Nobody puts the litter box in the living room on purpose. But in apartments and smaller homes, it often ends up somewhere you see it every day. Litter box furniture solves that by hiding the box inside a cabinet, bench, or side table. The catch? Some cats love an enclosed box and some refuse to use one. Here's how to pick an enclosure your cat will actually use, based on feline veterinary guidelines, plus our picks from simple nightstands to smart cabinets.
Key Takeaways
On this page
For most homes, yes, as long as your cat accepts it. The AAFP and ISFM Guidelines for Diagnosing and Solving House-Soiling Behavior in Cats report that cats are about evenly divided between preferring large covered boxes and open boxes. Since an enclosure works like a covered box, about half of cats should be happy with one right away.
The benefits are real. Litter-Robot's litter box enclosure guide lists hiding the box, giving cats privacy, keeping dogs and toddlers out, and doubling as furniture. That last point is the one most guides undersell: a good enclosure replaces a side table or console you'd buy anyway.
Big enough to hold a large box. The AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend a rectangular litter box about 1.5 times the length of your cat from nose to base of tail, and note that in one study adult cats preferred a 34 by 15 inch box over a smaller one. Many store-bought boxes, and many small cabinets, fall short.
So measure the inside, not the outside. Check the interior width, depth, and height, then make sure your cat can stand and turn around comfortably. The same guidelines warn that small covered boxes can make it hard for larger cats to posture normally. It's an easy mistake to make with litter furniture.
Match the style to your space and your cat. Nightstands suit bedrooms and single cats, cabinets with scratchers suit cats who like to perch, and double-room units suit multi-cat homes. This chart sums up the trade-offs, with real price ranges from our catalog.
| Style | Best for | Watch out for | Price range here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nightstand or end table | Small spaces, bedrooms, single cats | Smaller interiors; measure for your box | $85.99 to $125.99 |
| Cabinet with scratcher or lounge | Cats who like to perch and scratch | Make sure doors open fully for scooping | $139.99 to $191.99 |
| Double-room or 2-cat | Multi-cat homes | Each cat still needs its own box | $169.46 to $225.06 |
| Smart or self-cleaning cabinet | Owners using an automatic box | Check height, depth, and drawer access | $416.57 |
| Cat tree combo | Saving floor space | Tall pieces need anchoring | $301.47 |
Box size and covered-versus-open guidance from the AAFP and ISFM house-soiling guidelines.
Cat Litter Box Enclosure with Nightstand Top, White
A compact white nightstand that hides a standard box.
$85.99 Shop Now →
Litter Box Enclosure with Shelf and Double Doors
Double doors open wide for easy scooping.
$139.99 Shop Now →
Litter Box Enclosure with Flip-Down Door and Scratching Mat
A flip-down front gives full access to the box.
$145.99 Shop Now →
Hidden Litter Box Cabinet with Scratching Pad and Cushion
A litter room below and a cushioned lounge on top.
$171.99 Shop Now →
Litter Box Enclosure with Scratching Posts and Platform
Scratching posts and a perch built right in.
$171.99 Shop Now →
Litter Box Enclosure with Sisal Scratching Doors
Sisal doors double as a scratcher, plus storage.
$190.46 Shop Now →
Litter Box Enclosure with Storage Compartments and Scratcher
Keeps litter, bags, and scoops out of sight.
$191.99 Shop Now →
One with room for more than one box. The AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend at least one more litter box than the number of cats, and two boxes in separate locations even for a single cat. They also note that cats see boxes placed right next to each other as one large box, so a double-room cabinet works best when each side has its own entrance.
Don't stop at one piece of furniture, either. Put a second box in a different room, and keep food and water away from both. The guidelines say food near the box discourages cats from using it.
3-in-1 Litter Box Enclosure with Movable Divider
A divider helps keep litter in its own zone.
$87.56 Shop Now →
40 Inch Litter Box Enclosure for 2 Cats, White
Room for two boxes in one piece of furniture.
$169.46 Shop Now →
43 Inch Litter Box Enclosure with Double Rooms, White
Two separate litter rooms for multi-cat homes.
$225.06 Shop Now →
Yes, if the cabinet is built for it. Self-cleaning boxes are much larger than standard pans. Litter-Robot recommends at least 30 by 25 by 30 inches of interior space for its units, plus airflow and doors that open fully for waste drawer removal. Compare your box's dimensions with the cabinet's interior before you buy.
Our White Smart Litter Box Cabinet was designed for this, and it's one of the cat pieces our customers have been buying lately. Pair it with an open-top automatic box if your cat prefers an open design.
White Smart Litter Box Cabinet with Panoramic Glass Door
Built to house a self-cleaning box, with a glass door and RGB lighting.
$416.57 Shop Now →
Litter Box Enclosure Cabinet with LED Light and 2 Drawers
A modern side table with lighting and two drawers.
$416.57 Shop Now →
Self-Cleaning Litter Box with App Control, Open Top
An open-top automatic box, the style many cats prefer.
$262.99 Shop Now →
Self-Cleaning Litter Box with App Control for Multi-Cat Homes
Automatic scooping built for busy multi-cat homes.
$287.99 Shop Now →
Purrclean Self-Cleaning Litter Box with Wi-Fi App
Our premium automatic box with dual-band Wi-Fi app control.
$679.18 Shop Now →
From a litter mat that keeps the floor clean to a cat tree with a hidden litter room, these round out a cat-friendly home. Traveling with your cat? See our pet carrier buying guide.
Waterproof Double Layer Cat Litter Mat
Catches litter at the enclosure door before it spreads.
$34.99 Shop Now →
Litter Box Enclosure with LED Light and Charging Station
A side table with a built-in light and charging spot.
$215.99 Shop Now →
Cat House Cabinet with Litter Box Storage and Drawers
A real-wood look with drawers for supplies.
$244.99 Shop Now →
Cat Tree with Litter Box Enclosure, Rustic Brown
A multi-level cat tower with a hidden litter room at the base.
$301.47 Shop Now →
Many do, but not all. The AAFP and ISFM house-soiling guidelines report that cats are split about evenly between preferring large covered boxes and open boxes, and that regular cleaning may matter more than the cover. Keep an open box available when you first introduce an enclosure.
Big enough to hold a litter box about 1.5 times your cat's length from nose to base of tail, which is what the AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend. In one study, adult cats preferred a box measuring 34 by 15 inches. Check the enclosure's interior measurements, not just the outside.
Often, yes, if the cabinet is tall and deep enough for the unit and its waste drawer. Litter-Robot suggests at least 30 by 25 by 30 inches of interior space for its large automatic boxes, plus airflow and full door access. Always compare your unit's dimensions first.
An enclosure hides the box but can also trap odor if it isn't cleaned often. The AAFP and ISFM guidelines note that cats may avoid a covered box that smells, then use it again once it's clean. Scoop daily and choose a cabinet with good ventilation.
The AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend two boxes in two separate locations for a single cat, and generally one more box than the number of cats in multi-cat homes. A double-room enclosure can count as two only if each side has its own box and entrance.
Sources: Carney, Sadek, Curtis et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, AAFP and ISFM Guidelines for Diagnosing and Solving House-Soiling Behavior in Cats (2014), retrieved 2026-10-05. Litter-Robot (Whisker), Emily Johnson, Best Litter Box Enclosure: Aesthetic & Cat-Friendly Solutions, updated September 2026, retrieved 2026-10-05.
$220.53
$47.32
$52.99
$23.45
$129.45
$220.53
We read four airline pet pages to see how big a wheeled carrier can be, whether wheels matter, and how to measure before you buy.
A practical guide to bark collars for dogs: how vibration, spray, static, and ultrasonic types work, how to fit one, and how to use it kindly after finding the cause of the barking.
