Okay, let me tell you about this whole fat cat litter box situation. It started pretty simply. My cat, bless his heart, started packing on the pounds. Wasn’t overnight, you know, just kinda gradual. Then I started noticing… things. Litter scattered way outside the box. Like, way outside. And sometimes, little “accidents” right near the edge.
First, I thought maybe he was just being messy. Or maybe sick? Took him to the vet, nope, just chunky. Vet actually mentioned his current box might be getting a bit tight. That’s when I really watched him trying to use it. Poor guy looked like he was trying to fold himself in half just to fit. Turning around in there? Forget about it. It was clearly uncomfortable.
So, the hunt began. I went to the usual pet stores. Looked at all the “large” and “extra-large” boxes they had. Honestly? Most of them weren’t much bigger than what I already had. Maybe taller sides, but the actual floor space? Not a huge difference. It was frustrating. Felt like they designed these things for kittens, not full-grown, slightly-too-loved cats.
I spent a bunch of time searching online too. Saw some fancy expensive automatic ones, but man, the dimensions still seemed iffy for my big dude. Plus, the price tags were something else. I wasn’t looking to buy him a condo, just a decent place to poop.
Then I started thinking outside the box, literally. Someone online, maybe in a forum or something, mentioned using storage totes. Like, the big plastic ones you get from hardware stores. Sounded weird at first. But I was getting desperate.
Went down to the local hardware store. Found these big, sturdy-looking storage containers. Like the ones for under the bed or garage stuff. Measured a few. Found one that was way longer and wider than any “official” cat box I’d seen. Low enough sides that he could step in easily, but high enough to keep most of the litter contained.
This was the game changer. I bought one. Took it home, washed it out real good, and filled it with his usual litter. Placed it where the old box used to be.
He was curious at first. Sniffed it. Walked around it. Then, he hopped right in. Had plenty of room to turn around, do his business, and cover it up without bumping the sides or looking cramped. Success!
Seriously, it’s been so much better since then. Hardly any litter outside the box. No more accidents next to it. He just seems way more comfortable using it. Sometimes the simple, cheap solutions are the best ones, you know? Just gotta look past the fancy labels sometimes.
