Everyone loves cats when they snuggle up on the couch, snuggle up, or purr on their laps. But no one likes cleaning cat hair from clothes and repainting torn joints. Today we decided to tackle one specific problem - the tray that constantly catches our eye. The master class will be especially useful for those who, due to the layout of the house, are forced to place the cat litter in a prominent place.
You will need:
- Plywood with a thickness of 12 to 15 mm for the walls of the house.
- 4 cm wide boards for the roof (about a meter in total).
- Nails and hammer, screws and screwdriver.
- Wood glue (PVA).
- Jigsaw.
- Miter saw (or hacksaw).
- Drill.
- Roulette.
- Two small furniture hinges.
- for the door.
- Sandpaper.
- Tracing paper.
- Masking tape.
- Dye.
What is good about a closed tray? Are there any disadvantages?
Like every non-standard device, a closed pot has its own advantages and disadvantages. The main thing in the matter of choice is the convenience of your beloved pet. The undoubted advantages of an enclosed litter box for cats:
The high price is perhaps the only significant disadvantage. Buying a closed tray is financially more difficult than an open tray, but it will be an excellent investment in the comfort and cleanliness of your apartment. Your pet may not immediately learn to open the door: be patient, help him figure it out so that it doesn’t become a punishment and disappointment. The size of a closed tray starts from half a meter, so calculate and plan the location of the toilet in advance.
What is an indoor cat litter box?
Closed cat litter structures are like houses in which most animals feel more comfortable. Most often, they have a door that can be easily opened in both directions. But some of the simplest models do not have doors.
Inside the house there is a place for filler; it can be a removable open tray with or without a mesh. The top cover is removable for easy cleaning and washing; it is attached to the bottom tray using special clips. There is a handle for transportation.
An indoor cat toilet is a kind of house with a door.
Advantages and disadvantages of closed trays
Closed pots have significant advantages when used:
For small spaces, you can choose a corner closed cat litter box
It becomes possible to additionally use the toilet house as a piece of furniture (cabinet, shelf for magazines, etc.).
You can place various objects on the closed cat potty
The disadvantages of closed trays for cats include the following qualities:
In order to wash a closed pot, you will have to disassemble it
From personal experience. During the last years of his life, our cat dug so furiously into his potty that pine litter granules were almost always scattered on the bathroom floor. Our pet began to show symptoms of urolithiasis, so he visited the potty often. And no matter how you cleaned up the tray and the scattered litter, the cat would come running again and do his crazy things. I had to cover the cat litter box with a tall cardboard box and cut out an entry hole with scissors to somehow reduce the chaos. At that time, we did not know that covered cat potties could be found on sale. This would be a great way out of the situation for us.
You can build a closed toilet for your pet with your own hands: a hole for entry is cut in a tall cardboard box, and a simple open tray is installed at the bottom
If you already have an open regular tray, you can take a cardboard box, cut a hole in it for entry and place it on the product. This way you will understand whether your pet will like a closed toilet. If yes, then you can safely go shopping.
Recommendations for use
Closed litter boxes for cats are no different in use from simple open litter boxes. Only cleaning them is a little more difficult.
Prepare the toilet for use as follows:
Closed trays can be used without filler; then for cleaning it is enough to pull out the tray and replace the film
It is periodically necessary to remove solid feces and change the litter. Usually this needs to be done no more than once a day. It is recommended to wash the pot completely with warm water and soap every few days. About once a month the tray is treated with non-aggressive disinfectants.
If a closed toilet is poorly maintained, extremely unpleasant odors will inevitably enter the house.
Experienced breeders advise placing a special, easy-to-clean mat under the potty, which will help keep the room clean and tidy. You can replace it with a regular hygienic absorbent diaper. It is laid in front of the entrance to the tray-house. When leaving the toilet, your pet will inevitably walk through it. The diaper absorbs liquid, and the cat’s paws will be clean and dry; any remaining filler will also remain on the mat.
It is recommended to place closed toilet structures on special easy-to-clean mats
Classic pet tray with and without filler: pros and cons
This model of cat litter is the most popular and is a rectangular, or less often triangular, plastic container. Trays are available with and without bars, but in the latter case, the use of filler is mandatory. Advantages of the classic design:
- compactness;
- ease of use and cleaning;
- economical operation - models with a grill can be used without filler, but they need to be washed more often;
- low price.
When choosing a classic tray, you need to remember its disadvantages:
- the need for daily cleaning;
- the cat scattering granules near the box while digging for litter;
- the risk of injury to the pet due to claws touching the bars;
- feces getting stuck in the tray grid;
- unaesthetic.
DIY wooden cat tray
As already mentioned, this is a temporary option. You can use a box made of plywood or boards as a “bathroom” for the mustachioed tabby.
So, you will need:
- Boards or plywood sheets.
- File, jigsaw.
- Screwdriver.
- Screws or self-tapping screws.
- Metal corners.
- Thick waterproof film.
The procedure is as follows:
- Make a sketch or drawing of the future product, taking into account the dimensions and configuration. It can be a rectangle or a triangular structure (for placement in a corner).
- Cut out 3 or 4 (depending on the configuration) sides for the future tray. Fasten them together using screws or self-tapping screws.
- Cut out the bottom and attach it to the frame using corners.
- Cover the bottom of the product with film and fill it with filler.
The toilet is ready!
Types of indoor cat potties
There are several types of closed trays for cats:
Snail-shaped pots are equipped with special rough steps
Carbon filters absorb unpleasant odors
Cat potties can be installed in various pieces of furniture
Automatic cat litter boxes require a utility connection
Dry toilets and automatic trays are manufactured in both closed and open versions.
Types of closed toilets
A closed cat litter box is produced in the form of a “tray-house”, an automated dry toilet, a built-in bio-tray. The pot may have no door at all or have a self-closing automatic door. The kit comes with scoops, specialized filters, and in more expensive models, fans and control panels. There are multi-person bathrooms for cats: this is convenient if you have more than one pet in your apartment.
Built-in dry toilet
You can use the tray as part of a design solution (bedside table, shelf, table). Suitable for small apartments, as it is made to individual measurements and built into walls or furniture. The difficulty is that it is not easy to remove from the mounted area, so if it breaks or is heavily soiled, effort will be required to dismantle it.
Bio-tray with carbon filter
The most popular model among pet breeders. It is made from durable, environmentally friendly materials (usually plastic), and is easy to transport and clean.
The walls inside are covered with a water-repellent layer. The carbon filter absorbs unpleasant odors, and the kit includes absorbent wipes (they will help you when traveling if there is no water nearby). There are two types of cleaning: manual or automatic. The automatic model does all the dirty work for you; the excrement is transferred into a specialized bag or into a sewer pipe (if connected). Next, the toilet space is disinfected using hot air. The system is so smart that it performs all manipulations only in the absence of the animal: it is equipped with motion sensors and pauses the action at the slightest rustle. You don't have to worry about the safety of your pet. In manual models, you will have to clean the tray yourself from cat waste products.
Toilet-house
An indoor cat toilet is the most affordable model of all. It is unlikely that it will be possible to integrate it into the interior design, but this is not always necessary. The tray is suitable for all breeds of cats (from miniature to large). It is equipped with a retractable tray, which makes cleaning and disinfection easier.
The cost of trays varies in a very wide range: from 1 to 30 thousand rubles. How much money to spend is up to you to decide, but before buying a complex and expensive device, it is recommended to study the instructions so that there are no unpleasant surprises.
Basic nuances of choosing a tray
So, today manufacturers of cat litter boxes offer a wide range, and many future owners are faced with the problem of how to choose a cat litter box. There are open and closed models, there are automatic ones and those that require mechanical cleaning. It is important to choose exactly the type that your pet will like.
To understand which cat toilet is more suitable, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- Material of manufacture - it is important to choose a durable product and quite weighty so that it does not spread to the cat.
- Shape and size - the toilet should have a shape and size that allows you to move freely in it.
- Depth - a cat litter box should have a depth that allows it to be filled with the required amount of litter, which at the same time will not be scattered when buried.
- Smoothness of the surface - the surface of the product must be free of defects in the form of sharp protruding elements that can cause injury to the pet.
Requirements
Before you start working, you need to know which design is preferable. It is important to decide on the size, since the tray should be comfortable for the animal. Otherwise, it will simply do its business where it is more convenient. The pet should be able to take a comfortable position, therefore:
- The best option is a flat, oblong-shaped device.
- If your cat is shy by nature and prefers to cope with large and small needs, an enclosed “house” would be a good solution.
- The depth of the future “toilet” should be no less than 50, but no more than 70-80 mm. If the tray is too shallow, then the filler, swelling, will spill out through the sides.
Important! For animals that like to rummage through the litter, higher sides are desirable. A tray designed for a small kitten should be small in height so that the baby can easily climb in and out of the tray.
As for the material of manufacture, then:
- It is advisable that your DIY cat tray be made of plastic. This is a durable, affordable, and, most importantly, extremely easy-to-care material. It is extremely easy to wash and clean.
- In principle, metal is also a suitable option, but it quickly oxidizes, reacting with the animal’s urine.
- Wood is only suitable for temporary use, as it quickly swells, absorbs moisture, and a constant aroma reigns in the apartment, which is quite difficult to get rid of. For the same reason, a cardboard box for a cat’s “latrine” is not the best option.
What is an indoor cat litter box?
Closed cat litter structures are like houses in which most animals feel more comfortable. Most often, they have a door that can be easily opened in both directions. But some of the simplest models do not have doors.
Inside the house there is a place for filler; it can be a removable open tray with or without a mesh. The top cover is removable for easy cleaning and washing; it is attached to the bottom tray using special clips. There is a handle for transportation.
An indoor cat toilet is a kind of house with a door.
Advantages and disadvantages of closed trays
Closed pots have significant advantages when used:
For small spaces, you can choose a corner closed cat litter box
It becomes possible to additionally use the toilet house as a piece of furniture (cabinet, shelf for magazines, etc.).
You can place various objects on the closed cat potty
The disadvantages of closed trays for cats include the following qualities:
In order to wash a closed pot, you will have to disassemble it
From personal experience. During the last years of his life, our cat dug so furiously into his potty that pine litter granules were almost always scattered on the bathroom floor. Our pet began to show symptoms of urolithiasis, so he visited the potty often. And no matter how you cleaned up the tray and the scattered litter, the cat would come running again and do his crazy things. I had to cover the cat litter box with a tall cardboard box and cut out an entry hole with scissors to somehow reduce the chaos. At that time, we did not know that covered cat potties could be found on sale. This would be a great way out of the situation for us.
You can build a closed toilet for your pet with your own hands: a hole for entry is cut in a tall cardboard box, and a simple open tray is installed at the bottom
If you already have an open regular tray, you can take a cardboard box, cut a hole in it for entry and place it on the product. This way you will understand whether your pet will like a closed toilet. If yes, then you can safely go shopping.
Recommendations for use
Closed litter boxes for cats are no different in use from simple open litter boxes. Only cleaning them is a little more difficult.
Prepare the toilet for use as follows:
Closed trays can be used without filler; then for cleaning it is enough to pull out the tray and replace the film
It is periodically necessary to remove solid feces and change the litter. Usually this needs to be done no more than once a day. It is recommended to wash the pot completely with warm water and soap every few days. About once a month the tray is treated with non-aggressive disinfectants.
If a closed toilet is poorly maintained, extremely unpleasant odors will inevitably enter the house.
Experienced breeders advise placing a special, easy-to-clean mat under the potty, which will help keep the room clean and tidy. You can replace it with a regular hygienic absorbent diaper. It is laid in front of the entrance to the tray-house. When leaving the toilet, your pet will inevitably walk through it. The diaper absorbs liquid, and the cat’s paws will be clean and dry; any remaining filler will also remain on the mat.
It is recommended to place closed toilet structures on special easy-to-clean mats
How does a self-cleaning smart toilet work?
This model involves periodic self-cleaning of excrement. The automatic cat litter box makes noise during operation, so the system starts the cleaning process some time after the pet has gone to the toilet. Depending on the degree of automation of cleaning, there are 2 types of “smart” toilets:
Self-cleaning litter box for cats
- Fully autonomous models . These automatic cat litter boxes are connected to the power grid, central water supply and sewerage system and operate according to a schedule set by a person. Touch sensors monitor the humidity level of the litter and the presence of the pet in the toilet and start the cleaning process 10-15 seconds after the animal leaves it. These toilets are valued for their maximum ease of use, which does not require constant human attention, but are expensive and require uninterrupted operation of communication systems.
- Semi-automatic models. In this case, the toilet is connected only to the electrical network. An electronic device periodically sifts the litter, removing excrement into a waste drawer and liquid into a reservoir. These models cost less than stand-alone ones, but to operate them you need to buy special bags for collecting feces. Semi-automatic toilets need to be cleaned periodically: liquids daily, feces weekly.
Sawdust
Sawdust is a good alternative to factory-made fillers. They are easy to dig, they retain both moisture and smell well - such a tray begins to smell only when all the sawdust becomes wet. Therefore, sawdust is one of the best types of “folk” fillers. If you use a tray with high sides and sprinkle sawdust in a layer of 8-10 centimeters, you can clean the cat litter box every 5-7 days. True, there are also some inconveniences: sawdust generates dust, in addition, the smallest particles of wood “stick” to the cat’s paws and are spread throughout the apartment.
You can place a thin layer of pieces of newspaper on top of the sawdust - then there will be less dirt on the floor. Wet paper should be changed daily.
Sand
Sand absorbs moisture quite well. It copes with the smell somewhat worse: it weakens it, but does not absorb it completely. Therefore, if you use sand as a filler, you will have to come to terms with the fact that the toilet will almost always smell like cat urine. In addition, the grains of sand are very light - therefore, when the animal buries traces of its vital activity, the floor next to the tray will be covered with sand. However, this trouble can be avoided by using high trays with sides. The sand in the cat litter box is replaced every 2-4 days.
Cat litter in the corner behind the curtain
A curtain is a great way to make use of an unused space, such as part of a hallway, turning it into an adorable cat litter hiding spot.
What you will need
- Wooden rod.
- The fabric is light or medium weight.
- Felt pads for furniture legs.
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks.
How to do it
- Choose a small structural space: the bottom of a cabinet, the bottom shelf of a built-in bookcase, or a nook between a wall and a heavy piece of built-in furniture.
- Cut a piece of wood rod to fit snugly between the two areas. Glue a felt pad to each end of the rod.
- Measure a piece of fabric so that when it hangs on the rod, there is approximately 8 cm between its edge and the floor so that the cat can easily get in and out.
- Glue the fabric to the rod. Press and hold for a minute or two to allow the fabric to adhere.
- Hang a curtain rod in a corner.
You can also use a curtain tension rod and a hinged curtain.
Owner reviews
I've been using an indoor cat litter box for a couple of months now. I was preparing for the purchase for a long time, because the toad was terribly pressing: 2350 + delivery... But having thoroughly tested this miracle of design, I can share my positive impressions with a clear conscience. My main fears were that the filler would still spread a lot, if the cat peed while standing, then everything would leak onto the floor, there was not enough space. All these fears did not come true. The step grate “works”, nothing leaks outside the toilet, the filler hardly spreads: I now sweep 1-2 times a day!
dizigner_ru
https://ori-cats.livejournal.com/713588.html
We have been using the house for three years now. The absolute truth is there is no smell. I put wood filler in the tray. Which to choose? I think this is not important for a cat. I recommend!
alinav
https://www.kharkovforum.com/showthread.php?t=2244880
I bought a closed potty for my girl, but then I just threw it away because it’s impossible to wash it well. Now for 5 years he has been using a regular litter box, “dry paws” without any filler. Once I tried to pour some filler into her, and she stood there like that, walked up to the pot and scooped it onto the floor with her paws. Until I removed the filler, nothing happened. So understand these animals...
Lunyavka
https://www.kharkovforum.com/showthread.php?t=2244880
Stefani
https://zooforum.ru/index.php?showtopic=53803
It is inconvenient to remove from it, we used it, then we returned to the old one, since we have to remove the top to remove it. Tired of it.
LUCKY
https://deti.mail.ru/forum/dosug/bratja_nashi_menshie/tualet_domik_dlja_koshki_udoben_ili_net/
When we first bought this toilet, the consultant at the store advised us to first glue the door to the ceiling of the toilet with tape so that the cat would not be afraid to go in there - they sealed it. I get up in the morning - the cat is gone... well, I think he’s sleeping somewhere, strange, he didn’t come out to eat either... I went to look and found it in the toilet)) The tape came off and “bricked up” the cat in the toilet. There was so much joy when the cat saw me through this glass)) I thought he would be afraid to go there - no, everything is fine - the tape was torn off and no longer glued...
Anonymous
https://www.u-mama.ru/forum/family/pets/534873/index.html
We've had one like this for a couple of years now. The mesh there is quite large, the wood filler gets stuck in it. It won’t work without filler, the mesh has no legs, and the paws will be covered in urine. My cat doesn’t like to dig into the litter, he likes to scratch the sides with his claws, so I sprinkle it under the bottom. The toilet is quite big. The downside is the door, it doesn’t let light in, the cat panics, I had to remove it. In general, I am satisfied and will exchange it for the same one, anyway, there are no other toilet houses with a mesh.
Victoria
https://mauforum.ru/viewtopic.php?p=2378840
In some cases, closed tray designs turn out to be extremely convenient and useful. But when choosing such a toilet, you need to take into account not only the appearance and shape of the model. It is important to choose a product that will be convenient for your furry pet to use, otherwise he may simply ignore it.
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