By
Christene Kidd
9/24/25
•
5 min
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, they make ottomans that secretly house litter boxes. Your cat gets privacy, and you get yet another cute piece of furniture. Yay!
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.
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.
The best place is a low-traffic, well-ventilated area that your cat can access 24/7. Popular options include the bathroom, a hallway nook, inside an enclosure, or under a console table with airflow. Avoid closets with closed doors as they trap odor and may discourage your kitty from using the box.
You can hide a litter box using:
Choose options that provide privacy without trapping odor.
Scoop daily, fully refresh litter weekly, and clean the box with unscented soap. Use low-dust litter, add a litter-catching mat, run an air purifier nearby, and consider a fragrance-free deodorizer. Proper placement is half the battle and airflow is everything in small spaces.
Yes, as long as the enclosure is well-ventilated and sized well. Avoid tight spaces, boxy furniture with poor airflow, or anything that makes cleaning difficult. Kitties stop using their litter box if the enclosure traps odor or feels stressful.
Low-tracking, top-entry, or high-sided boxes are ideal. They reduce mess, kick-out, and odor. For busy cat parents, automatic litter boxes can help. But make sure your cat is comfortable with moving parts and noise before committing.
Veterinarians recommend one litter box per cat, plus one extra. In tiny apartments, this can be tough, but try to maintain at least one box per cat to prevent litter box issues like accidents or avoidance.
Use a high-sided or top-entry litter box, pair it with a large litter-catching mat, and choose low-tracking litter. Some cats kick out of excitement or stress. Ensuring the box is clean and private can reduce the behavior.
Only if the door stays open and there’s sufficient airflow. Closed closets trap odor, increase moisture, and can make your cat avoid the box. If using a closet, remove the door or install a cat-cutout to improve ventilation.
Blend it into your decor is easy with:
The key is style + airflow + EASY cleaning.
Clumping, low-dust, low-tracking litters are best. Popular options include walnut litter, unscented clumping clay, and silica-based litter. Scented litters often increase odor by mixing with ammonia. Just stick to unscented.
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