How to Make a Homemade Cat Litter Box

A cat may suddenly take a dislike to his customary litter box and you may have to come up with a substitute in a hurry. Refusing to use his perfectly adequate box may appear to be persnickety behavior, but it is one of the most common behavioral problems among feline pets. A fancy model can cost several hundred dollars and promise sanitary, odor-free bathroom facilities for cats -- until they just stop using it. The average household contains a number of options for a homemade cat litter box.

Things You'll Need

  • Shallow container
  • Pan liners or plastic trash bags
  • Litter
  • Rubber bands or twist ties
  • Slotted scoop
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose an appropriately sized container to serve as a litter box for your cat (e.g. plastic storage containers such as the ones that slide under a bed, shallow cardboard boxes, old plastic dish pans, etc.). Easy access is important so choose a container that's fairly shallow.

    • 2

      Place a liner in the box or slide the container inside of a plastic trash bag. Add a 2-inch layer of litter to the box and pull the liner or trash bag taut. Secure the excess with rubber bands or twist ties.

    • 3

      Scoop out the waste at least daily (more often, if possible), using a slotted scoop.