Everyone deserves their own space.
Including the kitties:
I have two little kitties with big personalities. They pretty much have the run of the house. Everyone that has a kitty or two (or more!) knows that there are a few undeniable facts that you have to deal with. Food, water, toys, records, and, of course, the litter box.I wanted to try to find a way to organize it all and still have it look clean and contained. I have gone through a few different configurations and I think I finally figured out something that works great for all of us, and maybe it can work for you too. So, this post will walk you through what I did
Materials:
CabinetHinges
Corner Molding
Construction Adhesive
Litter Box
Floor mat (x3)
Food and litter containers (x2)
Storage Bins
Basic Process:
I have gotten this project together over the course of about 6 months so I don't have the exact directions. If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer. This will just be an outline.
1) Locate the side of the BESTÅ Cabinet side that you want to have your opening on. Mark out the size of the opening that you want for your litter box opening.
2) Use a drill to drill a hole inside the area that you've marked for your opening and then use a saw (I used jigsaw) to cut the opening.
3) I cut pieces of vinyl corner molding and used the construction adhesive to attach it to the rough cut of the opening to give it a cleaner finish. If you're able, you can miter the edges to get a cleaner frame but I didn't do that with mine.
4) Assemble your BESTÅ subbing in the soft close hinges if you choose to use them. I didn't want the doors to slam and startle the cats when they were eating. Mine came with teflon feet so it's really easy to pull away from the wall to vacuum and mop around the box when I clean.
5) I chose to use a very high box for the litter box because one of my cats has a habit of making a bit of a mess with shorter boxes. Put the box in the cabinet on the side of the opening and mark out where you need to cut your opening. Note: I actually used two of these boxes from Home Depot because I hadn't seen the IKEA ones yet. If you want to know how I modified the boxes I used, please let me know in the comments below and I'll write it up for you guys.
6) Use a blade to cut the opening out of the front of the litter box and I used a lighter to melt the raw edge to smooth it over. If the top edge keeps your door from closing, you can trim it off too.
7) Once you've assembled the cabinet, it's just a matter of putting everything in place where it needs to go.
8) I used the containers from Walmart to store food and litter. The fabric storage containers hold toys, brushes, treats, and cans of soft food. Records and their travel bag are stored in the small space above the litter box. The box I use to store the litter scoop is no longer available but you could use a tall narrow cereal box or something similar.
9) I used two of the floor mats to create two eating areas on top and the third to help cut down on the litter scattering as they exit. These are great because they have a rubberized bottom and don't slip. They also protect the surface of the cabinet.
10) That's it. I like having 10 steps but really, you're done! Enjoy a more organized space.
1) Locate the side of the BESTÅ Cabinet side that you want to have your opening on. Mark out the size of the opening that you want for your litter box opening.
2) Use a drill to drill a hole inside the area that you've marked for your opening and then use a saw (I used jigsaw) to cut the opening.
3) I cut pieces of vinyl corner molding and used the construction adhesive to attach it to the rough cut of the opening to give it a cleaner finish. If you're able, you can miter the edges to get a cleaner frame but I didn't do that with mine.
4) Assemble your BESTÅ subbing in the soft close hinges if you choose to use them. I didn't want the doors to slam and startle the cats when they were eating. Mine came with teflon feet so it's really easy to pull away from the wall to vacuum and mop around the box when I clean.
5) I chose to use a very high box for the litter box because one of my cats has a habit of making a bit of a mess with shorter boxes. Put the box in the cabinet on the side of the opening and mark out where you need to cut your opening. Note: I actually used two of these boxes from Home Depot because I hadn't seen the IKEA ones yet. If you want to know how I modified the boxes I used, please let me know in the comments below and I'll write it up for you guys.
6) Use a blade to cut the opening out of the front of the litter box and I used a lighter to melt the raw edge to smooth it over. If the top edge keeps your door from closing, you can trim it off too.
7) Once you've assembled the cabinet, it's just a matter of putting everything in place where it needs to go.
8) I used the containers from Walmart to store food and litter. The fabric storage containers hold toys, brushes, treats, and cans of soft food. Records and their travel bag are stored in the small space above the litter box. The box I use to store the litter scoop is no longer available but you could use a tall narrow cereal box or something similar.
9) I used two of the floor mats to create two eating areas on top and the third to help cut down on the litter scattering as they exit. These are great because they have a rubberized bottom and don't slip. They also protect the surface of the cabinet.
10) That's it. I like having 10 steps but really, you're done! Enjoy a more organized space.
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