Okay, so I’ve been meaning to upgrade my cat’s, you know, “business” area for a while. Plain old litter boxes are just…blah. I saw some fancy “designer” ones online and thought, “I can totally DIY this!”
First, I brainstormed. I wanted something that looked more like furniture and less like, well, a toilet. I also wanted it to be easy to clean, because nobody wants to spend extra time scooping poop.
My Design Process
- Sketched some ideas. Lots of scribbles, really. I’m no artist. Mostly boxes with different entry points.
- Measured the space where the current litter box sits. Gotta make sure the new one fits!
- Looked at materials. I had some leftover plywood from another project. Perfect!
Then came the actual building part. This is where things got… interesting.
- I cut the plywood according to my (very rough) sketch. Let’s just say my saw skills are “rustic.”
- Sanded everything down. Didn’t want any splinters in delicate paws!
- Assembled the box with wood glue and screws. It…mostly held together.
The next part of the process made the litter look more designery, I spent time to make it pretty.
- I put some paint on the surface of the wood.
- Added a cute little entrance hole. I used a jigsaw for this, and let’s just say it’s not a perfect circle. More like a…squashed oval.
- Threw in a standard plastic litter tray inside. Because, you know, hygiene.
Finally, it came to testing it. My cat, Whiskers, was…hesitant. She sniffed it, circled it, and then gave me a look that clearly said, “What is THIS?”
But after a few minutes (and some strategically placed treats), she went inside! Success! It’s not exactly “designer magazine” worthy, but it’s definitely an upgrade. And hey, I made it myself! Now, to clean up the sawdust explosion in my living room…