18 DIY Cat Litter Box Plans You Can Make Today
With all the other supplies that you have to buy when you welcome a new cat into your family, a new litter box can make a sizeable dent in both your wallet and the space that you have available in your home. If you’re short on funds or simply don’t have much room, there are plenty of simple and snazzy ways to create a DIY litter box, without spending a small fortune.
We put together this list of DIY cat litter box plans so you can save space or hide unsightly litter trays from your guests. Whether you’re looking for a simple litter box, hidden litter boxes, or sifting litter boxes, you’re bound to find a DIY solution that suits your needs.
The 18 Best DIY Cat Litter Box Plans –
Simple Litter Boxes
1. Sterilite Litter Box
2. Litter Box Holder
Walking barefoot anywhere near your cat’s litter tray is a recipe for disaster, especially if you use crystal litter. Those tiny crystals can hurt when you step on them. This litter box holder might not look like much, but it gives your cat space for the litter to fall off their feet before they hop onto your carpet, saving your toes from sharp surprises.
3. Top-Entry Litter Box
Top-entry litter boxes can be on the expensive side. Plastic totes, on the other hand, can be surprisingly cheap. , though you can use a bigger one if you prefer — just make sure it has a lid. It’s a simple but effective idea: You just fill the bottom with litter and cut a hole in the top for your cat.4. Upside-Down Tote
This design is a similar idea to a DIY top-entry litter box. If you have a , this is a snazzy way to hide the litter tray, anyway. It doesn’t require much work either. Just cut a cat-sized hole in the side, and flip the whole thing upside down over the litter tray.Hidden Litter Boxes
5. Plant Pot
Litter trays are an eyesore and don’t often match your home décor. If you can’t afford the fancy litter boxes styled after furniture, you can make a DIY enclosed tray . It’ll help keep your décor looking interesting and give your kitty somewhere private to do their business. Plus, if you decide that the litter idea doesn’t work, you can use the same design as a snazzy cat bed instead.6. Revamped Toy Box
Buying litter boxes that look like furniture can be a brutal blow to your wallet, especially if you want something that matches your existing décor. While the choices with litter boxes are limited, this is a great way to breathe new life into old, unused furniture or repurpose a cheap cabinet that you found in a yard sale.7. Private Bathroom
Cats are notorious for tracking litter everywhere or kicking it out of their tray when they use it. This design uses a large container to hide the litter box and act as a for your cat. You can fill it with a cozy rug and a few lights to give it an even more welcoming and safe feel for your cat. It can be paired with your existing litter box too.8. Old Cabinet
If you have a cat, consider turning your into a safe place for their litter tray. Not only will you be able to keep their litter tray out of sight, but you can also use your existing tray, store their litter, and save on an expensive, specially designed cabinet.9. Dresser to Litter House
10. Farmhouse Style
Hiding the litter tray in a cabinet of some kind is a popular idea, but it doesn’t always have to be a worn-out dresser or cheap cabinet. This farmhouse-style cabinet uses end tables and pine panels to make a place for your cat to use the bathroom and for you to store the necessary supplies to keep their litter tray clean.
11. De-littering Catwalk
With a built-in catwalk to dislodge those pesky pieces of litter stuck to your cat’s paws, this design is a cabinet . It takes more work than revamping an old cupboard, but if you fancy a challenge for your carpentry skills, you can customize this design to fit your space restrictions and the size of your litter tray. Better still, the litter box is completely hidden, giving your cat privacy and keeping unsightly trays out of the way.12. Under the Table
Repurposed cabinet ideas are great, but sometimes, we just don’t have space in our homes to add another cupboard. Most of us have a , though. When you’re short on space, a few curtains and some sisal rope to make a few in-built scratching posts are ideal for hiding your cat’s litter tray.13. Mystery Box
There are loads of places where you can get wicker chests to hide your litter tray in. This design uses a to keep your kitty’s toilet private. Cut a cat-sized hole in the side, and you’ve got a private bathroom for your cat — and a reduced risk of stepping on forgotten litter left on the floor. As a bonus, your guests won’t know what’s inside either!14. Deck Box Litter Box
Many DIY ideas use plastic totes to hide litter trays, but work just as well and they even offer your cat more space. This idea requires a bit of craftsmanship to build a sturdy slope covered with sisal rope for your cat to scratch. It’s a great way to keep litter off your floor and repurpose an old deck box that you don’t use anymore.Sifting Litter Boxes
15. Aluminum Tray Litter Box
Cleaning out the litter tray is the worst thing about owning a cat. You can buy sifting litter boxes but they’re not always as effective as we want them to be, which is where this design comes in. Using aluminum trays and a sturdy, plastic enclosure, you can make a DIY for your cat and keep it away from inquisitive canine noses.16. Litter Sifter
Owners of multiple cats know better than anyone how often they end up bent over the litter tray scooping out poop. This takes the work out of sifting with a scoop. Build it to match the size of your existing tray, and let it catch the big clumps of the used litter when you need to clean the tray.17. Wood Pellet Sifter
If you use wood pellets in the litter tray, this design is an affordable alternative to expensive sifting litter boxes. Using , you can make a simple litter box with high sides that will even fit into an enclosed chest — depending on the size of the boxes that you buy — to hide it from view.18. Stackable Totes
Poking holes in the bottom of totes can work, but your cat can also get their claws stuck in them as they dig through their litter. This idea uses the same theory, but you instead. You’ll need two totes that are the same size. Drill a few holes in the side of both, and you can put the empty tote on the bottom whenever you empty the tray.
Conclusion
Making a DIY litter box is a cheap and easy way to cater to your cat’s needs, keep things tidy, and match the rest of your décor. You can use anything from aluminum trays and plastic totes to old furniture to make a litter box or an enclosure to hide it in. Hopefully, these designs gave you a few ideas for your cat’s bathroom!
Featured Image Credit: Litter Robot, Unsplash
