I have always enjoyed the ease of having my cats be so independent and the convenience of a litter box (especially when going away for the weekend). BUT when we got our two dogs, Toto and Calypso, the cats seemed to have an aversion to their litter box. I wondered why....unitl...I realised that my dogs were 'stalking' my cats and waiting for them to do their business so they could have a snack!....yes this is nasty and disgusting but my dogs like to eat cat s***. So I needed to solve this problem, especially to calm my cats' nervousness associated with the litter box.
First step was to buy a baby-gate to put in the doorway of the main floor powder room (where I kept the litter box). This was a great temporary solution because the cats didn't mind jumping over it and the dogs could not get in to snack. However, it was a little hard for me (being much less limber than my cats) to get over the hurdle every time I needed to use the washroom.
Then I got to thinking....if a mouse can have a hole in the wall....why can't a cat?
Luckily, we have two double closets on our main floor! And one happens to be right beside that main floor powder room. So I consolidated all our jackets and shoes into the closet by the front door and turned the closet by the powder room into a 'cat den'.
Here is the back-door closet which now houses the litter box!
This is the main floor powder room which has the 'cat hole'.
And here is the hole! I know many of you might have gasped at my idea of cutting into the wall...but this has been a huge solution for me and not only can you not SEE the litter box any more but you cannot smell it ever either! Yippee!
I know its a tad messy on the rack in the closet (I need some organization baskets).
I know some cats don't like to have their litter and food in the same area but for my cats they seem to love the peace and quiet of this hide-a-way when they eat.
Yes the cat dishes say princess and both my cats are boys but it suits them pretty well!
Kato says Hi!
Sasuke is wondering what on earth I was doing in HIS home.
Best of all is my cats are happy again and I am so happy to have less mess (no litter tracked through the house), no smell (at least I can't detect any), and my guests don't have to see the litter box when they use the washroom anymore!
18 comments:
I just found your blog through Holly's blog and I have to say that this is quite a great idea! If you guys ever move, just patch the kitty hole and move! I am totally gonna steal this idea!
Love the blog! You are quite creative!! :)
Thank you! Yes I totally forgot to mention that I did keep the two chunks of drywall I cut out so I could repatch when we sell one day!
Hi Rebecca, what a great idea to do that, I bet your cats like it a whole lot better too.
I LOVE it Rebecca! That is such a cute picture of the cat poking through his little hole LOL. I only wish this would work with dogs (litter boxes that is...).
Simlply genious!! Do you have a light in there for them? If not, I've seen those motion-sensing ones for closets, that would be perfect. Love your blog!
I'm glad you guys think its neat! We actually had Toto trained in a litter box when we lived in our old apartment! It took FOREVER to train him to do it though! He likes having a yard much better! That is a great idea to get a motion sensing light! My cats would like that a lot!
This IS a great idea! Do you find that the high-sided litter box lessens the litter tracking too? I've never seen a litter box with such high sides.
I also found your blog through In the Fun Lane. We have a mastiff named Tucker (and a Great Dane named Morgan) so I'm very interested to see more pics of Calypso. (Check my blog for lots of Tucker stories and pictures.)
Anyway, I had the same great idea about doing the kitty door, but unfortunately I don't have a good place to hide my litterboxes. Luckily, my two dogs aren't very interested in the "snacks" that the cats (we have two of those as well) so graciously leave behind.
Stephanie
Very clever! Now I just have to convince the huz to let me get a cat!
Brakes and Gas...maybe if he knows he won't have to see litter or smell it he might go for it :)
MRS 5C, those high sided litter boxes are sooo awesome...couldn't live without it! I think its Rubbermaid...got it from PetSmart. My cats like to spray out the back end instead of squat so I NEEDED the high sided litter box!
I also once saw someone put a cat door into a lower kitchen cabinet to house the litter box...for anyone who doesnt have the extra closet. I suppose if you had a small kitchen (like me) this wouldn't be practical but if you had a large one and a lower cupboard away from the heart of the kitchen this could work!
This is a brilliant idea! I used to have my kitty's litter in my 1 bedroom condo closet and just kept the door cracked. She loved the privacy and hated for the door to be ajar more than it needed to be! As for your cats - your closet is so roomy, they have plenty of space to have their food in there as well, so it's no wonder they love it. Keeps the dogs out of the food too!
HAH! What an awesome idea! Very creative :)
Glad to see someone having done this! We recently moved into our brand new home and bought (but have yet to install) the cat door on the door to the basement, where our litter box is kept. But I never even thought about what would happen when we get a dog.... I guess when we do, and we finish the basement, we'll have to get another one to keep the litter safe! Thanks for that tip!
Another creative idea Becky! I LOVE the pics of the kitties poking thier heads through....Keep your ideas coming :)
Jess Xox
That was a fantasic idea! Very creative!
What a great idea! Where is the gorgeous chandelier from? I have been searching for one like that!
That chandelier I actually got from Rona! It was only $40 bucks!!!! (if I remember correctly $39 before tax??). The way it reflects the light is so pretty!
I always motivated by you, your views and attitude, again, thanks for this nice post.
- Norman
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