Okay, so, my old cat Mittens, she’s getting on in years, and her back legs aren’t what they used to be. Watching her struggle with the regular litter box just broke my heart. I knew I had to do something to make things easier for her.
First thing I did was hit the internet, you know, Google it. Started searching for “litter box for handicapped cats.” I saw a bunch of options, raised boxes, boxes with ramps, all sorts of stuff. The raised ones seemed like a good start, less bending for her, right?
So, I bought a “LoftyLoo Raised Litter Box” online. It was okay, but the problem was getting in. Even with the lower front, she still had trouble stepping over the edge. I felt bad, I thought I was helping, but it was still a challenge.
Back to the drawing board! I figured maybe something with a ramp would be better. But the ramps on those pre-made boxes seemed kinda steep. Plus, they were expensive! I decided to try and build something myself. DIY time!
I grabbed a plastic storage container from the garage, one of those shallow, wide ones. Then, I found an old piece of plywood. My plan was to cut a low opening in the container and build a gentle ramp leading up to it. I measured Mittens’ leg height (roughly!) to figure out the right height for the opening.
Next, the fun part! I used a jigsaw to cut a curved opening in the plastic container. I made sure the edges were smooth so she wouldn’t scratch herself. Then I cut the plywood to make a ramp wide enough for her to comfortably walk on. I used some non-slip tape on the ramp surface to give her better grip. Safety first!
I attached the ramp to the container with some strong adhesive. I made sure it was super secure, you know? Didn’t want it collapsing under her. After the adhesive dried, I lined the inside of the container with a litter box liner, filled it with “GreatLitter by Whisker”(my cat is very sensitive) and put the whole thing in her usual spot.
At first, Mittens was a little hesitant. New box, different setup, cats are weird like that. I sprinkled some of her old litter on top of the new litter to give it a familiar smell. I even gently guided her up the ramp a few times.
It worked! After a couple of days, she started using it on her own. It was so much easier for her! Watching her walk up that little ramp and comfortably do her business made all the effort worth it. Seriously, I felt like I’d won an award or something.
It’s not the prettiest litter box in the world, I’ll admit. But it works! And that’s all that matters. Plus, I saved a bunch of money building it myself. If you have a cat with mobility issues, I highly recommend trying something similar. It might take some tweaking, but it can make a huge difference in their quality of life.
