How To Hide A Litter Box In A Small Bathroom

If you have a small bathroom and need to put the litter box there, you’ll probably want to make it as discreet as possible. But how can you do so, at least so it works and is practical for all? And how can you help your cat make the transition? Is there anything you need to consider to make it easier? Well, here is everything you’ll want to know about it.

So, how can you hide a litter box in a small bathroom? To hide a litter box in a small bathroom, you can use cat furniture, a table with a curtain, a large plastic box or basket, a bathroom cabinet, or the space under the sink with a sink skirt.

So I would like to make a recommendation. One that will resolve all of those issues, and a few others too.

Best Ways To Hide A Litter Box In A Small Bathroom

There are many ways to hide a litter box in a small bathroom. You can use cat furniture – either store-bought or something you make yourself. End tables, wicker baskets, and plastic boxes can all become enclosed litter boxes with little effort. You can also make the most of existing spaces, such as a bathroom cabinet or the space underneath the sink.

Use Cat Furniture

There are closed cat litter boxes you can use, some of which come inside cat furniture.

By choosing something with an attractive design, you can even find something to complement your home décor.

If you are after a stylish piece of cat furniture that won’t look like cat furniture, you can try something like the Haven Litter Box Enclosure.

I recommend this solution as it has been designed for ease of use and is cat-friendly.

Here is why I love the Haven and recommend it:

• It’s easy to clean and can help keep dust to a minimum
• It keeps your floor relatively free of pieces of kitty litter
• It looks beautiful
• You can use the top as a shelf or storage space
• Some cats prefer closed litter boxes, and many customers find their cats prefer to use their litter box when it’s placed inside this piece of furniture
• If your cat kicks litter out of the box, it tends to land in the landing spot
• It can accommodate a wide range of litter trays, up to 17 x 21 inches
• This item comes with a litter tray, scoop, brush and dustpan

Overall, this is a highly attractive piece of cat furniture that cats seem to love and that can successfully hide a litter box in a small bathroom.

Side Tables/Ottoman Benches

Some people have opted for a side table or an ottoman bench.

As long as there’s a large hole for your cat to get in and out, any enclosed piece of furniture can be made suitable to hide the litter tray.

Plastic Box

If you want a budget solution, you can even get a large plastic or cardboard box, cut a large hole in the front, and put the litter tray inside.

You then put the lid on the box and you’ve got an enclosed litter tray for your cat.

However, it’s worth knowing that although they’re inexpensive, most of these boxes may be too large for a small bathroom.

Plant Pots

Some people take an unusual object and turn it into a cat litter box – like a large plastic plant pot.

You can put a fake plant in the top section and cut a hole in the front for your cat. Fill the bottom of the pot with cat litter and you’re done!

Use An End Table

You can make your own piece of cat furniture by using a square or rectangular end table:

1. Choose an end table that can accommodate a litter tray underneath.
2. To hide the litter tray, choose a piece of fabric that goes with your décor. Measure the table’s perimeter (add half the perimeter again if you want to gather the fabric for a ruffle effect).
3. Measure the height from the edge of the table to just above the floor.
4. Cut and hem your piece of fabric, and then tack it underneath the end table, going around the perimeter. You can secure the fabric with staples, thumbtacks, or small nails.
5. Remember to leave an opening for your cat – either with a slit in the front that faces into the room, or down each side that is close to the wall. You want your cat to have a doorway.
6. Put the table in your chosen spot and slide the litter box beneath it, where it will be hidden from view. 

Use An Existing Bathroom Cabinet

If you don’t want to buy a ready-made enclosed litter box, you can put a litter tray inside an existing bathroom cabinet or cupboard.

All you have to do is make a large hole in the cabinet (big enough for your cat to comfortably get through) and put the litter box inside.

Remember to clean the litter box every time your cat does a poo, and scoop out pee at least twice a day.

Enclosed litter boxes tend to trap odors inside, and cats have a much more sensitive sense of smell than we do. What to us is a slight odor to them can be overwhelmingly stinky!

Note: If you are renting or you just don’t want to put a hole in an existing cabinet for whatever reason, you can remove the door and hang a piece of fabric in its place. Then when you move out, if you’ve been renting, put the original door back in its place. You can also add a cat door to an existing cabinet door.

Use The Space Under The Sink

If you have space under your sink, you can put the litter tray there – even if there’s no cabinet.

An excellent solution would be to run a skirt across the front of the sink – you’re effectively hiding the litter tray while providing easy access for your cat.

If you are making a sink skirt yourself, attach the fabric to three sides of the sink.

Leave an access area for your cat either in the middle (so between two pieces of fabric) or between the skirt and the wall.

Use A Wicker Basket

If you’d rather not cut holes in a wooden cupboard or tack fabric to a table, you can modify a large wicker basket or seagrass trunk.

Cut an access hole for your cat at the front and put the litter tray at the bottom of the basket (make sure it can fit first).

How to Help Your Cat Transition Over To a Hidden Litter Box

Some cats prefer hidden litter boxes, while others like open ones. If you have to transition your cat to a closed litter box, it’s possible with time and patience.

Here are the steps to take to transition your cat to a hidden litter box:

1. Put your cat’s usual litter box in the same place as the hidden one will be. You don’t want your cat to have to cope with two changes at once.
2. Use the same litter that your cat has been using (see below).
3. Once you know your cat is happily using the litter tray in the place where the cover will be, add the cover (or piece of furniture, basket, etc.) You may have to show your cat that it’s still the same litter tray.
4. If your cat is highly resistant to using the hidden litter box, try alternating the hidden one with the old open one (easier said than done, depending on the solution you’ve adopted). You could also try taking out just the flap (or door or curtain) until your cat is comfortable going in and out of the box. You can also try offering your cat a favorite toy when they sit in the litter box (not a treat, as they don’t like to eat where they go to the toilet).
5. Once your cat is happy going in and out of the litter box, add the top, curtain, or door.

Things to Consider With A Hidden Litter Box In A Small Bathroom

There are several things to take into account when you’re using a hidden litter box in a small bathroom. Make sure the litter tray is in the right location, easily accessible, and contains the kitty litter that your cat is already used to and happy with.

Choose tTe Right Location

You want to be sure that your cat’s litter box is in the right place – cats don’t like people watching when they go to the toilet.

Make sure your cat can use their tray in private, even if it’s in your bathroom.

Cats like quiet places to do their business, so be sure the location is a peaceful one.

Equally, self-cleaning litter boxes can be tempting, but they are noisy and many cats don’t like them.

Make sure nothing can fall into the litter box, as cats are easily spooked. Be sure there’s no risk of splashing water from a nearby sink, shower or bath.

If you have other pets, such as dogs, make sure they can’t get to your cat’s litter box.

In a home with several cats, each cat will usually prefer their own litter box (as well as their own water and food bowls).

Make Sure The Litter Box Is Accessible

Your cat needs to be able to access its litter box easily.

If you have an older cat, they won’t appreciate having to run an obstacle course, go up some stairs, or climb over high sides to go to the toilet

If your litter box is too difficult for your cat to use, you’ll soon find pee and poop in other parts of your home.

Remember, the litter box needs to be accessible to you, too.

You’ll be cleaning it several times a day, which needs to be an easy process.

There’s no point in having a beautiful location that makes it tough for you to scoop out dirtied litter.

In terms of size, an enclosed litter box needs to provide enough room for your cat to comfortably turn around and dig. The best height is from 8 to 12 inches.

Use A Kitty Litter Your Cat Likes

If you are making changes to the litter box, try and stick to the same type of kitty litter so that your cat doesn’t have to deal with too many changes at once.

Cats are creatures of habit and they thrive on predictable routines.

If for some reason you have to change the litter, do so gradually.

Put more and more of the new litter in with the old over a period of a week or so to allow your cat to get accustomed to the smell and feel of the new litter.

If you are unsure which litter to use, know that most cats appreciate a sandy texture that is hypoallergenic and odorless.

If you are looking for a recommendation, then you should consider the exceptionally low tracking tofu cat litter by Tuft and Paw.

This dust-free award winning tofu cat litter disintegrates completely in water so that you can flush it safely down the toilet when its done.

So you won’t even need to take the litter box out of the bathroom!

Finally

There are a number of effective ways to hide a litter box in a small bathroom.

Some are more cheap and cheerful, others will actually add to your home aesthetic.

If you are serious about adding a cat litter box to your bathroom, then I personally think you want it to be as discrete as possible.

That’s where furniture comes in, like the Haven.

And the fact that it was designed for cat litter boxes specifically, makes it so useful.

Besides, you could even get a couple, or move it out of the bathroom into another room of your home, in time!

Associated guides:

• How To Hide A Cat Litter Box In Plain Sight
• How To Hide A Cat Litter Box In A Small Apartment
• Best Cat Litter Box For Small Spaces [The One You Need Is…]