Print PDF
Favorite
Email
This cat box design eliminates litter mess on the floor, by encouraging the cat to climb up a sisal ramp to exit. It keeps all of the litter contained and because the lid lifts up, it makes cleaning the area very easy. Basically, it's just a deck box with a regular litter pan inside it, and a sisal ramp to get the cat's paws clean on the way out.
As a cat owner, I'm surprised that they don't already mass-produce a product like this. Everyone who owns cats knows about the problem of litter kicked out of regular cat boxes and tracked around on cat paws. I put expensive litter mats in front of my regular covered cat boxes, but my cats just jump right over them. By putting their pan inside of a larger box, with the exit up high, where litter can't get kicked out, and by providing the sisal ramp to clean the cat's paws, my floor stays spotless.
Tools:
Magic Marker
Hot Cutting Tool (or hacksaw or other plastic cutting device)
Pencil
Hand Saw
Electric Screw Driver
Square or Straightedge
Scissors
Materials:
1x Regular Cat Litter Box
1x Plastic Deck Box
1x 1" x 6" board (actual width will depend on the hole you cut)
2x Metal L-brackets
4x 1/2" screws
100ft Natural Sisal Rope (1/4" thickness)
1x bottle Carpenter's Wood Glue (fast drying 30min)
1x roll of Plastic Tape
As a cat owner, I'm surprised that they don't already mass-produce a product like this. Everyone who owns cats knows about the problem of litter kicked out of regular cat boxes and tracked around on cat paws. I put expensive litter mats in front of my regular covered cat boxes, but my cats just jump right over them. By putting their pan inside of a larger box, with the exit up high, where litter can't get kicked out, and by providing the sisal ramp to clean the cat's paws, my floor stays spotless.
Tools:
Magic Marker
Hot Cutting Tool (or hacksaw or other plastic cutting device)
Pencil
Hand Saw
Electric Screw Driver
Square or Straightedge
Scissors
Materials:
1x Regular Cat Litter Box
1x Plastic Deck Box
1x 1" x 6" board (actual width will depend on the hole you cut)
2x Metal L-brackets
4x 1/2" screws
100ft Natural Sisal Rope (1/4" thickness)
1x bottle Carpenter's Wood Glue (fast drying 30min)
1x roll of Plastic Tape
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Make a hole.
Sketch out an opening big enough for your cats on the upper part of one of the end pieces. Avoid the support braces, wherever possible.
Use a Hot Cutting Tool (or hacksaw or other plastic cutting device) to cut out the opening. If you use a hot tool, do the cutting outdoors because there will be strong fumes. If you cut using a saw, make sure to file or otherwise round the edges so the plastic is not sharp.
Use a Hot Cutting Tool (or hacksaw or other plastic cutting device) to cut out the opening. If you use a hot tool, do the cutting outdoors because there will be strong fumes. If you cut using a saw, make sure to file or otherwise round the edges so the plastic is not sharp.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
But I like this idea ... I can leave the lid off the litter box itself, and there will be lots of head room for them. But instead of a deck box (which can be kind of $$$), I may try with an XXXL plastic storage tub/bin. Not quite as nice looking as the deck box, but still practical.
I discovered the hard way not to simply use an XXXL plastic bin as litter box (to keep more litter in the box, instead of it getting thrown about the room) --- it's impossible to pick-up to take outside to dump!
Thanks so much. Now if I add one of the fan set-ups, I should be really set. One of my girls has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and there is no odor like the diarrhea from that. So I have 4 boxes for 2 cats, 2 of which are on a screened patio, and some days I still can't keep up with the sick one.
P.S. I have 2 black cats, also!. :D I love my Halloween babies. ^_^
Did you know that black cats and kittens are the hardest to find homes for? Many people are superstitious.
I'd like to say for the record that I've had several all-black cats over the years, and each and every one of them has been wonderful and sweet! No bad luck yet, even though they cross my path about a zillion times a day. :)
Oh - I didn't put my cats inside to introduce them to it, because they are skittish and I was worried they'd be scared of the new box if I shut them in it. They figured it out on their own. And it's by a window, so it doubles as a bird-watching seat. :)
Thanks for the awesome idea! (Photos to follow if I can find my camera cord)
I dustbust the loose litter every day, and so far the kitties haven't had any accidents outside of their litterbox. This was something I was slightly concerned about, so I'm glad to report that it's a non-issue.