Quick answer: A side table with a cat cubby gives your cat an enclosed hideout beside the sofa, while a scratcher side table gives it a sisal surface to claw at the sofa arm. Choose the cubby if your cat hides and naps; choose the scratcher if the arm shows claw marks. Both take the same 1 spot by the sofa.
Both are end tables that share space with a cat, and both sit in the same spot beside the sofa. They solve different problems, though. A cubby table is a den. A scratcher table is a claw station. Buying the wrong one leaves the original problem in place, which is usually a scratched sofa arm.
Here is how to tell which one fits your cat, and when it makes sense to own both. For more on scratcher-style tables, our 2-in-1 scratcher side table explainer covers the category.
Measure first, then choose
Measure your sofa arm height from the floor to the top of the arm. The CozeCat Side Table comes in three heights (21.5, 23.5 and 25.5 inches with the riser options) and two finishes, Walnut and Maple, so you can match both the arm and the room.
What is a side table with a cat cubby?
A side table with a cat cubby is an end table with an enclosed compartment underneath, usually with a round or arched entry hole and a cushion inside. Some designs are open on one side; others are fully boxed, and a few are sized to hide a litter box.
Typical features:
- An enclosed box under the top with 1 or 2 entry holes
- A removable cushion or mat inside
- A flat top for a lamp, plant or drink
- Wood, wood-look laminate or rattan finishes
Cats that love boxes, closets and under-bed spaces often take to a cubby quickly. It gives them a safe, warm spot close to where you sit, and it keeps a cat bed from sitting in the open as one more object on the floor.
What is a scratcher side table?
A scratcher side table stands flush against the sofa arm with a scratching face, usually natural sisal, on the side the cat uses. You still get a normal top surface, but the lower part is built for claws, not for sleeping.
The CozeCat Side Table is built this way: a plywood frame with a natural sisal mat on the cat side, a 50 lb rated top, Walnut or Maple, Left, Right or Pair, and 21.5, 23.5 or 25.5 inch heights to line up with the arm. When the sisal wears down, you swap the Velcro mat for $43.86 instead of replacing the table.
How do the two compare?
| Question | Side table with cat cubby | Scratcher side table |
|---|---|---|
| Main cat job | Hiding, napping | Scratching, stretching |
| Protects the sofa arm? | No, unless it has a scratch panel | Yes, it covers the arm the cat targets |
| Shape | Box with an entry hole | Open frame with a sisal face |
| Size | Often wider and deeper to fit a cat inside | About the depth of the sofa arm |
| Cleaning | Wash the cushion, vacuum fur from inside | Swap the sisal mat when it goes smooth |
| Odour risk | Higher if used as a litter enclosure | Low |
| Best for | Shy or sleepy cats | Cats that rake furniture |
Does a cat cubby side table stop scratching?
Generally no. Most cubby tables are smooth wood or laminate outside, so there is nothing to scratch, and the cushion inside is for lying on. A cat that scratches the sofa arm will keep doing it, because the cubby does not offer a tall, stable, rough surface at the spot where the habit happens.
Some cubby tables add a small scratch pad inside the box. That can help a cat that likes to knead or pull while lying down, but it does not replace a vertical stretch at the arm. The Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative recommends putting scratching surfaces next to the furniture the cat is damaging.
Measure first, then choose
Measure your sofa arm height from the floor to the top of the arm. The CozeCat Side Table comes in three heights (21.5, 23.5 and 25.5 inches with the riser options) and two finishes, Walnut and Maple, so you can match both the arm and the room.
When should you choose a side table with a cat cubby?
Pick the cubby if:
- Your cat already sleeps in boxes, closets or under furniture
- Visitors or noise make your cat hide, and you want it to hide near you
- Sofa scratching is not a problem, or another scratcher already handles it
- You have room for a slightly bulkier end table
- You want the cat bed out of sight in a tidy living room
Check the interior size before buying. Large cats need an opening wide enough to walk in without squeezing and enough room to turn around and curl up.
When should you choose a scratcher side table?
Pick the scratcher if:
- The sofa arm or front corner already has claw marks or loose threads
- Your cat stands on its hind legs to scratch
- You have tried a separate post and the cat ignores it because it is not at the sofa
- You want one slim piece rather than a box beside the sofa
- You need the end table to hold a lamp or drinks reliably
Measure the arm from the floor to the top. A table 2 to 4 inches below the arm hides the gap and keeps the stretch on the sisal. See how to measure your sofa for the steps.
Can you have both a cubby and a scratcher?
Yes. If your cat both hides and scratches, put the scratcher side table on the arm the cat claws and a cubby or covered bed on the other side of the room, or at the other end of the sofa. That way each job has its own spot and the cat is not choosing between them. A Pair setup can also cover both sofa arms if your cat scratches each side.
What about cubby tables that hide a litter box?
Litter cabinets disguised as end tables are popular, but they are a different product. Putting a litter box beside the sofa means odour and litter tracking in your main sitting area, and many cats prefer a toilet spot away from where they rest and eat. If you go this route, check ventilation, the entry size and how easy it is to scoop daily. It does nothing for scratching either way.
What should you check before buying?
For a cubby table:
- Interior height and width against your cat's size
- A washable, removable cushion
- Stable construction that does not slide when the cat jumps in or out
- Smooth inside edges with no exposed staples
For a scratcher table:
- Height options that match your arm
- A replaceable scratch surface
- A base heavy and wide enough for a full pull
- Left, Right or Pair so the sisal faces the cat
CozeCat orders get Next-day shipping and 30-day returns (unused, in original packaging), with free shipping over $99.
Which do you need?
If your sofa shows claw damage, you need the scratcher side table. If your cat is a hider or napper and the sofa is safe, a side table with a cat cubby makes a cosy den. Many homes start with the scratcher to protect the furniture, then add a cubby or covered bed later. Compare finishes and heights on the CozeCat Side Table page.
FAQ: side table with cat cubby
What is a side table with a cat cubby?
An end table with an enclosed compartment, usually with an entry hole and a cushion, where a cat can hide or nap.
Will a cat cubby side table stop my cat scratching the sofa?
Usually not. Most cubbies have no tall scratch surface at the sofa arm, so the scratching continues.
Can a cubby table hide a litter box?
Some are sized for it, but it brings odour and litter to your sitting area. Check ventilation and entry size.
Which is better for a small living room?
A scratcher side table is usually slimmer, about the depth of the sofa arm, while cubby tables need extra width.
Can I use both?
Yes. Put the scratcher on the arm your cat claws and a cubby or covered bed elsewhere in the room.
Measure first, then choose
Measure your sofa arm height from the floor to the top of the arm. The CozeCat Side Table comes in three heights (21.5, 23.5 and 25.5 inches with the riser options) and two finishes, Walnut and Maple, so you can match both the arm and the room.
Sources
- Indoor Pet Initiative (The Ohio State University): Scratching
- International Cat Care: Scratching
- ASPCA: Destructive scratching
Related guides
- 2-in-1 Cat Scratcher Side Tables
- Cat Furniture Side Tables That Don't Look Like Cat Furniture
- How to Measure Your Sofa
- Best Cat Scratcher Side Tables
- Cat scratch couch protector table
- Cat furniture for a small apartment
More in Cat Furniture Buying Guides · All cat furniture guides
