Kitty litter boxes are anything but sanitary and having them lying around the house, for people to see (& smell!) can be quite frustrating for families, particularly those with other pets that may have a habit of “playing” in the kitty box. Here is a simple mess-free litter box you can make yourself for around $6.
The tote/bin that we chose for this project is an 18 gallon sterilite container from Wal-Mart. It costs $5.94 , so for less than $6 you can create a “Private Potty” for your kitty.
You’ll Need:
1 18 gallon bin/tote w/ cover
1 8-10″ Plate
Marker or Pencil
Scissors or X-acto Knife
Place the plate upside down on the cover where you want the hole to be. This is where your kitty will enter his/her private potty, so ensure that it’s in a good spot, giving her plenty of room to jump up onto the box without “falling in”.
Use a marker or pencil to trace the circle, put the plate away, that’s all it’s for.
Using heavy duty scissors or an X-acto knifecarefully cut out the hole.
Add kitty litter to the box, secure the cover in place and place it wherever you prefer.
Alternatively, you could cut a hole in the end-side of the box, midway up the side if you’d prefer the cat to have a “side entrance” or if you need to squeeze the box into a smaller area.
The box can easily be hosed out, air fresheners can be attached to the outside, etc.
has anyone tried this? i am thinking that my cats would prefer to “cover” their deposits. i have tried using a toilet trainer, but they don’t quite like it.
i should try to remove the litter box so they have to use it, but i don’t have the time to babysit them and clean up after them all day long. wasn’t potty training kids easier than this. i don’t remember any more.
I made this tote with a side entry for my kitty in preparation of my fur baby grandson coming to visit ( he thinks kitty turds are a treat!) Worked beautifully for keeping him out. My kitty didn’t mind her litter box being moved “inside” either. I tend to leave the cover off since I scoop out daily.
And she didn’t mind when cover was on for the 2 week visit. Her box is in our utility room and I just place the cover on when service men come or my fur baby grandchildren. I set a charcoal deodorizer in the tote next to her box..no odors at all.
I use an empty litter container with a small waste basket and bags next to her box and only need to toss weekly. No odors at all!
I have done this…but I used a larger Rubbermaid container so that I could fit in the litter box. I cut an entrance hole in one side. We did this to mainly keep the dog out of the cat litter, but now that the dog is gone (she passed away), we still use it for cleaning purposes.
I change out the litter box every week and simply clean out any stray litter from the bottom of the Rubbermaid container and wipe down the walls. We don’t cover the container…my cat doesn’t like that…but it has helped keep the stray litter in my laundry room under control.
great idea i have something similiar. have you tried the new recycled corn husks litter from tidy cats? i loved it it is a lot lighter but they use a deodorizer in it thatg the cats did not care for.
I so like the new flushable cat litter. It makes cleaning up faster and easier on my back….no more hauling out bags of crap. Yes, the litter may be a bit spendier, but it is worth the ease of use.
I can get the cats the pee in the toilet, but am having trouble stopping them from making a mess on the floor. At least they stay off the carpet and just use the unused bathroom. Any suggestions?
I am trying to leave boxes for them to step up so they don’t have to jump when they are full of $(@&.
What brand is it? Course I just bought 2 more big bins of tidy cats, but would be great to know when that runs out!
My cats didn’t like the lid with a hole. But the deep box alone has worked miracles by preventing them from throwing litter everywhere. The have no trouble jumping in and out.
I will never go back to regular litter box!
I made a large one out of a tote, no cover, I just cut a u shape opening on one side so they don’t have to jump so high. I personally love the high sides, the tote much deeper than the standard litter box, clump and seal is one of the best litters out there. I made one out of a tote because one of my cats stands and pee’s she don’t squat like the others.
I also have a regular litter box that is covered, they hardly use it ever since I made the one out of the tote.
I made this tote with a side entrance to hold my kitty’s litter box tray. Mainly made it to hide the box and prevent my fur baby grandson who thinks kitty turds are a treat from literally cleaning out the box for me. It also eliminated what little litter scattered outside of her box.
She did not mind the cover on for the 2 weeks we had visitors. Her litter box is in our utility room so I tend to leave the cover off as I scoop her box daily. With a charcoal deodorizer in the tote next to her box, there is no odor.
I put the cover on when service men or any grandchildren visit. Weekly I just have to wash her tray and vacuum out what little scatter is in the tote. Occasional take the tote into our downstairs shower and just use a bucket and brush to clean.
Love it!!