I live in Europe, and the rooms here are quite small, and without a second bathroom - so we had real trouble figuring out a place to put our cat litter box. We loved the litter box hacks that we saw on the Ikeahacker blog, but at the end of the day, we didn't want a litterbox in our living room or bedroom. All the covered boxes we bought had huge domed lids which didn't fit under our Euro sink, and our big American 14lb. cat could barely even fit inside them anyway! My husband had the idea of using a lidded storage box, and we found the perfect item in the Ikea Snalis storage box. We cut out an entrance with a utility knife, and we originally had a plastic mat as a door -- which our cat hated, so now we just leave it open. There is plenty of room for our big boy inside, and its flat lid fits under the sink perfectly. It's a tiny little hack, but it works great!"
That is awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteDear Americans, please note: not all rooms are small in Europe.
ReplyDeleteThey are in the UK - unless you have gobs of money, that is!
DeleteMy cats would kick litter all OVER the place if the bottom rim was that short on the litter box. Stepping into litter after a shower? not much fun! Creative way to fit the space though.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Don't know why people want to have cats in their homes.
ReplyDeleteWow. There are a bunch of whiners on this site who'd rather complain and point out negatives than acknowledge creativity.
ReplyDeleteThis is really cool;))I like to visit your blog..It is wonderful.
ReplyDelete"bunch of whiners on this site who'd rather complain and point out negatives than acknowledge creativity"
ReplyDeleteI'll take the bait and join in on the whining: Let's be realistic, this is a plastic box with a hole cut in it, filled with cat litter. I doubt that even the person that submitted it would suggest it was the most creative thing they've ever made. It's a simple hack, not a particularly interesting one but it may be useful to somebody.
And acknowledging creativity: There are plenty of better ideas on this site. Just hit one of the yearly top hacks pages to see.
I too have used a plastic storage box as a litter box, but for another reason. I had a very old cat, she lived to be 22 years and 3 months old, and she was prett lame the last couple of years. She couldn't squat when she went potty, so the nice liquid stuff would leak out even the litter boxes with lids. No problem with the storage container, there is no seam at the lower level. Also, she had a hard time turning around in the tight space, so the larger storage container gave her plenty of room on the sides to spin around.
ReplyDeleteI used a Dremel tool to cut the door,
I think this is cool. YOu took a problem you had and used some ingenuity to find a solution. Bravo! I wonder how many of they naysayers commenting would have the brains to do that?
ReplyDeleteRiffing off this idea ... I made a similar litter box for my two cats, but with the hole in the top. It really reduces the amount of litter that ends up on the floor. I used an IKEA doormat (the one that's 99 cents) and glued it to the lid (cutting out a hole to match the hole in the top) and this too helps keep litter contained.
ReplyDelete@anonymous at 10:14pm: and the cats go in from above? do they ....errrm... leave free of you-know-what the center of the box, so their landing is a clean one? or is this no problem because everything would be covered in litter anyway?
ReplyDeletei just wondered....
as for the whiners: even the "more creative" hacks do not fit everybody's needs, let alone tastes, so let's not nag because you think it's no big deal.
i probably wouldn't have thought about using one of these boxes as a litter box, and the other hacks of that kind here didn't fit my bathroom space either. so if i still had a cat, this would have been a good suggestion as to what else might work.
apart from that, i think it must be frustrating to enter something here, probably be satisfied with it and think others might like it and then have it commented on like that.
just my 2 cents....
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ReplyDeleteI think I will never say something like "going to Africa" again (if not used in a "touring through the continent" sense), considering it is probably as silly/demeaning from me as saying something like "living in Europe".
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea, but I am a big fan of covering everything up and would probably add a modified shower curtain as a washable skirt around the base of the sink. Most likely attached with velcro. Then hide one of those small brush brooms with a dustpan behind it so that any spillage can be swept up right away.
ReplyDeleteWell, those are some weird comments for a simple mini-hack... jeez. Original Poster here -- too bad some of you are offended by the "living in Europe" but if you live in Europe and have a bigger bathroom than 99% of Americans, I'd be interested to see it!! Anyway, we do NOT have a problem with litter on the floor, what little there is can be taken care of with the Dustbuster we keep on the shelf above the toilet. Hope this mini-hack helps someone who also has a huge cat, low clearance and can't fit a domed litter box under the sink.
ReplyDeleteA very neat simple hack. The doorstep could be made as high or low as necessary for your cat.
ReplyDeleteAlso, not all cat litters are available in white, which is a much more suitable colour for most bathrooms.
Is the cut edge of the door smooth enough not to collect cat hair, or did you sand it down after cutting?
Thanks.
Very good.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately our big boy is a cool 8kg.
We'd almost have to hang our sink near the ceiling to leave space underneath for a similar box in his size. LOL
It makes sense; fits the space perfectly; works for your cat; easy to make; and easy to clean! Good for you and your kitty cat. I like it!
ReplyDeleteOh, but I agree, that maybe a curtain around the sink might be in order . . . Like the shower curtain, or one of those colors.
though incredibly simple, this is great. i too was looking for a good cat litter hideaway and though there are good ideas, nothing that fit with my apartment or was simple enough for my limited toolbox! i use a regular dome covered box now, but would have done this if i'd thought of it myself!
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ReplyDeleteWe have four cats, so we needed a larger tray than most. On my mom's suggestion, I went off to Home Depot and got a concrete mixing tray. It looks just like an oversized litter tray (about 8" tall), and it cost less than 10 bucks.
ReplyDeleteI did almost the same thing when I lived in an apartment. Only I modified a normal litter box by cutting a slot in it to slide it under the sink. Much better than slicing up a storage bin, since my cats liked to perch on the rolled edge of the litter box.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your hack was a total godsent. My cat is sick and she was having a lot of serious all-over-the-place overspillage accidents, now there are no more accidents. Really, I can't thank you enough.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! We just got a cat and without "natural spaces" for these boxes this is perfect! We have it close to the exit for the backyard and a blanket on the lid where she can lie and look outside...
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great idea!!!
actually - and thinking about it because i will have a cat again soon - it would also be possible to cut the opening sideways, for example. only place for me to place the litter box (unless I want it in the kitchen, office, bedroom, or living room) is between the tub and the toilet, and there's not so much space.
ReplyDeleteconsidering that as soon as you open the bathroom door you look straight INTO the litter box (if the opening is in the "normal" place), having the entrance "just round the corner" might be somewhat nicer.....
(i love cats, and i do clean their box, but still i don't want to look at cat litter as soon as i enter the bathroom. or my guests...)
i am still not sure about the opening on top, although there are commercial products featuring the same....
any advice is welcome (apart from "don't get yourself any cats" etc.)
I really like this idea, especially since I have just brought home a cat today from the local cat rescue.
ReplyDeleteI have a standard, cheapy plastic litter tray in the bathroom but hate the idea of stepping into litter as I leave the shower, so I may adapt this idea to my own needs.
Well done, good hack, well executed!
Hey guys this is exactly want Im looking for! Thanks for the post and also would like to add this will be made and use for two kittens with a brain CH and can't enter normal litter boxes.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Jason
Clever!
ReplyDeleteWish I had seen this before I spent a small fortune on an enclosed litter tray!
If I ever need one that is more square or rectangular I know that to do!
Thanks for sharing! Your'e right, here in Europe, rooms are small, and we must make work "our grey cells" (Poirot says).
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't I think about it before? For months I've been thinking about an economic covered litter box to put on the balcony for our cat, since the one he has it's open and when it rains the sand gets all soaked, and besides he's getting old and I wish to protect him from the cold.
Thanks again!
Cheers for this great idea! Works a treat for me and my old cat.
ReplyDeleteNice idea. But I think it needs to be roomy enough for kitty to turn around in and if you've ever watched your cat, they hold their tail far out enough so it doesn't get soiled. Should be easy to clean out too, because let's face it, clumping litter isn't perfect and litter boxes need to be cleaned every so often. Just something to think about.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU. I've been googling for hours trying to find the best plastic bin thing to use as a good temporary/throw away type litter box - this will be VERY economical for us when we buy the next one!
ReplyDelete(Plastic is of course pourous, and soaks up the smell and funk of litter, and with an asthmatic cat, it's just best to chuck the whole litter box every month or so =P )
Great idea, but I'll leave out the extra hole because my cats are young enough to jump over the top of the bin, that way when they start kicking up litter, it will hit the sides and go back down instead of all over my floor. Sweeping up litter every time they use the box and walking on it 1st thing in the morning is not fun.
ReplyDeleteI think it is absolutely fantastic - it's a great idea and you nicley accomodated your cat.
ReplyDeletegreat idea. moving into a smaller space and i worried about where to place litter box. this will be perfect. thanks
ReplyDeleteYour idea about cat litter box is unique in my point of view.
ReplyDeletenice cat litter box
ReplyDeleteThis is the idea i have been looking for!! My apartment bathroom is small and the litter house i got will not fit anywhere! I don't want the litter in my bedroom or living room. This solution is IDEAL!! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThis one is simple. But what's important is that it's clean and it looks comfortable to deal with.
ReplyDeleteI really like this one. Very simple, and my cat is almost 13, and I believe it would work perfect for her.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your idea!
Doodle
I have been looking forward of having a good living room. Ours is something that will make you feel comfortable but not as good as what you can see from this.
ReplyDeleteThis is the concept i have been looking for!! My home restroom is little and the cover home i got will not fit anywhere! I don't want the cover in my bed area or lounge. This remedy is IDEAL!! Thank you so much!
ReplyDelete