I’ve also thought about getting a cat (or two). One sticking point for me though is where to put the litter box. I’ve read that the laundry room isn’t the best place because the cat might be annoyed by the washer and dryer (and I’m not sure how much it would smell). I also have a guest bathroom that might work but I’m not sure what to do when I have guests. Also, does it cause problems to put the litter box upstairs and feed the cats downstairs? Where do all you current owners keep the litter box?
Ah, a good question I was thinking about today after creating the OP. Our place is just a little townhome, and there aren’t too many rooms for the litter box to go. Namely, the living room (with new carpet that, even with a cat, we’d like to try and keep somewhat new), the kitchen (feces and food don’t mix), the main bedroom (ick), the office (secondary bedroom where computers and oftentimes my work will be), the bathroom (which is barely large enough for humans) and the basement (which is downstairs, granted that shouldn’t be a problem for a young cat). That’s about all. Sounds like the basement wins by default.
Cats want to go where you go. At least with mine, when I go potty, I have company.
I’ve been having some “where to put the litterbox” issues myself, in another thread. I’ve got it in the master bath right now, which is great because there’s vinyl flooring, it’s a half bath so I don’t need it, etc. Now the cat is driving us crazy in the morning and I was considering keeping him out of the bedroom when we sleep, but he needs to be able to get to his box. I don’t want to put it anywhere with carpet, because he kicks litter everywhere. (I got a new high sided box, which helps a LOT, but still.)
I’ve been surprised at how much it doesn’t smell though - one cat, I scoop a lot, and I use the Arm and Hammer clumping litter. I was using Fresh Step but I hated the chemical smell of it. So the smell isn’t really a huge consideration, although if I was going to put it somewhere in the part of the house we use all the time some sort of cover would definately be necessary - who wants to look at a litter box? The nice covers are all kinda pricey, though, and I can’t be sure they wouldn’t put Dewey off.
Also, he’s sitting on my lap and just cut a very. nasty. fart. Just FYI.
Our weird little house has an area in the bathroom, under the stairs. It’s a room without a door. I parked the litterbox in there and hung a pretty curtain over the doorway. We also have a throw rug outside the litterbox. They have to wipe their little feet on the way out. Works for us!