Introduction
Every waking day new ideas are popping up on how we can provide better living conditions for our feline friends. Sleeker looking, covered boxes, automatic self-cleaning litter boxes and now the new kid in the block…..the litter box furniture.
Growing up, we pretty much didn’t have lots of varieties to choose from and I literally designed almost every litter box we had and sourced for materials locally.
This litter box cabinet however, is a game changer, since it is a litter box built into a piece of furniture such as cabinet or a night stand. This forms part of the basic furniture in the house and doesn’t alter anything.
The genesis of the cat litter box cabinet
A hidden litter box usually stays hidden in plain sight by being hidden in an enclosure like a cabinet. This makes it an ideal resting area and comfort zone for your cat. They provide much more space for your feline friends unlike a typical standalone litter box, while having ventilation systems that keep odors at bay and leakage avoidance features.
Cats generally like to feel safe and enjoy their privacy while relieving themselves. This translates into ensuring that the litter box is in a low traffic area, may be covered or in this case hidden.
This is a perfect hiding place since it’s designed to blend in with your living space and remain unseen by visitors.
Who is this for?
If the unsightly site of a bulky looking litter, poop and a foul smell emanating from it is not your cup of coffee, then I’m speaking to you my friend. How about we go through the benefits of the litter box cabinet if you are not yet convinced.
Benefits of the hidden cat litter box
Hides the litter box mess:
The unghastly sight of an open litter box with cat poop on it, is not the best of memories you want to have in your own house. We will not even talk about the visitors!
While you may opt to tuck away the litter box in the bathroom or laundry room, this still doesn’t beat the safety and convenience of a cat litter box furniture. In fact, the litter box cabinet is more spacious and comfortable for your cat.
Let’s face it, watching a cat poop while you are having your burger is not a tantalizing site to behold.
Masks the smell:
Smells are kept at bay by virtue of the design of the litter box furniture.
Most uncovered litter boxes do not provide the options of hiding the smell unless using sprays and special litter.
Beautiful House Décor:
Hidden litter boxes usually come in artistic designs that when added into the living rooms or even bedrooms, they complement and complete the overall look so well.
You can even choose the color you want to blend with your house theme.
Offers privacy for your cat:
Cats are suckers for privacy and nothing beats a cat litter cabinet when it comes to this.
Your cat will love you for this as it’s a space where it can retreat peacefully, rest and relieve himself while having an outside view through the opening. This ensures that it doesn’t feel trapped.
Dog proof litter box:
If you have a dog as a pet, do not be surprised if you catch him treating himself to the cat poop where the litter box is uncovered.
This problem however is eliminated by the litter box furniture model.
Kids control:
Curious children will play with anything they come across and a litter box won’t be spared either.
While they may still stick in their hands, that’s a greater relief than finding your toddler all covered up in cat urine after jumping inside the litter box.
Less tracking occurs:
The presence of protective walls all-round the slides of the litter box ensures that the cat litter is contained within the litter box cabinet.
In addition, anti-tracking mats are found in some litter box furniture where your cat can clean his paws while walking out of the litter box.
Multi-Functional Furniture piece:
This can be used for other tasks like storing things while safely hiding the litter box underneath.
CONS OF THE HIDDEN CAT LITTER BOX
Hardly do you hear about the disadvantages of a litter box furniture.
Here we outline the cons, for the cats and the cat owners.
Training may be needed:
Once you introduce the litter box cabinet, you may need to train your cat so that he can begin using his new “home”.
This may take some time.
Pro tip: Begin the training by moving their litter pan next to the furniture cabinet to allow him to associate with this kitty box. A few days later, put the litter pan into the litter box furniture.
Accessing the litter box may be challenging:
The steps of getting the litter pan involves opening the door, sliding out a drawer or lifting a lid so as to access the box.
Some litter boxes however have developed sleek sliding drawers that open fully making this whole process simpler.
PS: If your cat has a tendency to track litter outside the box, the litter particles may fall inside the litter box furniture which can be difficult to remove.
Poor ventilation causing an odor:
Odor is considered both the biggest advantage and the biggest disadvantage of this hooded cat litter box simultaneously. Why? Because the hood traps odors and keeps them from spreading from the litter box.
We humans love it because the room smells less and the sight is more appealing.
The cats however can have a difficult time, because the litter box if not cleaned out frequently can stink, with the smell trapped and concentrated inside their chamber.
It can be so bad that the cat decides to avoid his litter box completely and relieves himself on your carpet or favorite flower pot instead.
Luckily, at least a twice-daily scooping of the litter may help to alleviate the problem.
Hood prevents sight to the environment:
Most cat owners believe that having a covered litter box will give their cats some privacy. Interestingly, cats don’t crave it because in nature, they love to eliminate in open spaces, as it is much safer.
When a wild animal goes to eliminate, it’s the only time he cannot defend himself properly, besides when he sleeps.
As a result, cats prefer being able to monitor their environment while they are in their litter boxes, but the litter box furniture prevents them from doing so.
Prolonged drying time:
The hood inhibits proper air circulation causing the litter to remain wet for longer than without a cover. In an open box, the wetness evaporates quickly.
This, of course, is not a disturbance for us, cat owners.
This is uncomfortable to the cat who has to step inside a dirty, damp litter box. Depending on his tolerance level, it can vary from just displeasure and annoyance to complete avoidance of the litter box furniture.
Always remember that simply because you can’t see a problem doesn’t mean that there isn’t one.
If you notice that your cat is meowing or hesitating before entering the litter box furniture, digging the litter too long, peeing with part of his body outside of the box and such like behavior, you can conclude that your cat does not like something about his box.
Key features to take into consideration before getting your litter box furniture
To create your own unique and top notch hidden cat litter box, ensure at least most of these features are in place:
- Contains ventilation holes that enable air circulation
- Has a vented system that keeps dust and odors at bay
- Keeps dogs away from the litter
- Has a plant and decorative moss for accessorizing
- Equipped with a hydraulic safety hinge for easier cleaning
