Wooden Cat Litter Boxes
Buy the best wooden cat litter boxes selected and recommended by interior designers. By Peyton Robinson.
There’s nothing pretty about your typical cat litter box, which is why we found these six litter boxes that look like pieces of furniture instead of litter trays. Each of these boxes is made from wood, and we’ve chosen a wide variety of styles — from contemporary to country. Some of them have an extra storage area so you can store bags of litter along with a cleaning scoop. From big to small box sizes, we think these litter boxes will be perfect for you and your kitty!
Wooden Cat Litter Boxes
Buying Guide
Peyton Robinson
Interior Design Expert
From fancy feeding stations to designer crate furniture, Peyton knows how to ensure comfort to your furry companion without compromising on the aesthetics of your home.
A wooden cat litter box is surprisingly easy to clean because it’s simply a container for concealing your cat’s actual litter box. This means the cat isn’t directly going to the bathroom on the wooden cat litter box furniture surfaces.
Instead, you’ll place a plastic litter bin inside the wooden furniture box, which you’ll fill with cat litter and clean as you normally would any litter box. While there is an added step to accessing the box for cleaning, most wooden litter box concealing units either open from the top like a chest or have doors at the front that you can open like a cabinet, giving you an easy way to get to the litter tray.
These wooden litter box units are hugely beneficial in that they give your cat privacy when going to the bathroom, and they contain the smell of the litter, so your home looks and smells its best even between litter box cleanings.
A piece of wooden cat litter box furniture is a functional piece and can be placed in the foyer, bathroom, hallway, or laundry room in your home. These decorative wooden pieces of furniture are designed to hold and disguise your cat’s litter box inside a playful or elegant storage cabinet. Because these wooden containers keep the litter inside along with litter box smells, you can place your wooden litter box furniture anywhere you please.
They are ideal for use as end tables in your living room, or as a console in your entryway. Style them with small house plants, catch-alls for keys and phones, and hang artworks or mirrors above the box to complete the look.
Wooden cat boxes come in a variety of styles. Go the traditional route with classy wooden boxes that look just like regular storage cabinets. These have round or square entrances cut into the side that allows your cat to get to its litter box, while also keeping your space looking tidy.
Litter boxes should be as long as your cat is from her nose to the tip of her tail. This allows your cat to move around in the box comfortably. For large breeds, this may mean a box that is 36" long. The litter box width should be the length of your cat from her nose to the base of her tail.
Most litter boxes are rectangular, but some are round or oval. The shape doesn't matter to your cat, but make sure to get one that has rounded corners for easy cleaning and your pet's safety.
Litter boxes between 5-7" high are sufficient for cats that do not kick litter around when using the box. However, higher walls between 8-12" are best for preventing litter from getting kicked onto the floor. Since these higher walls are hard for cats to climb in and out of, look for a box that has one wall lower than the others, or that has a small built-in door.
Kittens will struggle to get in and out of a litter box more than 5" high, but they also tend to kick litter around a lot. Look for a box with a low wall for entry and a wall or other protective barrier around the other sides. Initially, you may need to buy a smaller box and then swap it out for a larger one as your kitten grows.
Older cats with mobility issues may need an even lower box. Some litter boxes have entry openings as low as 3" high that allow less mobile cats to climb over the side easily.
Self-cleaning litter boxes can be a good investment for busy cat owners. They filter out unclean litter regularly, allowing cats to have fresh litter daily. All owners have to do is take out the separated dirty litter and occasionally refill the clean litter. This can be especially helpful for older owners who don't want to bend down and clean a litter box daily.
Some self-cleaning boxes use a lever to pull a screen across the box, sifting out used litter. These boxes are less expensive than fully automatic boxes but still provide added convenience for owners.
In rare cases, cats can be startled by the noise and movement of an automatic self-cleaning box. Make sure to get an automatic box that is very quiet and has excellent motion sensors, so it doesn't clean while your cat is in or around the box.
- Flaps can help hide odors and increase cat privacy, but they trap ammonia and other harsh chemicals even more than boxes with regular covers. Make sure to clean boxes with flaps daily, even if you can't smell the dirty litter.
- Some automatic and manual self-cleaning boxes use disposable inserts. Owners need to buy disposable insert refills occasionally, but they the ideal low-maintenance option for busy cat owners.
- Attached or detachable ramps are excellent for cats with or without impaired mobility. Some even have textured steps that can help remove litter from cats' paws to keep you home clean.
- Storage compartments and hooks can help keep track of litter scoops and other supplies.
Some litter boxes are very large and designed for multi-cat homes. Although many cats are willing to share a litter box, one box is typically enough for a single cat home. Vets recommend you have enough litter boxes for every cat in your home plus an additional box for variety.
If you have a large house, it's wise to put litter boxes in separate locations and train the cats to know where they are. When adding a new litter box, take a small amount of used litter from the old box and put it in the new box so your cats will recognize it.
Owners who take overnight trips should invest in one extra litter box for the cats. While cat-sitters are necessary for trips of two nights or more, an extra litter box and serving of dry food should keep the cats happy during an overnight trip.
- Litter boxes should be at least as long as your cat is from nose to tail-tip. For width, look for boxes as wide as your cat's body and head length.
- Plastic is common and durable, but stainless steel is even tougher.
- Boxes should have at least one wall between 5-7" for easy entry but can have higher walls for preventing litter spray. Older cats and kittens may need even lower entry points.
- Cats sometimes prefer covered boxes, and covered boxes need to be cleaned daily to avoid irritating cats' lungs. If you get a covered box, get one with a cover that's easy to remove.
- Self-cleaning boxes come in manual and automatic varieties. They can be helpful for owners but get one that doesn't startle your cat.
- Ramps, storage hooks, and other extra features can be a nice finishing touch on litter boxes, depending on owner preference and need.