An open litter tray doesn’t usually address elimination problems -- including excessive odor, spraying or elimination on the floor. But a plastic storage tote turned into an enclosed litter box should please your cat -- and save you unnecessary frustration.
Step 1
Remove the lid from the tote box and set it aside. Wash the tote thoroughly with soap and water, wiping it down with a rag; this can be done in a bathtub or outdoors with a garden hose. Dry the tote with another rag or allow it to air dry.
Step 2
Draw the outline of a square door, 9 inches on each side, on the front of the tote with the marker. You can also draw a circle with a 7-inch diameter if you prefer. Place the bottom of the entrance 4 to 5 inches above the floor of the box so that litter does not pour out when it is added.
Step 3
Punch a starter hole in the outline with scissors or a utility knife on thinner plastic totes, which are frequently made of recycled material. Punch the hole with the tip of a heated soldering iron on thicker plastic totes for easier cutting. Follow the marked outline to create the hole with your chosen tool. Discard the cutout piece of plastic.
Step 4
Sand or file the edges of the opening to protect your cat from scratches as he enters or exits, or cover the edges with duct tape.
Step 5
Position the tote on the floor in place of the cat's former litter box. Fill the bottom of the box with 3 inches of clean litter. Put the lid back on top of the tote and push it down firmly into place.
References
Resources
Tips
- The entrance can be cut in the lid, rather than on the side of the tote, if you prefer. This type of litter box works well for cats who make a mess with standard enclosed litter boxes by spraying outside the door. Cats that are struggling with health issues such as arthritis cannot always access a top entrance to a litter box.
Writer Bio
Lori Lapierre holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in public relations/communications. For 17 years, she worked for a Fortune 500 company before purchasing a business and starting a family. She is a regular freelancer for "Living Light News," an award-winning national publication. Her past writing experience includes school news reporting, church drama, in-house business articles and a self-published mystery, "Duty Free Murder."