I have two cats. We feed them wet food daily (in the kitchen far from the litter-box,) and we provide them free access to dry kibble all day long.
The litter-box and the feeding zone are located in the "no-dog" part of the house and are in the same room.
We've never had any (apparent) problem with that setup: both cats are using the litter-box with no issue, and both cats are eating a few times a day.
I know this is not the ideal situation, but we've never had any problem, and I'm trying to find a balance between the theoretical ideal setup (2+1 litter-boxes, feeding in another room, etc.). Should I worry about that?
I'm also planning to change their bowl with a feeding maze (see picture). Would it be acceptable for them to "play" close to their litterbox? Should I just try and, if they use it, conclude that it is OK with them?