Kennel for a dog or cat made from a plastic storage bin

Step 1: Box Selection

Select a box that's the right size for your pet.
- best boxes/storage bins have flat sides (easier to cut doors out)
- screw down the lid to the box with six nuts and bolts (this is so the kennel does not come apart)
-screw locations should be spread out to offer most strength (the corners and in the middle of the long sides are ideal spots)
- cut the entrance opening with a hack saw (start bending it downwards at the corners to make it cut downwards, this creates a nice rounded corner.
- drill ventilation holes around the top of the box (I used a 1" drill bit, spacing isn't critical as long as it's fairly even)

Step 2: Door Latch

- the bottom part will naturally snap into existing lid lip
- drill 2 holes in the door and 2 at the top of the box to accommodate latch screws
- use either metal strapping or those handy flat metal pieces with pre-drilled holes
- secure 2 pieces of the strapping to the door with 2 nuts and bolts (some sort of lock washer helps to keep the screws from coming loose)
- at the top of the box screw 2 nuts and long bolts.
- when you close the door use another set of nuts to secure it in place (I use some wing nuts for ease and speed of opening)

Step 3: Practical Testing

- the picture shows the detail of the latch mechanism
- there are countless ways of securing the door, use whatever you have or works for you

After field testing:

- there were not enough ventilation holes, I didn't account for my dog heating up. I drilled another row of holes on the bottom and quite a few holes in the door and the top of the box. This way there is good circulation, cool air comes in through bottom and warm air leaves through the top. I had built this kennel as a car kennel, it can however be used anywhere. The shape of the box with its molded handles make it quite portable. Final note, an equivalent kennel from a pet store would have cost me $195 for the same size I have built.