Rachel Bilson’s High-Tech Home Trick for Eliminating the Most Hated Chore for Pet Owners – and Always Keeping Her Space Guest-Ready
The most hated task for pet parents is often the biggest design eyesore – but the O.C actress automates the mess away
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It really is hard to make anything regarding litter boxes seem remotely chic. While these cat-owner essentials are anything but aesthetic, there are some options out there that are surprisingly smart. Rachel Bilson just brought the most unexpectedly innovative solution to our attention.
The O.C and How I Met Your Mother actress recently welcomed a foster cat through the ASPCA, and with this responsibility comes the inevitable cat litter cleanup. Thankfully, she found a way to make the chore easier with a solution that feels more like a home-management upgrade than a pet supply.
To get her home foster-ready without compromising her aesthetic, Bilson skipped the clunky plastic bins of the past in favor of a far more streamlined approach. Her secret to a seamless transition is a duo of PetSafe essentials that happen to be a very accessible Walmart find.
Article continues belowBefore her new resident even arrived, she set the stage with PetSafe Crystal Litter (at Walmart) to ensure the environment felt crisp and odor-free from day one. But the real design hero is the ScoopFree Crystal Plus Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box (also at Walmart).
Using a sustainable, reusable tray system and an automated rake, it effectively outsources the most hated chore for pet owners to a machine. It's the ultimate way to keep a home clean if you have pets, and even more accessible than it sounds.
It is a low-maintenance, quiet solution that banishes the typical pet eyesore and manages the mess entirely behind the scenes. For Rachel, this means less time worrying about the visual or olfactory impact of a litter box and more time focusing on her foster cat’s comfort in her curated sanctuary.
'Being a pet parent is the best – and also sometimes the messiest. Crystal Litter has helped me spend less time stressing about cleanup and more time soaking up the good moments with my foster cat,' Rachel shared exclusively with Homes & Gardens. 'Getting to partner with PetSafe and Walmart to share something I truly use and love is wonderful.'
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This is loved by Rachel for a reason – offering a cleaner, hassle-free litter box experience for up to 30 days with no scooping, cleaning, or refilling required. Advanced crystal litter trays provide superior odor control by absorbing moisture –keeping your home fresher for longer.
Similarly approved by Rachel, this litters delivers superior odor control with fast-drying crystals that quickly absorb moisture and dry solid waste. The 99% dust-free formula supports cleaner air, while its low-tracking design helps keep litter in the box and off your floors.
This litter box is so easy to maintain, with no scooping required. Simply remove the disposable tray when it’s time for a refresh. The crystal litter keeps your home smelling fresh and can last up to 30 days in a single-cat household.
This pet-friendly enzyme cleaner is made from the oils of orange peels, leaving your home fresh and aromatic. Pet-lover Drew Barrymore calls it a 'tropical wonderland,' and we’re happy to take her word for it.
Very on trend for 2026, this checkerboard design is for the chicest of pets. It features a two-piece design with an outer bolster and an inner mattress topped with memory foam for ultimate comfort.
Any pet owner will know the perils of hair on the carpet. This brush is the perfect solution, deep-cleaning all surfaces, including car interiors. It features an ergonomic handle for effortless scrubbing and durable, long-lasting bristles.
'At PetSafe, our goal is to remove the stress from pet care so families can focus on bonding and building trust,' adds Alexa Kamm, the Vice President of Marketing at PetSafe. 'By making our solutions easily available at Walmart, and by partnering with Rachel to share her authentic fostering journey (via ASPCA), we’re helping show just how simple it can be to prepare your home and make a real difference for a pet in need.'
By embracing smart technology to handle the less glamorous sides of pet ownership, we can finally reclaim our time and our living room (or wherever your cat chooses to relax). It's Rachel-approved for a reason.

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.