How to Make a High-Sided Litter Box – DIY High-Sided Litter Box

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

There is an older post on this site, Litter Boxes for High Spraying Cats, and I recently reran it and re-posted it on our social media channels. One reader, Jessica, saw the post and shared her DIY high-sided litterbox in the comments of that post. I wrote her and asked if she would let me share a photo of her DIY creation here on Floppycats (on the Litter Boxes for High Spraying Cats post). Still, she sent more detailed photos and instructions, so I thought it warranted a post. Thank you, Jessica!

You had asked me for pictures of my high-sided litter box.

I use a Sterilite 66qt container for the box itself. Other supplies are: a magazine, a permanent marker, and a wood-burning tool (be very careful with this)

I use the magazine as a template and trace it on the side of the box. You don’t have to use a magazine-you can draw whatever shape or size pattern you want to cut out. Just don’t make it too low otherwise, the cats will kick all the litter out.

I found that cutting out the side made the hole too hard, or the plastic would crack. So I went to Lowe’s and bought a wood-burning kit for about $15. Once it is hot (and it gets VERY hot, so be careful not to burn yourself or set it down on anything flammable), I use it to trace the outlines I drew. It melts the plastic. It takes a couple of minutes to complete this step. Go slow and carefully to get a straighter line.

Once you have melted through all 3 sides, you can remove the piece you want to cut out. You may have a couple of sharp edges in the melted plastic. I just run the tool’s edge along them to smooth them out. When you’re done with the tool, unplug it and put it somewhere it can’t burn anything or anyone. I tend to put mine in my garage on the concrete floor to be safe.

Below is a couple of pictures of Wyatt of @willa_and_wyatt checking out the finished product!

I hope this helps out others! I started doing this when a cat I had at one time had bad arthritis so that he could get in the box. It’s also great for kittens!

Storage Bin Litter Box With a Front Entrance

Toni followed the directions above, but instead of having the entrance on the side of the storage bin, she made it at the end. This allows you to repurpose a storage bin into a mess-free litter box for a high-spraying cat or one that throws litter like confetti.

“Thanks for the easy-to-follow instructions. I have always wanted to make a box myself but never knew how to cut through the plastic. A wood burner – who knew? 🙂

In addition, I was able to reduce my boxes from 3 to 2 because of their larger size. I liked using the clear container because it creates less stress for cats – they don’t like to be “ambushed” by other cats in the house.  Plus, the sides are at least 3-4” higher than before. Perfect for my big kitty.

Anyway, glad I found your website. Very helpful info – even if I don’t have a floppy cat!”

Litter Box for Large Cat DIY

I cannot remember how it came about – but Floppycats’ reader Aims Windler, in a comment on a Facebook post, posted a photo of her DIY litter box.  So I replied to that comment on Facebook and asked if she could please email me to tell me in detail how they made their homemade litter box.

Turns out it’s really simple to make but quite effective at giving your cat privacy and helping to keep odors sealed inside a box.

They started with a clear plastic storage box from eBay. There are various sizes of storage boxes available, so you should measure for your biggest cat and find the one that will comfortably fit them. Aims chose the 29.0589 gallons (110 liters) box for their biggest cat.

They then bought a regular cat door you’d install on your home, cut a hole in the side of the box, and added it. So despite the walls of the box being thin, you can attach the cat door as long as it has a tunnel joining the two sides. Aims chose the cat door on Amazon (similar to the one in the USA).

Once the flap is installed, the litter box is ready to use. It’s a good-sized box that gives your cat plenty of space to feel comfortable. Still, because it’s an enclosed box, there’s some sense of privacy (even with a transparent box), and smells won’t be as strong.

Of course, if your cat is not used to cat doors or cat flaps, there might be a small amount of training involved – like leaving the flap off the door until they are using the litterbox.

You could use any litter with this DIY litter box. I asked Aims what they used, and they said they used Catsan, a non-clumping litter of tiny stones that work like crystals. Clumping litter would work fine, though.

What do you think of this simple DIY litter box build? 

Have you designed your own litter box too?  We’re always happy to share readers’ designs and help others to find a litter box that works for them and their cats.

Have you ever created your litterbox?

Jenny Dean

Website | + posts

Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,

• Homemade Cat Food - 3 DIY Recipes That Are Healthy for Cats!
• Best Kitty Litter List 2025 [Pictures & Videos]
• Automatic Litter Box Revolution: The Top 5 of 2025
• 10 Adorable Ragdoll Cat Names [2025]