Cat people - litter box enclosure?

[estrellita]

So I've been thinking a lot and wanting to actually make the extra bedroom into baby's room, especially if we end up staying in our current place a bit longer than we originally wanted. Our main issue is that the litter boxes are in the closet of this room. There is a bathroom attached to this bedroom, but it is only accessible through the bedroom. There are really no other good places in the apartment for them. Our bedroom is big enough, but who wants to sleep with litter box smell? The master bath has no room the way it's laid out. The only solution I'm coming up with is the "dining" area we don't really use for anything. There is a wine bar against one wall and a shoe bench against the other. There is some space in the corner we could fit litter boxes. It may smell some while we're sitting in the living room, but that's part of the reason I'm asking about this

Basically I'm looking for something that can enclose 2 litter boxes (together or separately, doesn't matter too much), contain the smell, keep baby out when he starts crawling, keep the litter off the floor for the most part, and make it private for the cats. We also don't have a ton of money to spend on something like this, probably no more than $100 or so. Anyone have any suggestions?

[estrellita]

Oh FFS Asher just peed all over a toy right in front of us. For no reason. Ugh idk what to do with him anymore!

ETA: anyone have suggestions also for a cat that pees on things and pukes everywhere? We're going to call the vet on Thu (they are closed tomorrow) and get him in, but last time this didn't really help

[awick14]

Do you have in-suite laundry?

[estrellita]

Yes, it's in the same closet as the litter boxes. The closet is walk thru and the laundry is enclosed in a closet within that if that makes sense?

[HoneySpider]

I don't have any recommendations for specific enclosures since we just have a regular litter box with a lid but we have, in many of our places, had the box in a "main" area and it wasn't that big of a deal. Yes every once in a while you get a whiff of something nasty but it's not the end of the world IMO. That's what they made deodorizer sprays for.

I've seen some cool boxes on Amazon but don't recall prices. We looked a little before we moved here and ultimately decided to just stay with something basic.

[estrellita]

I think part of my issue is that they like to track litter EVERYWHERE in that closet area even with covers on the litter boxes. Nothing a little vacuuming won't clean up, but it will be annoying to have to vacuum daily. I was also thinking that since I saw some enclosures that were like totes that we could just get a couple tall totes and cut a hole in the back or side. Would be much cheaper but I wonder if it would work?

I'm also afraid after one of them peeing on something right in front of us that moving the litter boxes out this way might encourage that behavior more? I'm so frustrated with him right now. He's lucky he has us because I think a lot of people would have rehomed him after a lot of the things we've dealt with. As much as I hate him at times, he's still my baby...

[awick14]

Maybe get a little mat/rug for in front of the opening, that's what we have and it catches most of the liter that she brings out of the box.

I would try not to move it of possible, I think your cat knows something's up with all the baby stuff and they are afraid they are going to be forgotten about once baby comes.

A friend of mine had to make sure that she spent 2-3 10-15 minute periods with her cat everyday once baby came along otherwise her cat would pee on things. It was also in front of her, and only when she was paying attention.

[estrellita]

We have a mat and it doesn't help, haha. They are quite messy. I don't really want to move the litter boxes but I guess I feel kinda bad having baby in our room until whenever we are able to move. Oh well I guess. Hopefully the vet can help us figure something out!

[awick14]

The mat helps us, but we only have one cat, and it only helps if I clean the mat every 3-4 days.

[estrellita]

Yeah having 2 makes a big difference. Not to mention they kick the litter everywhere and drag it all over the apartment. At least it's just the litter and not poop like I've found before when they were little, lol.

[awick14]

I remember when our cat was a kitten and she used to drag stuff everywhere as well. Lol