Do you live in a small house, condo, or apartment, and have you asked yourself, “Is it possible to put a litter box inside a closet?” To answer that question:
Yes, it is possible to keep a litter box in the closet, which can be very effective. While this may not be the best option for everyone, it is still possible. However, you must follow very specific cleaning practices and guidelines for this to work.
Space is always an issue when living in a small apartment with pets, especially cats. It’s no surprise that owners are looking in their closets for a place to keep their cat’s litter box.
Putting a litter box in a closet could be tricky because it depends on whether you’re putting the litter box in an already-occupied closet or an extra closet that you’re using for storage.
Litter box hygiene can be difficult to sustain if a closet is already occupied with clothing and linens, as you have to keep an eye on the smell, fumes, and general cleanliness.
It is important to clean closets that are already in use at least once or twice a day to keep clothes and linen from soaking up the smell. Frequent cleaning also prevents the buildup of fumes from urine and feces.
For the diligent cat parent, cleaning after each use will ensure that odors are eradicated before they have a chance to circulate.
On the contrary, if you consider placing a litter box in an unoccupied closet you use for storage it becomes easier to manage because you won’t have to change the litter or clean it as frequently. You can clean and replace litter every week or every two weeks in this case.
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Can a Litter Box Make My Clothes Smell?
Keeping a litter box inside your closet does have some drawbacks, as linen and clothing can absorb the odor of feces and urine. Cat urine and feces have a pungent, unpleasant odor. There’s a chance that a stench from the litter box will permeate the clothing because it’s located in the closet.
To put it another way, the waste is expelled in the form of odor and fumes every time the cat uses the restroom. It permeates the air around the litter box and in the surrounding area. Eventually, the stench will seep into the fabric of the garments and anything else it comes into contact with.
Clothes will eventually pick up this odor, which is not pleasant.
Having said that, there are ways to prevent this from happening, saving your clothes and garments from the unpleasant odor of cat waste in the process. It all comes down to how well you can conceal both the box and its odor.
How to Prevent Your Closet From Smelling
Dealing with the litter box’s odor is probably the most critical consideration if you choose to place it in the closet.
There are several methods for combating litter box odors, but they all require persistence.
Check your cat’s diet:
What your cat eats affects the smell of its poop and urine. The stench of their waste is reduced or eliminated when they eat a raw-based diet.
The more initiative you put into preparing their meals, the better it will be for you regarding odor elimination.
Use clumpy fragrant litter:
Fragrant litter is an excellent way to reduce and eliminate the odor associated with cat pee or poop.
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It’s also a good idea to purchase clumping litter to make cleanup a breeze and ensure that all feces and pee are completely removed.
Odor absorbing packs:
Odor absorbing packs are an excellent way to absorb odors from your cat’s litter box. These packs contain activated charcoal and other deodorizers that are effective against unpleasant odors.
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These odor packs are also cat-safe and space-efficient, with a hanging system that allows them to fit into even the tiniest of spaces. You can get odor-absorbing packs online at affordable prices.
Get Rid of waste quickly:
Scooping waste out more quickly decreases the likelihood of the closet smelling and actually prevents your garments from absorbing the odor. This works similarly to a toilet in that when you flush the waste away; the odor is also removed.
When you scoop the cat’s waste, you are essentially removing the source of the odor. This is still the most effective method of avoiding unpleasant odors.
Air Fresheners:
To get rid of the smell, you can use cat-safe air fresheners that don’t have any toxic chemicals in them.
- Available in a wide variety of rich fragrances at great value
- Can be easily placed anywhere in the home for continuous, long-lasting freshness
- Decorate the air with Glade candles with notes of crisp air, fresh laundry, and lily of the valley
- Simple to use solid air freshener with no outlets or batteries needed
- Adjustable gel air freshener cone allows you to release just the right amount of fragrance for your home
Additionally, plug-in air deodorizers emit a long-lasting smell throughout the room.
Keep in mind that it is important to keep fresheners away from the cat’s reach and from the litter box.
Get a litter box that’s enclosed:
An enclosed litter box is one that is completely covered with only a small opening for your cat to enter. To keep your apartment smelling fresh, you can use these odor-blocking containers.
Using these litter boxes is just another method of preventing odor and waste from emerging. It’s better to find a clever way to hide the box in a drawer or compartment inside the closet.
What Is The Best Way To Hide A Litter box Inside A Closet?
Many things could go wrong when you put your litter box in your closet, but you have no choice if you live in an apartment or a tight area, so you might as well use it.
Fortunately, there are solutions to conceal the litter box to decrease odors and improve aesthetics. Litter boxes, in my opinion, are better left hidden than visible while still being available to your cat.
Litter box Cabinets:
Cabinets are an excellent way to conceal litter boxes. You can store a litter box in a double-door cabinet if the space is available. Rather than removing or altering drawers, simply install a cat door.
The only thing you’ll need to do is cut a little square out of the cabinet’s side and install the cat door, which you can purchase at any pet store. With the litter box installed in the cabinet, everything is ready to go.
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Make a Drawer Box:
It’s fantastic to repurpose old furniture for anything you require. Drawers can be a good spot to keep litter boxes. All you have to do is take off the bottom drawers, and you’ll be left with a hinged door that you may use for cleaning purposes only.
You can use the edge of the drawer as the cat’s entrance; all you need to do is attach a cat door. With the litter box in place, the cat will have complete freedom to come in and go as she pleases.
You’ll also have room in the drawer for a mat, which will keep cat litter from spilling out every time the cat walks away.
Bench Litter box:
Benches are a common feature in closets, so why not utilize them to store your cat’s litter? This clever method helps hide the litter box, saves space, and makes the litter box easily accessible. It’s easy to transform a bench into a litter box storage unit.
You simply need a large aperture, some sanding of the edges, and a good cat door. Make sure the bench is big enough to fit the cat and the litter box.
Challenges That You Might Face
If you decide to put the litter box in the closet, you’ll need to be ready for any problems that emerge. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- It’s tough to keep a litter box clean over time, especially if you keep it in a closet. You’ll need to scoop at least twice a day, if not more frequently, depending on your daily schedule.
- The smell might be a major problem if you don’t follow the essential procedures to reduce odor. You’ll need to stock up on a couple of additional odor-fighting products.
- Cat litter is quite dusty, and this dust can spread throughout the closet. To make things easier for you, you should consider using an enclosed litter box.
- The cat will need some time to become accustomed to the new location, so moving the litter box to the closet will require some effort. Expect a few hiccups along the way before everything clicks into place.
- More frequent litter changes and cleanings mean you’ll have to buy more litter over time, which can add up quickly and be expensive if you’re not pre-paid.
In Summary
Also, remember to pay close attention to the cat’s behavior once you’ve found the perfect spot for the litter box in your compact home or apartment. After all, hiding a litter box that your cat won’t use is a waste of time.
Litter boxes should be accessible to your cat and not blocked by clutter such as clothes, shoes, shopping bags, or unintentionally closed doors. If the place works out, fantastic! If not, you may have to relocate the litter box.
Also, consider relocating the litter box slowly toward the new site, rather than moving it all at once, to avoid any confusion. Alternatively, you may wish to temporarily relocate a litter box and let trash pile up in the old location’s litter box to make it less inviting.
Cats prefer a clean spot to relieve themselves, and the fresh, clean litter box will quickly become their preferred location.
Also, check out some of our other cat articles below!