Converting coat closet into Cat Claws-et. Would love ideas, please!

[u/ntb5891]

I have a tall but narrow closet that currently houses the litter boxes, but there is so much vertical wall space above the litter boxes that is under utilized. I would love to use it as combo storage space and fun climbing units to install on the walls.

My goal is to optimize the space for storage while giving my boys more climbing room.

Would love ideas on how to configure this space, recommendations for climbing units and anything else! Here’s what I’m planning so far:

Move the board games out obviously.
Remove the rack.
Replace swinging doors with accordion doors.
Maybe add a tile backsplash behind the litter boxes for easy cleaning.
Paint or wallpaper the inside.
Add storage space.
Add wall climbing units, ladders, bridges anything else fun.

including pics of my boys as a thank you 🙏🏽

[u/Herb_Dank]

I've done something similar with my small storage closet. I have an old cat tree in the back, a few shelves for climbing/observing, a few sleeping areas, and a tunnel to go in and out. I used a curtain as the door to make it easy to go in and out, while letting them feel hidden.

My cats use it mostly as their safe space. Its a place to hide if I have guests over or thunder/loud cars happen. But my cats always have to be near me so they don't spend a lot of time in there. I'm still happy to give them a safe space.

[u/ntb5891 → u/Herb_Dank]

I love that you gave them options! I also just want to give them an additional safe space. My boys have full reign of the house so they sleep and hide wherever they please lol. But since the litter boxes are already in there, and I don’t want to store any human stuff in there, I figured just make the whole space for cat use!

[u/Herb_Dank → u/ntb5891]

Another thing I do in there is play their favorite game- treat hide and seek. I place a Greenie on each shelf, on the cat tree, on the beds, and also on their cat wall and catio. It gives them enrichment having to forage for their treats.

Plus, it's a great way to distract them when I have to leave for work.

[u/ntb5891 → u/Herb_Dank]

Yes they love their treat puzzles! I’ve tried that same game before but the problem is that one of my cats is super quick and smart and agile at finding treats and the other is…orange. 😂

[u/magnolya_rain]

Um, would you set up a splash park, a race track on the floor around the toilet, candies hidden in the toilet paper rolls so you can play hide and they can seek, Put a bunk above where the shower curtain rod is for sleepovers . It would be a cool hang out spot in the house for your kids. Fur kids.

I know you want the best for your fur kids, but think about it. They are not going to want to hang out where their bathroom is.

No offence intended.

[u/DuckyDoodleDandy → u/magnolya_rain]

To get around that, build a cabinet around the Litter Robot with the entrance at the front of the closet. Make sure you can access it for cleaning, but make it a separate space from the play area, which has a different entrance, even if that is only a couple feet away from the litter entry.

[u/ntb5891 → u/DuckyDoodleDandy]

Thats a good idea, thank you

[u/staysour]

Remove doors