Keeping a Cat in a Small Apartment
If you’re going to share a small apartment or studio with your feline friend, you’ll have to adjust to some habits and expectations. Your kitty roommate won’t flush the toilet or vacuum, so you’ll need a plan to control cat odors and keep the litter box out of sight. You’ll also need to clean more frequently to keep litter tracking and cat hair to a minimum.
But in a small apartment, there isn’t as much to clean, so the extra time spent to keep your place clean is only a few minutes per day. Plus, the products you choose for your kitty’s toileting and maintenance really make a difference in small spaces, especially for controlling cat smells in the air or in the litter box.
What You Should Look for in Cat Litter for a Small Apartment
When it comes to choosing cat litter to use in a small apartment, there are three main factors to consider:
- Weight
- Clean-up
- Odor control
Let’s take a look at each of these to help you decide the best cat litter for your apartment situation.
Lightweight Cat Litter
If shopping for supplies means walking or carrying them on and off the bus or subway, you know the difficulty of getting heavy items into your city apartment. And if you live in a walk-up and must carry groceries or cat litter up flights of stairs without an elevator, the weight of cat litter packages is definitely something to consider.
Most packages of cat litter weigh anywhere from 14 to 40 lbs. and that can be a lot to schlep up a bunch of steps or through transit stations. Lightweight cat litters are about half as heavy as regular litter, so they are easier to carry, pour into the litter box, and store, which is great for small spaces, city logistics, and flights of stairs.
Just because they are half as heavy doesn’t mean lightweight litters are less effective on odor control or urine absorption. In fact, ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™ AbsorbX Lightweight Clumping Litter absorbs urine in seconds, trapping cat pee odor into hard clumps that can be easily scooped out and disposed – even right after your cat uses their box. With 7-day odor-control guaranteed, and an unscented formula for sensitive noses, you can have your cat in a small apartment without having your place reek of cat smell.
Ease of Clean Up and City Regulations for Animal Waste
When you need to clean your litter box twice per day, as you will when you share a small apartment with your kitty, the ease of clean-up is a big deal. Look for a clumping cat litter, otherwise you may find yourself having to dump the box, scrub, and change litter more frequently. A clumping cat litter turns urine into solid clumps and coats feces with odor-control litter for easier scooping and reduced cat box smells.
Scooping is a quick and simple chore if your cat litter is doing its job containing the urine and feces in solid clumps. Not all clumping cat litter is equal, however. Some litter’s clumps are loose and break apart when you try to scoop them. ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™ litters use patented technology to create dense, hard clumps that stay together and can be scooped whole.
The quick-clumping minerals in AbsorbX lightweight litter allow you to scoop the litter box immediately after your cat uses it, leaving even less chance for lingering urine odors or the unmistakable smell of ammonia in cat pee.
For even easier clean-up, try Microguard™ Odor Sealing formula which helps prevent the growth of future bacterial odor.
If you prefer a natural cat litter, try ARM & HAMMER™ Naturals* Clumping Cat Litter. Made from corn, baking soda, and plant extracts with mineral oil for dust control and added scent, it forms hard, easy-to-scoop clumps, and is virtually dust-free. This litter is also lightweight, so it’s easier to carry, pour, and store.
More Tips for Having a Cat in a Small Apartment
Where to Put the Litter Box in a Small Apartment
When you can’t put the litter box far away in a basement or guest bath, where you hide the litter box and what type you choose really matters. Read our articles about how to set up the litter box and how to hide a litter box for some ideas.
Clean up, Clean up
In a small apartment, you’ll want to stay on top of scooping the litter box. This will help with overall cleanliness and removing cat urine odor. It’s best to take care of it twice per day if possible. Try doing it as part of your morning routine and bedtime routine. If you’re brushing your teeth, check the litter box. Doing this will help keep your apartment clean and odor-free.
An alternative if it’s within your budget: try a self-cleaning litter box. This is an especially good option if you travel and won’t always be home to scoop every day.
Stop Litter in its Tracks
Unless you want to get litter on your bare feet walking around your apartment, you’ll need a plan for keeping litter in the box. The type of box you choose (top-entry are best for keeping tracking down), whether you add a litter mat, the type of litter you use, and your frequency of sweeping and vacuuming all play a role in controlling litter tracking.
Make the Most of Small Spaces
If you get a litter box hider piece of furniture, you can have the litter box on the bottom, storage for litter and supplies, and a nap spot for kitty on top. Check out our article about DIY cat furniture for more ideas.
Shop ARM & HAMMER™ Cat Litter for your Apartment
- ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™ Microguard™ Odor Sealing Clumping Cat Litter. For rock-hard clumps, neutralized feces and urine odor on contact, and helps prevent the growth of future bacterial odor.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal ™ AbsorbX™ Lightweight Clumping Cat Litter, Multi-Cat. Lightweight, dust-free, instant urine absorption, odor neutralizers, and easy-to-scoop clumps.
- ARM & HAMMER Clump & Seal™ Slide™ Easy Clean-Up Clumping Litter. Non-stop odor control, no scrubbing or scraping with EZ clean technology, solid clumps for easy scooping.
*Made with corn cob fibers, plant-based clumping agents, minerals, and Baking Soda with artificial scent and preservatives added.
