15 Free DIY Cat Litter Box Enclosure Plans to Build Today (With Pictures)

You love your cat more than anything in the world, but you definitely love its litter box a whole lot less. It’s not only cleaning it out that can get icky, either; it’s having it right in the open in your home where you can always see it (and smell it). If you’re tired of constantly looking at and smelling your cat’s poop, you might want to create a litter box enclosure!

Building your own litter box enclosure can seem like a difficult task, but it’s much easier than you think to create one. There are so many options for how to make these enclosures that no matter how you go about doing it, you shouldn’t have too challenging a time.

If you’re ready to stop staring at the litter box every day, we’ve got these easy DIY cat litter box enclosure plans that you can do regardless of your handyman skill level. Just don’t follow the “out of sight, out of mind” adage and forget to clean the box out regularly!

The 15 DIY Cat Litter Box Enclosure Plans

1. Easy Hidden Kitten Litter Box by Hometalk

This cute litter box enclosure will likely only work for kittens or small cats, but it’s an adorable way to hide where your cat goes to the bathroom. You need a large plastic terra cotta pot, some fake plants, and a few tools. Then, in less than an hour, you’ll be able to create a litter box enclosed within a “plant” you can stick in the corner. Simply cut a hole in the pot large enough for your kitty to get through, put down a liner and litter inside, then make a lid with the pot saucer and fake plant stuff. It truly doesn’t get easier than this!

2. Inexpensive Enclosure Hack by Worstontheblock

This litter box enclosure hack will require you to have a suitable piece of furniture. If you already have a piece that fits, it will be inexpensive, but if you have to find a piece of furniture, it will get a bit pricier. Once you have a furniture item that works, though, this enclosure is so simple! The type of furniture you’ll need will be something that opens up, such as a cedar box, chest, cabinet, etc. After you’ve chosen the furniture, simply cut holes in two sides for cats to enter and exit, sand down rough edges, and paint or stain if you’d like. You may also want to put down a piece of vinyl or linoleum inside for easier clean-up. Then place the furniture where you want it and put the litter box inside. Voila, all finished!

3. Modern Plywood Litter Box Enclosure by Hunker

Okay, this super neat enclosure looks like it’s difficult, but as long as you can cut some plywood into pieces and use a drill, it’s incredibly simple. It’s also got a modern look, which will fit into any home design. First, you’ll figure out the size of the litter pan you have, then cut the plywood into six boards with dimensions according to the litter pan size (or have your local hardware store cut them for you!). After that, it’s just a matter of making an entrance hole, gluing the pieces into a box shape, and installing the hinges and legs. Sure, it will take a bit of time, but once it’s done, you’ll have a fancy hidden litter box enclosure you can brag to your friends about making!

4. Kitty Litter Station by HGTV

This kitty litter station made from a cabinet is one of the easiest litter box enclosures to make. If you don’t have a cabinet that works, you’ll have to find one. But once you have your cabinet that opens in the front, all you have to do is take off one of the doors and cut an opening that your cat can fit through. Then put the door back on—that is literally it. If you’re looking for a super quick fix, this is your plan!

5. Cat Cave by Dimplesandtangles

If you want something that’s a little bit fancier than other enclosures on this list, this cat cave is the enclosure for you. All you need is a small table that’s large enough to fit over your cat’s litter box and some fabric to make small curtains for the sides and paint if you want the table to be a different color. If you’re going to re-paint the table, do that first. Then measure and cut your fabric, so it covers all sides of the table. You can hem and pleat the fabric if you have the sewing skills, but it isn’t necessary. Once the fabric is the size it should be, just hot glue it to the table. Congrats—you are all done!

• You may also like: 13 Easy DIY Cat Cave Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

6. Dog-Proof Litter Box Enclosure by Instructables

Have a dog that keeps raiding your cat’s litter box for “tasty” treats? Then you’ll love this litter box enclosure that not only hides your cat’s litter but will keep the dog from getting into it too! By putting the smaller bin inside the larger bin, you’ll have a bit of room that works as a foyer to keep your dog away.

Before you put the bins together, though, you’ll need to cut openings in both large enough for kitty to get through (you can also cut some holes in the lid of the larger bin for aesthetic purposes and more airflow, if you like). Once you have both openings, you can stick the smaller bin inside the larger to work as a litter box, then put down the wood and carpet in the space that’s left between both openings to create the foyer. It’s a bit of work, but overall, this enclosure is relatively simple!

7. DIY Litter Box Enclosure by Pineandpoplar

Okay, here’s another litter box enclosure that looks like it will be challenging to put together but is actually quite easy. You’ll need just a touch of handyman ability to get you through, but as long as you can cut some wood into the proper sizes and use a drill, you should have no issues. All you need to do is cut plywood into the sizes listed on the plan, add supports on the bottom, drill some holes, assemble, cut a hole out for an entrance, then seal and stain (optional). Once finished, you’ll have a very pretty enclosure with a hinged top that will look wonderful anywhere in your home.

8. DIY Hidden Litter Box by Mer Issa Mom

This DIY Hidden Litter Box is super easy to make and affordable. All you need is an inexpensive set of three-piece plastic drawers and a box cutter to make this litter box. Not only do you have a litter box when you’re done, but you can also keep the top drawer as a storage area for your cat’s unused litter, scoop, or even its toys; the choice is yours.

No one wants to see a cat litter box, especially an unclean one, and this simple enclosure checks all the boxes.

9. DIY Litter Box With High Sides by meowtainclimbers

If you’re anything like us, you hate that your feline pal tracks litter everywhere. Also, when they get in the litter box, they kick litter all over the floor. You can stop that with the DIY Litter Box With High Sides. This one is super easy to make and only takes a clear container with high sides and a box cutter. You can cut a hole in the door for your cat to enter, especially if you want to put the lid on the box and fill it with litter. Nothing could be easier, and your cat will keep the litter inside the litter box where it belongs.

10. Amazing Litter Box Enclosure by cuckoo4design

If you’re looking for the kitty condo of litter box enclosures, then the Amazing Litter Box Enclosure is the one you want. While this is a bit more difficult to build than others on our list, it’s certainly the most advanced. You’ll need a lot of experience to handle this one, including a motion sensor nightlight for your cat’s nightly bathroom trips and a litter genie to tie it all together.

Not only will the exhaust fan keep the smell away, but the litter genie also cleans the box for you.

11. No Dogs Allowed Litter Box Enclosure by craftylittlegnome

Most pet parents have had dogs and cats in the same house before. The last thing you want to see is your dog using the cat’s litter box as a breakfast buffet, but it happens. If you’re looking to keep the litter box hidden, the litter contained, and your pup out of the feline’s litter, the No Dogs Allowed Litter Box Enclosure is the enclosure for you.

It’s not that hard to make, and if you get a small cabinet with two sides, you can use one for the litter box and the other for the unused litter, scooper, and your cat’s food. Make the hole in the cabinet just big enough for your cat to slip through, and keep the cabinet closed unless you’re changing or scooping the litter for the best results.

12. Giant Litter Box by Instructables

When you have several cats, especially when they’re outside, you don’t want them using the bathroom all over your lawn. That’s where this Giant Litter Box comes in handy. If you know how to use a tape measure and a rotary tool, this shouldn’t be that hard to build. The great thing about this litter box is that it’ll work for cats, dogs, small pigs, tapirs, and more. Basically, any pet that is under 30 pounds can benefit from this large litter box.

13. Cheap Mess Free Cat Litter Box by musingssahm

Sometimes all you need is a simple, high-sided box with a lid that is mess-free for your cat to use. For less than 10 dollars, you can have just that. All you need is a cheap 18-gallon bin, a plate to draw a circle on, and a strong pair of scissors to create this Cheap Mess Free Cat Litter Box for your feline pal.

Make sure that you cut the hole in the bin so that it’s large enough for your cat to fit through, fill the box with litter, put on the cover, and you have a litter box fit for your feline at a very low price.

14. Easy DIY Litter Box Cabinet by petfaves

This Easy DIY Litter Box Cabinet is something that anyone can make for their feline pal. This is the perfect cabinet to keep the litter in and the dogs out. All you need is a five-shelf wire shelf unit, shelf liners, a wire storage cube, a boot tray, and bungees. You can even put parts of it together with Velcro.

With this cabinet, you won’t have to worry about your dog’s having poop breath or your cats getting litter everywhere in your bathroom.

15. Mess-Less Litter Box by Instructables

This Mess-Less Litter Box might not be easy to make, but it will keep the mess in the box where it belongs. Not only does it eliminate the mess on your floor, but it also encourages your feline to climb the sisal rope to get inside, meaning you have no mess, and your cat gets exercise. You’ll like this enclosure, and your feline will as well.

Final Thoughts

There are so many ways you can create a litter box enclosure for your cat, with many of them using pieces of furniture you already have in your home. No matter what kind of enclosure you decide to create, you’ll find that the majority of plans are as easy as the ones on this list. Only a few require even moderate skills, so even if you’re the least crafty or handy person on the block, you should be able to throw something together relatively quickly!

Related Read:

• 5 Amazing DIY Senior Cat Litter Box Plans (With Pictures)
• 10 Best Cat Litter Box Furniture &Enclosures of 2023: Reviews & Top Picks

Featured Image: Jennifer McCallum, Shutterstock