Introduction: Elegant Ikea Hack Litterbox
So proud to present my 50th Instructable! Proud, because it's not me but my wife who did the building.
It all started somewhere. In this case: in the litter of our cats.
Litter boxes are litterally uggly. Every cat owner knows it, but no-one admits it. It seems to be one of those big taboos in pet-land. So let's free us from this mental weight and let's shout it all together: WE HATE THOSE PLASTIC LITTER BOXES!!!
If I were a cat, I would NEVER go inside such a plastic bunker to loose some weight. I would simply disperse my droppings on the stairs, under the couch, in flowerpots, or in the toolbox of the guy who's feeding me. And throwing water at me, occasionnaly.
Things had to change. When we moved into our new home we even didn't take those plastic prisons with us, since my wife decided to hack a piece of carefully designed IKEA-furniture.
Supplies: a 'I can't find the name of that box anymore but I think it sounds very Swedish!!!', a plastic box (!), a jigsaw, and at least one cat.
Enjoy!
It all started somewhere. In this case: in the litter of our cats.
Litter boxes are litterally uggly. Every cat owner knows it, but no-one admits it. It seems to be one of those big taboos in pet-land. So let's free us from this mental weight and let's shout it all together: WE HATE THOSE PLASTIC LITTER BOXES!!!
If I were a cat, I would NEVER go inside such a plastic bunker to loose some weight. I would simply disperse my droppings on the stairs, under the couch, in flowerpots, or in the toolbox of the guy who's feeding me. And throwing water at me, occasionnaly.
Things had to change. When we moved into our new home we even didn't take those plastic prisons with us, since my wife decided to hack a piece of carefully designed IKEA-furniture.
Supplies: a 'I can't find the name of that box anymore but I think it sounds very Swedish!!!', a plastic box (!), a jigsaw, and at least one cat.
Enjoy!
Step 1: Jig the Wood
These wooden boxes are sold in kits of 6 pieces (four side panels, a floor & a cover) and just enough screws.
Jig a nice hole in one of the side panels and smooth the cuts with some sanding paper.
Read the 50 pages of the manual carefully & start assembling.
Use every screw.
Do not put the box in the microwave-oven.
In case of trouble: there's a list of helpful phone numbers on the last page.
In case of more trouble: use the cardboard packing as litter box.
Jig a nice hole in one of the side panels and smooth the cuts with some sanding paper.
Read the 50 pages of the manual carefully & start assembling.
Use every screw.
Do not put the box in the microwave-oven.
In case of trouble: there's a list of helpful phone numbers on the last page.
In case of more trouble: use the cardboard packing as litter box.
Step 2: Jig the Box, Eventually
Take that plastic box and try to fit it inside the wooden.
If it doesn't go straight in - even after repeated smashing - you might have to cut the sides.
Sanding paper to finish.
If it doesn't go straight in - even after repeated smashing - you might have to cut the sides.
Sanding paper to finish.
Step 3: Present to Cats
Fill the plastic box with litter and put the cover on the box.
Ready for use!
Give it to your monsters and wait 2.3 seconds. They will come, discover, use & like.
WARNING. You might use the vacuum cleaner a bit more then before, since some subjects might throw some litter out of the box, through the holes, into the room. It depends on the nature of the kitty, you know. We've got a few diggers who scratch for five minutes after each visit while others don't even cover their droppings.
Have fun, anyway!
Ready for use!
Give it to your monsters and wait 2.3 seconds. They will come, discover, use & like.
WARNING. You might use the vacuum cleaner a bit more then before, since some subjects might throw some litter out of the box, through the holes, into the room. It depends on the nature of the kitty, you know. We've got a few diggers who scratch for five minutes after each visit while others don't even cover their droppings.
Have fun, anyway!