For any apartment-renting cat owners out there, you’re aware that cats make for good apartment pets. They’re quiet, they tend to keep to themselves (but are snuggly when they feel like it), and they don’t have to be walked or taken outdoors to go to the bathroom. They’re the cat’s meow, if you will. This also means that their litter box is now a part of your home. And when you live in a small apartment, it’s difficult to find a place to keep their litter box hidden away from your own living quarters. So this begs the question, where do you put a litter box in a small apartment so it’s out of sight (and smell)?
In a Linen Closet
Linen closets are used for linens, yes, but they can also be used to store your cat’s litter box. There’s typically a small rectangular space on the floor of the closet that’s great for litter boxes (this works best without carpeted flooring). However, we do suggest either removing the door from its hinges (yes, it attaches back without any damage) and storing the door elsewhere, or keeping the door propped open with a door stop. You wouldn’t want your cat getting locked out of their private potty place, or even worse, getting locked in.
If your closet is carpeted...
Though the closet you keep your clothes and shoes in potentially has room for a litter box on the floor, it’s best to keep the stench of your furry friend’s bathroom away from your clean clothes and your carpeted flooring.
Cat litter on carpet is never a good idea. But if this is your only option, consider putting down some sort of absorbent mat such as a micro-fiber mat, rug, or specialty pet mat under and around the box, as well as a litter tracking mat in front of the box. These will keep both potential messes and excess litter from your cat’s paws on the mats and off of the carpet.
In a Corner in the Laundry Room
If you live in a small apartment, you probably don’t have a designated laundry room. But if you do, the laundry room is a great place to store a litter box. The box would technically still be near your clean clothes, but your clothes won’t be in the laundry room long enough to absorb an odor (as long as you keep up with your laundry, ahem). And at least the litter box won’t be sitting on carpet if you choose to place it in the laundry room.
Avoid somewhere with too much noise
However, if your cat is skittish, the sound of the washer or dryer may keep them from wanting to use their designated bathroom. If this is the case, consider your next best bet: the bathroom.
Next to the Toilet in the Bathroom
Why wouldn’t your cat want their bathroom in your bathroom? It just makes sense. If there’s room for the litter box on either side of the toilet, this is a great hiding place for it. This typically only works for traditional litter pans since litter box lids take up a bit more space both height- and width-wise.
If there's a lack of space...
If your cat is anything like mine and drags your toilet paper from the holder into her litter box (when the litter box is situated directly below the toilet paper roll), or your toilet doesn’t leave enough empty side space on the floor, then it’s time to consider a unique option.
In a Bathroom Cabinet
Bear with me here. I’m not suggesting you put the litter box in your kitchen cabinet next to your pots and pans. I am, however, suggesting to consider a unique option in your bathroom. Plenty of apartments have cabinetry under bathroom sinks. Many of those cabinets end up getting filled with an overabundance of toiletries and things we could probably just throw out.
Remove the cabinet door
Consider consolidating some of your bathroom supplies and leaving one of the larger, lower cabinets empty. Simply remove the door from its hinges and place the cabinet door in your closet, under the sink, or wherever you have a safe place to store it.
Depending on the size of the cabinet, you should be able to fit a standard-sized litter box in it. And if it’s tall enough, you can even store a covered litter box in the space to help keep out any potential stench. This gives your cat their own private bathroom just an inch or so off the ground, keeping the box out of your way and relatively hidden from guests, while still being easy to access and clean out.
Whenever you move out of your apartment, just sweep and sanitize the cabinet space, re-attach the cabinet door, and voila! Good as new.
