When we say ‘how to hide a cat litter box we don’t mean away from your cat so they can’t find it. Rather, we understand that finding a suitable place to put litter boxes can be a challenge as they can often be an eyesore and sometimes give off an odor we’d rather not subject our noses to. It’s also sometimes challenging for a pet parent to find the perfect spot for their cat box if space is restricted. So, we have for you a list of ways to hide your cat’s litter box in plain sight that will compliment your home massively while giving your cat some privacy.
7 Genius Ways to Hide the Litter Box
When it comes to finding or making the perfect litter box enclosure, we’ve got you covered. Below we have some incredible ideas for you to take advantage of. Not only are these creative takes on a hidden litter box handy but they are also stylish and can be adapted to match the aesthetic of your home. Read on to learn more about hiding litter boxes.
1. Use a Multi-Functional Cabinet
If you’re looking for a way to maximize your living space whilst finding ways to hide a litter box, this might be the one for you. Often, you can find cabinets with a built-in cupboard complete with shelves and other forms of storage areas or display features. You can use these additional spaces to store books, trinkets, frames, or even cat toys and/or accessories whilst using the cupboard as a discrete litter box enclosure.
The only addition you will need to add is a cat door or even a cute cat head-shaped entrance so that your kitty can access it with ease as they please.
2. Convert a Cupboard
If you’re lucky enough to have plenty of cupboards in your home, consider emptying one out and allowing your cat access. Of course, it’s a bonus if your pet has learned ways of opening a cupboard but also consider installing a kitty door or simply cut and sand an entry for them to fit through.
3. Give Old Furniture a New Look & Purpose
Upcycling furniture is one of the best ways to hide litter boxes as well as add a little more style to your home. Take a look at the following list for ideas.
A Set of Drawers or Wardrobe
If you’ve got an old chest of drawers in your home – instead of getting rid of it, why not take out the bottom two drawers and replace them with a hinged drawer or even cabinet doors for easy access. The depth of a standard set should allow enough room for you to put a litter box inside with adequate space for your cat to go potty. Also, the top drawer itself can be used as a storage solution for litter accessories.
You can also create a similar thing with a wardrobe which is also another great storage space for cat litter accessories. Just ensure that you install a cat door or some kind of entrance big enough for your cat to go through with ease.
An Old Cabinet, Side Table, Or Small Set Of Bedside Drawers
Using an old cabinet or side table can also work just as well, so long as there’s enough space for your cat’s litter box. This may mean less space to store accessories or scoops but you will have successfully hidden your cat litter box.
4. Build a Custom Litter Box/Cat House
Cat furniture can be expensive, so building your own with space for a covered litter box can be the perfect project for those handy with tools. The benefit of this is that you can create your own design and tailor it to suit your cat and whatever room you wish to place it in, be it the hallway, living room, or bathroom.
Another advantage is that you can make the litter box cover as simple or as intricate as you like. You can either create an easy cover to merely shield the cat box from view or make an entire fortress complete with a cat bed, doors, interior space, toys, and even artificial turf that your kitty can use to keep their paws clean.
5. Rustic Designs – Using Wine Boxes or Pallets
If you’re looking for a more simple and rustic DIY litter box enclosure, consider making the most of wine crates or even wooden pallets. By using either option, you can construct the perfect solution at the size you desire and won’t have to fork out lots of cash doing so.
This idea also doesn’t depend on installing a kitty door (meaning less hassle) but bear in mind you will need to be able to access it to clean their litter box. Just be sure that the end result doesn’t have any exposed splinters as your cat can potentially injure itself when using its litter box.
6. Give a Wicker Basket a Makeover
The wicker basket option is a chic and cheerful idea. If this is an option you favor you will have to do a couple of things to make it useable for your kitty. The first thing to do would be to add a secure and solid base to the bottom of the basket. The second thing to do would be to add an entrance for your cat to be able to come and goes as they please. You can do so by simply installing a kitty door wherever you see fit.
The downside to this idea is that your kitty may see the exterior as an additional scratching post which can make it look worn after a while. However, you can also use an old trunk to achieve the same thing.
Similarly, Ikea Hackers turned an Ikea wall unit into a convenient litter box cabinet by turning it onto its side. This is a simple but genius idea as the door makes it incredibly easy to access and clean out your cat’s litter tray.
7. Disguise the Enclosure to Look Like a Houseplant
This alternative is a surprisingly popular choice and you can actually purchase houseplant litter box enclosures on websites such as Amazon. Fret not though. The plant isn’t real, so you don’t have the extra responsibility of looking after it.
These plant pots tend to be made out of durable materials so you also don’t have to worry about them accidentally getting knocked over or broken. In addition, they can be easily maneuvered and have a straightforward design so that the cat access point and litter box can be hidden conveniently.
Other Tips for Making a Litter Box Cover
Adding a Littel Razzle Dazzle
If you’ve opted to build a litter cover box and want to go that step further, try adding things that will make it multifunctional for your feline friend. You can achieve this by adding carpet strips or rope to the exterior for your cat to scratch or tussle with. Similarly, if the cover is big enough, add a bed or blanket as an extra space for your cat to curl up on and take a snooze.
Add Decor or Other Handy Features
Also, if you’re going with a small end table, bench, or something similar and you’re unsure of how to add a hinged door or cat flap, try simply attaching curtains instead. Using an aesthetically pleasing small set of curtains of your choice can look great and will give your cat easy access to their litter box.
Depending on what option you’ve picked, why not take the time to add some cute decoration or additional features to it. For example, you can go as far as to add a motion-activated night light or decorate the exterior of the cat litter box enclosure with some lettering or cat-related art/stickers.
When building an enclosure, add a hook or shelf for you to be able to store the litter scoop or other cat-related accessories.
Add Ways to Prevent Litter from Being Tracked Outside of the Litter Box Enclosure
Add another level or walkway to control how much litter gets stuck to your cat’s paws. Mesh or artificial turf can help to remove the litter before it can make its way outside. Additionally, you can use the tips for this article here, to reduce the amount of litter your cat tracks into the rest of the house.
Add Ventilation
The smaller the room, the quicker it can begin to smell so it may be worth installing some form of ventilation to reduce the presence of lingering odors. Of course, regular cleaning will also help to prevent odor but on hot days, the stench may be more poignant
Why Hide a Litter Box?
For some, reasons to hide a litter box are obvious. But for those who may still be wondering, take a look at the list below as you may come across reasoning that you hadn’t considered before now.
Cats Like Privacy
Although cats may come across as fierce creatures there are those that can actually be somewhat self-conscious about using their litter box out in the open. If this is the case, they can often find other places to relieve themselves or be put off entirely which can cause some serious health problems.
Reduces Potential Bad Smells Around the Home
If your cat is prone to some digestive problems or generally leaves behind excrement with a strong odor, using a hidden litter box may come in handy.
Additionally, you can also find odor-reducing cat litter here on PetSide.
It Can Provide Extra Storage for Scoops and Other Accessories
With some of the storage solutions above, you will have handy ways to hide your litter-related accessories to save them from clogging up other areas of your home. Take a gander at the hidden litter box ideas above if you for ideas.