Litter Box Locations for Apartments and Small Spaces

By Rachel Geller, Ed.D. Certified Cat Behavior and Retention Specialist

Like what you’re reading? Hear her speak! Join us for Dr. Geller’s session during Online Behavior Day on April 9. Learn more and register here. 

If you live in an apartment, small home, or other shared space, you already know that cats are good apartment pets. They’re quiet and they don’t have to be walked or taken outdoors to go to the bathroom. This also means that their litter box is now a part of your home. And when you live in a small apartment, it can be difficult to find a place to keep your cat’s litter box hidden away from your own living space or areas where you entertain guests. So, where do you put a litter box in a small apartment so it’s out of sight yet accessible for your cat?

Sometimes small apartments have funny-shaped nooks and spaces that aren’t really useful. If you can hang a curtain in front of those spaces, it can be the perfect spot for a litter box. You can buy a tension rod along with a curtain, so you won’t be risking your damage deposit. The curtain hides the litter box but ensures your cat will never be locked out of the space. You can also place the curtain in such a way so that it doesn’t go all the way up the sides of the walls or all the way to the bottom of the floor in order to provide your cat with a visual field. Do you have a corner that could be a litter box location? You could purchase a corner closet rod and place it in a corner and hang a curtain from it. Before buying, measure your litter box and how much room you will have behind the curtain to be sure the litter box will fit.

Another idea is to place a litter box between two bookshelves. Place the bookshelves a few feet apart and use a tension rod to hang a curtain between them. If the bookshelves aren’t wide, place them a foot or two away from the wall. This will add extra depth to the litter box, and give your cat a backway entrance to her litter box. If you don’t mind having the litter box in the main living space of your apartment, or perhaps you have a studio, you can place the litter box in the main living space with some minor adjustments. Consider making or buying a simple room divider and placing the litter box behind it.

Room dividers and portable partitions come in countless configurations and sizes to instantly create the litter box space you need. Room dividers and partitions can instantly transform a space into a litter box area by carving out a small or separate area from the open space. Using a paneled mirror as a room divider is a clever idea. It’s practical for getting ready in the mornings and mirrors also help create an illusion of a larger space. If you want to separate a part of your room for a litter box area for your cat, but also create the image of a larger space, a mirror may be the way to go! An easy and simple way of separating a part of a room for a litter box is with a folding screen. Not only are these types of room dividers cheap, but they come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. You will be sure to find one that is perfect for your apartment.

Maybe you and your cat can share a bathroom? If there’s room for the litter box on either side of the toilet, this is a great place for it. This works best for traditional open litter boxes since the litter boxes with covers take up more space. If space is really tight but you like the bathroom idea, try the Litter Genie Cat Litter Box. It’s a thin, narrow box and it even flexes to help fit into tight spaces:  www.chewy.com/litter-genie-cat-litter-box/dp/185252

Should you place a cat litter box in your bedroom? Your bedroom is a good location for a cat litter box since it’s usually a quiet place. Plus your cat can smell a familiar scent – your scent. However, you will have to decide if smelling the after-hours deposits in the litter box while trying to get a good night’s sleep is something you are OK with. If you decide to keep the cat litter box in your bedroom, an open door is critical. Your cat will need 24/7 accessibility.  You should also consider a cat’s litter box habits such as burying and scratching noises after elimination. Most cats bury their waste as an instinctive trait. They do this to avoid being detected by predators. Depending on if you are a deep or light sleeper, think about whether you will be able to sleep through the night when your cat is burying his waste and scratching the sides of the litter box at 3:00 in the morning.

It really doesn’t matter how big or small your apartment is. As long as your cat feels safe and comfortable and the box is kept clean,  he will use the litter box.