8 Ways to Hide Your Litter Box (And Shame!) In A Tiny Apartment

I’m going to say what everyone’s thinking… Litter boxes have to be the worst part of being a cat parent (well, that and the banshee cries).

You spend a full month designing the perfect oasis, hanging art, arranging plants just so — and then there’s that hideous plastic box slyly standing in the corner like a coworker secretly praying for your downfall.

And don’t get me started on the smell. Or the awkward moment friends come over and pretend not to notice. Or when kitty decides to kick litter halfway across the apartment as if their lives depended on it. Nothing irks me more…

And for years, I tried to elude the horror - throwing it in closets, bathrooms, or even just somewhere random and pretending it wasn’t there (lol). But after a few embarrassing moments I won’t recount here, I finally figured out the perfect workaround, making it accessible, easy to clean and perfectly blended into my space.

And if I had to do it all over again, these are the only tricks I’d spend time testing for my small San Francisco apartment.

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1. The Undercover Furniture

This is the most obvious (yet somehow still overlooked) option. Buy or DIY a piece of furniture that doubles as a litter box cover. Think benches, cabinets, or end tables with hidden entry holes. Not only does it camouflage the box, but it also gives you extra storage or seating.

2. The Plant Corner

If you’re a plant parent, tuck the litter box behind a cluster of tall, leafy plants. Think Boston ferns, bamboo palm or even a faux tree. Just make sure your cat has an easy entry path, and keep the plants kitty-safe.

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3. Curtain Call

Use a tension rod and hang a cute curtain under a console table or desk. The litter box slides underneath, the curtain hides the evidence, and boom — instant disguise.

4. Behind the Bookshelf

Got a bookshelf? Remove the back, place the litter box behind it and let your books and décor act as the disguise. From the front, guests will just see your impeccable taste in novels, not kitty’s powder room.

5. The Hallway Divider

Use a folding screen, room divider, or even a strategically placed piece of art to block the view. It’s apartment-friendly, portable, and doubles as an interior design hack. Win-win-win.

6. Laundry Room Hack

If you’re one of few lucky San Francisco renters with a washer/dryer closet, use it to your advantage. Craft or buy a tiny table that slides in between the machines. Couple that with the tension rod trick and slide the litter box next to the machine. It tucks away nicely, you have a table for all of your laundry needs, and the laundry scents (hopefully) will cancel out the less-than-pleasant smells.

7. Ottoman Hideout

Yes, they make ottomans that secretly house litter boxes. Your cat gets privacy, and you get yet another cute piece of furniture. Yay!

8. Elevate with Style

If all else fails, just upgrade the litter box itself. Sleek, modern designs (think domed or minimalist boxes) look intentional rather than something you need to hide.

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Now you don’t actually have to sacrifice aesthetics for practicality. With creativity (and maybe a green thumb or two), you can keep kitty comfortable and your tiny SF apartment chic and covetable.

Never again will you have to utter the phrase: “Oh, sorry, just ignore the litter box over there.” You’re welcome.

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