Litter Box
I want to address using the correct litter box for a large cat.
Because of his size, LB does not fit into a regular size litter box. He is too long, and, due to his larger tummy, he cannot curl his body to keep pp in the litter box.
So, finding the correct size litter box became my mission. I went through three different litter boxes until I found the correct one.
The first litter box I used was a Sterilite box that was about 14" wide, 23" long, and 6" tall. I used that for a while, but the sides were not high enough to keep the pp from spilling over the sides.
The second litter box I used was a concrete mixing tub from Lowes. The dimensions for the tub are 24 1/2" wide, 36" long, and 8" tall. I used that for two days, but again the sides were not high enough to keep the pp from spilling over the sides.
I realized that I had to find a litter box with very high sides. However, there is nothing like that on the market. I had to get creative. So, I started looking for a bin that I could customize and use as a litter.
The third litter box I used was a Roughneck tote by Rubbermaid. The dimensions of that tote are 20" wide, 30" long, 16" high. The dimensions were perfect. I just had to cut in an entry door. Luckily, the Roughneck is made with a flexible material that is easily cut. I first used a hacksaw, but quickly learned that a strong scissor did the trick. I cut an entry door that was 11" wide, 11" high, and left a 5" step up into the litter box. After cutting out the door, I smoothed any rough spots with a box cutter and metal file. It took me a total of 30 minutes to customize the tote.
The results of modifying the tote? SUCCESS! No more overflow of pp onto the floor. When LB gets in the box, the sides are taller than he is, so everything stays where it should be.
By the way, the litter box is shared by all the other cat members of the household, and it has been amazing.
If you have a large Kitty and are having trouble finding a litter box, I recommend the Rubbermaid Roughneck and modifying it.
Here are pictures of the litter boxes I have used:
We are pulling for you LB! I’m so pleased to hear you are moving around more and eating less. Good for you, fella!