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.
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.
Recommendations for use
Your pet sees a closed cat litter box for the first time, and you are faced with the problem of training. There are several tips to simplify and speed up the process:
If your pet accepts the improved litter box favorably, consider yourself lucky. Now you will appreciate the ease of cleaning, the level of cleanliness in the apartment and create comfort for your beloved pet. Perhaps at first buying a closed litter box may seem like a waste of money, but in fact it is a great thing for any cat owner.
How to make a toilet for a cat with your own hands: plastic design
Making a plastic “toilet” for a cat is not at all difficult and does not take long. Some complicated tools won't be useful either. So, to make a “latrine” for a catfish, you will need:
- Plastic container (bath, construction basin).
- Marker, masking tape.
- Hacksaw. It can be replaced with a jigsaw or grinder.
- Coarse sandpaper or file.
- Acrylic paint.
- Take a suitable plastic container.
- Mark the cut location with a marker or tape. You choose the height of the sides yourself, depending on the age, size and individual characteristics of your pet predator.
- Cut off all excess using a jigsaw, hacksaw or grinder. It is not advisable to use scissors for this purpose, as the material may crack.
- Clean the cut areas with sandpaper or a file.
- If desired, paint the container with acrylic paint (preferably from a spray can).
Important! If you take a closed plastic container and cut an entrance into it, you will get a cozy “toilet-house” for a shy pet.
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.
From a plastic container
The easiest and cheapest way to hide a tray. Unlike the previous ones, which are designed to hide cat litter in a hallway or room, this one is perfect for a bathroom or restroom, where the requirements for appearance are softer and the size of the structure is stricter.
Cat litter is unsightly and sometimes smelly, it's generally a nuisance, but if you have a cat, you have to have cat litter. Every cat owner wonders where the best place to place the cat litter box is. And yet, when the tray catches your eye, it involuntarily causes a grimace. It's time to fix it! Look at these unusual ideas for hiding cat litter and smile, and maybe some will even be useful.
Cat litter on the bench
Such a bench, purchased at a hardware store, furniture store or online store, has space that can be used for a cat litter box. There is also a separate compartment for filler. It has holes in the sides to ensure sufficient ventilation. One door can be closed to hide the filling compartment from view.
Hide cat litter in the cabinet
Living in a small apartment has several challenges, including the problem of placing a toilet for your furry pet. Is there a place for it and extra space to hide a less-than-aesthetic item? Make your own cabinet where you can place it. When the doors are closed, no one can even guess what is hidden there.
Curtains will hide the excess
This idea can be a beautiful way to hide your cat's litter box. Bright fabric will enliven a small table and become a comfortable place for your pet. You can use Velcro strips to open the curtain to make it easier for your cat to get in. However, it's easy enough to lower down and your guests will be sure that you just updated a boring piece of furniture.
Wooden house
To make such a box for a cat, you don't need any special skills. Simply join two wooden boxes together and cut an opening large enough for your kitten to enter comfortably. If you secure it with hinges, the design will be more convenient.
Fans will definitely love this item! The cat litter was perfectly camouflaged under a flower pot. It can be painted in the color that will match your interior.
Old wardrobe
Don't rush to throw away your old small cabinet. Simply refresh the paint and place everything you need for your pet. There is enough space for a tray, and filler, food, bowls and various small items will be hidden on the shelf.
Closet cutout
Do you want to install a cat litter box in a small bathroom? Cut a hole in the cabinet under the sink and place a box inside. Then the toilet will not get in the way and will be easy for both your cat and you to get to in order to clean it up. Such a curly neckline will be especially interesting.
Source
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.
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.
Main types of toilets
a variety of cat litter trays on their shelves Some of them involve the use of filler, others have a plug-in grille for liquid drainage. Often, products for pet hygiene procedures are divided into two large groups: open and closed toilets. Depth, size and shape can also be criteria for distinguishing them. In order to make the right purchase of a cat litter box, it is necessary to study the nuances of using different types of this product.
Ordinary plastic one-piece tray
A fairly common and popular model is a one-piece plastic tray . It is a rectangular product with low sides. Often no additional accessories are included with it. The main advantages of this type include low cost and compactness. It is also easy to maintain. If a kitten chooses a toilet, then this is an excellent model: it’s not at all difficult for a baby to climb into a tray of this type.
If the toilet is chosen for an adult cat, then this is by no means the best option: the shallow depth causes constant chaos in the place where the toilet is located. To prevent the litter from being thrown out when buried, it is better for adult pets to choose one of the following types, such as a litter box for cats with a mesh, a tray with high sides, or a closed model. Also, the disadvantages include the possibility of using this option only with filler.
Tray with high sides
A tray with high sides is similar to a regular one-piece plastic model, but is equipped with removable sides. This additional parameter can be used to fix the film, which can be easily removed after the pet has relieved itself. This makes the product easier to maintain: there is no need to wash anything.
Another advantage of this model is its depth: thanks to the ability to raise the sides to the required level, the cat will not scatter the litter beyond the boundaries of its litter box. This type makes it possible to use both filler and film. But there is also a disadvantage when using this version of the tray: it is much larger than the product described above, so it requires more space.
Tray with mesh
The next type of cat litter with a mesh is also similar to an ordinary plastic model, only a mesh is placed on top of the product. Thanks to the use of this accessory, all excrement passes through the grate into the tray, and the pet’s paws remain clean and dry.
No filler is required to use this option. But this is the reason for the disadvantage of this model, which is the impossibility of neutralizing the smell and its further spread throughout the apartment. Therefore, after each management of the pet, it is necessary to clean it. In addition, it is worth adding that not all cats like this type of toilet. This is due to the situation when a cat’s claws get caught in the bars when the burrowing instinct manifests itself, and she herself gets scared.
Tray house for cats
Many owners prefer a closed cat litter box or, in other words, a litter box. This product is comfortable to use for both the owner and the animal. Some models even have doors that prevent odors from spreading from the tray. But not every cat likes such an accessory.
It is worth noting that a closed toilet has a number of advantages over other toilet options:
- the product perfectly retains the “aromas” inside it;
- many pets love an enclosed space that gives them a sense of security;
- the filler does not end up outside the boundaries of the tray when buried;
- the cat does not accidentally walk past the toilet, unlike open litter boxes.
The disadvantage of this type relates not to operation, but to cost. Due to the high price, not every owner can purchase a toilet house for a cat.
Automatic tray
, automated closed toilets for cats are on sale . They represent a real advancement in the cat litter industry. The products fit aesthetically into the bathroom of the house. And they don’t require much effort to keep the pot clean. Naturally, the cost of a self-cleaning cat litter box is quite high. But if there are a large number of animals in the house and there is no time to clean up after them, this model becomes the best option. The disadvantages of the automated option include the loud sound produced by the product during the cleaning period.
Moral preparation of the animal
Unless Kuklachov can find a common language with a cat instantly, and she will fulfill his every desire. Ordinary people will have to think about how to train a cat to use the toilet. Of course, each animal is unique, but there are a number of steps that can be formulated that will help in most cases.
Instructions for taming a cat to a plumbing fixture look like this:
- First, the cat needs to get used to the idea that the toilet will now be located at some height above the floor. It is recommended to raise the tray on the floor a little every day so that its height eventually becomes equal to the height of the toilet;
Every day the height increases
- then the cat litter is installed on the toilet. To begin with, you can lift the lid and simply cover the free space with cardboard or other durable material, secure it with tape and pour in a little filler. The cat will be suspicious of the toilet, but the usual litter will calm it down;
To keep the animal calm, you can add a little filler.
- then you can try to make a hole and constantly enlarge it. Over time, the animal will get used to standing on the very edge. Although you can continue to use the toilet tray, it will simply be more comfortable for the animal.
Note! It is not recommended to teach your animal to wash off after itself. Some cats perceive this as a game and may flush the water over and over again. The price of such entertainment will be noticeable when paying for water supply.
Some cats are intrigued by the drain of water.
If a suitable tray for a plumbing fixture is not commercially available, then it can be made from scrap materials, for example, from a lid for a plastic bucket. At first, such a lid is simply put on the toilet, then, as the animal gets used to it, the hole in the central part gradually increases each time.
The hole keeps getting bigger
The duration of addiction depends on the individual characteristics of a particular animal. On average it will take 3-4 weeks.
Taming Guide in Pictures
