Cat Area? Where should I put their things in my new place?

Congrats!

I have a "thing" about having litter near food, so I would put the litter box in the room with the crates on a mat or one of those things that you put under office chairs for easy clean up if someone happens to miss. I would also put the cat tree in there. I would put the food in the laundry room/pantry just because my dogs like to go for the cat food, so it would be easier when I'm putting them in their crates if there wasn't that extra distraction.

Another thing to consider - is the litterbox in the laundry room. I had kitty litter tracked everywhere when I had one in mine.....and if the washer ran loudly (large rugs, etc) then the cats freaked out while in the box. Not a good idea.

The cat tree doesn't go wherever you spend the most time - your bedroom or the living room? We had one in the bedroom, several in the living room, and one in the kitchen!

Good luck on the move!

Congrats on the new place Nikki.

Like Laurie I'd question about having the cat tree in the main room/living room. I'm assuming your kitties like to play on it which is why I wouldn't tuck it away.
But if that's not an option I suppose I would put it with the dogs so they have some company if that makes sense. The crates for cats I would put with the dog crates. The litter box.....hmmmm. I would not put it in the laundry room for reasons already listed.

Food I've always put in the kitchen area. But if not an option I think I would put it in the laundry room away from the litter box. I too have a thing for litter and food not being close.

Dunno if I've helped or not but the new place sounds great, and I love the overlap. When we built our place, we had my rental for an extra month which made moving so easy and stressfree.

I agree about having the cat tree in the same room you're going to spend most of your time. Otherwise, the cats may not use it because they still want to be with you.

Don't put the litterboxes in the same place you have their food; I agree with the others. We have three litterboxes in the bathroom and the fourth box is in the kitchen (you'd never know it was a litterbox....it's a carpeted box with a lid and a hole at the side for the entrance). We always feed the cats in the kitchen and when they're finished eating, we pick up the plates and put them in the dishwasher....our cats aren't free-fed.

Congrats on the new place!

I have Pixie's litterbox in the bathroom and I just prefer it that way and as for the food I like the idea of either having it in the laundry or like in a corner in the kitchen and then you could put the cat tree in the room with the dog crates

Thank you for the great suggestions/tips everyone!

My niece and I went to look at the house again tonight and I took a little extra time to see where exactly things might fit the best. In hindsight, the laundry area is going to shrink dramatically once I put my washer/dryer,clothes hamper, storage, and trash can in there! (I took a measuring tape with us!) I will likely not have room at all for the cat things in there! So, I think I've decided on going ahead and putting the cat tree in the guest bedroom with the dog crates (there's a perfect corner that it will fit in beside the window in there, so they will have a nice view!). I will have my brother-in-law install the cat door on that closet area so that I can put their litter box in there (I'll just put some thick matting down to protect the carpet). The closet is big enough that I can put their litter and food area on opposite sides without it being too close (that's actually their set up now on litter/food and it works well since there's enough closet space here too for it). As far as my bedroom goes, it's strictly off limits to them b/c of my breathing issues and their love of getting fur right in my face, on my bed,etc; I have some pretty bad breathing issues, so my doctors want me to have at least one "cat free zone" in my place. I've done that for a while now, and that seems to let me keep them without having as many health problems on my part!

As far as the cat tree being in the main living area; I've tried it before and it just didn't work out well because the dogs like to play together and they can get loud, jump around after frisbees,etc. Needless to say, the cats don't seem to like all of that noise! Isabella and Kojak are both pretty laid back/prefer calm, so they would have more peace/quiet in that bedroom where they can perch on their favorite spots and look out the windows. It should also be quiet in there too despite the crates, because my dogs all settle quickly once they're crated. So, the cats should still maintain a very calm living area (and they'll still have access to the living room if they want to hang out on the couch). After recently loosing Velvet, I'm trying to keep their stress down as much as possible, especially with a new move coming up soon. I really appreciate all of the suggestions you guys have made to help me make things easier!

Well with that info about the dogs (a consideration I didn't even think of LOL), sounds like you've found the right solution!

for a smooth, stress-free move!

How exciting for you with this upcoming move! Sounds like you will have much more room. I have five of those cat trees spread out around the house. We do have one in the family room. The cats love to hang out on it when we are sitting in there in the evening. I just think, with having dogs like I do, the more cat trees the better . That way they always have a spot to run to. I have two of them about six feet apart in my dining room/kitchen by the window. They jump back and forth from the two and just have a ball. Much luck with the move and all of these decisions

It's been a little while since I updated; we're all moved in now, save for one or two more carloads of little boxes! I brought the dogs over earlier in the week and then I brought the cats over yesterday after I finished setting up their living area. The animals seem to really love all of the extra space! Kojak & Isabella's cat tree is right by the window; so they're loving the chance to sunbathe and bird watch!

When I went to the old place to get the cats yesterday, Kojak walked right into his carrier like a little champ. Isabella on the other hand decided to behave like Lucifer's little lap kitty! It took me a while to get her to cooperate, but thankfully I got them both moved in safe and sound! (I was trying to make things as stress-free for them as possible so that they'd have an easier transition). Now that they're starting to settle in, they seem to really like the extra space and being reunited with their puppy dogs!

Glad you are all moved in now and everything is working out for the best