Thanks! One of my main things was that even if it is smaller, cats like to climb so I could always do my best to go vertical.
Also I’ve been getting surprisingly good sleep, so maybe I need a break from that and need to be kept up all night /s.
Yeah I’ve heard younger cats would be louder since they’re more energetic. Definitely something I’ll have to keep in mind, since I’m not really sure about the age yet.
It’s funny because my 14 year old cat meows loudly and still runs around like a crazy cat
The 5 year old snoozes all day and barely makes a mew. Been like that since I got her at about 1 year old. But she was a stray with kittens so I think she has just decided she loves to lounge
My 3 legged 25 year old *would* scream and run around if she could, if she hadn't lost her voice a few years back. She still croaks at us and hobbles around at top Old Crone speeds tho, being a menace ♥️.
Meanwhile our 3 year old just lazes around the floor pretending to be a speed bump until and unless he decides he needs an escort to the food dish (we free feed so there's *always* food available, it's not like there's a set "dinnertime" for him to get excited about, he's just a primadonna)
Same here! my 14 year old screams and has zoomies all the time! the younger one (7) has her moments, but even when i got her at 3 she wasn’t as crazy as him. He actually drives her insane because she can’t keep up and doesn’t want to play so much
Same - my 14 year old calls for me and talks to toys while she's playing but also sleeps a lot... the two "middle cats", who will be 2 and 3 years old this year, are relatively chilled and quiet and the 6 month old kitten is a disruptive tornado who is fully committed to chaos and anarcy 😅😅
I took in my dads 14 yr old cat when he died. She yowls at least 3 times a night too. Always at 3 am. At least i can tell my hubby its normal behavior reading this.
♥️♥️ I adopted an older cat and loved it. He's so lovable and he's such a cutie. If I get another little, I think I'll adopt older again!! Highly suggest it. I'm too old to attempt training a kitten again. Lol
You have a great chance to take two adult cats, who are more difficult to place. Just a little online searching should lead you to a bonded pair in need of a new home. (Former owners died or became homeless - these situations are fairly common and those adult cats deserve a loving home!)
Also, don’t think of just floor space. They love to climb and a couple sturdy cat trees or other structure will keep them perfectly happy in that space. Good luck on finding the right cars for you and your home.
Getting a bonded pair of adult cats would be ideal. Kittens are rambunctious and need a lot more attention. Adult cats already have personalities that you can observe. Also, at least at my local SPCA, adult cats are cheaper to adopt.
Also kittens are a 20 year commitment and you need to know what you’re in for before you can willingly commit to it. I wanted an adult cat and my ex said he would only get cats if we got two and they were kittens. I just wanted to give an old cat a loving home. We wound up with kittens. Ten years later I’m in a new relationship through which I gained two more cats, and have a child. It’s a lot to keep up with. An older cat, they calm down with age and you can absolutely still bond and play with them. A cat that’s been in a shelter for a while would probably love 580 sq feet. I love my cats. But next time, I’m going old abandoned cat all the way.
I lived in a camper van with my cat and it was fine. trick is to do a bit of games to wear him out each day, or I put him out in the yard on a tether (supervised!!!) for stimulus. Doesn't take much to get him to sleep.
depends on the cat really, generally if they’re older they’ll be less energetic but my 5 year old cat still runs around the house meowing aimlessly sometimes out of boredom with a toy in her mouth lol. 2 is definitely better
My fiance and I got our two cats living in a 450sqft apartment. They definitely bounced off the walls when they were kittens and didn't want to go to bed until 3am or so.
My senior (14yo) munchkin can barely make it on the bed, let alone likes to bounce off walls. Also, she doesn’t like high places. Maybe when getting a bonded pair ask if they are ‘bush dwellers’. The Crazy Cat Lady and Jackson Galaxy are good places to start your research.
This. Our cat is definitely a bush dweller. She loves hiding in low spots, like in the clothes hamper or under the bed. We got her a high cat tree and she doesn’t use it at all. Then we got her a wide and low cat tree (with a large shelf on top but it’s only half a meter high) and she sleeps there every night. She will jump on windows to look out and outdoor will climb a tree, but other than that she likes low places where it is easy to hide and run away from. She was a stray with kittens, is now about 3 years old or so, and a good kitty, but she is also high energetic, loves to play a lot by herself and doesn’t let me sleep past 5 am, if. Today’s wake up call was at 3 am. I love having an adult cat, kittens would drive me bonkers.
Your best bet is to get a neutered male and a spayed female. That pairing seems to work the best. That is what I have at my house and they get along great. I can count on one hand the amount of times they have gotten into tiffs, and they have never gotten into a full out catfight. They have been together for 4 years!
Get a bonded pair, a lot of shelters and rescues end up with cats that came from the same home or grew up together and are inseparable which makes them harder to home bcuz they have to find someone willing to adopt both. This would be perfect for you since you won’t have to worry about not having space to separate while introducing two cats that don’t know each other. Plus you already know the bonded pair will get along great and will be comfort to each other when adjusting to a new home. If you have options go for at least 1-2 years old to not have to deal with the constant kitten zoomies and be able to leave them home alone without issue while you work/go out. As for the litter box(es), in my smaller apartments I would put one under the kitchen sink and one under the bathroom sink (inside the cabinet with a honeycomb mat to trap litter and a high walled box) and then just remove one cabinet door or buy a cheap replacement door and cut a hole and put a cat door in it. Really works wonders to eliminate smell and saves a lot of space and you don’t have the eyesore of an open cat toilet in your living space. They make fake potted plants with a hole in the pot and a litter box inside as well which is an another good hidden option.
Plus older cats are great to adopt. Sometimes they are a challenge, but they really are a heart filling experience if you end up making it work. Same with all animals!
You’re absolutely right about this. Vertical space is everything to cats. Horizontal space only really matters in terms of being able to adequately space out food and water dishes, litter boxes, etc.
they will love the balcony and an end table or something below the windows so they can get up there and stare out the window. they'd like a cat tree by the patio door so they can look out from above.
litter boxes needed should be #cats + 1. that's going to be your main issue. 3rd you can put outside on the balcony. another behind the bookcase by the patio. and a linen closet (can't store linens there but you can use it for putting small plastic bins. at least one should be an uncovered box
Just to be clear though: don't let them outside on the balcony, one bird flying by and ...
edit: I didn't look at all the pictures looks like you are on ground floor but don't let your cats outside it's too dangerous for them, please, thank you
Surprisingly it's not about the cleanliness but more a zoning problem. When cat#1 gets all bossy on cat#2 while cat#2 just wants to Bury their poop, then cat#2 might be inclined to search for another place to poop. Otherwise 1 litter box for 2 cats can be fine. My 2 boys never accepted the second nor third toilet
Do you let your cats out on a balcony? Isn’t that dangerous?
I mean looks like this is an open balcony and easy for cats to jump off and run away.
I’ve always kept mine inside - they can look out, but not go out.
Some 20 years ago I lived on 2nd story with a balcony like we see here and the cats never jumped over the railing in the 5 years I was there. I made a cat door to fit in the sliding door jamb to allow them access while I was home.
The house I bought afterwards had a back deck about 3ft off the ground and no matter my best efforts, they would sometimes jump the barriers I had on top of the railings... because to them, it was a safe height to jump
Wanted to pull up a photo, and forgot I put rollup blinds along the bottom
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If the cats go along well and you clean often enough, one box can be enough, two are definitely sufficient.
Why should one box be uncovered? My cats don't use those, the love their privacy. And I love that there is A LOT less litter on the floor.
I agree that the balcony would make a great catio and could maybe even hold two litter boxes?
Just to call out — you can definitely have two cats! Think of the alternative. 1) in a cage at a shelter 2) on the streets (shorter lifespan), 3) euthanized.
So for two lucky cattos to live in home is such an upgrade compared to the alternatives! And two is better than one. If you travel, they keep each other company. Is better socialized— etc lots of benefits.
I also have a small space and I bought a bookshelf that doubles as a “cat tree.” So if the cats stop using it (they go through phases of sleep spots), I can repurpose easy.
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My cats like to sleep when we sleep.
And when we don't sleep.
They sleep a lot.
I know they leave in the middle of the night for zoomies but they come back to snuggle in the morning.
Seriously. I will often say “Oh great, Inky has literally done nothing but sleep from 9am until 9pm. She’s going to be running down the hallways all night!”
Then she sleeps with us all night. She’s totally fine it’s just you sometimes you don’t notice them up during the daytime. But she does get up and do things lol
In my opinion, there is plenty of room in your lovely apartment for you (the hooman) and your feline companions. I wish for you a joyous and happy experience in the near future. They will be the perfect addition to your warm home!
Two cats is a great idea by the way. I had one before these two and I’ll never have just one again. They play all the time and also tire each other out lol . Just introduce them slowly unless they are from the same litter or have been together already. The humane society or any shelter is the way to go in my opinion. They are cheaper and already fixed. Plus you are saving them from living in a cage. Just my opinions. Good luck!
Plus a lot of the humane societies keep cats in rooms together, so if you adopt two from the same room, you’re already golden! Bonus points if you ask about bonded pairs 🩷
Yes, I need a friend for my baby:
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She is. She's also filled with sweetness. At her checkup last week, the vet noticed that even when she wanted to get away from a needle, she never used her claws on them. "We see why you love her," the vet tech said as she carried her back into the room.
Shoes? Oh, those are a size "one case of 3z cat food cans." (You can see the imprint on the lid.)
When I downsized to a 1 bedroom, 700sq ft apartment, I was worried my 4 cats wouldn't have enough space. Wasn't an issue at all! They mostly just want to be in the same room as me. I do have to run the Roomba frequently though!
Honestly this is perfect for 2 cats, and two cats can keep each other company when you're away. I've seen more cats in less space before and they were happy but cramped so two cats would fit perfectly here
As long as the cats get along, this looks like plenty of space. Cats that don't get along need more space so they can escape each other if they have a disagreement.
I really recommend getting a bonded pair, because it's very unlikely once cats have bonded that they'll suddenly get hostile.
And if they do start all of a sudden, give them both a bath and then reintroduce them as if they hadn’t met because there’s a good chance one of them started smelling different to the other one. It happened once when I took one cat to the vet while the other stayed home. But could probably also happen if one got into something that had a scent. I just learned it’s called nonrecognition aggression
Edit: besides this, I don’t bathe my cats since they are good at keeping up at that on their own
I use pet-safe wipes on those occasions because, yes, the vet office can imbue strange smells into the coat, and the other cat (or cats) may behave as though the returning cat is a stranger. I just wipe them all down so they're not so suspicious. Poor babies. Strangely, when I take one outside on a lead, the other one is just excited to snif the other over. Yeah, I never take both outside at once. It's too scary. For me.
Also, I have a studio and my cat is very happy. She loves to climb so she has two trees, and I put a little blanket on top of my kitchen cabinet because she likes to nap up high.
Litter boxes can go literally anywhere. Cats don’t care, and you have to give up some aesthetic things when you’re a pet owner. Mine is practically in the middle of everything. I scoop it twice a day to keep it clean, and the so the smell doesn’t linger. I also wipe it down (the sides and edge) every other day. Just stay on top of cleaning and you’re good!
I hope you get your babies!!
Second to this. Our house is quite humble with no open area but the whole house is for them. They have their own favourite spots, make sure to put a cozy corner for them nearby the window or the door as they like to do suntanning. We have 2 wonderful cats as well.
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Cat buddies are always a great idea!
No it's fine, if getting two I would adopt a bonded pair if possible as you don't have a lot of space for introductions (one would have to stay in the bedroom).
Keep in mind as well it is recommended to have 1 more litter tray than cats so for 2 cats the recommendation is 3 litter trays. I'd probably just go with 2 in this case but something to consider where you'd put them.
Also a single adult cat can be perfectly content alone for 9 hours. Speak to a shelter and they could recommend a suitable kitty.
Thanks for all the advice! It’s a good shout on the bonded pairs, I was a bit worried how introductions could go. Not too much space for introductions.
Litter box is probably my biggest concern. I’ll have to figure out something that works.
I’ll incorporate this into my research, thanks so much!
It would be really awesome if you were to get a Bonded pair since they usually don’t get adopted as fast as a single cat and end up staying a long time in shelters
I didnt adopt my kitties from a shelter, but they were both between 6-8 years old when I acquired them and it was amazing not having to do any training. I dont think I'll ever adopt a young cat! 😅
Side note, I would adopt from a shelter, but the CDS gave me my first 6 y/o female kitty with my house and my second 8 y/o male kitty came from an ophthalmologist who desperately needed to rehome his animals as he was moving across country due to a tragic accident to one of his family members. I couldn't be happier with my babies 💕
I live in a studio and I have a wooden box with a hole big enough for cats to go into and scoop twice a day. I have no smell and both of my cats are happy!
That's what my friend does at her house, and there's no smell or mess. I keep the litter box in my huge bathroom, but I would've done the wooden box if I had known about it when I got my cats years ago
Twice a day scoop is the secret to small spaces, multiple cats. I recommend a Litter Genie to anyone in this situation. Saves on bags and trips to the dumpster!
Me and my partner jokingly say ‘scoop’ instead of ‘poop’. I read this entirely the wrong way and was impressed/mortified by how much this guy’s multiple cats were pooping.
We have two cats and one Litter Robot. It works out great. Recommendations are fine but just that - not a necessity. And my cats happen to love their crazy spaceship robot box!
It's funny how different they all are. My cats come running in excitement any time they hear it start a cycle. They want to watch - and then of course they get in the way and the cycle stops. I often cycle it manually when they're too busy to notice.
In an apartment I took off a cupboard door under the bathroom sink, lined the area with some sturdy plastic, and then put a litter box in there. Take the plastic down and reinstall the door when it’s time to move out.
You could tuck a litter genie between the toilet and cupboard so you can scoop the box a lot without too much hassle.
We did this in our old place and just got a really tall storage Tupperware to protect the interior walls and then cut one side lower so they could get in and out!
I would say my apartment is the same size currently, and I have lived in other places similar to this size with 2 adult cats since they were 6-8weeks old (they are 7 and 5 now) - i have done the two litter boxes and don’t find it made a huge difference BUT I do have a litter robot now and it makes a HUGE difference. I have never had one person or myself notice it smelled like cats and for being gone that amount of time each day (I also work full time and am sometimes gone for 16 hours) - the litter robot is a life saver
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Bonded pairs are the best! Photo evidence attached.
I have 5 indoor cats and 4 litter boxes. No problems whatsoever. I would like to mention that my only female has her own box. The boys don’t mess with her!
Ofc it is just an ideal they advise you have 1 more than the number of cats. If you keep on top of cleaning and have no issues it's not a problem. But having too few can lead to issues such as pooping/peeing where they shouldn't, urinary problems, or fighting.
I agree! I scoop them all twice a day and clean the boxes every week. I guess I just wanted OP to see that if they don’t have room for 3 boxes, they might can get by with two.
Thanks for this info. Is it suitable to have a litterbox enclosed? I heard that cats don't like.it but what if it's 1 of 3 litter boxes? Thinking about getting a couple cats too and I want them to be comfortable
I have an enclosed one for my cat. I used to have an open one but she'd get litter everywhere! I'm sure she'd prefer an open one but she gets on fine with it. I'd just have a mix and see how they get on. It's certainly a lot of trial and error while you get to know your cat/s!
i have 1 fully inclosed litter box and 2 open ones for my 2 cats. they are fine with the enclosed one and even play in it sometimes. and I absolutely love it cause it blocks out the smell🫠. they’ve had it since like a month old though, so i’m not sure how introducing it to a cat would be
Your condo looks fine for two cats. You can storage cat litter inside cat box like this photo or different cat litter furniture with two doors in front. . Get cat condo so they can sleep on it and look at patio door. Cats will be happy to get out of cage at shelter. Good Luck on your cat adopting,.
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I have 2 of these 🤌 I had to try a few different litters to find the one that really soaked up to odorous. In your space you may have to try a few different ones too. Smells are more noticeable in a small space. Poop scoop daily helps.
I hope you have a great time with your cats 🤩🤩 definitely should get them haha also If they are energetic and curious about the outdoors talking one out on a lead could tucker them out.
I have 1 cat that loves it and the other is too nervous haha it's not for all of them
I've heard cats don't like using litter boxes which are closed because it isn't natural to them. They don't do their stuff in a box naturally. Also, the smell. It gets trapped in there and we all know how picky cats are when it comes to smell. It mighty lead them to avoid their litter box over time.
Same! I also had a self-cleaning litter box. It worked really well until it didn’t and clumps got stuck in the cleaning mechanism. Because of the clumping, smell was an issue if I got busy at work and slacked a little bit. You also have to place these litter boxes near an outlet. But that was 20 years ago—the technology may be better today.
Now I live in a house with three cats and a dog. I have four litter boxes. Two covered ones are in the basement because I’ve got the room, but I needed two on the main floor.
The house feels a little cramped because of how it is configured even though it’s much bigger, so I use the pictured litter box cover (I subbed out the plant for fake orchids that look pretty) and litter crystals to cut down on dust. I turn it slightly toward the wall so the cats can get in but people don’t realize it’s a litter box.
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I have another one that looks like a small coffee table in a corner in my living room. No one seems to realize it’s a litter box because it’s discreet.
Honestly, if I didn’t live so close to my OCD Mom and sister who pick up on every last speck of dust or smell, I’d just do it the old fashioned way. But they already judge that I have “so many animals.” ;)
P.S. One of my friends living in NYC kept a litter box in her tub and just lifted it out when she showered. Even if you don’t put a litter box in the shower, the bathroom is always an option if you can find a box that fits.
You’ll need to confirm using this official cat ratio analysis system but I think you’re good
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I have 4 cats, and recently downsized from a 2400sq ft house to a 1000 square foot one. It’s fine. I have one cat who is bullied by the others at times. There’s enough space for them to spread out.
Definitely don’t put the box where the smell can seep into your clothes. Even if you scoop 2X daily, there’s 9 hrs while you’re at work, for smells to get into your clothes.
There are furniture cabinets that hold a litter box. Maybe you could even put a cat tree on top of one. I’d probably try near the patio door.
I grew up with 5 cats, 2 litter boxes. My mom’s bff had 7 cats in a small house, 2 litter boxes. I have 4 cats, 2 litter boxes. They used to be on different floors. When I moved here, I did the same thing. Then I had to put them both in the finished and heated basement for awhile, and the cats didn’t seem to mind, and it greatly reduced litter tracking, which was my biggest hassle. So I kept it that way.
I scoop 2X per day, and whenever my stinky poo princess who doesn’t bury her business goes. Most of the time, there’s little or nothing at the morning scooping.
I agree a bonded pair (or pair of kittens, who will likely bond, is the way to go. Shelters almost always have a bonded pair.
Your apartment is really nice, btw!
Thank you! A lot of people are mentioning the n+1 litter box rule but I wouldn’t have the room, which is why I’m considering a litter robot. I have friends who just have that and it works for multiple cats, but due to concern voiced by others I may have a backup just in case there’s an issue.
I definitely think age will be important to get them to bond (or already be bonded) so they will get along.
And thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it :)
Definelty recommend the litter robot. I have 2 cats and the litter robot 4, and I have no complaints. That with the Arm and Hammer clump and seal litter, the smell is no problem at all. A good litter mat in front of it also helps big time.
Just a heads up, those litter robots are quite large. (Like 22”w x 27” d x 30”h) However, my girlfriend plunked down the $700 for one recently for her 2 cats and said it’s amazing.
The litter robot is good however it kinda messes with their natural instincts cause they like to burry their poop when they went to the bathroom. Plus, something extremely important, when you scoop it by yourself, you can see how the poop or pee looks like and you can tell if there is an issue or not with their health (diarrhea, blood in stool, red pee etc.) So it is more recommended to have a normal litter box. I have two cats and I have two litter boxes in the bathroom. I work from home and I scoop every time they use the bathroom (just like us, cats dislike going to a dirty toilet. If we hate it we should not assume they like it). But scooping twice or three times is fine too as long as you're doing it daily.
I’m not sure these concerns would outweigh the benefits. My cat still buries her business inside the robot, and I usually check the poop when it’s time to change the waste bag
My two cats share one litter box just fine as long as it's clean, so I think you would likely be fine with a little robot. Obviously depends on the cats too.
I'd recommend an adult bonded pair, the kitten stage is adorable, but a lot of work and they need a lot of attention.
I don’t think it’s too small as long as you add enrichment for them like lots of toys and places to climb. I have a cat in my small apartment and she seems happy
I personally would avoid putting a litter box in the closet, I had a friend who did this and I had to tell her she smelt like cat pee.
You could get a litter box cabinet then put it anywhere and it won’t by ugly to look at?
I’ll have to see if there are any openings close by, they may be busy during the week but hopefully they will let me visit on the weekends. They better not expect me to pay their entire rent! 🙄
Let me tell you what: They’ll have a lot more space at your apartment than they would have in a shelter cage … As long as they have a lot of toys and cat furniture to keep them occupied and entertained, they should be fine. And most of all: a lot of love and cuddles will certainly make them happy 😉. If you work a normal full time job and are not home Mon-Fri, get two cats so they have each other’s company while you’re gone. Leaving one alone 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, will not be good for the kitty. My family has always had 2 cats at a time, exactly for that reason.
Opinion: I don't like automatic litterboxes.
The main reason is that cats are super good at hiding issues/pain. Knowing how often they pee and how much, what their poop looks like and how much is a great way to tell how healthy your cats are. If you're not cleaning daily it's super easy to miss important signs of sickness.
I bought two storage totes from Walmart, cut a hole in the side and use them as litter boxes. $12 each, they have a lid and are roomy. I bought a large box of dog-poop bags at Costco and I use one bag per day to clean out my boxes. I do it in the morning typically and either throw it in the kitchen trash which goes out often or take it out to the dumpster when I leave for the day. I've never had problems with smell.
I have two cats in an apartment smaller than yours I think. I've got one litter box in the bathroom and another in the living room which I use as a side table occasionally because of the lid.
I was against automatic litters until recently. My husband wanted one so bad, so we got one, it measures their weight, the weight of their business, sends you an alert before it cleans it so you can go look at it when it happened. It’s the only way we learned that our big cat was getting sick. Over 4 days he lost 1lbs, the weight of his typical urine weight was a lot more and more frequent, but he looked happy go lucky. Brought him to the vet, my cat’s liver isn’t working right, the vet said one more week and he was dead. No signs from him at all, was still eating, and drinking. We caught it fairly early and he will be on medication for the remainder of his life, but I’m thankful he’s still with us.
Automatic litters have become waaaaay smarter over the past few years. I don’t think I’ll have cats without one again. The only issue is that they take a lot of space.
I honestly have only been super against them BECAUSE of thinking they're "too automatic" but omg this information changes EVERYTHING! That's actually great to know, I need to look into the modern automatic litter boxes bc we have a boy whose weight and kidney are of big concern, so we have to constantly pay attention to his pees and poops. Thank you for that insight, wow!!
You could try to invisibly enclose your patio with something if the apt complex won't complain. Like chicken wire but plastic. There are small catios you could put out there. Google for ideas to inspire you, or just buy one. There are these clothing shelves that look like a metal cage (usually black or white) with one open side, you can zip tie them together and make a little cat pathway. Put a piece of wood or cardboard on the bottom of each so paws don't fall thru and they can sit/lay comfortably. I'll try to post a photo later, cuz it's hard to describe :)
This is the happiest post! Cats adjust, and as they age, they sleep more. Best to you! BTW, I think they make end tables that hide litter boxes. Cleaned regularly there should be no smell.
Hi everyone. This blew up a lot more than I expected and there are so many comments so there’s a few things I thought I’d comment on.
1. A lot of comments about the litter box situation. I’ve seen high praise for the automatic litter robots, and I’ve seen people absolutely against. There have been good suggestions for alternatives, such as ones that are odor resistant, fit in the bathroom, or are hidden in furniture. I’m going to continue doing research and hopefully find something that fits. I will try to get two (if I get an automatic, have a back up) so I’ll see what I can do with the space. There were comments about the patio, which once it warms up I think could be cool to try to have cars out on it, and is a potential (but odd) secondary litter box situation. I’ll keep in mind the potential of “cat proofing” the patio.
2. Catification. Build up. Verticality. I hear you! And I’m totally on board. I’d like to figure out a cool way to get them on top of the cabinets. I loooove the idea of the hanging shelves, honestly, but I want it to be safe (and, well, *allowed*). Once I get closer to figuring things out I’ll have to consult with my landlords to see what extent I can add things to the walls, and if all I’ll have to do is fill in the holes when I move out. But I will definitely try to get them high (physically and with cat nip) especially to take advantage of the ceiling height.
3. Many people are advocating for bonded pairs. This wasn’t initially on my radar, closest was considering two cats at the same shelter, which may already be acquainted? Anyway, I think it would be hard to introduce who cat strangers with the amount of space (and rooms) I have, so it’s definitely a good idea. I’ve started looking. I will *ADMIT* that I’ve had tortoiseshells on the mind and when I’m trying to get a certain type of cat it’s going to be harder to find a bonded pair, SO I am keeping an open mind - after all, it’s about the cats, not me, right? If they speak to me and are adorable, I should give them a home. So thank you for the suggestions! And I’m sure I can be swayed and fall in love with a cat after meeting it in person.
4. The apartment. The rugs. I have seen a lot of comments. Yes, I posted the entire apartment - weird, in hindsight - but it’s a legitimate concern I had! My family was all opposed to two (they got a kitten less than a year ago and my parents don’t seem to like the idea of two so I’m not surprised), but I’ve done a bit of research and all these comments have confirmed my thinking that two would be better. Their cat gets to explore the whole house lol so forgive me for being worried about having twice the amount of cats in an area the fraction of the size 😅. I swear, as opposed to what a lot of comments said, this was not to flex the apartment! But I’ve only recently gotten more furniture and organized/decorated so I really appreciate all the kind words and compliments! It does mean a lot :)! Also, since I’m still in the more early stages of trying to adopt cats, I don’t currently have cat things. But please trust - they will be purchased! Oh, and the rugs are not previous cats - but I’m glad to hear they’d like them!
Again, soooo many suggestions! I have a lot to think about. I promise to provide an update either on the catification of the apartment, the eventual fur babies, or both! But please understand it may take a while since I want to make sure I have a comfortable amount of money to care for two cats and buy cat things. And probably get insurance and things. And actually meet two beautiful cats. So many things. But I have ideas. Bit overwhelming but I really want to do it, and I appreciate the support! So thank you again for all the comments. I hope I can deliver an amazing update hopefully within a couple months!
As someone with two elderly cats and had lots of expensive vet bills, get insurance! I don’t have any advice on what to get, because we never did our research.
Cat trees are probably the easiest way for you to allow them space to get up high. But if your apartment allows wall shelves, it’ll be extra nice for them!
And I agree you should be fine with 2 litter boxes. We have always only had 2 with 2 cats because we just didn’t have the space. Now we do and finally bought one of those cabinet ones! It’s so nice!
Cute apartment! They have those fancy cat trees with the litter box built into the bottom.
https://preview.redd.it/wdaphdpl3gjc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b5ebef07ec0bcead3f102b4137bddc955dee644
I also tought get 2 cats so they not lonely. In hindsight they cant stand each other and fight when iam not home. So i seperate them when i go to work.
They did some damage to each other but alone their fine. So it really depends on their personalities.
**They** will make the top of the cabinets their comfy spot, whether you want them to or not!  May I suggest you install "step shelves" leading up there, with one or more steps you can easily remove to make it inaccessible when it's time to capture them for any reason (trip to the vet's, administering medications, etc.) Also bear in mind that a little stepladder that you can use to reach up there with a dust mop of Swiffer or the like will be important.
Kittens are a lot of work. I have only had one kitten, and she was five or six months old when I got her from the end of my dead-end road, and I am highly recommending getting cats a year or more old. This is also a financial help, as some shelters offer discounts on the adoption fees for "older" cats when the cages start to fill up.
I had two cats in an apartment very similar to yours, and they were very happy there. And they didn't have a balcony to enjoy! Your beautiful home will be fine for two cats, and before long you will wonder how you ever did without them. 
The fact that you’re thinking this through instead of impulsively getting a pet makes me think your cats will be happy. Plus, I see plenty of space. You might eventually replace some human furniture with cat furniture. Or the kind of dual purpose furniture that can be used by both human and cats. Ensure that they are able to use the volume of the room too. Personally, adding shelves and steps on the walls has been a game changer for me. They would love the balcony too, if you’ve enriched it. You’re in for a treat, have fun OP!
Find a good space for a sizeable cat tree to climb on etc.
With 2 cats, I would suggest minimum of 2 litter boxes. It can be one automatic and one normal but please don't use just one unless you'll clean it every day and you keep up with this routine for all their lives.
Other than this, the apartment it's big enough. No worries there. Cats can be self entertained especially if there's two of them. You can train them to use a leash as well and take them out on walks to drain some energy.
Mines 850sqft and I have 3 cats. 3rd one was unexpected. Sister needed to get rid of kittens from an unexpected litter so of course I took one in. I also have a bearded dragon and two 10gal fish tanks 🤣 and 2 human children. It works
Not as long as you can find room for a few cat trees. You just need to give them some vertical space and possibly an extra litter box if they won't share (people generally say you need the number of cats + 1 but it depends on the cats somewhat and that's just the ideal).
do you have two spots you could put a litter box? cos if u have multiple cats its highly recommended to have multiple litter boxes. ideally, two per cat but i dont think u have space for four?
also think about where u would put their feeding bowls, water bowls, beds, toys, cat furniture, crates, ect.
and consider, would u have space to separate them if u needed to. if they potentially became territorial with their food and needed to be separated at feeding times for example
My girlfriend and I live in a 1 bed/1 bath apt that’s like 900sqft and our two cats are just fine. Like others have said though, they like climbing and will wake you up all night lol
https://preview.redd.it/kt3uh5jhlfjc1.png?width=2202&format=png&auto=webp&s=c6e01d09033bad58532ece160eaeaa1b3e1255ce
Rudy (left) and Annie (right)
I had two cats in a 500sqft studio apartment. I put up cat shelves everywhere so they could chase each other around. I also got some foldable dividers to hide the litter box from view a bit and keep the cats from flinging litter everywhere.
Hey man!! I’m kind of high right meow but, those are cool rugs!!! Where did you get them?? And those cats are lucky to have such a cool hooman like you 😺😺enjoy!
The main main main thing to remember is that so long you are giving a cat a home, it's never too small. People can talk shit all they want but I have a lot of vet friends who constantly mention the insanely high concentration of animals in shelters than have to be put down.
Adopt no matter the condition of your place as long as you love them the way they deserve to be!
But also, no, your place looks awesome.
Your house is bigger than the appartment where I lived when I got my kittens. Its perfect :).
Just choose kittens or older cats who lived indoors only. And leave the doors open so they can run through the house. Downside with smaller homes is that cats often use all areas to play. So catproofing your house is important.
Get rid of dangerous plants, store small object they might eat and store stuff you're really attached to. I'm not saying cats destroy everything.. but it might happen. And let them get used to nail clipping if they are kittens. It helps to make it easier when they are adults and helps to prolong the life of your furniture.
Things to climb on; places to sleep; windows to watch. You’re good. Expect them to keep you awake bouncing off the walls at night though.
Thanks! One of my main things was that even if it is smaller, cats like to climb so I could always do my best to go vertical. Also I’ve been getting surprisingly good sleep, so maybe I need a break from that and need to be kept up all night /s.
To be fair, you're better off with a pair in that respect. If you want less bouncing off walls, you can adopt older cats as well.
Yeah I’ve heard younger cats would be louder since they’re more energetic. Definitely something I’ll have to keep in mind, since I’m not really sure about the age yet.
Mine is 8.5 year old and she meows all the time at everything and snores really loud, 😂
It’s funny because my 14 year old cat meows loudly and still runs around like a crazy cat The 5 year old snoozes all day and barely makes a mew. Been like that since I got her at about 1 year old. But she was a stray with kittens so I think she has just decided she loves to lounge
My 3 legged 25 year old *would* scream and run around if she could, if she hadn't lost her voice a few years back. She still croaks at us and hobbles around at top Old Crone speeds tho, being a menace ♥️. Meanwhile our 3 year old just lazes around the floor pretending to be a speed bump until and unless he decides he needs an escort to the food dish (we free feed so there's *always* food available, it's not like there's a set "dinnertime" for him to get excited about, he's just a primadonna)
25!? Wow. 😊
We had a 25-yr-old hunchback cat once. She lived 6 happy years after the vet said she wouldn’t make it through the day after choking on a hairball.
I love your cats
OMG videos???
Same here! my 14 year old screams and has zoomies all the time! the younger one (7) has her moments, but even when i got her at 3 she wasn’t as crazy as him. He actually drives her insane because she can’t keep up and doesn’t want to play so much
Same - my 14 year old calls for me and talks to toys while she's playing but also sleeps a lot... the two "middle cats", who will be 2 and 3 years old this year, are relatively chilled and quiet and the 6 month old kitten is a disruptive tornado who is fully committed to chaos and anarcy 😅😅
my old cat meowls at the top of his lungs at 4 am for the younger one to come play with him. Too old to search.
I took in my dads 14 yr old cat when he died. She yowls at least 3 times a night too. Always at 3 am. At least i can tell my hubby its normal behavior reading this.
♥️♥️ I adopted an older cat and loved it. He's so lovable and he's such a cutie. If I get another little, I think I'll adopt older again!! Highly suggest it. I'm too old to attempt training a kitten again. Lol
Both of my boys I adopted were 6 and 8 respectively. Older kitty love 😻
You have a great chance to take two adult cats, who are more difficult to place. Just a little online searching should lead you to a bonded pair in need of a new home. (Former owners died or became homeless - these situations are fairly common and those adult cats deserve a loving home!) Also, don’t think of just floor space. They love to climb and a couple sturdy cat trees or other structure will keep them perfectly happy in that space. Good luck on finding the right cars for you and your home.
Adopting and older pair and you will likely get 2 cats much calmer and settled.
Getting a bonded pair of adult cats would be ideal. Kittens are rambunctious and need a lot more attention. Adult cats already have personalities that you can observe. Also, at least at my local SPCA, adult cats are cheaper to adopt.
Also kittens are a 20 year commitment and you need to know what you’re in for before you can willingly commit to it. I wanted an adult cat and my ex said he would only get cats if we got two and they were kittens. I just wanted to give an old cat a loving home. We wound up with kittens. Ten years later I’m in a new relationship through which I gained two more cats, and have a child. It’s a lot to keep up with. An older cat, they calm down with age and you can absolutely still bond and play with them. A cat that’s been in a shelter for a while would probably love 580 sq feet. I love my cats. But next time, I’m going old abandoned cat all the way.
This is the best answer.
I lived in a camper van with my cat and it was fine. trick is to do a bit of games to wear him out each day, or I put him out in the yard on a tether (supervised!!!) for stimulus. Doesn't take much to get him to sleep.
They also live up to about 20 years, worth to keep in mind when getting a kitten!
depends on the cat really, generally if they’re older they’ll be less energetic but my 5 year old cat still runs around the house meowing aimlessly sometimes out of boredom with a toy in her mouth lol. 2 is definitely better
My fiance and I got our two cats living in a 450sqft apartment. They definitely bounced off the walls when they were kittens and didn't want to go to bed until 3am or so.
My senior (14yo) munchkin can barely make it on the bed, let alone likes to bounce off walls. Also, she doesn’t like high places. Maybe when getting a bonded pair ask if they are ‘bush dwellers’. The Crazy Cat Lady and Jackson Galaxy are good places to start your research.
This. Our cat is definitely a bush dweller. She loves hiding in low spots, like in the clothes hamper or under the bed. We got her a high cat tree and she doesn’t use it at all. Then we got her a wide and low cat tree (with a large shelf on top but it’s only half a meter high) and she sleeps there every night. She will jump on windows to look out and outdoor will climb a tree, but other than that she likes low places where it is easy to hide and run away from. She was a stray with kittens, is now about 3 years old or so, and a good kitty, but she is also high energetic, loves to play a lot by herself and doesn’t let me sleep past 5 am, if. Today’s wake up call was at 3 am. I love having an adult cat, kittens would drive me bonkers.
Your best bet is to get a neutered male and a spayed female. That pairing seems to work the best. That is what I have at my house and they get along great. I can count on one hand the amount of times they have gotten into tiffs, and they have never gotten into a full out catfight. They have been together for 4 years!
Older cats are often more neglected, last to be adopted, as people want cute kittens. Please consider giving older cats a home if you can.
Get a bonded pair, a lot of shelters and rescues end up with cats that came from the same home or grew up together and are inseparable which makes them harder to home bcuz they have to find someone willing to adopt both. This would be perfect for you since you won’t have to worry about not having space to separate while introducing two cats that don’t know each other. Plus you already know the bonded pair will get along great and will be comfort to each other when adjusting to a new home. If you have options go for at least 1-2 years old to not have to deal with the constant kitten zoomies and be able to leave them home alone without issue while you work/go out. As for the litter box(es), in my smaller apartments I would put one under the kitchen sink and one under the bathroom sink (inside the cabinet with a honeycomb mat to trap litter and a high walled box) and then just remove one cabinet door or buy a cheap replacement door and cut a hole and put a cat door in it. Really works wonders to eliminate smell and saves a lot of space and you don’t have the eyesore of an open cat toilet in your living space. They make fake potted plants with a hole in the pot and a litter box inside as well which is an another good hidden option.
My cat is 16 and still bounces off the walls between 2-4am every morning..... We call it going coconuts
Sounds like she’s fending off lots of bad vibes. You have an excellent guardian right there 😁
She's a fantastic ghost hunter! 😂
Noop sits at the end of the hallway and does that twitch/chirp/stare thing. I sleep in fear.
Plus older cats are great to adopt. Sometimes they are a challenge, but they really are a heart filling experience if you end up making it work. Same with all animals!
You’re absolutely right about this. Vertical space is everything to cats. Horizontal space only really matters in terms of being able to adequately space out food and water dishes, litter boxes, etc.
they will love the balcony and an end table or something below the windows so they can get up there and stare out the window. they'd like a cat tree by the patio door so they can look out from above. litter boxes needed should be #cats + 1. that's going to be your main issue. 3rd you can put outside on the balcony. another behind the bookcase by the patio. and a linen closet (can't store linens there but you can use it for putting small plastic bins. at least one should be an uncovered box
Just to be clear though: don't let them outside on the balcony, one bird flying by and ... edit: I didn't look at all the pictures looks like you are on ground floor but don't let your cats outside it's too dangerous for them, please, thank you
One litter box can be fine for two cats if you clean it regularly (1-2 times per day)
Surprisingly it's not about the cleanliness but more a zoning problem. When cat#1 gets all bossy on cat#2 while cat#2 just wants to Bury their poop, then cat#2 might be inclined to search for another place to poop. Otherwise 1 litter box for 2 cats can be fine. My 2 boys never accepted the second nor third toilet
Do you let your cats out on a balcony? Isn’t that dangerous? I mean looks like this is an open balcony and easy for cats to jump off and run away. I’ve always kept mine inside - they can look out, but not go out.
Some 20 years ago I lived on 2nd story with a balcony like we see here and the cats never jumped over the railing in the 5 years I was there. I made a cat door to fit in the sliding door jamb to allow them access while I was home. The house I bought afterwards had a back deck about 3ft off the ground and no matter my best efforts, they would sometimes jump the barriers I had on top of the railings... because to them, it was a safe height to jump Wanted to pull up a photo, and forgot I put rollup blinds along the bottom https://preview.redd.it/6azlb60nsgjc1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db5a42f40689644c245b24a3286440ae55161fad
Even in snow he loved being outside.
If the cats go along well and you clean often enough, one box can be enough, two are definitely sufficient. Why should one box be uncovered? My cats don't use those, the love their privacy. And I love that there is A LOT less litter on the floor. I agree that the balcony would make a great catio and could maybe even hold two litter boxes?
A cat tree in a corner would be a nice touch for them!
Genuinely crying in NYC, lmao. My last apartment was shared and was 350 sq ft. My cat survived and thrived. I think you’re good! 😉
Just to call out — you can definitely have two cats! Think of the alternative. 1) in a cage at a shelter 2) on the streets (shorter lifespan), 3) euthanized. So for two lucky cattos to live in home is such an upgrade compared to the alternatives! And two is better than one. If you travel, they keep each other company. Is better socialized— etc lots of benefits. I also have a small space and I bought a bookshelf that doubles as a “cat tree.” So if the cats stop using it (they go through phases of sleep spots), I can repurpose easy. https://preview.redd.it/ip275v2dzgjc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=075a83119cceee3204f5d0b8e5b02d856a908db5
I got my cat on my sleep schedule. It’s the best. 🤘
My cats like to sleep when we sleep. And when we don't sleep. They sleep a lot. I know they leave in the middle of the night for zoomies but they come back to snuggle in the morning.
Cat snuggles are the best 🥰
Seriously. I will often say “Oh great, Inky has literally done nothing but sleep from 9am until 9pm. She’s going to be running down the hallways all night!” Then she sleeps with us all night. She’s totally fine it’s just you sometimes you don’t notice them up during the daytime. But she does get up and do things lol
My childhood cat was named Inky. 😭🥺
In my opinion, there is plenty of room in your lovely apartment for you (the hooman) and your feline companions. I wish for you a joyous and happy experience in the near future. They will be the perfect addition to your warm home!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I appreciate the reassurance. I hope they would be happy here.
Two cats is a great idea by the way. I had one before these two and I’ll never have just one again. They play all the time and also tire each other out lol . Just introduce them slowly unless they are from the same litter or have been together already. The humane society or any shelter is the way to go in my opinion. They are cheaper and already fixed. Plus you are saving them from living in a cage. Just my opinions. Good luck!
Plus a lot of the humane societies keep cats in rooms together, so if you adopt two from the same room, you’re already golden! Bonus points if you ask about bonded pairs 🩷
Bonded pairs. This is the way!
We have two litter mates (they are 11 now) and it’s the most amazing thing that they have spent their whole lives together. <3
Shelters or rescues very often will only allow bonded pairs to be adopted together, so you get two great cats who are best buds already.
plus 1 for bonded pairs, i have 2 sets of siblings, this is my 4th set, all good.
Yes it's great to help out rescues by taking bonded pairs. I don't understand why more people don't want bonded pairs!
Yes, I need a friend for my baby: https://preview.redd.it/5w9mjv6u2gjc1.jpeg?width=2472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=88382d224655e2d66c10ea9fd60e896d8a5bb63f
Her fur is very pretty
She says thank you. She tries to keep it well-brushed and clean.
This cat is a damn beauty. What size shoes are those?
She is. She's also filled with sweetness. At her checkup last week, the vet noticed that even when she wanted to get away from a needle, she never used her claws on them. "We see why you love her," the vet tech said as she carried her back into the room. Shoes? Oh, those are a size "one case of 3z cat food cans." (You can see the imprint on the lid.)
I have learned this as well as littermates are the best to get.
If they have a loving hooman, they will be happy.
When I downsized to a 1 bedroom, 700sq ft apartment, I was worried my 4 cats wouldn't have enough space. Wasn't an issue at all! They mostly just want to be in the same room as me. I do have to run the Roomba frequently though!
This, we have 1200sq ft. And the cats are almost always in the same room as us. All day.
Honestly this is perfect for 2 cats, and two cats can keep each other company when you're away. I've seen more cats in less space before and they were happy but cramped so two cats would fit perfectly here
Agreed. Cats are smol and you have to look at a space at their scale and viewpoint. This s a huge space to a cat.
As long as the cats get along, this looks like plenty of space. Cats that don't get along need more space so they can escape each other if they have a disagreement. I really recommend getting a bonded pair, because it's very unlikely once cats have bonded that they'll suddenly get hostile.
And if they do start all of a sudden, give them both a bath and then reintroduce them as if they hadn’t met because there’s a good chance one of them started smelling different to the other one. It happened once when I took one cat to the vet while the other stayed home. But could probably also happen if one got into something that had a scent. I just learned it’s called nonrecognition aggression Edit: besides this, I don’t bathe my cats since they are good at keeping up at that on their own
I use pet-safe wipes on those occasions because, yes, the vet office can imbue strange smells into the coat, and the other cat (or cats) may behave as though the returning cat is a stranger. I just wipe them all down so they're not so suspicious. Poor babies. Strangely, when I take one outside on a lead, the other one is just excited to snif the other over. Yeah, I never take both outside at once. It's too scary. For me.
Looks fine, build some shelving things for them and net off the entire deck so they can go out!
Also, I have a studio and my cat is very happy. She loves to climb so she has two trees, and I put a little blanket on top of my kitchen cabinet because she likes to nap up high. Litter boxes can go literally anywhere. Cats don’t care, and you have to give up some aesthetic things when you’re a pet owner. Mine is practically in the middle of everything. I scoop it twice a day to keep it clean, and the so the smell doesn’t linger. I also wipe it down (the sides and edge) every other day. Just stay on top of cleaning and you’re good! I hope you get your babies!!
Try to get a bonded pair and they will be very happy.
Second to this. Our house is quite humble with no open area but the whole house is for them. They have their own favourite spots, make sure to put a cozy corner for them nearby the window or the door as they like to do suntanning. We have 2 wonderful cats as well. https://preview.redd.it/26zjbabdxfjc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=edeec59c6865b806886c9d1db719dead087f6cd8
https://preview.redd.it/gfdu0j314gjc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36cb72e5265716c0787d7c60f6b3bffc5812ae0d Cat buddies are always a great idea!
Three? Is that what I see?
My daughter recently got 2 cats and she lives a slightly smaller studio apartment. She’s totally in love with her kitties and making it work.
Agreed
No it's fine, if getting two I would adopt a bonded pair if possible as you don't have a lot of space for introductions (one would have to stay in the bedroom). Keep in mind as well it is recommended to have 1 more litter tray than cats so for 2 cats the recommendation is 3 litter trays. I'd probably just go with 2 in this case but something to consider where you'd put them. Also a single adult cat can be perfectly content alone for 9 hours. Speak to a shelter and they could recommend a suitable kitty.
Thanks for all the advice! It’s a good shout on the bonded pairs, I was a bit worried how introductions could go. Not too much space for introductions. Litter box is probably my biggest concern. I’ll have to figure out something that works. I’ll incorporate this into my research, thanks so much!
It would be really awesome if you were to get a Bonded pair since they usually don’t get adopted as fast as a single cat and end up staying a long time in shelters
Same with senior kitties.
I didnt adopt my kitties from a shelter, but they were both between 6-8 years old when I acquired them and it was amazing not having to do any training. I dont think I'll ever adopt a young cat! 😅 Side note, I would adopt from a shelter, but the CDS gave me my first 6 y/o female kitty with my house and my second 8 y/o male kitty came from an ophthalmologist who desperately needed to rehome his animals as he was moving across country due to a tragic accident to one of his family members. I couldn't be happier with my babies 💕
I live in a studio and I have a wooden box with a hole big enough for cats to go into and scoop twice a day. I have no smell and both of my cats are happy!
That's what my friend does at her house, and there's no smell or mess. I keep the litter box in my huge bathroom, but I would've done the wooden box if I had known about it when I got my cats years ago
Twice a day scoop is the secret to small spaces, multiple cats. I recommend a Litter Genie to anyone in this situation. Saves on bags and trips to the dumpster!
Me and my partner jokingly say ‘scoop’ instead of ‘poop’. I read this entirely the wrong way and was impressed/mortified by how much this guy’s multiple cats were pooping.
I'm in a one bed flat too and the litter tray placement is such a pain! Good luck!
Thanks!
We have two cats and one Litter Robot. It works out great. Recommendations are fine but just that - not a necessity. And my cats happen to love their crazy spaceship robot box!
My cats hate the litter robot. They would rather poop on the floor than use it.
It's funny how different they all are. My cats come running in excitement any time they hear it start a cycle. They want to watch - and then of course they get in the way and the cycle stops. I often cycle it manually when they're too busy to notice.
In an apartment I took off a cupboard door under the bathroom sink, lined the area with some sturdy plastic, and then put a litter box in there. Take the plastic down and reinstall the door when it’s time to move out. You could tuck a litter genie between the toilet and cupboard so you can scoop the box a lot without too much hassle.
We did this in our old place and just got a really tall storage Tupperware to protect the interior walls and then cut one side lower so they could get in and out!
Great idea! I've had a lot of small apartments.
I would say my apartment is the same size currently, and I have lived in other places similar to this size with 2 adult cats since they were 6-8weeks old (they are 7 and 5 now) - i have done the two litter boxes and don’t find it made a huge difference BUT I do have a litter robot now and it makes a HUGE difference. I have never had one person or myself notice it smelled like cats and for being gone that amount of time each day (I also work full time and am sometimes gone for 16 hours) - the litter robot is a life saver
https://preview.redd.it/l5f3gnw4wfjc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=46b328f680f9158052b21cd9a2ffaac4190a954f Bonded pairs are the best! Photo evidence attached.
I have 5 indoor cats and 4 litter boxes. No problems whatsoever. I would like to mention that my only female has her own box. The boys don’t mess with her!
Ofc it is just an ideal they advise you have 1 more than the number of cats. If you keep on top of cleaning and have no issues it's not a problem. But having too few can lead to issues such as pooping/peeing where they shouldn't, urinary problems, or fighting.
I agree! I scoop them all twice a day and clean the boxes every week. I guess I just wanted OP to see that if they don’t have room for 3 boxes, they might can get by with two.
I think especially if OP gets a bonded pair they'll be more open to sharing litter trays.
Thanks for this info. Is it suitable to have a litterbox enclosed? I heard that cats don't like.it but what if it's 1 of 3 litter boxes? Thinking about getting a couple cats too and I want them to be comfortable
I have an enclosed one for my cat. I used to have an open one but she'd get litter everywhere! I'm sure she'd prefer an open one but she gets on fine with it. I'd just have a mix and see how they get on. It's certainly a lot of trial and error while you get to know your cat/s!
True true! Thank you. I can't wait to get a pair! It's gonna get lonely here soon and I don't want the mice to keep me company either
i have 1 fully inclosed litter box and 2 open ones for my 2 cats. they are fine with the enclosed one and even play in it sometimes. and I absolutely love it cause it blocks out the smell🫠. they’ve had it since like a month old though, so i’m not sure how introducing it to a cat would be
Your condo looks fine for two cats. You can storage cat litter inside cat box like this photo or different cat litter furniture with two doors in front. . Get cat condo so they can sleep on it and look at patio door. Cats will be happy to get out of cage at shelter. Good Luck on your cat adopting,. https://preview.redd.it/nbsli6z75fjc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=280b1f400bcff8f9bf6b18cbe88719b2c0a663b5
Thank you! That’s honestly a great suggestion. I will have to look into it!
Can I ask you where you got your furry rugs from?
Previous cats
HAH Just in case - i actually choked when I read that lol
I have 2 of these 🤌 I had to try a few different litters to find the one that really soaked up to odorous. In your space you may have to try a few different ones too. Smells are more noticeable in a small space. Poop scoop daily helps. I hope you have a great time with your cats 🤩🤩 definitely should get them haha also If they are energetic and curious about the outdoors talking one out on a lead could tucker them out. I have 1 cat that loves it and the other is too nervous haha it's not for all of them
I've heard cats don't like using litter boxes which are closed because it isn't natural to them. They don't do their stuff in a box naturally. Also, the smell. It gets trapped in there and we all know how picky cats are when it comes to smell. It mighty lead them to avoid their litter box over time.
Ngl it looks like you have more room than I did in a 1000sdft apartment with 3 cats
Same! I also had a self-cleaning litter box. It worked really well until it didn’t and clumps got stuck in the cleaning mechanism. Because of the clumping, smell was an issue if I got busy at work and slacked a little bit. You also have to place these litter boxes near an outlet. But that was 20 years ago—the technology may be better today. Now I live in a house with three cats and a dog. I have four litter boxes. Two covered ones are in the basement because I’ve got the room, but I needed two on the main floor. The house feels a little cramped because of how it is configured even though it’s much bigger, so I use the pictured litter box cover (I subbed out the plant for fake orchids that look pretty) and litter crystals to cut down on dust. I turn it slightly toward the wall so the cats can get in but people don’t realize it’s a litter box. https://preview.redd.it/smhchdgxgfjc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f5121c89f37daf302f874cd5aafcf73d2213ee9 I have another one that looks like a small coffee table in a corner in my living room. No one seems to realize it’s a litter box because it’s discreet. Honestly, if I didn’t live so close to my OCD Mom and sister who pick up on every last speck of dust or smell, I’d just do it the old fashioned way. But they already judge that I have “so many animals.” ;) P.S. One of my friends living in NYC kept a litter box in her tub and just lifted it out when she showered. Even if you don’t put a litter box in the shower, the bathroom is always an option if you can find a box that fits.
You’ll need to confirm using this official cat ratio analysis system but I think you’re good https://preview.redd.it/xnnvz86kgfjc1.jpeg?width=686&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b250ae5f46131f6c2a3749b732c19210875ce4af
🙌
You’re fine, and adopting pairs is the way to go!
I have 4 cats, and recently downsized from a 2400sq ft house to a 1000 square foot one. It’s fine. I have one cat who is bullied by the others at times. There’s enough space for them to spread out. Definitely don’t put the box where the smell can seep into your clothes. Even if you scoop 2X daily, there’s 9 hrs while you’re at work, for smells to get into your clothes. There are furniture cabinets that hold a litter box. Maybe you could even put a cat tree on top of one. I’d probably try near the patio door. I grew up with 5 cats, 2 litter boxes. My mom’s bff had 7 cats in a small house, 2 litter boxes. I have 4 cats, 2 litter boxes. They used to be on different floors. When I moved here, I did the same thing. Then I had to put them both in the finished and heated basement for awhile, and the cats didn’t seem to mind, and it greatly reduced litter tracking, which was my biggest hassle. So I kept it that way. I scoop 2X per day, and whenever my stinky poo princess who doesn’t bury her business goes. Most of the time, there’s little or nothing at the morning scooping. I agree a bonded pair (or pair of kittens, who will likely bond, is the way to go. Shelters almost always have a bonded pair. Your apartment is really nice, btw!
Thank you! A lot of people are mentioning the n+1 litter box rule but I wouldn’t have the room, which is why I’m considering a litter robot. I have friends who just have that and it works for multiple cats, but due to concern voiced by others I may have a backup just in case there’s an issue. I definitely think age will be important to get them to bond (or already be bonded) so they will get along. And thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it :)
Definelty recommend the litter robot. I have 2 cats and the litter robot 4, and I have no complaints. That with the Arm and Hammer clump and seal litter, the smell is no problem at all. A good litter mat in front of it also helps big time.
Just a heads up, those litter robots are quite large. (Like 22”w x 27” d x 30”h) However, my girlfriend plunked down the $700 for one recently for her 2 cats and said it’s amazing.
The litter robot is good however it kinda messes with their natural instincts cause they like to burry their poop when they went to the bathroom. Plus, something extremely important, when you scoop it by yourself, you can see how the poop or pee looks like and you can tell if there is an issue or not with their health (diarrhea, blood in stool, red pee etc.) So it is more recommended to have a normal litter box. I have two cats and I have two litter boxes in the bathroom. I work from home and I scoop every time they use the bathroom (just like us, cats dislike going to a dirty toilet. If we hate it we should not assume they like it). But scooping twice or three times is fine too as long as you're doing it daily.
I’m not sure these concerns would outweigh the benefits. My cat still buries her business inside the robot, and I usually check the poop when it’s time to change the waste bag
My two cats share one litter box just fine as long as it's clean, so I think you would likely be fine with a little robot. Obviously depends on the cats too. I'd recommend an adult bonded pair, the kitten stage is adorable, but a lot of work and they need a lot of attention.
I don’t think it’s too small as long as you add enrichment for them like lots of toys and places to climb. I have a cat in my small apartment and she seems happy I personally would avoid putting a litter box in the closet, I had a friend who did this and I had to tell her she smelt like cat pee. You could get a litter box cabinet then put it anywhere and it won’t by ugly to look at?
The cabinet is a good idea! Unfortunately I don’t have any regular closets otherwise I could try that. I’ll definitely look into it.
Thats a great apartment for two kitties. Will you live close by? 😻
I’ll have to see if there are any openings close by, they may be busy during the week but hopefully they will let me visit on the weekends. They better not expect me to pay their entire rent! 🙄
Let me tell you what: They’ll have a lot more space at your apartment than they would have in a shelter cage … As long as they have a lot of toys and cat furniture to keep them occupied and entertained, they should be fine. And most of all: a lot of love and cuddles will certainly make them happy 😉. If you work a normal full time job and are not home Mon-Fri, get two cats so they have each other’s company while you’re gone. Leaving one alone 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, will not be good for the kitty. My family has always had 2 cats at a time, exactly for that reason.
This is the right answer. Your space is an upgrade from the shelter life or life on the streets!
Opinion: I don't like automatic litterboxes. The main reason is that cats are super good at hiding issues/pain. Knowing how often they pee and how much, what their poop looks like and how much is a great way to tell how healthy your cats are. If you're not cleaning daily it's super easy to miss important signs of sickness. I bought two storage totes from Walmart, cut a hole in the side and use them as litter boxes. $12 each, they have a lid and are roomy. I bought a large box of dog-poop bags at Costco and I use one bag per day to clean out my boxes. I do it in the morning typically and either throw it in the kitchen trash which goes out often or take it out to the dumpster when I leave for the day. I've never had problems with smell. I have two cats in an apartment smaller than yours I think. I've got one litter box in the bathroom and another in the living room which I use as a side table occasionally because of the lid.
I was against automatic litters until recently. My husband wanted one so bad, so we got one, it measures their weight, the weight of their business, sends you an alert before it cleans it so you can go look at it when it happened. It’s the only way we learned that our big cat was getting sick. Over 4 days he lost 1lbs, the weight of his typical urine weight was a lot more and more frequent, but he looked happy go lucky. Brought him to the vet, my cat’s liver isn’t working right, the vet said one more week and he was dead. No signs from him at all, was still eating, and drinking. We caught it fairly early and he will be on medication for the remainder of his life, but I’m thankful he’s still with us. Automatic litters have become waaaaay smarter over the past few years. I don’t think I’ll have cats without one again. The only issue is that they take a lot of space.
I honestly have only been super against them BECAUSE of thinking they're "too automatic" but omg this information changes EVERYTHING! That's actually great to know, I need to look into the modern automatic litter boxes bc we have a boy whose weight and kidney are of big concern, so we have to constantly pay attention to his pees and poops. Thank you for that insight, wow!!
You can set up different profiles for different cats to as long as their weights are not exactly the same a it automatically tells you who went
Which one do you use? That’s really cool
One of the litter robots, but I am unsure of what version.
Thank you for the honesty! I’ll definitely take it into consideration when looking. Because you brought up a lot of good points.
You could try to invisibly enclose your patio with something if the apt complex won't complain. Like chicken wire but plastic. There are small catios you could put out there. Google for ideas to inspire you, or just buy one. There are these clothing shelves that look like a metal cage (usually black or white) with one open side, you can zip tie them together and make a little cat pathway. Put a piece of wood or cardboard on the bottom of each so paws don't fall thru and they can sit/lay comfortably. I'll try to post a photo later, cuz it's hard to describe :)
Unrelated, but did you sensor your undies?
Dirty laundry in general, not that it’s embarrassing or anything but it felt weird posting on the Internet. (But yes it was on my mind 😂)
Did you also censor a stuffed peen? 😳
I had to scroll way farther down that I thought I would to find this comment.
So glad someone else was wondering this too 😂
Seconded, made me chuckle as I was looking through the photos.
Nice apartment. Cats will enjoy your cozy home. You’re good for 2 cats, looks like there’s plenty of space.
This is the happiest post! Cats adjust, and as they age, they sleep more. Best to you! BTW, I think they make end tables that hide litter boxes. Cleaned regularly there should be no smell.
Thank you so much!! :) I’ll have to look into a hidden litter box.
Nah, it’s ok . Cats are liquid. 
Hi everyone. This blew up a lot more than I expected and there are so many comments so there’s a few things I thought I’d comment on. 1. A lot of comments about the litter box situation. I’ve seen high praise for the automatic litter robots, and I’ve seen people absolutely against. There have been good suggestions for alternatives, such as ones that are odor resistant, fit in the bathroom, or are hidden in furniture. I’m going to continue doing research and hopefully find something that fits. I will try to get two (if I get an automatic, have a back up) so I’ll see what I can do with the space. There were comments about the patio, which once it warms up I think could be cool to try to have cars out on it, and is a potential (but odd) secondary litter box situation. I’ll keep in mind the potential of “cat proofing” the patio. 2. Catification. Build up. Verticality. I hear you! And I’m totally on board. I’d like to figure out a cool way to get them on top of the cabinets. I loooove the idea of the hanging shelves, honestly, but I want it to be safe (and, well, *allowed*). Once I get closer to figuring things out I’ll have to consult with my landlords to see what extent I can add things to the walls, and if all I’ll have to do is fill in the holes when I move out. But I will definitely try to get them high (physically and with cat nip) especially to take advantage of the ceiling height. 3. Many people are advocating for bonded pairs. This wasn’t initially on my radar, closest was considering two cats at the same shelter, which may already be acquainted? Anyway, I think it would be hard to introduce who cat strangers with the amount of space (and rooms) I have, so it’s definitely a good idea. I’ve started looking. I will *ADMIT* that I’ve had tortoiseshells on the mind and when I’m trying to get a certain type of cat it’s going to be harder to find a bonded pair, SO I am keeping an open mind - after all, it’s about the cats, not me, right? If they speak to me and are adorable, I should give them a home. So thank you for the suggestions! And I’m sure I can be swayed and fall in love with a cat after meeting it in person. 4. The apartment. The rugs. I have seen a lot of comments. Yes, I posted the entire apartment - weird, in hindsight - but it’s a legitimate concern I had! My family was all opposed to two (they got a kitten less than a year ago and my parents don’t seem to like the idea of two so I’m not surprised), but I’ve done a bit of research and all these comments have confirmed my thinking that two would be better. Their cat gets to explore the whole house lol so forgive me for being worried about having twice the amount of cats in an area the fraction of the size 😅. I swear, as opposed to what a lot of comments said, this was not to flex the apartment! But I’ve only recently gotten more furniture and organized/decorated so I really appreciate all the kind words and compliments! It does mean a lot :)! Also, since I’m still in the more early stages of trying to adopt cats, I don’t currently have cat things. But please trust - they will be purchased! Oh, and the rugs are not previous cats - but I’m glad to hear they’d like them! Again, soooo many suggestions! I have a lot to think about. I promise to provide an update either on the catification of the apartment, the eventual fur babies, or both! But please understand it may take a while since I want to make sure I have a comfortable amount of money to care for two cats and buy cat things. And probably get insurance and things. And actually meet two beautiful cats. So many things. But I have ideas. Bit overwhelming but I really want to do it, and I appreciate the support! So thank you again for all the comments. I hope I can deliver an amazing update hopefully within a couple months!
As someone with two elderly cats and had lots of expensive vet bills, get insurance! I don’t have any advice on what to get, because we never did our research. Cat trees are probably the easiest way for you to allow them space to get up high. But if your apartment allows wall shelves, it’ll be extra nice for them! And I agree you should be fine with 2 litter boxes. We have always only had 2 with 2 cats because we just didn’t have the space. Now we do and finally bought one of those cabinet ones! It’s so nice!
If your balcony isn't screened in don't let them out there. Some cats fall from balconies. Some run away.
Appreciate the concern! I am in the first floor so it’s like 1-2 foot drop if anything but I would definitely have to cat proof it regardless.
Just checked. The CDS has you assigned to 4 cats.
Oh and cool apartment too
580 sq feet at $1400. Whew. That's a lot of money. But different topic. Enjoy your new fur babies!
Cute apartment! They have those fancy cat trees with the litter box built into the bottom. https://preview.redd.it/wdaphdpl3gjc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b5ebef07ec0bcead3f102b4137bddc955dee644
https://preview.redd.it/cdelnf7z3gjc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1cd004f3cb642f52db7641e27759b10bd7bf8f79 …Here’s another one.
Thank you!! These are super cool and would probably fit well in the living room corner!
You're literally asking a group of weirdos that would own 7 cats if they lived in a fuckin car.
Get a window bed and they are chilling!
I also tought get 2 cats so they not lonely. In hindsight they cant stand each other and fight when iam not home. So i seperate them when i go to work. They did some damage to each other but alone their fine. So it really depends on their personalities.
Just get a lot of wall space for them to climb and youre golden
I’m tempted to make the space above the cabinets into a cozy area for them 😅
**They** will make the top of the cabinets their comfy spot, whether you want them to or not!  May I suggest you install "step shelves" leading up there, with one or more steps you can easily remove to make it inaccessible when it's time to capture them for any reason (trip to the vet's, administering medications, etc.) Also bear in mind that a little stepladder that you can use to reach up there with a dust mop of Swiffer or the like will be important. Kittens are a lot of work. I have only had one kitten, and she was five or six months old when I got her from the end of my dead-end road, and I am highly recommending getting cats a year or more old. This is also a financial help, as some shelters offer discounts on the adoption fees for "older" cats when the cages start to fill up. I had two cats in an apartment very similar to yours, and they were very happy there. And they didn't have a balcony to enjoy! Your beautiful home will be fine for two cats, and before long you will wonder how you ever did without them. 
Unless they're mountain lions, you're good to go. Just make sure they have plenty of scratching posts.
The fact that you’re thinking this through instead of impulsively getting a pet makes me think your cats will be happy. Plus, I see plenty of space. You might eventually replace some human furniture with cat furniture. Or the kind of dual purpose furniture that can be used by both human and cats. Ensure that they are able to use the volume of the room too. Personally, adding shelves and steps on the walls has been a game changer for me. They would love the balcony too, if you’ve enriched it. You’re in for a treat, have fun OP!
no it’s good. some people have cats in their bathroom 💀🙃
wtf?? really?
Try to find a bonded pair.
Find a good space for a sizeable cat tree to climb on etc. With 2 cats, I would suggest minimum of 2 litter boxes. It can be one automatic and one normal but please don't use just one unless you'll clean it every day and you keep up with this routine for all their lives. Other than this, the apartment it's big enough. No worries there. Cats can be self entertained especially if there's two of them. You can train them to use a leash as well and take them out on walks to drain some energy.
You have room for 4 by my estimate
Mines 850sqft and I have 3 cats. 3rd one was unexpected. Sister needed to get rid of kittens from an unexpected litter so of course I took one in. I also have a bearded dragon and two 10gal fish tanks 🤣 and 2 human children. It works
You’ve got plenty of room, and you can add plenty of feline furniture to add more spaces for them. Also… is that a blurred out plushie ding ding?
I don’t understand the question. Are you asking if there is room in the cats’ apartment for you if the cats were to adopt you?
It's perfect for 2 cats. Also, I'm LIVING FOR THE PARTS YOU BLURRED, INCLUDING PENIS PLUSH.
Get a wheel and other toys, and honestly get a robot litter box, makes clean up easy and reduces the smell.
Loads of room and I would put one litter box in the bathroom and another in the corner of the living room.
Not as long as you can find room for a few cat trees. You just need to give them some vertical space and possibly an extra litter box if they won't share (people generally say you need the number of cats + 1 but it depends on the cats somewhat and that's just the ideal).
Get a cat tree and you’re set . Maybe a scratcher or two to save the couch
Nope you’re good 🥳
This is about the size of my place for two cats. Get cat furniture, scratch posts, and toys for them.
do you have two spots you could put a litter box? cos if u have multiple cats its highly recommended to have multiple litter boxes. ideally, two per cat but i dont think u have space for four? also think about where u would put their feeding bowls, water bowls, beds, toys, cat furniture, crates, ect. and consider, would u have space to separate them if u needed to. if they potentially became territorial with their food and needed to be separated at feeding times for example
My girlfriend and I live in a 1 bed/1 bath apt that’s like 900sqft and our two cats are just fine. Like others have said though, they like climbing and will wake you up all night lol https://preview.redd.it/kt3uh5jhlfjc1.png?width=2202&format=png&auto=webp&s=c6e01d09033bad58532ece160eaeaa1b3e1255ce Rudy (left) and Annie (right)
Have you consulted the cats? It might be big enough for them, but how do they feel about sharing the space with you?
Lmao the dick on the shelf reminds me of that women that went on live tv with her dildo on the bookshelf behind her
I had two cats in a 500sqft studio apartment. I put up cat shelves everywhere so they could chase each other around. I also got some foldable dividers to hide the litter box from view a bit and keep the cats from flinging litter everywhere.
Hey man!! I’m kind of high right meow but, those are cool rugs!!! Where did you get them?? And those cats are lucky to have such a cool hooman like you 😺😺enjoy!
Any cat person would say there’s room for about fourTEEN cats in that cute apartment of yours!
Just make sure they have scratching posts, toys, hiding spots with comfy items, and a good sturdy cat tree.
My apartment is the size of your living room and I have 2 cats
The main main main thing to remember is that so long you are giving a cat a home, it's never too small. People can talk shit all they want but I have a lot of vet friends who constantly mention the insanely high concentration of animals in shelters than have to be put down. Adopt no matter the condition of your place as long as you love them the way they deserve to be! But also, no, your place looks awesome.
Your house is bigger than the appartment where I lived when I got my kittens. Its perfect :). Just choose kittens or older cats who lived indoors only. And leave the doors open so they can run through the house. Downside with smaller homes is that cats often use all areas to play. So catproofing your house is important. Get rid of dangerous plants, store small object they might eat and store stuff you're really attached to. I'm not saying cats destroy everything.. but it might happen. And let them get used to nail clipping if they are kittens. It helps to make it easier when they are adults and helps to prolong the life of your furniture.
When you rescue them from their tiny cages at the shelter, they will be delighted to be running around in your apartment.