Organizing with Cats

A pretty cat is the best accessory. Share on X

How do YOU organize with, and for, your cats?

Please share with us in the comment section below!


Featuring: George, Callie, Casey (RIP), Emily (RIP), Tommy the Terror Tabby, Joey, and Huan Huang.

Category: It’s my blog and I can write what I want to.

Related posts:

Hits & Misses: 12 Things I’ve Tried So You Don’t Have To

In Praise of Clear Plastic Shoe Boxes

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Copyright 2014-2015 by Hazel Thornton, Organized For Life.
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31 Comments

  1. Jane Severance on May 18, 2014 at 7:34 pm

    How cute and how true! I had a cat who insisted on being right up in the midst of things while I was sewing. I finally realized it wasn’t just my attention he wanted, but the lamp I had trained on my sewing machine. It was just a regular desk lamp, but it was warm. I put a box right beside me with his own lamp trained on it and he was happy.

  2. Hazel Thornton on May 18, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    Yes, heat plays a big part in our cats’ lives. Good solution, Jane!

  3. Peg on June 1, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Great blog. As herders of two cats, that are not sure they are cat,s Mel and I are kept entertained by their antics. As they have gotten old, and old in cat years, they no longer want to be up on the desk, but they still want to be part of the daily newspaper reading and partakers in what is going on. Sylvestor our big and I do mean big yellow tiger follows us around the house even into the bathroom, where I brush him while sitting. It has been the only way he will sit and allow me to do so. If I want to know where Mel is in the house, just look for Sylvestor, he will not be far from him, usually sitting at attention at the last door Mel passed. Samatha is much more laid back, and litterly for her greatest position is on her back with legs up. I guess she is “playing dead”, or just likes to lie on her back ready for a tummy rub. But so far no help with organization from them. We have used the litter/ scoop idea for years with no odor. Being that they are reqired to be indoor cats, coyotes abound, we use a litter box, no outside cats here. Love them!

    • Hazel Thornton on June 2, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      Helping read the newspaper sounds like fun! 🙂

  4. Jackie Wakin on June 1, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Now everytime I organize a client with cats I will think of you. I seem to have more dogs than cats but I do have a current client with a cat named Nehi (knee-high). I organized his space in the laundry room. Enjoyed your blog! Thank you!

    • Hazel Thornton on June 2, 2014 at 10:50 pm

      I think I have more clients with dogs too (some, of course, have both), but the cats are more “help”. Glad you enjoyed the post!

      • Janet Barclay on June 18, 2014 at 10:59 am

        I look forward to a future post on Organizing with Dogs. 😉

  5. Teresa James, CPO on May 25, 2015 at 10:16 am

    This solution may not apply to every situation but this is what I have….
    I have an extra storage closet/room in the garage that shares the wall with the back hallway that is by the back door. I had an expert install a pet door (that I purchased from Pet Smart) into the back hallway’s wall into this storage closet/room. The storage closet/room door (that is out in the garage) needs to remain closed at all times so that the cat will not get into the garage. The storage closet/room only contains litter boxes. The pet gate also comes with a metal slide-in-place door when you want to lock it up for cleaning or not in use anymore. I clean the litter boxes by entering through the storage closet/room door from the garage. This concept keeps the litter boxes out of the house/laundry room and therefore eliminates the odor and sight of litter boxes.

    • Hazel Thornton on May 26, 2015 at 6:37 pm

      Wow, an entire litter box room! That’s awesome!

  6. Christina Rogers on May 26, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    Wow, George is the best cat model ever! I am impressed at your ability to garner his cooperation, especially with the small boxes.

  7. Sonja on May 27, 2015 at 5:08 am

    /\~~/\
    >* •*<

    Good one Hazel. 🙂

    • Hazel Thornton on May 27, 2015 at 6:55 am

      Good one, Sonja. 🙂

  8. Jill Robson on May 27, 2015 at 8:32 am

    Hazel I love the containers for scoop and poop, we will have to do that, and setting up a place for my cat to curl up by my desk instead of on my laptop is a great idea.

    • Hazel Thornton on May 27, 2015 at 8:36 am

      Just don’t tell your cat what your motive is. That will ruin everything! 😉

  9. Seana Turner on May 30, 2015 at 7:21 am

    Ack- I’m allergic! What a funny post, Hazel. You are making me smile this morning:)

    • Hazel Thornton on May 30, 2015 at 7:26 am

      Oh no! Well, I’m glad you could enjoy the kitties vicariously, Seana!

  10. Sarah Soboleski on May 30, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Love the pics in your post, especially the kitty in the clear shoe box. It’s amazing how they’ll conform to fit any space. Our Ruby does the same thing!

    • Hazel Thornton on May 30, 2015 at 1:06 pm

      I’ve been asked how I got George to pose for that photo. Ha, ha, ha! Like you can get a cat to do something it doesn’t want to do!

  11. Autumn Leopold on May 30, 2015 at 11:17 am

    This is so cute and made me smile today! I love these cats! We have two and they love baskets boxes and of course cuddling with us on the bed. We have a cat door out to the garage for their litter boxes. they also have a separate sleeping area in the garage they love to go when it too cold or loud in the house.
    I love the cat in the IKEA cart! I have one in my office. I wonder if my cat would sleep in it. Did your do it on it’s own or did you encourage it?
    Great and fun post!

    • Hazel Thornton on May 30, 2015 at 1:09 pm

      Thanks, Autumn! I got the IKEA cart specifically hoping George would like it. There’s always something comfy lining that top section. But I had other plans for it in the event he did not like it.

  12. Lisa Montanaro on May 31, 2015 at 6:39 am

    Too cute!!! I don’t have any cats (grew up allergic and am a dog person!), but they are adorable and love how they get into any box or bin left around, and how they decide to be a desktop accessory or hang out on the keyboard. Such characters!

    • Hazel Thornton on June 1, 2015 at 12:50 pm

      I’ve also seen cute photos of dogs in offices…usually “helping” by lying on or very near mommy’s feet. Probably better for not messing up paperwork and keyboards!

  13. Andi Willis on May 31, 2015 at 10:52 am

    Adorable! Whenever we get something delivered in any box bigger than a shoe box, we set it on the floor. I always wonder how long before the “cat trap” feature is activated. Usually it’s within a minute, no matter where the cats have been hiding!

    • Hazel Thornton on May 31, 2015 at 11:12 am

      You said “bigger than” a shoe box…I hope that includes shoe boxes! And I wouldn’t count out smaller boxes.. try it and see what happens! You might be surprised and amused.

  14. Jane Severance on June 1, 2015 at 11:56 am

    So I was reading the post on twelve new things that you’ve tried…which lead me to the Bikram’s post…which lead me to this post…which I see I’ve already posted on… the way that everything comes together is the way that I have a little savasana (a little break between jobs) is that I go out and read for fifteen minutes sitting in the chair that is in my cat pen. My cats model for me perfect relaxation and acceptance of the moment.

    • Hazel Thornton on June 1, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      They really do, don’t they?

  15. […] I’ve moved mine down to the floor (from on top of a real storage bin, as seen in this previous blog post), and taken the lids off, for ease of elder cat access, which pretty much defeats the purpose. […]

  16. Jess on March 12, 2022 at 1:12 am

    Using the litter container to keep waste is a genius idea! How well does it keep the smell from escaping? (If it works well I may just have to do it too!)

    • Hazel Thornton on March 13, 2022 at 5:51 pm

      The bins works fine if you have the lids securely shut! These days I use bags and close them securely before storing (temporarily) in the bin. The litter bin holds multiple bags. Less need for the lid to fit as securely, and the bags weigh less than a full bin does.

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