The diy Litter Box - Cat Info Detective

The diy Litter Box

Skye Blake-updated, white background

Greetings DIY’ers and other creative cats! Skye Blake here with some fun ways to save a buck and make your own DIY litter boxes.

Some people, especially those with large breed cats, find that regular boxes just aren’t big enough.

paw prints coming in from a distance

Or they have a diva who can’t stand having her whiskers or fur touch the sides of anything… water or food bowls, litter boxes, cat door, etc.

Others want nice furniture enclosures for their boxes but can’t afford the high prices.

Let’s look at ways you can make your own litter box…

The information here is for general knowledge… always see your vet with questions about your cat’s individual needs.

Who Is Skye Blake?

Skye Blake-updated, white background

Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not a veterinarian) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, studies their information, then passes it on to you! 

Sometimes there’s not enough evidence for easy answers, so Skye gives you all sides, explains the situation as thoroughly and clearly as possible, and links you to experts on each page.

Sources are given at the bottom of each page so you can do more snooping.

DIY – Make Your Own Litter Box

tools; DIY litter boxes

If you’re handy, creative, or even can just use a box cutter and cut a straight line, here are some ideas for giving your cats custom DIY litter boxes and enclosures.

Any plastic or metal storage container, from under-bed boxes to tall bins, can be made into a litter box.

They’re usually less expensive than regular ones and can often be found at yard sales or thrift stores for next to nothing.

graphic of black storage box; DIY litter box

Taller containers can have a hole cut in them for an entrance if needed.

They can also be used upside down for outdoor shelters for feral or stray cats.

DIY Litter Box Videos

There are videos available on YouTube for making all kinds of litter boxes. Just search “DIY litter box”.

Cameras for videos

There are some really cool ideas, from simply cutting a hole in the side of a large storage container, covered or open, to furniture enclosures like old console televisions or bassinets.

Look at things you have around the house and use your imagination coupled with knowledge of what your cat wants.

Here are a few to start…

cat lying in bike basket; DIY litter box

“Best Litter Box… How to Make an Easy-Access Box for Old Arthritic Cats”

“Making a DIY Temporary Litterbox From Cardboard”, The Honest Kitchen, August 26, 2019 (a great one for small kittens)

“DIY The Best Litter Box”, Ingrid Johnson, CCBC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, YouTube

DIY Sunday – Litter Box for Cats“, Mixmatched But Intact, November 30, 2020


Types of Litter Boxes & Accessories

Cat Litter ScoopsThe Basic Litter Box
Litter Robot™…Is It Worth the $$$$?The Sifting Litter Box
Cat Genie ®…Does It Really Flush?Breeze Litter Box
The Privacy Screen for Litter BoxesThe Cat Litter Mat
The Corner Litter BoxThe Disposable Litter Box
The Collapsible BoxFurniture Litter Box Enclosures
The Self Cleaning Litter BoxThe Covered Litter Box
The Cat Litter Disposal System

The Cat Box…Location, Location, LocationCleaning Cat Urine
Deciphering Pee PatternsSymptoms of Illness in Your Cat
The Territorial CatWhy Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?
What Are the Best Types of Cat Litter?Cat Behavior…Is My Cat Nuts??
Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside the Box?What’s the Best Cat Litter Box?

Sources

Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.

Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.

Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.

Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.

However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.

When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.

List of Sources

Disclosure

I make a small commission on some of the sources listed below if you choose to purchase them from here.

Some products listed link to companies that sell them, whether or not I make any money.

“16 Stand-Out Cat Litter Box Furniture Options to Fit Your Style”, The Dog People

77 Things to Know Before Getting a Cat“, by Susan M. Ewing, Fox Chapel Publishers International, Ltd., 2018

A-K

The Best Kind of Litter Box for Longhaired Cats“, by Jet Perreault, Petful, Dec 5, 2014

Cat Speak“, by Bash Dibra with Elizabeth Randolph, New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., New York, NY, 2003

The Cat Whisperer“, by Mieshelle Nagelschneider, Bantam Books, The Random House Publishing Group, New York, NY, 2013, www.bantamdell.com

Cat Wise“, Pam Johnson-Bennett, Penguin Books, an imprint of Random House LLC, New York, NY, 2016

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting & Owning a Cat“, by Sheila Webster Boneham, PhD, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., New York, NY, 2005

Decoding Your Cat” by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, editors: Meghan E. Herron, DVM, DACVB; Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, DACVB; Carlo Siracusa, DVM, PhD, DACVB, DECAWBM, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, New York, NY, 2020

L-Z

“Litter Box Happiness for Cats of All Ages”, Dr. Sophia Yin, CattleDog Publishing, January 25, 2017

“Litter Box Solutions for Aging Cats”, Litter Robot

“Litter Training”, Kitten Lady

“The Special Needs of the Senior Cat”, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Feline Health Center

The Spruce Pets

Think Like a Cat, How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat – Not a Sour Puss“, by Pam Johnson-Bennett, Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Penguin Books, Penguin Group (USA) Inc, New York, NY, 2000, 2011

Total Cat Mojo” by Jackson Galaxy with Mikel Delgado, PhD, Tarcher Perigree, Penguin Random House, LLC, New York, NY, 2017

“What’s the Best Litter Box for Senior Cats”, FitSeer.com

“What Your Cat Wants”, by Francesca Riccomini, Thunder Bay Press, Octopus Publishing Group, San Diego, CA, 2012, www.thunderbaybooks.com

YouTube.com

Updated February 19, 2023

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