How to Keep a Cat From Pooping in a Sand Box

Nothing spells summer for kids like spending time outdoors, playing in the kiddie pool or a fresh box of sand. Unfortunately, many times these enthusiastic children will find that their sandbox has become the neighborhood litter box. Cat feces can carry bacteria such as salmonella and parasites such as hookworms, tapeworms and the fungal infection ringworm. Infants are particularly susceptible to these zoonotic diseases and infections because their immune systems are not fully developed. However, there are ways to keep your sandbox full of nothing but sand this summer.

Things You'll Need

  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Water
  • Cheesecloth
  • Large bowl
  • Garden sprayer
  • Garden hose
  • Plastic sandbox cover
  • Plastic tarp
  • Bungee cord
  • Catnip
  • Mothballs
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Instructions

  1. Cat Deterrent Spray

    • 1

      Make your own cat deterrent by adding two cloves of garlic, one onion and two cups of water into a blender.

    • 2

      Blend the mixture thoroughly.

    • 3

      Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth that has been placed over a large bowl. Discard the pulp that is left behind.

    • 4

      Place the liquid into a garden sprayer that is attached to a hose.

    • 5

      Spray the cat deterrent around the sandbox, and allow it to dry before the children are allowed to play in the box.

    Other Methods

    • 6

      Cover the box when it is not in use. You can either purchase a hard plastic cover or fasten a tarp or other large piece of fabric with bungee cords to fit snugly over the sandbox.

    • 7

      Attract your cat and the neighborhood felines to other areas of your lawn by spreading catnip, especially in more confined spaces that might be an attractive spot for cats to void.

    • 8

      Spread mothballs on the ground around the sandbox. This can act as a deterrent as well.