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RV living with cats requires some planning, and one thing to figure out is where to put the litter box so that it’s out of the way. With some ingenuity, you can hide a litter box in just about any empty space in an RV. Here are a few ideas for litter box storage.
1. In a closet
A cat hole like this one, which can be stained or painted, can to allow a cat to access a litter box behind a closed door.
2. Under a dinette booth
RV owner Ted, creator of the public campground database ultimatecampgrounds.com, installed a cat door to allow access to the storage space under the bench seating.
3. Inside a storage bay
If you can find a place to cut a hole for access, the advantage of this location is that the litter box can be cleaned from outside. A cat door with weather stripping can help minimize drafts.
The owners of the RV pictured below chose not to have a built-in vacuum system in order to free up the ideal space for their cat’s litter box.
My Version of This Project
Attempting to adapt these ideas for our RV, we used a cardboard concrete form as a tunnel to bypass some electrical wiring leading through the stairs into our storage bay. It’s not pretty on the litter box side, but it works!
At first we were worried that our 14-pound cat might not fit through metal frame of the stairs, which is only 6 inches high, but it’s amazing how quickly and easily he can flatten himself and dart into his tunnel when he wants to!
Smell hasn’t been a problem as long as we clean the litter box regularly.
4. Under the sink
A cat flap could be installed on the side of a cabinet, like in the picture below, or through a door on the front.
Another option involves temporary cabinet door removal instead of a cutting a permanent hole. You could even remove both doors and cover the space under the sink with a curtain instead.
5. Under the bed
This RV owner uses a plastic storage bin with a hole cut in the side as a tall-sided litter box to help minimize the mess and allow side entry in a low-clearance under-the-bed hiding spot.
6. In a storage trunk
A wicker storage trunk becomes an attractive disguise with handy storage for cleaning supplies with this DIY project.
7. Inside an end table
A thrift store find can be used to conceal a litter box.
Alternatively, ready-made litter box cabinets are available to match any style of decor.
Another Litter Box Option
It’s been several years now since I originally wrote this article, and we have since purchased a motorhome to use only for travel instead of for full time living. Instead of modifying the RV to make space for the litter box, we ended up deciding to purchase a covered litter box that we just set in a spot that’s fairly out of the way.
We also use litter pan liners that are easy to just remove and toss into a dumpster when it’s time to change the litter.
This has turned out to be another good option for us. It’s not so pretty, but at least it encloses the smell and prevents our cat from kicking all of the litter out onto the floor! 🙂
If you’re looking for other ideas for RVing with pets, check out my RVing with Pets Resource Page!
Great ideas!! Thank you for posting!
Glad you find them helpful! 🙂
Thanks for the post. I hope you’ll add in the future to address the needs of big fluffy cats (mine are nearly 18lbs each) that normally have an entire room for their litter needs, lol. I’m also curious about litter box placement in small motorhomes. If I get out there, I’ll share solutions for my trio of felines!
Good points! Perhaps some of these ideas could be adapted for larger cats? For example, a dog door could be used instead of cat door. If you have a dining booth with storage space under the benches, perhaps both benches could be used – one for each cat. Would love to see photos of any solutions you come up with!
I haven’t found a place to hide my litter box yet. My cats are big, tall, not fat. They’re much too big for a normal litter box, because when they stand in the box, their backside is not over the litter, so I made a plastic bin into a litter box. Then when I brought it into the RV (small 24′ class C), I put it in the shower and leave the bathroom door open (access) with the vent fan running 24×7 (smell). I have to remove it when I take a shower, then I have to dry the shower pan before it’s ready for them to use again (annoying). I also use a towel and mat under the box to make sure they don’t get in the box with wet feet.
I am going to try one of the ideas in this article. I was trying to figure out how to gain access to the storage under my 2nd dinette seat, so I’m going to try to set up that area for their litter box.
Love these ideas! Any idea how people stop the litter sticking to their cats feet and getting tracked all over?
I purchased a litter mat for this very purpose! You can probably get one just about anywhere cat litter is sold, but here’s an example so you can see what I’m talking about.
The Breeze Cat Litter system is a God send. The pellets don’t stick to their feet and the urine passes thru and into a pad that you change each week. The pans stink alot less than traditional litter. Of course I have Otter… who is 8 months old and already 13 pounds of solid muscle…. he poops like a horse so this system is awesome to have. And Opie is my 10 pound cat who, before Otter, I thought was a large cat! The pellet system cuts down on wasted litter also.
We are in the process of building a home in a school bus so all of these ideas are great! Thanks!
Thanks for the tip about the Breeze Cat Litter System! I have heard others mention it before. Do you have to scoop it daily to remove the poops, or do you just remove them when you change the urine pad?
I choose to scoop often but there’s no odor even if you don’t scoop everyday. I find it has less odor all around than conventional cat litter boxes and a lot less mess! If you don’t change the pad once a week, however, the urine smell can be a bit much.
Sounds great! Thanks for the tip!
i have an RV with an over the cab bed. It is now the cat suite!
My cat would love that!
Another way to help prevent odors is to use a steel litter pan. There are some available on Amazon, or you could buy a steel restaurant pan. I have a steel pan I found in Pet Smart years ago. It’s very easy to wash out with hot soap and water and does not hold odors as plastic does. Plus it’s deep enough for big cats, it doesn’t rust, is harmless to your cat(s) and just doesn’t wear out. I’ve had mine for about six years and it’s in great shape. I also use Pretty Litter which is fabulous. You MUST stir it well once a day, every day, scoop out the “debris”, and there is no smell. If you don’t stir it, it will eventually begin to smell, so forewarned is forearmed. My cats have no problem with either the tray or Pretty litter. The only catch is how to have it shipped to you while you’re on the road, as I don’t think it’s currently offered in pet stores. I’m not a traveler so it’s not a deal breaker for me. But most of you already have a litter you like anyway, so its moot.
Thanks for the tip! A metal pan does sound like a great idea, not only for the reasons you mentioned but also to get away from using plastic. By the way I have seen Pretty Litter for sale at Target!
I’ve been looking for ideas on how to get my litter box outside with a walk way. My biggest issue is attached it to my travel trailer without putting holes in my outside panel. There are not many ideas on how to do this. Only of course the great ideas do inside.
Hi Paula, is there some way go through a storage area under your RV? Many RV’s have a thin panel somewhere separating the main cabin from the storage area and that’s where lots of RV owners install a cat door. Then maybe you could run some kind of walkway outside through the storage area? Not sure what kind of RV you have or whether that would work for you, but it’s just a thought! Or what about making something to go out a window when it’s open? At one point we had a ramp going out one of our windows for our cat, which you can see in this article.
Our last rv was a small 19 footer. We took out the seat by the door and replaced it with a cat tree with bottom being the kitty litter spot. The cats loved it and it was easy to clean. Too bad I didn’t take pictures. The new owners simply replaced the seat.