Cat dilemma- access to litterbox

3 months ago

My daughter would like our new cat to sleep in her room when we move. We prefer to not have a litterbox in her room (noise, smell, mess etc). How do we handle access to a litterbox outside her room if she sleeps with the door closed. Must cats have access to litter boxes overnight? We are considering making a cut out in her door or wall so the cat can get out of her room. We would want one that is covered (eg flap or two way door) for my daughter’s privacy. Does anyone know of a cat flap/door (if we made a cut out in the door or wall that is covered and all white (including the flap/door) so it wouldn’t be so noticeable from the hallway? I’ve looked at many online and they all seem like they would stand out a lot. Other thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

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Candace

3 months ago

Can your daughter try with a kitty box in her room (disguised) and keep her door cracked so the kitty can come and go? Kitty should have another litter box somewhere anyways.

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Comments (7)

Travis Johnson
3 months ago
My quick thought on this was...

What if you got a six paneled door or something that matched your decore, where one of the small, lower panels was hinged or slid up. That way, at night it could be opened, but during the day when the cat was not in there, it could be shut and unnoticed? It would have to be custom-made, but doable in DIY or by a local craftsperson.

I know, not really what you were looking for, but I humbly present the thought anyway as a work-around???
glaserberl
3 months ago
I think the real question is if the cat wants to sleep with your daughter. Are you moving with the cat or are you getting a cat when you move to the new house? In my experience cats pick where they sleep and it might not be your daughter's room.

If you don't want to cut a hole in the door you could try something like this latch.

https://www.amazon.com/TheDoorLatch-Adjustable-Latch-Litter-Installation/dp/B082H3BDC7/?tag=bv-spr-latchadoor-catdoorlatch-20&asc_source=browser&asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bobvila.com%2Farticles%2Fdoor-latch-for-cats&ascsubtag=0000BV0000148981O1280055920230225122506+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++&th=1

The door won't be wide open but allows enough room for the cat to slip through.

Or there is this option. Significantly smaller than a regular pet door.

https://www.amazon.com/Kitty-Pass-Interior-Hidden-Litter/dp/B017KXN7DG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1T6IF48L3WMZ1&keywords=The%2BKitty%2BPass%2BInterior%2BCat%2BDoor%2BHidden%2BLitter%2BBox%2BPet%2BDoor%2Bfor%2BCats%2Bup%2Bto%2B21%2Blbs%2BPet%2BBox&qid=1677330213&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=the%2Bkitty%2Bpass%2Binterior%2Bcat%2Bdoor%2Bhidden%2Blitter%2Bbox%2Bpet%2Bdoor%2Bfor%2Bcats%2Bup%2Bto%2B21%2Blbs%2Bpet%2Bbox%2B%2Cpets%2C124&sr=1-2&th=1
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Very cool ideas! I think about this a lot, as we have 3 cats. We do a lot of cat sitting too, so it's always interesting seeing people's solutions. We have a large laundry room, but the thought of kitty litter near clean clothes grosses me out too much (I line dry everything so don't want the dust on clean laundry). We're in the process of finishing our basement now, and have created a "kitty closet" specifically for the litter box, but unfortunately it is only wide enough to house one litter box. We used to have 2 litter boxes on our stairwell landing to the basement, but since the basement's been under construction we had to move the litter area to our master bath. I HATE the mess and dust of kitty litter in our bathroom, so it's definitely not a long-term solution. If we could put it in the tub for now I would, but all our cats are "seniors" and 2 of them can't jump up and down like they used to. We really only need boxes for 2 of our cats, as our 20-year-old kitty stopped using the litter box about 7 years ago for reasons we never did figure out. After some trial and error, we started placing rags (mostly old t-shirts) on trays (the kind they use in cafeterias) and he pees on them and then I wash them like cloth diapers. I like to mention this in case anyone else ever has this problem and is looking for a solution. He is the sweetest cat ever, and it was so hard when he started peeing on rugs and other places in the house. It was such a relief to find a solution that works. We keep 2 trays out for him (one on each floor), and it's honestly easier than dealing with the messy litter box in my opinion.
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Stax
3 months ago
GOTO Google cat door indoor

Lots of ideas. Better than a Forum.
Sherry7bNorthAL
3 months ago
I kept my cat's litter box in the bedroom, no problem. Get one of those cabinets to hold the litterbox and use World's Best (Green Bag. If you don't use the nasty clay litter with the awful perfume, it doesn't smell.
Ana William
3 months ago
It's important for cats to have access to a litter box 24/7, even overnight, so it's best to find a solution that allows the cat to get to the litter box outside of your daughter's room. One option is to install a cat flap or door in the wall next to your daughter's door, leading to an area where the litter box is located.

There are many cat flaps/doors available on the market, but you can look for a model that is all white, like you mentioned, to blend in with the wall or door. You can also consider getting a flap with a locking mechanism that your daughter can use to control the cat's access to her room.

Another option is to keep the litter box outside of your daughter's room, but provide the cat with a comfortable bed or blanket to sleep on in her room. This way, the cat can still spend time with your daughter but won't need to access the litter box during the night.

In either case, it's important to make sure the litter box is kept clean and odor-free to avoid any unwanted smells or messes.
Eloise J
14 days ago
Cats do need access to a litter box overnight, especially if they are used to having one in their room. If your daughter's door is closed, the cat will not be able to get to the litter box and may end up going outside the box, which can be messy and smelly.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your cat has access to a litter box overnight.

One option is to install a cat flap in your daughter's door. This will allow the cat to come and go as it pleases, without having to wake your daughter up. There are a variety of cat flaps available, including some that are covered and white.

https://learnaboutcat.com/category/care-training/

Another option is to keep the door to your daughter's room open a crack. This will allow the cat to get to the litter box, but it will also allow some light and air into the room. If you are concerned about security, you can install a security chain on the door.

Finally, you can also try training your cat to use a litter box in another room. This may take some time and patience, but it is possible. Start by placing the litter box in a quiet, secluded area. Then, gradually move the litter box closer to your daughter's room. Once the cat is comfortable using the litter box in the new location, you can close the door to your daughter's room.

Cat dilemma- access to litterbox

Candace

Comments (7)

Travis Johnson

glaserberl

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