It makes the smell less noticeable, the area is clean and you do not see any cat litter box around. plus with the automatic litter boxes to which I have the sound is less noticeable from the cleaning system..  My only con is the doors do not hinge correctly. and so they bang the bottom of the furniture and its dark inside the furniture when its night time. but Im sure my cats can see in the dark okay...other then that its a great item to have..