DIY Cat Litter Boxes – 5 Mess-Free Cat Litter Box Plans (With Pictures)

Cat litter boxes aren’t cheap, but if you’re ready to upgrade your cat’s options, the good news is that plenty of DIY options look and perform just as well as a full-price model specifically built for the job.

From a stylish cabinet with a hidden litter box to a smart-sifting litter box, we’ve rounded up our favorite DIY cat litter boxes for you to choose from.

DIY Cat Litter Boxes

1. Sifting Litter Box

If you like the look of an expensive sifting litter box but can’t justify splashing out on a full-price version, you can create your own! Simply use two nesting plastic boxes, with the interior box trimmed and drilled with holes to create a sifting net that allows the litter to fall through the holes while catching the waste for disposal.

You might need to figure out exactly what size holes you’re going to need to drill, to correspond with the particle size of your chosen cat litter. This design works best with clumping clay litter.

Skill Level: Medium

2. Upcycled Hamper Litter Box

If you hate the look of litter boxes dotted around the house, consider hiding them in an upcycled hamper! This also has the benefit of giving your cat somewhere private to do their business and keeps dogs far away from the litter box. You can cut a cat-sized hole out of one side of the hamper, and either adds a cat flap or finish the edges with wood.

Adding a base of carpet or fake grass helps stop litter from tracking through your house, and you can add a shelf within the lid of the hamper to store your litter scoop, antibacterial wipes, and anything else you need.

Skill Level: Medium

3. DIY Top Entry Litter Box

Most cats love top-entry litter boxes, but they’re not cheap. By repurposing a plastic container with a lid, you can achieve the same effect for far less money. Make sure you choose a box large enough to accommodate your cat. Once you’ve cut the entry hole, make sure you smooth away any rough edges using sandpaper.

You can glue carpet or rubber matting to the top of the box to help trap any cat litter that’s stuck on your cat’s paws.

Skill Level: Basic

4. Litter Box Cabinet

If you’ve been looking at the expensive cabinets designed to hide your cat’s litter box, have you considered using an Ikea hack to achieve the same look for much less? The Ikea Brusali cabinet is the perfect size for hiding your cat’s litter box, and it even comes with a handy shelf to store all their cleaning accessories. You’ll just need to jigsaw out an access spot and install a cat flap for a neat finish.

Skill Level: Basic

– You might also like: 10 DIY Cat Shelves You Can Build Today! (with Pictures)

5. Terracotta Planter Cat Litter Box

Add greenery to your house while hiding your cat’s litter box! Using a plastic terracotta plant pot with a smaller round dish inside makes the perfect unobtrusive space for your cat to do their business. Add a fake plant to the top and most people will never notice what you’ve done! Make sure you choose a plant pot large enough for your cat to enter and use in comfort. Sand the edges of the entrance once you’ve cut the hole, to make sure it’s smooth.

Skill Level: Basic

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Featured Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock