Dog Proof Litter Box

This DIY dog proof litter box enclosure is the purrrfect solution for dogs that can't seem to stay out of the litter box. If you have pups that think that the cat's box is the best place in the house to score themselves a little snack then try this tutorial and transform a regular cabinet into a place where your kitty can safely do their business. Bonus! The DIY dog proof litter box is nice looking and blends in with your decor making it a great solution for apartments and small homes.

Dog Proof Litter Box DIY

My dogs are disgusting. If there is something gross to be found, they will find it, roll in it and eat it.

We recently got a kitten and have a litter box in our house for the first time. My yellow lab, Luna doesn’t have any desire to get into the cat litter but my pug for some reason thinks the little turds are delicious treats.

This is my daughter, Chloe and her new kitten, Bread. Yes, the cat's name is Bread. Chloe has been begging us for a cat since she was two years old. Now that she is five and old enough to help take care of the kitty we let her use money she earned over the summer showing goats at the fair to buy a kitten. 

My husband, Rob and I are rather fond of this sweet kitty too. She sleeps in our bed most nights and likes to take cat naps right on top of Luna on the couch. The dogs are very gentle with her but my pug still loves to try to get into the litter box any chance she can get.

I had to take action and come up with a solution to keep her out of the litter box.

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Is it bad for dogs to eat cat poo?

It is common for dogs to eat cat poop, and most of the time, although it's gross it won't hurt your dog. To them it smells and tastes just like cat food which dogs also love to devour. The good news is that most dogs would have to eat a lot of litter before it could cause a blockage. If your dog has eaten cat litter or clumping cat litter, don't freak out, just keep an eye on her. If she has normal bowel movements, she is probably fine.

However, eating any poop carries the potential for the dog to contract harmful bacteria and parasites. Eating cat poop is a habit your dog definitely needs to kick.

DIY Dog Proof Litter Box Tutorial

I have this small cabinet in my dining room. I bought it last year on sale on Black Friday. It’s not as big as I hoped and honestly the quality isn’t great but you get what you pay for and it was pretty cheap.

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It does get the job done for storing our crap and now it’s going to be responsible for literally storing my cat’s crap.

I cut a few of the fake wood bars in the front of the cabinet to make a hole just big enough for Bread to fit though but small enough that my pug’s fat wrinkled head can’t.

The inside shelf was removed so my cat has more space to move around and I placed the litter box on the opposite side of the hole that I cut.

Keeping the litter in this dog proof litter box will also help contain bits of litter and prevent them from getting scattered about the house.

In addition to holding the litter box I also keep the extra litter, scoop and litter tray liners in the cabinet.

On the other side of the cabinet I can store her extra food and pet supplies.

Gnome Tip: Put the litter tray in a plastic bag before you pour in the litter. This will keep things cleaner and when it’s time to clean the entire box you can simply pull off the bag and throw it out.

I have seen some diy litter box cabinets that are made by cutting a hole in one of the side walls. That works fine too but since my cabinet had these plastic bars it made more sense for me to just cut those.

If you are cutting a hole in one of the side walls you will need a jig saw to make those cuts.

If I ever decide to not use this cabinet to hold the litter anymore I can replace all the bars with some kind of paneling or fabric since I will still have the door frames. You should do whatever works for your situation. You do you to control the cat poo.

More Ways to Keep Your Dog Away From Cat Poop

1. Raise Up Your Cat's Litter Box. Place it on a shelf high enough that the dog can't jump up and get it.

2. Try An Auto-Cleaning Litter Box. This will get rid of the poo before the dog has a chance to find it. These work well but there is the possibility that your dog can still get to the litter box for a snack before the auto cleaning litter box has a chance to do it’s thing. If you dog is really clever they could still break into the reservoir where the dirty litter is stored.

 3. Clean Up Poop ASAP. This works if you are home and you notice but who has time to follow their cat around all day waiting to clean up their poo? You are better off with the auto cleaning box.

4. Change the taste of your cat's poo so the dog won't want to eat it. How’s that for a sentence I never thought I would write? Try offering a spoonful of canned pumpkin to your cat's food to change the taste or consistency of her stool. Cats often like pumpkin as a treat. However cat’s tend to be picky eaters unlike dog’s who obviously aren't since they will eat sh!t.

5. Use a covered litter box. You can find litter boxes that have a cover. This can work but if you have a very small dog they might be able to jump in or a large energetic dog could still try to rip the thing apart looking for a treat. 

Tips to Keeping Cat Litter Smelling Fresh

The last thing anyone wants is the smell of the litter box hitting you as soon as you walk in your front door. Help keep things smelling fresh and clean with these tips:

• Scoop the litter every day
• Use clumping litter to help make scooping easier
• Keep a small dish of baking soda near the litter to help absorb odors
• Change the entire litter every week so it is fresh
• If you have more than one cat, get more than one litter box
• Try an automatic self-cleaning cat litter box
• Place the litter box in a place like a spare bedroom or basement that is separate from the rest of the house

How do you keep your dog away from the cat litter box? Have you ever made a dog proof litter box?  Share your tips in the comments and if you like this post please share it on Pinterest!