How to Build a Dog Proof Cat Litter Box: DIY Method
If you have a problem dog that likes to eat your cat’s poop then you know how frustrating it can be. There are some dogs that chronically break into the cat litter box and take what’s inside. Sometimes they might even bring their new found “treats” out into other rooms of the house.
This is not only gross but also embarrassing if you have guests over. Thankfully there are some solutions to the problem. One thing you can try is to make a “do it yourself” dog proof cat litter box. There’s a decent chance that this will be the only thing that’s needed to keep Fido from getting to his treats. Read the guide to see how you can make one of these yourself…
Contents
Materials Needed for a DIY Litter Box
There are a few things you’ll need to do it yourself. Luckily none of them are very expensive.
- 1 1/2″ hole saw & drill (can substitute sharp knife)
- Some scrap wood
- Jigsaw
- 4 wood screws
- 30-gallon storage crate (click here to view on Amazon)
- 18-gallon storage crate (click here to view on Amazon)
- Piece of carpet or a doormat
Steps to Build the DIY Dog Proof Litter Box
Creating the Entrance to the Cat Box
The first thing you’ll want to do is to cut a square hole in the front of both of the storage bins. The hole should be big enough for your cat to pass through but not big enough for your dog to get in. Make the holes roughly 2-3 inches off the ground so that litter isn’t spilling out.
Making a Floor
You then want to push the smaller bin to the back of the larger one and make the space in front of the smaller bin the entrance. Stick a couple pieces of wood screwed together on the floor of the bin to elevate it. Then cut a piece of carpet and put it on top of the wood. This will serve as the floor for the gap between the two entrances.
Make Holes in the Top Of The Cat Litter Box
You should also make holes in the top of the bin so that light can shine through for your cat. Use the jigsaw to cut 6-10 holes in the top of the bin so light can get in. If you don’t have a jigsaw you could use just any sharp knife to get the job done.
Cats don’t generally like dark places and you want to make sure that they use this litter box. It would be terrible if you went to all the trouble of building one and they didn’t use it.
The Verdict on DIY Dog Proof Litter Boxes
There is a potential downfall to going the DIY route that we should note. The finished product simply doesn’t look very good. This doesn’t matter if it’s hidden away in a garage, but if it’s out in the open it can be a bit of an eyesore. Also, it really isn’t that expensive to buy a decent dog proof cat litter box but if you are on a tight budget then it’s a good option to make one yourself.
The video below gives a rough idea of how this style of box is made although we recommend having the entrance carpeted to help stop the cat tracking litter outside.
Image Credit – http://www.instructables.com/id/Dog-Proof-Cat-Litter-Box/
