How to Keep a Cat From Urinating in a Sandbox

Nothing can ruin a wonderful afternoon making sand castles faster than finding the cats have been urinating in the sandbox. The odor can get very strong very fast in the hot summertime, and if a cat is urinating in the sandbox, it's almost certainly defecating there too, which poses a health risk to your children. Any cat that is allowed outside has a greater chance of parasitic infestations and many of these parasites are harmful to people as well. Ringworm, a fungal infection, is another common ailment of outdoor cats. Cats are drawn to sandboxes, so try the three-pronged approach below to keep the sandbox safe for the children.

Things You'll Need

  • Outdoor cat repellent
  • Fiberglass or plexiglass sheeting, or tarp
  • Bungee cords, latches or other means of securing the cover
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a chemical barrier around the perimeter of the sandbox. Buy a good quality cat repellent made for outdoor use. Follow the directions carefully, and be sure to choose a product that is nontoxic to children and pets. It has to be reapplied at regular intervals, according to package directions, and after rains. There are some good outdoor repellents available, but none that work for every cat.

    • 2

      Make a cover for the sandbox. The most sure way to keep a cat from urinating in the sandbox is to cover the sandbox, and it will keep the sand clean and dry as well. Cut a sheet of fiberglass or plexiglass to make a cover for the sandbox, or use a sturdy, weatherproof tarp as a cover.

    • 3
      Cats love a sandbox, so barriers are the best way to stop them urinating in the sandbox.

      Place the fiberglass sheet on the sandbox and decide how to secure it. Depending on the kind of sandbox, you can use door or window latches, eye bolts and bungee straps or just some heavy rocks or bricks on top of the sheeting. If you use a tarp, secure it with bungee cords that hook onto stakes in the ground or hooks on the side of the sandbox.

    • 4
      Give your cat a place of its own to dig and it will likely not bother the sandbox.

      Build a separate "sandbox" for the cat. If it is your cat that is urinating in the sandbox, you may want to provide a place of its own for your cat to roll, dig or urinate in. Use the sand and some loose dirt, and plant nontoxic plants that attract cats, such as catnip. Build your cat's box is a private area of the yard, away from the children's sandbox.