Litter box odors are the last thing you want to smell when you’re preparing dinner or relaxing on your couch in the evening. Unfortunately, if you’re a Central New Jersey apartment dweller, it’s not always easy to find an out-of-the-way spot for the box. These four locations offer convenient access for your cat, yet keep odors in check.
A bathroom is one of the most obvious places to keep a litter box in an apartment. But while a little litter on the floor is inevitable no matter where you place the box, it’s particularly unpleasant in the bathroom. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to keep litter from taking over the bathroom floor.
Adding a mat or piece of carpeting under the box offers an easy way to corral litter. Simply shake the contents of the mat or carpet into the trash every few days to keep your bathroom floors litter-free. If your bathroom is large enough, you can follow Catster’s advice and place the litter box in the middle of a small plastic kiddie pool.
The type of litter box you use affects the amount of litter that ends up on the bathroom floor. There’s no reason that you have to buy official litter boxes. Any type of walled plastic container, such as a plastic storage bin, will work.
The higher walls of storage bins prevent litter from flying when your cat furiously scratches at the litter in an attempt to cover waste. Keep in mind that a litter box with high walls may not be the best choice if you have an older cat or a kitten. Mobility issues may make it difficult for cats that have arthritis or other types of joint problems to jump in and out of the boxes. If your cat finds it too hard to reach the box, it may begin to use the floor instead.
If you’re lucky enough to have a laundry room in your apartment, you already have the ideal litter box location. Since the room isn’t in regular use, it won’t be a problem if a little bit of litter finds its way on the floor. Best of all, your guests will never to need to see the litter box.
Bedrooms, particularly guest rooms, offer another alternative for litter box placement. Although you may not want to place an open litter box in these rooms, covered boxes or furniture that hides the box offer more attractive options.
Manufacturers have invented many creative ways to conceal the boxes. Some companies make nightstands and cabinets that house litters boxes and feature discreet cat-sized openings. The Good Pet Stuff Company even offers a litter box hidden in the base of a potted plant. If you buy one of these inventive pieces of furniture, make sure that you can access the box easily for cleaning.
A covered litter box can be a good solution, as long as your cat doesn’t object to it. Some cats feel a little claustrophobic in covered boxes, while others don’t like the odors that tend to build up inside the boxes.
A closet offers another possible litter box placement option. Whether standard sized or walk-in, closets provide the floor space you need for the litter box and supplies. Coat closets or little-used closets in guest rooms, offices or dens can serve as your cat’s bathroom if you don’t want to put the litter box in your bedroom closet. If you decide to place the box in a closet, be sure to keep the door open at all times so that your cat can reach the box any time.
Are you ready to move but are having trouble finding a cat-friendly apartment complex? Fairway 28, a Country Classics Rental Community in Bridgewater, NJ, welcomes cats and dogs and offers luxurious one- and two-bedroom apartments with chef’s kitchens, private balconies, large bedrooms, tiled bathrooms and laundry rooms. Contact us for information regarding availability.
Apartment Therapy: 10 Ideas for Disguising or Hiding a Litter Box
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/pet-problems-disguisinghiding-the-litter-box-200681
Catster: 5 Tips for Controlling Cat Litter Tracking and Scattering
https://www.catster.com/cats-and-cleaning/5-tips-control-cat-litter-scatter-tracking
The Good Pet Stuff Company: Hidden Litter
https://goodpetstuff.com/hidden-litter/