r/indoorcats • u/Cheap_Comparison_100 • 14h ago

Advice Litter box help!

Hi! I’m moving out for the first time and I have a 2 year old boy, and my roomate does aswell. I usually keep my boys litter box in the laundry room to avoid smell from the main house. In our new place the laundry is in a small closet within the only and very tiny shared bathroom. I scoop his litter daily but there’s always that litter smell (not poop smell) that i despise but live with because i love him. I’ve been exploring the option of getting a furniture piece litter box and keeping it in my bedroom. (also he’s a special boy and can’t figure out door flaps on enclosed litter boxes.) any recommendations to keep him happy but also keep the smell to the minimum wether it be ‘hidden’ furniture litter boxes you’ve used, certain litter, etc. I currently use recycled walnut litter. Thank you guys for all your help!

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u/Cheap_Comparison_100 13h ago

If anyone has any enclosed litter box furniture recs pls lmk! something not super tacky if possible haha!

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u/Hello_Gorgeous1985 3h ago

Don't do it. Instinctually, cats do not like enclosed litter boxes because they want multiple lines of sight and escape routes from the box when they're vulnerable. Not to mention the fact that it just traps the smell inside and makes the whole experience even less pleasant for the cat who has a significantly better sense of smell than the human. All kinds of enclosed boxes are created for human convenience, not what's actually best for the cat.

You've already stated that your cat can't figure out the doors on enclosed boxes, so you're just going to set yourself up for him to be going outside of the box.

Also, the cats will end up using each other's boxes. You want a minimum of three boxes for two cats, and they should be placed in open socially significant areas of the home.

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u/Interesting-Mud1506 14h ago

wait the litter smell or the cat pee / poop smell, sorry I dont understand the post properly.

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u/Cheap_Comparison_100 13h ago

no worries! it’s just almost like a sour smell coming from my litter box, faint but noticeable enough after scooping. I replace all the litter once a week but everyday i scoop. I think it’s the smell of the litter but i’m not sure.

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u/Interesting-Mud1506 13h ago

This is a documented problem with walnut-shell litter, A verified Chewy review from 28 September 2026 describes exactly what you're experiencing: freshly poured walnut litter developing a disgusting sour smell within a day. Other reviews report unpleasant odours and mould developing in urine clumps.

Even Naturally Fresh, the walnut-litter manufacturer, conducts gas fermentation testing and markets probiotic formulations specifically designed to combat bacteria and odours. That's not speculation. It's documented by the manufacturer itself.

I use World's Best Cat Litter, which is made from corn and uses a patented manufacturing process to produce highly absorbent granules that form firm clumps when exposed to moisture. This makes urine-contaminated litter easier to remove without constantly replacing the entire tray.

I've found its clumping and odour control excellent. Unlike the walnut litter you're using, which has documented complaints about developing sour odours, World's Best has worked consistently well for me. I'd recommend switching the litter before wasting money on an enclosed cabinet. when you find the litter works for you, you can put a cabinet for more visual appeal, but first we need to tackle the litter problem

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u/Cheap_Comparison_100 11h ago

omg thank u for the info!

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u/Interesting-Mud1506 10h ago

Hopefully does help, let us know so we can help with other litter if that one doesnt work, all best srsly.

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u/LowRexx 14h ago

have you tried the like, corn litter stuff? I use that stuff and I cleaned my cats boxes yesterday and there wasn't any smell like at all!

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u/MissCeeLee 13h ago

Or wood based. I think it smells nice - like a woodshop

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u/Cheap_Comparison_100 13h ago

does it absorb & clump well?

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u/MissCeeLee 12h ago

It absorbs well. It doesn't clump hard or particularly fast but it does the job fairly well. We use Okocat pellets

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u/LowRexx 13h ago

the stuff I do does super well!

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u/Cheap_Comparison_100 13h ago

No i haven’t! Thanks for the reccomendation

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u/heres-not_here 13h ago

Extra closet? By the front door? Instead of the bedroom….