It can be tricky finding the perfect location for a litter box. The right spot should be easily accessible as a private place away from noise and disturbances, but open enough to observe their surroundings.
“In general, cats prefer unenclosed litter boxes,” says Dr. Uri Burstyn, medical director of the Arbutus West Animal Clinic in British Columbia. “If you do want to make an enclosure, the bigger the better, to let the cat have room to move and scratch around.”
In addition to adequate space, the best litter box furniture pieces are well-ventilated to avoid odor buildup and easy to access for regular cleaning. Read on for our top picks.
What We Like
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Unique mid-century design details
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Entry can be installed on either side
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Roomy interior is easy to clean
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Double latches keep doors securely closed
The Frisco Mid-Century Modern Side Table is a compact end table with white accents, a friendly design aesthetic, and plenty of room for a litter box. It comes with a single entryway that can be configured to be on either side of the box, as well as double latches that keep the doors reliably closed.
The Frisco Litter Box Cover’s square design allows it to be aligned with the doors or sides forward, making it a versatile pick for most spaces. The interior dimensions are large enough to accommodate most standard litter boxes under 23.25 inches long and 20.75 inches wide. With an 8.5-inch diameter opening, it should be easy for most cats to access as well.
While the double cabinet doors have cutouts that will provide some ventilation, we would have preferred a few more openings to increase airflow.
Made from composite wood
Many brands offer very similar variations on this straightforward, budget cat furniture design, but we think the PAWLAND version has an edge, thanks to a few key design choices. The raised border on the tabletop is perfect for cats and provides them a lip to rest against, or potentially keep them from their very favorite activity: knocking your stuff to the floor.
The rotary catch door provides a more secure closure than the magnetic latch found in many similar furniture items. Plus, it has nice, big vent holes in the back to keep the air circulating through.
However, it is a little narrow and can’t fit litter boxes larger than 15 3/4 inches wide and 19 1/2 inches long. The minimal design also doesn’t feature a place to store a cat litter scoop. The PAWLAND Decorative Cat House is made of engineered wood and comes in two finishes with shiplap-style detailing.
Available in two colors, white or espresso
The Tuft + Paw Haven Litter Box Enclosure is breathtaking in both its clean, modern design aesthetic and its steep price. What you get is a litter box enclosure with a number of thoughtful features, which won’t look out of place wherever you choose to place it.
The Haven enclosure hides a litter box—which is included, or you can use your own, up to a maximum size of 21 x 17 inches—behind a drop-down panel that glides silently open on a hydraulic strut with the turn of a knob. Opening the panel lets you remove the litter box for cleaning, while also exposing a small storage area, where you can keep the included accessories: scoop, brush, and dustpan.
Your cat enters the Haven via an elevated opening on the left side of the enclosure. This entryway uses a metal grate to help keep kitty litter off your cat’s paws when they exit. The enclosure is also well-ventilated, with a metal grate above the litter box.
Your cat can also sit on top of the enclosure, since the wooden rim around the cabinet’s top makes it easy to keep a cat bed in place.
Litter box is included
What We Like
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Great for larger litter boxes
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Can be configured in multiple ways
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Opens from the top for easy cleaning
This litter box enclosure from unipaws not only opens up from the front, so you can slide a litter box in or out, but also has hinges that open the entire top, making it much more accessible for cleaning than most litter box furniture. The large opening on the side makes this an inviting option for your cat, who will have plenty of space to explore or escape quickly if they feel nervous.
The interior of the enclosure is 20 inches deep and 28 inches long, which is long enough to offer as much as a foot of extra space in front of your litter box’s entrance, giving your cat interior room to stretch and feel comfortable. At more than 18 inches high inside, it should be able to accommodate most boxes. Plus, the unipaws come with an optional divider that can either split the interior into two different spaces or wall off a little extra storage space inside the chest.
The simple design of the unipaws Cat Litter Box Enclosure allows it to blend into a variety of spaces (though a white color option would have been nice). Disguised like a chest or cabinet, the unipaws enclosure is made from pressed wood panels held together in a metal frame that can support up to 185 pounds on top.
Assembly out of the box is required, and some buyers have reported misaligned drill holes, so you may want to be ready with a power tool in case you need to drill an extra hole.
Available in three colors: weathered gray, walnut, or rustic
What We Don’t Like
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Not very spacious
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No removable litter box
Good Pet’s Hidden Litter Box incorporates foliage (albeit plastic) into its litter box furniture. The plant on top, which can be replaced with any other replica foliage, comes with a bit of moss to add to the illusion. The moss does double duty by disguising the vented top.
The large base made to look like a terracotta pot isn’t a litter box enclosure, but is instead its own litter box—all you need to do is add litter. To empty, you have to lift the plant off, which is a little annoying.
Faux greenery is cat-safe
What We Like
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Rustic aesthetic
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Plenty of room inside
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Inexpensive
The Feandrea Cat Litter Box Enclosure has a rustic barn vibe and is just the right shape to serve as a coffee table. Made of particleboard and available in four different colors, it weighs 35 pounds, making it relatively easy to move. It also offers plenty of space inside for small to large-sized cats to do their business in a litter box (or you can set it up as a lounge with their favorite cat bed).
There’s also an included divider, which creates a separate, partially closed space between the cat entrance on the side and the litter box compartment—useful for cutting back on litter tracking.
Available in a beige, rustic brown, ink black, or white
Available in two sizes, this cat litter box enclosure is made entirely of rattan, making it a perfect place for your cat to hang out. The woven rattan design allows for ample light and ventilation. You can also assemble the table to have the entrance on either the right or left side.
The area inside also has a cat litter mat that allows you to dump out extra litter. Inside, it can fit litter boxes under 17.5 x 29.4 inches. The rattan material is lightweight, making the whole table only weigh 12 pounds. Of course, cats love scratching rattan, so this enclosure is likely to show some wear and tear over time.
This cat litter box enclosure from Honiakaka also comes with a unique interior that incorporates a wire grate. This grate catches litter off your cat’s feet, where it falls through to a separate litter mat underneath, which can be pulled out and emptied for easy disposal of stray litter.
Available in two sizes and five colors
What We Like
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Extra large size fits many automatic litter boxes
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Multiple customization options
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Top surface can support up to 50 pounds
For an upscale home, you need a Refined Cat Litter Box Deluxe to match your beautiful decor. The oak wood veneer over plywood gives this enclosure an elegant touch while remaining lightweight enough to move. And you can customize the outside look with multiple doors, feet, and colors, making it entirely your own. An entrance can be put on either side of the box, while the two front doors can be opened for easy cleaning.
It comes with a drawer for storage, as well as a litter liner to help catch any stray particles. There’s even a hole for a cord to fit through, as well as ventilation slots designed to fit a carbon odor filter.
Available in dark espresso, mahogany, smoke gray, or white
When you live in an apartment or small space, you want to maximize your living area. This New Age Pet LitterLoo doubles as a table for plants or lamps while giving your cat the privacy they need for bathroom breaks. At 22.1 inches high and 18.5 inches wide, the LitterLoo is easy to fit into a corner or nook. The jumbo version also makes the most of the space, with a shelf to store litter scoops and other supplies.
This enclosure is made of a moisture- and odor-resistant composite material that also guards against any cracks. It has a rustic look that fits in with a wide variety of decors.
Available in two sizes and four colors
What We Like
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Fits our favorite automatic litter box, the Litter-Robot 4
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Opening can be installed on either side
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Double doors provide easy access to the machine
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Optional hutch adds storage or play space
What We Don’t Like
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Litter-Robot ramp accessory won’t fit
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Very heavy, even before the Litter-Robot is inside
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Only available in one style
If you own one of our favorite automatic litter boxes—either the Litter-Robot 3 Connect or Litter-Robot 4—and you don’t like the idea of having a high-tech poop machine in plain sight, then check out the Whisker Litter Box Storage Cabinet. The concept is straightforward: It’s a cabinet that will hide your Litter-Robot.
There’s not much more to it, though there are some thoughtful features, like the ability to install the opening on either side. There’s also an optional hutch for storage or for your cat to play on.
It’s a bummer that the Whisker Litter Box Storage Cabinet isn’t available in more styles, other than its dark-stain composite wood.
Compatible with automatic litter boxes
What We Like
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Multiple sizes available
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Easy to clean
Cats that love to kick up litter can make a real mess in a short amount of time, but getting a splash guard can help mitigate some of the mess. MEEXPAWS has an enclosure made of multiple different plastic sheets that slot into connectors, which can be fitted to most litter boxes.
Make sure the sheets are really in their slots by using a hammer because any tiny hole can make the splash guard less effective. The plastic sheets are both waterproof and easy to clean, making sure sticky messes can be dealt with. It also comes with a litter mat that helps trap extra litter and keeps it from making a mess on the floor.
Litter mat included
Final Verdict
Our favorite litter box furniture enclosure is the Frisco Mid-Century Modern Side Table Cat Litter Box Cover, which has a flexible assembly, plenty of interior space, and double doors with secure latches. But if you’re looking for a budget enclosure that will disguise a litter box, provide easy access for cleaning, and let you see whether or not your cat is okay with an enclosed bathroom, then check out the PAWLAND Decorative Cat House instead.
What to Look For in Litter Box Furniture
Features
The most important features for your cat are ventilation and visibility, which might conflict with your desire to disguise your cat litter box inside a furniture item. Our favorite litter box enclosure, the Frisco, makes ventilation and visibility part of its design cues, integrating it in a way that’s attractive and still looks like modern furniture.
The most important feature for you will be accessibility. The single biggest risk of using a litter box enclosure is that it will alter your behavior, not your cats. People tend to clean less when the messes are out of sight, or when there are physical obstacles to doing so. The right cat litter furniture should fit with your existing cleaning routine, so you won’t feel annoyed every time you have to clear a tabletop in order to lift a lid to access your cat’s poop.
Placement
Many litter box furniture items are designed to be used as side tables, nightstands, or other furniture items, which may put your cat in the position of having to use the bathroom when people are too nearby. Cats prefer large, clean, and uncovered boxes because they make them feel safe and able to observe their surroundings.
That makes placement crucial, since your litter box and its surrounding furniture should be somewhere that isn’t high-traffic, but also isn’t hard to access. Cats do not like to be cornered, and they like to know that there is an exit available at all times.
Litter Box Compartment
The interiors of many pieces of cat litter box furniture are simply too small. Even if you can squeeze a litter box inside, it may not be right for your cat if they feel stressed or cornered.
Look for litter box furniture that has multiple ways to open up; for example, cabinet doors that you can keep open for access when company is not around. Consider litter box furniture that has interior space in front of the litter box, so your cat can stretch within reach of it.
FAQ
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Do cats like litter box enclosures?
No, not typically. Cats have individual preferences (for example, some prefer running water for drinking, while some don’t), but in general, cats prefer open litter boxes over enclosures. If your cat is used to an open litter box, it’s possible that it won’t use a litter box in an enclosed space.
However, if your cat is already accustomed to an enclosed space, then they might adjust well. Dr. Burstyn noted that buying cat litter box furniture is more about our comfort than theirs. “They are a great solution for living in small spaces with cats, but if you have a larger home, it’s better to have an open litter box,” he told The Spruce Pets.
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Where do you put litter box enclosures?
“Somewhere peaceful, away from human traffic,” yet easily accessible, advised Dr. Burstyn, since cats do not like to be cornered and like to know where the exits are at all times. Litter box furniture should also be kept away from cats’ food and water bowls.
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What type of litter should I use with litter box furniture?
Whether it’s made from eco-friendly materials like corn, wheat, soy, grass, or recycled paper, or non-biodegradable materials like silica, most varieties of clumping cat litter are suitable for litter box furniture because they’re absorbent, keep odors at bay, and are easy to clean. You also want to look for low-dust or dust-free litter.
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How do you get a cat to use a litter box inside a piece of furniture?
You want to make it as comfortable and easily accessible as possible, so make sure there’s plenty of room for them to move around and multiple entries and exits. Placing the litter box furniture in the same vicinity as the old litter box and using the same type of litter can make it feel more familiar to your cat.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets
This article was written by Steven Asarch, a writer and product expert for The Spruce. A devout cat dad of two, he has expert experience figuring out which products are perfect for them. They both currently use cat litter box furniture.
To get the best understanding of what makes an ideal litter box enclosure, Asarch spoke with Dr. Uri Burstyn, medical director of the Arbutus West Animal Clinic in British Columbia. Using his knowledge of the subject, Asarch examined the durability, quality of materials, practicality, and ease of use to find the best cat litter box furniture on the market.
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