Introduction: Simple Hidden Kitty Restroom

About: I have recently become a single mother and I'm scared, but encouraged by all the things I can learn how to do from Instructables.

I wanted to hide and contain my cats' litterbox, help remove litter from their feet, and hide the kitty litter paraphernalia.

This wasn't free to build, but depending on what you find, you may be able to make it for close to free.  I spent about $100, total.

This instructible is more of a "duh, why didn't I think of that?" kind of thing, rather than something really creative.  But my kids were impressed, so I decided to share.

Step 1: Supply List

"Suncast 50 Gallon Deck Box with Seat" from Wal-Mart online
Box cutter
Small battery operated, motion activated light
Rubber door mat with "nubs"



Step 2: Put Things in and Check Fit

Before you cut a door in your deck box, put in the litter box and anything else you plan to store inside (I store a litter scoop, litter collection bucket, and a package of 4 gallon, vanilla-scented trash bags <found at Wal-Mart>.

I decided to cut my door near the back of the box's right side.  The litter box (I have one of those large ones) sits all the way to the left inside the box.


Step 3: Cut a Cat Door

If it doesn't have one already, put a fresh blade in your box cutter.

the deck box I purchased has vertical stripes of two different textures, so I used two of them to assist in my vertical cuts.  Start by just scoring your desired cut, then go back over your scored line with more pressure.  Two or three passes should have you pretty well through the plastic of the box.  The only difficulty will be where there is a thicker stability bar molded in - just take your time and you'll be through those thick parts in just a few more passes.

After making my two vertical cuts, I again used the box's decorative textures to decide where to cut.  In the case of my box, the hole came out to be 5" wide by 8" tall.  I wasn't sure that would be enough for my plump cat, but she walked in just fine, as did my tall cat.

Step 4: Finish Up

If you've gotten a nubby rubber mat (I found mine at Wal-Mart with the rest of the door mats, for $2), lay it inside the deck box close to the door you've just cut.  Put the litter box at the other end of the deck box.

Using double-stick tape, adhere the motion-activated light to the inside wall of the deck box fairly high, and in about the center of the back wall, so it will both pick up the motion of a cat entering, and will stay on while he/she takes care of business.

Put anything else you plan to store in there.  Find your cats (in my case, they were all lying  around watching me work).  Put the bravest one in the deck box through the top, and let him/her explore.  Kona looked around a little, rubbed his head on the nubby floor mat, and popped right out the cat door.  My two ladies followed, and all of them seemed quite content with the setup right away.

The last step I took was to put one of those sticky litter catcher mats (Wal-Mart, pet section, just a couple of bucks) on the floor outside of the cat door, to hopefully grab any remaining litter that doesn't get scrubbed off by the nubby mat inside the deck box.

Step 5: Final Thoughts

Depending on the size of your cats and what you can find, a wooden trunk would be a good fit for this project.  I just don't have any experience cutting holes in the sides of furniture so I wasn't brave enough to try that.

There are dozens of types of deck boxes out there, from ones that seat just one person to some that are nearly five feet wide.   Consider the location where you want to have your litter box enclosure, and make your decision accordingly.  There are, of course, deck boxes that don't incorporate a seat, but I kinda wanted one I or the cats could sit on, and tried find one to match the color of my bathroom as much as possible.

I bought a second nubby door mat, which I plan to cut, back with 1-inch foam blocks, and adhere to the inside of the deck box so the cats can rub up against it - they seem to really love the texture.  The foam blocks are because the inside of the deck box incorporates the thicker structure bars, so the flat surfaces are recessed.  I will just mash a piece of foam against a wall to make an impression of the structural bars, then use my box cutter to carve out those grooves so the foam will sit flush against the solid surface and stick well.