In this case, Golob opted for a sliding interior shelf. This ensures the litter box can be easily removed and the interior is accessible for cleaning.
“We want to optimize our own access in order to maintain both our cat’s materials and ours,” she says. “Space is something we always pay attention to in the functionality of a room.”
Step 4: Ensure sustainability
Your system can only work well if it lasts.