Wow! Thanks to everybody for all of the your creative suggestions!!! I am still debating on the better location. It's either going to be in the garage or the basement bathtub (that no one EVER uses). For what it's worth, we use Tidy Cats clumping litter and it seems to do the best job for us. I also installed one of those intermittent spray air fresheners (runs on batteries and hangs on a simple nail) just over the tub where their box is. That has made a great deal of difference...but It's not enough to make me want a litter box off my foyer anymore! Natal, thanks for asking about the basement. It really got me rethinking my position on that. My reasons for avoiding using it as a litter spot is that since our renovation, the basement is just soooo nice now...I just hate to have that durn box, the scattered litter, the smells, etc. down there! The only place it can go is the tub though. My concern with that is that the tub is acrylic, and I am afraid of getting too many scratches. But, I'm thinking that if I get a couple of throw rugs to line the tub and lay over the edge, it might not be a problem. Now I'll just have to find a way of keeping them from clawing up the leather furniture that's down there...(maybe we'll have to re-try Soft Paws...hmmmm...) Sujafr, Thanks for the warning about losing the fire-rating on the door to the garage. I would not have thought of that in a zillion years. Hmmmmm...now that option does not seem so great. My DH will certainly hate the idea knowing that little tidbit. I'm glad I did not do my usual thing and just impulsively hack a hole in the door! Jeanne gallo--wow!!! That little cut-out for the kitties is awesome! I so want that in my next house!!!! Do you mind if I save a copy of the photos?? Thanks again, everybody! You guys are THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have two cats, one litter box, and it stays tucked in the far back corner of the laundry room. It's behind a chest, so it's not seen from outside of the room. Extra supplies are located in two wicker baskets in the coat closet outside the laundry room. The scooper stays propped up under the sink and I have plastic grocery sacks to scoop into and tie up. Toss those in small garbage can under that sink.. Which gets dumped daily when kitchen garbage goes out (or sooner if needed). My main reason for posting it to tell everyone about the litterbox system my DS turned me onto. The Breeze system by Tidycats. He had told me about it and quite frankly I was hesitant. But last fall, he and his GF brought me one of his cats (he has another one and she had a kitten, so three was too many). They brought their kitten down too and a litter box. NO dust. Cost less than regular scooping/clumping litter. No worries about lung cancer from breathing in more cat litter dust (for the last 30 years). No tiny bits of litter all over the floor, in the laundry room, etc. Of course his cat already liked the system. Boo was 5yo when I switched over. No problems. I removed the old box (clumping litter mixed with a bag of new litter) in a week. fyi, I put in 2 bags of litter each time I switch it all out (once a month) instead of the suggested 1 bag of litter. Boo likes to dig and 1 just seems rather thin to me. A 3 pack of pads (which I really thought was going to be the worse part of the system, but they are so good) last depending on how many cats are using the box. 1 change of pad per cat per week. So 2 cats = 2 changes per week. The litter box is slopped above the pads, so pee goes onto the pad - no accidents. Even if you forget to change the pad on time. Holds massive amounts. No smell from pad (actually smells better now than when they used regular litter, imo) but I do keep a solid deodorizer on the floor next to chest just in case. The only negative, #2 is harder for them to cover up (if they want to cover it up) but I'm home and hear them digging (it is louder than regular litter) and usually get it out asap anyway. DD2 and DS work, so they only clean out when they get home/before they go out and their cats are ok with it. I ordered DD2 and me each a system. Three of her friends have switched over. Two of mine have. DD2 and DS both have 2 cats, 1 system. But if 3 cats, I would def get 2 systems. I originally went on a hunt for "best price" as I always do. At that time, PetCo was having an awesome sale and no shipping - even on cat litter, which is really unheard of. I ordered so much Petco called to see if I had really ordered that much. lol If not on sale w/free shipping, I buy the supplies at Wal-Mart. Less than Pet Supplies Plus, even with their "club card" percentage refund of each purchases. DS lives in downtown Chicago and usually orders his from a place on Amazon. Target was not carrying last time I looked and he doesn't have a WM close by. Here is a link that might be useful: Breeze Litter System for Cats

You guys are wonderful, thank you so very much for all the wisdom and advice! DH would kill me if I brought home two kittens. We do have a 1 year old German Shepherd, and I think the best is to wait and see how the two get along together before adding to the mix. We're picking the kitten up today; I will post pictures and an update later. I'm holding off on buying the 'furniture' litter box but would love to see pictures of any of your 'hidden' set-ups. We usually keep the basement door closed, and are not down there daily, but that might be the best option. Anglophilia - it sounded like your cabinet combined the food and litter box? Mizlizzie - would you be willing to post a picture? Everyone - thank you again! I have been reading and re-reading this post.

I've had 2 toy breeds that at some point in their lives were unable to go outside, both successfully trained to use pee pads. If you decide to try the litter box, please do not use cat litter. As my vet explained to me, dogs are curious, and will stick their noses into lots of things, including cat litter, where the litter sticks on the nose, the dog licks it, and the litter is swallowed. This can lead to the litter swelling in the intestinal tract and can lead to blockage, which if left untreated might kill a dog. I'm not familiar with dog specific litter, so I can't speak about it. My vet is pretty strict, and advised me to keep all cat litter boxes at a height, away from my dog's access. I've a feeling some have dogs, and cats with litter boxes, and perhaps the dogs swallowed a bit of litter without harmful side affects, but I'd not take the risk. Annegriet, some dogs need a defined space (this could just be a box with pee pads in it, or a small tray around pee pads. Some dogs simply go on a pad with no boundaries. I've tried the paper pads, which I far prefer for convenience, but for a while I tried these washable 'human' incontinence pads. I was washing and drying pads daily with no time for much else so I stopped - and it was actually more costly. A friend has a large older lab who suffers from mild dementia, and her dog now uses a space with 4 large pee pads - although she sometimes 'forgets' where to 'go' due to the sun-downers. ETA: I second maifleur01 comment: often one sees changes in dog feces better when it's on a pad, which can lead to early detection/diagnosis of health issues. However, I wouldn't recommend pads only for a healthy active dog... going outside is natural, and the exercise is good for them :-)