Litter & Litter Boxes
Best Litter Box Enclosures and Furniture
A litter box enclosure hides the box inside a piece of furniture. Two facts matter before you buy: in one study most cats showed no preference between covered and uncovered boxes [2], and vet guidelines recommend a box 1.5 times your cat's length [1], so the enclosure has to fit one.
We picked two furniture enclosures and one simple hooded box, and we note which ones include a litter box (only one does).
A litter box enclosure works when three things are true: the box inside is big enough, your cat can get in and out without feeling cornered, and you can still scoop every day. Most cats accept a cover: in a 2013 study, 70% of 27 cats showed no preference [2]. Size and odor are the bigger risks. AAHA's feline guidelines say most manufactured boxes are too small [6], and Cornell notes that from a cat's point of view a cover holds odors in [3].
Our 3 picks at a glance
- Best OverallFeandrea Litter Box Enclosure End Table (HAINS)End table with a removable divider that opens the interior to 29.7 × 19.8 inCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best Curved-Entry CabinetHzuaneri Litter Box Enclosure CabinetCurved entry corridor; the listing says it keeps dogs outCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best All-in-One Hooded BoxAmazon Basics No-Mess Hooded Litter Box (Large)The box and hood in one, with a swinging door and carbon filterCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
How we chose these enclosures
We searched Amazon for litter box enclosures and read the top organic results. We left out splash guards, which don't enclose the box.
We checked the interior sizes where listed (only the Feandrea gives them) against the AAFP and ISFM box-size guidance [1], and read the covered-versus-uncovered study by Grigg and colleagues [2]. For the litter inside, see our odor-control litter guide. To keep a dog out of the litter box area while the cat can still get in, see the cat-door gate in our dog gate guide. For accidents outside the box, an enzyme stain remover is the tool the vets' and welfare groups' guidance points to.
What the research says about covered boxes
In a 2013 study, 27 cats each had both a large covered and a large uncovered box, with fine clumping litter scooped at least daily. Nineteen of them (70%) showed no preference; four preferred covered and four preferred uncovered [2].
The AAFP and ISFM guidelines say cats are about equally divided between covered and uncovered boxes, but still recommend open boxes where possible. That is because an open box is easier to monitor and scoop, not because cats dislike covers [1].
The guidelines also recommend a box 1.5 times the length of your cat, from nose to base of tail [1]. For a cat 18 inches from nose to base of tail, that means a box about 27 inches long. The Feandrea's 19.8-inch compartment is shorter than that, so you would need to remove its divider (29.7 inches). The Amazon Basics box is 24 inches long on the outside, so by that rule it suits a cat of at most about 16 inches.
Are enclosed litter boxes OK for cats?
For most cats, yes, with conditions. The one controlled study we found gave cats a large covered and a large open box, both scooped daily, and most used them equally [2]. Vet and welfare sources still lean toward open boxes, for reasons worth knowing before you buy furniture:
- Odor stays in. Cornell says most cats prefer an uncovered box that lets odors escape and gives a 360-degree view [3]. VCA says covers can trap odors when the box isn't cleaned often [5].
- Ambush risk. VCA warns that a cover lets another cat ambush the one inside as it comes out [5]. In a multi-cat home where one cat bullies another, a single-entrance cabinet is a poor choice.
- Mobility. VCA says a cat that has gained weight or has mobility problems may need an uncovered box or one with lower sides [5].
- You check it less. The AAFP and ISFM guidelines prefer open boxes because they are easier to monitor and scoop [1].
A reasonable test: put the enclosure next to the current box rather than replacing it, and only remove the old box once your cat is using the new one every day.
What size litter box enclosure do you need?
Size the box first, then the furniture. The AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend a box 1.5 times your cat's length from nose to base of tail [1]. AAHA's 2021 life-stage guidance measures to the tip of the tail [6], which gives a much bigger box, so treat the base-of-tail figure as the minimum. The ASPCA's simpler test: your cat should be able to stand and turn around comfortably [7].
| Cat length, nose to base of tail | Minimum box length (1.5×) | Fits the Feandrea? |
|---|---|---|
| 13 in | 19.5 in | Yes, in the 19.8-in compartment |
| 14 in | 21 in | Only with the divider removed (29.7 in) |
| 16 in | 24 in | Only with the divider removed |
| 18 in | 27 in | Only with the divider removed |
| 20 in | 30 in | No; 29.7 in is just short |
| 22 in | 33 in | No |
Feandrea interior per its listing: 19.8 in with the divider, 29.7 in without. The Hzuaneri listing gives no interior size, so measure inside before you buy a box for it.
For a large litter box enclosure, measure three things inside the cabinet, not just its footprint:
- Usable length, from the inside of the back wall to the door frame, minus any lip at the entry.
- Height. Your cat needs to stand, turn and, for cats that stand to pee, keep its rear above the box rim. The Feandrea lists 18.3 inches of interior height.
- Room to slide the box out. If you can't pull the box forward to scoop, you will scoop less often, and the guidelines put daily scooping first [1].
AAHA notes that larger storage containers can stand in for undersized commercial boxes [6]; check the bin fits the interior before you commit to either.
Feandrea Litter Box Enclosure End Table (HAINS)
Sold and shipped by Amazon.com.
This end table is the only pick that lists its interior dimensions. The compartment is 19.8 × 19.8 × 18.3 inches. Remove the divider and it becomes 29.7 × 19.8 × 18.3 inches, which fits a larger box.
Outside it is 31.5 by 20.9 by 19.7 inches, in particleboard and MDF with barn-style doors. The listing estimates about 20 minutes to assemble with labeled parts, and lists a two-year warranty.
Good to know
- Interior sizes stated, with and without the divider
- Two-year warranty listed
- The top works as an end table
Keep in mind
- No litter box included
- Top load figures conflict: the bullets say 132 lb (22 lb without the divider), the spec table says 66 pounds
- Particleboard and MDF, not solid wood
Hzuaneri Litter Box Enclosure Cabinet
Sold by Hzuaneri, ships from Amazon.
The Hzuaneri routes your cat through a separate curved corridor before the box. The listing says this adds privacy and "prevents dogs from intruding".
Inside there is carpet that the listing says keeps litter from scattering, and a scratching ball with a bell. The listing says four adjustable feet level it on uneven floors, and that the desktop and cabinet are FSC-certified wood. It is 31.5 by 19.7 inches and about 21 inches tall.
Good to know
- Curved entry corridor
- Adjustable feet and a latch the listing says won't swing open on its own
Keep in mind
- No litter box included, and the listing doesn't give interior dimensions
- The corridor design keeping dogs out is the listing's claim
- Height is listed as both 20.9 and 20.47 inches
Amazon Basics No-Mess Hooded Litter Box (Large)
Sold and shipped by Amazon.com.
If you don't need furniture, a hooded box is the simplest enclosure, and this is the only pick here that is itself a litter box. It measures 24 by 18 by 17 inches per the title (the detail table gives 23.62 × 17.32 × 16.93), with a swinging door, a pre-installed carbon filter and a built-in carry handle.
It is plastic and weighs 3.3 pounds. The listing says it snaps into place, which makes scooping or changing litter easier.
Good to know
- Includes the litter box itself
- Carbon filter pre-installed
Keep in mind
- Replacement filters are sold separately
- It is a covered box, not furniture that hides one
- If your cat is new to flap doors, we'd keep an open box available at first
The enclosures side by side
| Product | Type | Outside size | Box included? | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feandrea end table | Furniture enclosure | 31.5 × 20.9 × 19.7 in | No | Particleboard, MDF |
| Hzuaneri cabinet | Furniture enclosure | 31.5 × 19.7 × 20.9 in | No | Engineered wood |
| Amazon Basics hooded box | Hooded litter box | 24 × 18 × 17 in | Yes (it is the box) | Plastic |
Specs as stated on each Amazon listing, checked September 2026.
How to hide a litter box without putting your cat off it
Hiding the box is fine. Hiding it somewhere a cat won't go is the mistake. The placement rules from vet sources:
- Quiet, private and away from food. Cornell says cats want a spot that is quiet, private, separate from their feeding area and reachable 24 hours a day [3]. That rules out a closet or laundry room that is sometimes shut.
- Away from noisy machines and traffic. VCA says to avoid high-traffic areas and spots near a furnace or washing machine [5].
- An escape route. AAHA's guidance calls for quiet spots with an escape route if needed [6]. Turn the entrance toward the open room rather than a wall or corner.
- More than one. Cornell recommends one box per cat plus one, in different areas of the house [3], and the AAFP and ISFM guidelines suggest a box on each level of a multi-level home [1]. A furniture enclosure counts as one of those boxes, not all of them.
- Move it gradually. If you are relocating an existing box into the enclosure, VCA suggests moving it only 6 to 8 inches at a time [5].
Odor and ventilation inside litter box furniture
A cabinet adds walls and a door around the box, which is exactly what Cornell means when it says covers hold odors in [3]. Furniture can't fix that, but your setup can:
- Scoop daily. VCA's warning about trapped odor is specifically about boxes that aren't cleaned often [5].
- Use unscented clumping litter, as the AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend [1], so urine leaves with each scoop. Our odor-control litter guide compares types.
- Protect the floor of the cabinet. The Feandrea is particleboard and MDF per its listing; a litter mat or tray under the box keeps urine and scattered litter off unsealed board.
- Use a high-sided box inside. The guidelines say high sides catch urine from cats that stand to pee [1], which keeps it off the cabinet walls.
- Leave the doors open or the vent clear. A cabinet that is shut tight between scoops holds the most odor.
If the cabinet itself starts to smell after a wash, urine has probably soaked into the board. Clean it with an enzyme stain remover rather than ammonia or bleach, which the ASPCA says can encourage a cat to pee there again [7].
How to keep a dog out of the litter box
Dogs raid litter boxes because cat feces smell like cat food to them, according to the American Kennel Club [4]. It isn't harmless: the AKC warns that eating feces can expose a dog to bacteria and parasites, some of which, like salmonella, can spread to people, and that eating a lot of litter could cause a blockage [4].
The AKC's options, roughly from most to least reliable [4]:
- Put the box where the dog can't reach it, such as a room behind a gate with a cat-sized door. Our dog gate guide includes one.
- Use a covered or top-entry box that is harder for a dog to get into.
- Use a cabinet with a turned entry, like the Hzuaneri's curved corridor. Keeping dogs out is the listing's claim; a small dog may fit through any opening big enough for a large cat.
Whatever you choose, make sure the dog can't wait outside the cabinet door. A cat that gets cornered on the way out has a reason to stop using the box.
DIY and flat-pack cabinet enclosures: what to check
Converting a cabinet or storage bench is common and can give you more interior room than ready-made furniture. Before you cut an entry hole, check the same things you would on a store-bought one:
- Interior length at least 1.5 times your cat's length, nose to base of tail [1]
- A box or storage bin that fits inside with room to slide it out for daily scooping [6]
- An entry big enough for your cat to walk in without crouching, with sanded edges
- A floor you can wipe clean, or a tray under the box
- A way for air to move, such as a second opening or a door you leave open
Keep the old open box available until your cat is using the new one every day, since the guidelines' baseline is two boxes even for one cat [1].
What to check before you buy litter box furniture
Interior size
The guidelines recommend a box 1.5 times your cat's length [1]. Only the Feandrea lists its interior, so measure before you buy the others.
Easy access for cleaning
An enclosure shouldn't make daily scooping harder. The guidelines stress removing waste at least daily [1].
Odor
An enclosure hides the box but doesn't remove odor. In our view, regular scooping matters more than the cabinet; the guidelines recommend removing waste at least daily, for the cat's sake [1].
Which enclosure to choose
- Best Overall: The Feandrea end table is the pick if you want furniture and need to know the interior size.
- Best Curved-Entry Cabinet: The Hzuaneri routes your cat through a curved corridor, which the listing says keeps dogs away from the box.
- Best All-in-One Hooded Box: The Amazon Basics hooded box is the simple option, and the only pick that includes the box itself.
Litter box enclosure FAQ
Do cats like covered litter boxes?
Why do vets recommend open litter boxes?
The AAFP and ISFM guidelines recommend open boxes where possible because they are easier to monitor and scoop, not because cats dislike covers [1].
How big should the litter box inside an enclosure be?
The guidelines suggest a box 1.5 times your cat's length from nose to base of tail [1], so about 27 inches for an 18-inch cat. The Feandrea lists an interior of 19.8 × 19.8 inches, or 29.7 × 19.8 inches with the divider removed.
Do litter box enclosures reduce smell?
They hide the box, but they don't remove odor on their own. The litter matters: see our odor-control litter guide. The guidelines, written to keep cats using the box, recommend removing waste at least daily [1].
Where should I put a litter box enclosure?
The guidelines advise keeping food and water away from the box, choosing private locations, and in multi-level homes having a box on each level [1].
Is a litter box enclosure good for multiple cats?
Do dogs get sick from eating cat poop?
They can. The American Kennel Club says eating feces can expose dogs to harmful bacteria and parasites, and that some bacteria, such as salmonella, can spread to people [4]. Eating a lot of litter could cause a blockage; the AKC advises calling your vet if your dog has trouble pooping, stops pooping or has abnormal stool [4].
Can I put litter box furniture in the laundry room?
How do I get my cat to use a new litter box enclosure?
Set it up next to the current box rather than swapping one for the other, using the same litter. If you are moving the box to a new spot, VCA suggests shifting it 6 to 8 inches at a time [5]. Remove the old box only once your cat is using the enclosure every day.
Sources
- AAFP and ISFM Guidelines for Diagnosing and Solving House-Soiling Behavior in Cats, Carney HC et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 16:579–598 (2014). journals.sagepub.com
- Grigg EK, Pick L, Nibblett B. Litter box preference in domestic cats: covered versus uncovered. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 15(4):280–284 (2013). journals.sagepub.com
- Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling. vet.cornell.edu
- American Kennel Club — Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop?, Burke A (2026). akc.org
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Cat Behavior Problems: House Soiling, Horwitz D and Landsberg G. vcahospitals.com
- AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines (2021) — General Litter Box Considerations. aaha.org
- ASPCA — Addressing Litter Box Problems. aspca.org