And that he took the time to clean off the ink marks on a project that is going to be covered in cat litter and crapped on is impressive craftsmanship :-)
First off....I want to say...THANK YOU !!....This has been such a life saver. I'm in my 60s, disabled, on a limited income and have 2 indoor cats. I was spending a Crazy amount of money on cat litter each month. It's been about a year since I first caught your video and right away went to get all of the items. My Son drilled the holes for me and I was SO EXCITED, I Almost danced a jig. The litter is MIND BLOWING.....Tractor Supply has the 40 lb. Bag for about 6.00, were anywhere else you're paying that for maybe a 12 lb. Cleaning only takes me maybe 5 minutes and the Only Time there's a smell is Sometimes when my big boy goes number 2 which l take care of right away. I wish I could reach through the video and give you a Huge Hug. Again...THANKS SO MUCH !! GOD BLESS !!
Oh, I am so happy this worked for you. Big hugs back at you & God Bless. People don't realize how much time & effort goes into these builds & making videos & in my case tons of edits. Especially since I also have disabilities which makes is much harder with not that much monetary reward. It is nice to get positive feedback. Thanks
Ive made 4 of these boxes ( i have 3 kittys ) I use 4 empty cans in the bottom to raise up the top container 1 in each corner ohh yeah allso put a carbon puppy pad under the empty cans!!! I have saved alot in the long run!!!
You instantly gave us all a 50x better option than any pet store can even offer. I refuse to fall into any more “pet-supplies” scams. Keep making more videos if you get more great, simple, and cost effective, solutions or ideas, in place of expensive pet products. Thank you!😸
I used a Main Stays 64 qt. latching tote for the bottom (16.25 x 23.5 x 13.5). Then added a Main Stays 50 qt. clear tote (16.13 x 23.5 x 10.77) for the top. Got both at Walmart. 🙂
I made one of these yesterday using a wood burning tool (outside due to smell) but was able to do quickly with no chance of cracking box. Super easy, thanks for giving me the sterilite container & pellet idea!
A better alternative to acetone on the plastic to remove sharpie is rubbing alcohol. You have to be careful with acetone on plastic because it can melt the plastic, it does not react well with plastic. Sharpies are alcohol based markers so rubbing alcohol is safer on the plastic and works just as well!
A lot of industries are rip-offs lol They just want our money. It's smart to do research and try to find many options when buying anything. Often, the best (and cheaper!) products are less-known to most people. Less advertising, I guess lol *rolls eyes*
I have fifteen cats all rescues..had invested in four large sifting boxes and several Modcat boxes. The sifter holes were too big, and the modcat boxes were too heavy duty to drill. So,I bought some hardware cloth,cut it to fit the sifters,taped it inside with duct tape..I sit the sifter on top od a fairly tall bin…scoop the poop, then dump the box in the sifter,push it around and shake..then empty the good stuff back in the litter box. The modcat boxes are very smooth,nothing sticks to them,and the have nice handles on the sides. So,if you have already put a lot of money into litter boxes,you can modify them and not have to drill holes or buy new boxes! Ps..the tall bin really saves your back…
I finally figured out a way to stop the cat urine from corroding the bottom of the plastic container. I would have to scrape the bottom and the ends with a razor blade, but now I spray the bottom with cooking spray and that solved it. Yay
We made our first sifting box yesterday, and plan to make another soon. What a difference the larger holes make! Our Feline Pine system works well too, but has tiny holes and requires more vigorous stirring throughout the day. Two Sterilite tubs cost $15 at Target. 40 lbs of kiln-dried pine pellets cost $8.50 at a horse supply store. I dump our pine litter in the green bin, so no plastic bags needed. Clean and simple! Thank you so much, Rick!
I can’t explain my gratitude toward you for making this video 😭 I have lots of cats and I’m sick and tired of cleaning clay litter out of every nook and cranny my tiles. This is awesome!!!
Just made one and I am so unskilled but it was simple. I followed exactly what was done. Bought the sterlites and step bit (truly the best tip!) made holes and then went through them again on the other side. Dumped in my dirty litter and oh my word I wish I had been using this method for my wood pellets YEARS ago!! Time saver!! Thank you!!!!
yes, if you sift regularly, the sawdust takes away the urine smell with it. Many cats (mine included) won't bury solids well (or at all) so you've really got to stay on top of that. I like to scoop sawdust onto the poo (if there is any) before scooping which encapsulates the stink.
Love this simple idea. I bought much larger sterilite containers because one of our boys refuses to squat, lol. They are about 32x19x13 ish. I was just batch sifting with a scooper in a normal sterilite bin after we stopped using the hooded breeze box because of him causing pee issues.
I love the drill tip tip! It's funny that I made one like this about one year ago after watered another vedio about altering breeze box and I've been loving it! You can go as big as you want so your cats would have a superior bathroom experience! I did add pvc tube legs on the bottom to give it more room and better support, that doesn't effect the falling-through. Also I use dog training pad on the bottom box to catch urine, that makes it a litter easier to clean, too!
I have just made one of these as per your directions. I have been using the wood pellets for litter for a while now, and would spend up to 10 minutes scooping out the pellets in portions and shaking them through another scoop to filter out the sawdust, wrapping the sawdust in newspaper and placing the packet in the garbage. Merely shaking the tray so the sawdust falls through the holes is such a great way to do it. I love that there is no cat urine smell using this litter and that the wood pellets are so much cheaper than regular cat litter.
This is BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!! We currently use shop bought sieve litter trays and we have seven trays as we have six indoor cats. BUT we have fairly large cats and even the largest trays I can buy still allow for pee accidents over the side. So your DIY version is going to be a very worthwhile investment despite the time it will take. Now we can buy whatever large size trays we want and turn them into deluxe sieve trays for our large cats. THANK YOU!!!!
This is genius! I used this litter in the past and my house was covered in wood dust, BUT I didn't have the sifting pan, thank you for sharing! The pan is the secret!👍🐈
I just switched to pine pellets this week and the smell difference is amazing! I used to use the non clumping ones and whenever my cat use the litter box and start pawing it to cover her pee or poop, you would smell it and it stinks. With the pine pellets, it doesnt stink when she cover or pee or poop.
Great video. I have the same thing using some Sterlite boxes. Rubbing alcohol removes permanent marker, and likely safer than acetone. Just a word of caution with Pine pellets...they are not created equal. Phenol in pine and some other woods is very toxic to cats. To minimize the phenol, the recommendation is to ensure that pine pellets used in litter are not treated with any chemicals and are KILN DRIED. Word of caution #2. Some claim that kiln drying is not sufficient to remove phenols as it only heats to under 100 degrees, and to remove phenol, much higher heat is required. Essentially, if you can smell "the pine smell", you are smelling phenols present in the wood. That said, if you are going to use pine, recommend finding Kiln Dried as the safer alternative. I personally use HARDWOOD pellets and avoid the controversy altogether. They breakdown just like pine when they get wet.
Way to go, Smaerd66!! I am making this day after tomorrow, when I get the right step-down bit. The Arm and Hammer sifting litter that I have for my light-weight male cat, does not have enough space between the 2 boxes. (DO NOT BUY THE ARM AND HAMMER, ALTHOUGH IT IS CHEAP).It is a design error. I have been keeping tall bottle caps in there that I got off some drinks that I buy, to make sure the sifter box and lower level box, leave any room for the damp, used saw dust and that they don’t actually stick together. What fun that would be. This video and this guy, are worth their weight in gold. Thanks a million!
Thanks for your demonstration. I did exactly what you did and my litterbox turn out perfect. I have long and tall cats and the Breeze litterbox was too small for them. Most sifting litterboxes holes are too big for pellet litter and I tried several of them before I succumb to making my own. It was very tedious but well worth it and my cats are happy with their new litterbox.
I went to a restaurant supply store and picked up2 deep table cleaning tubs. You may of seen waitresses or waiters use them when they clean off tables. They are real cheap and are made so well that I have found them to out last the life of the cat. Hopefully you will give them a try one day. Thanks for the video
I love this. The standard sifting boxes are not crazy unaffordable and work out of The box... but for those bigger kitties the ready made boxes may be too small. I have tiny, medium and a huge cat. Each have their own litter box and litter preferences but I’m transitioning to pellets mixed with their regular litter and then will fully transition to pine pellets and this DIY box. ! Thanks for the instructions!
This is probably the best DIY wood pellet litter box/sifter solution I've seen. Thanks! ** Edit - Update ** I built this using a couple Hefty bins that I picked up at Lowes. If you get little burrs in the holes like I did, you can easily scrape them with a razor blade or paint scraper. I started with hardwood pellets (heating stove type), but they do not break down as easily (my cat is high output, if you get my drift). I am going to switch to the TSC pine suggested by @smaerd66, which I expect will work better. Even with the hardwood pellets, this was a huge improvement for a cat with litter box 'issues'. No accidents, happy cat and happy cat dad.
I made a box like this. Got the boxes from Walmart. I like that you don't need anything to raise the top box. I found that 3/8" recommended by another UA-camr didn't work as well, so had to go up to 1/4" holes like you recommend. I use a dedicated tongs once a day, it's so easy to get the messes out, great idea! I put them in a little container and every few days take them to an outdoor pet waste composter I saw built on YT. I stir the pellets every day or 2 for a minute so the sawdust goes through the holes more fully. The sawdust (with no solid waste) goes into the big compost pile. So far it has worked very well (about 3 weeks now). So glad I learned about this--so much cheaper, no odor other than a very faint pine smell sometimes. I don't use an absorbent pad or a garbage bag because I'm aiming for zero waste cat box system. Can wash the bottom box anytime as desired.
Thanks for sharing... this has been the easiest DYI sifting litter box I’ve seen and the boxes you use even better... I don’t have to think about getting 2 different boxes, 2 boxes of the same size with the handles makes this project just so much easier. Thanks a bunch
Brilliant idea, thanks so much for this! I used 2 different sizes of the Sterilite Latch & Carry totes, a 12 gallon nested in an 18 gallon, to allow a bigger gap between boxes. This provides a roomier box about the same height as a top entry litter box, although it may not be strong enough for large cats. My fur babies are small to medium sized and this box is perfect for them. Also, they handled the litter change from clumping to pellets like it was nothing.
I have been looking far and wide for a large litter box that would meet the pine sifting needs. This is perfect. Hubby and I will be running out tomorrow to purchase the supplies to do this. Have posted this video to some of the cat groups to which I belong. Thank you, so much!
I bought this system, it works great! They also recommend putting puppy training pads in the bottom of the second container to absorb the pee even better. Now I am smell free and no more walking in clay litter that gets on the floor.👍
Just got back from Walmart and have already drilled the holes! Thank you so very much for this trick. I just converted to pellets this passed week but was not impressed with the labor it would take. This makes it very convenient and simple.. My only mistake was picking up the wrong lids so they are going back :)
Great video! Very helpful. I'd given up on using pellets for litter as separating used from unused took forever. This solution solves it perfectly! I used restaurant bussing trays (for carrying dirty dishes,) which are nearly the same size (20Lx15.5Wx7deep inches.) And give a good gap between when stacked. They also have built in handles. The plastic is very sturdy, for hard use and when pierced with inch gap between holes, keep their structure. You can buy them online for $3-$4 apiece, but they don't have a top. Thanks again for a great tutorial!
This vid is right to the point. Much cheaper and simpler than some of the Tidy Cat Breeze Box mods I've seen. Love the sturdy high tub. Thanx for the measurements. I subscribed to your channel because of this vid! Ya got some great ideas!
I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time but I couldn’t find the right containers. I finally found them at Biglots for $7.00 a piece. I love it and I think my kitties are happy too. It’s hard to believe that there are no litter boxes for sale except for the Breeze. I did get one, but returned it. I’ve used the Arm and Hammer sifting box for a long time, but there’s no room between the boxes for the litter to go down. I had to put something to create room between the two. This worked out perfectly and it’s very large.
Thank you so much for the video. I just bought the plastic containers at big lots $7.99 each and saw a comment with the idea of making the holes with a welder iron and I’m getting right now at Home Depot. Awesome idea thank you very much 👏👏👏👏👏👏my cat Lunatic thank you too
Thanks for this! I watched this video like 100x. I try to implement same pattern along the bottoms of a large, top-entry, Amazon Basics litter box I found just a few days ago. My big cats LOVE the roomy spaciousness of the drop-top tub-like box. However, I do want to make the switch to the pine pellets. I will be studying this video for a few more days and try to make my own version of a top-entry, XXL box. Thank you so much for all of your work and information! Very informative video. And easy to understand.
@@melodyclark4347 we did one box and the only issue we ran into was the holes not being quite big enough in the top box, so the disintegrated pellets wouldn't shake through to the bottom box... The pellets are 1/4" diameter, so I drilled the holes just slightly smaller - that turned out to be a mistake, so I have had to go back & widen the holes. It completely eliminates the urine smell! And, a single 40lb bag($6 at our local farm supply) has lasted all month for one box. We have 3 litter boxes and usually go thru five 40lb boxes of scoopable clay litter a month @ $15 each! This is sooooo much cheaper! Now we just need to switch the other 2 boxes. A few of our cats still don't know what to think about the wood pellets...
Have you had trouble with knats/flies in your boxes/home ? Especially since it's summer ! Does anyone know of something I can use in the boxes to deter them? I change or scoop mine sometimes twice daily! Very annoying and I've tried all kinds of sprays and baking soda .
Thank you! This project worked out perfectly for the pine pellet litter. Easy and cost effective to make. Used the size and depth of boxes that work best for my persnickety kitty!
Thank you so much!!! We are just starting the process of switching to kiln dried pine pellets from clay. (Way too much dust!) If any of you have a crazy kicking cat, I just found a larger container at Walmart. The dimensions are 32 x 19 x 13 in. I am buying 2 of those for our messy boy. Again, Thank you so much!!!
I used my soldering iron instead of the drill. I ran out of arm strength. The soldering iron also melted the excess so I didn’t have to scrap off the shredded plastic from the drill. And the plastic stopped cracking. Fast and easy.
I did the same thing a few years ago using a heavy steel mesh with about 1/2" openings for use with clumping litter. When it is time to clean the box I place the one with the mesh inside of an empty litter box and slowly dump the contents of the full box onto the mesh. Then when I lift the box with the mesh all of the clean litter is left in the bottom box and the waste is on the mesh which I bump into a bag lined trash can. The mesh has held up for years since it only filters out waste that has already been clumped my the litter.
I had been thinking about how I could diy a sifter tray when this popped up. Perfect!! Thank you. Very nicely demonstrated. I even have a stepdown bit which has never been used because I didn't know how to use it. So thanks for that bit of info too. 😊
If anyone doesn't want to drill or solder iron all those holes. There is another way to achieve the same results. Take a circular saw or jig saw & cut vertical slots the length of the top pan tray. Just make sure you space them out so you don't loose strength in the floor of top pan tray. Those will act like a filter screen also. Good luck. Rick
Exactly to what I am looking for! Thought of getting 1 plastic net tray and 1 tray in same size...But ur video solved my problem!! I needed 3 big litter tray like this
@Karl Shrimpbubblegum Tractor Supply sells a 40 lb. Bag of Horse Bedding Pine Pellets, it's exactly the same as what Feline Pine is, the 40 lb. Bag is about 5.99 each.
@Karl Shrimpbubblegum ....I forgot to mention....I just posted a comment to the video, hope this all helps, it's been a life saver for me. Good Luck !!
I love how u did a d.i.y version of this litter box. I bought different types of litter boxes in order to do this myself some time ago, works beautifully, I love it. I use a large disposable puppy pad laying on top of the bottom tray so that when the dust falls through the holes it goes on the pads, making easy cleaning. This d.i.y is just genius, thanks for posting!!!
Not to harp, but those pads are sooo horrible for the environment. Instead, do a search on Amazon for Biodegradable Trash Bags and use those instead, even if you have to just lay a large one down flat like a puppy pad. They are made of corn and they eventually biodegrade, unlike those puppy pads which will still be around for 1000 years.....Probably cost you less too...
Or, you know, wipe it out with a damp sponge. It's just slightly smelly sawdust. The urine partially evaporates as the pellets get moved around & they are exposed to the air, so the sawdust is pretty dry if you change it out regularly.
I made one of these and it is awsome.My containers have spacers built in so they dont get tight with the weight.I used a cooking tray from the oven and sat it on the container to get a even spacing.I have a small bin which i sit beside it and put the solids in there and simply shake the litterbox to get the sawdust into the bottom.I have a petsafe ultra scoopfree litter box which is still in its box and that is where it has been for a year.This method is cheap and easy and well worth the time to make.
Great video! I just ordered two sifting pans on Amazon, in my sincerest desire to reform my 14 yo boy from going outside of the box. Yes, I’ve had him to the vet. I love pine pellets, and I have several years of using them. They are way better than clay.
Thank you. I bought a sifting litter system which was spendy. Was going to buy another for my cat's outdoor pen, but this will be much more economical. Thanks again.
Update Have had this for about 6 months and it’s working out great. I keep my box in my bathtub that I really don’t use. Makes clean up pretty easy. One of my cats still manages to poop over the sides but because it’s in the tub it’s easy to clean up. I guess she needs the height to be a little taller.
I also set litter boxes in my bathtub that isn't used. I put duct tape over the drain. I had 6 40 gallon totes left from sorting through storage stuff. I drilled holes in 3. The height prevents overspray.
Great idea! I am going to put masking tape on the bottom before drilling the holes. Will leave the holes nice and clean and qon't have to keep going over them to smooth them out.
Thank you for making this video! I had been trying to dream up some sort of filter I could put into my existing litter box to sift, and it took seeing this to realize I should just get two new ones. Mine has to be out in a very visible hallway so I didn't want clear, and I also need high sides. I used two of the Frisco High Sided litter boxes in extra large from Chewy. To create the gap for the sawdust, I just placed 5 mini hexagonal 1.5 oz jars I had (no lids, upside down). Since they're glass they wash easily. One of my cats only uses a box by perching entirely on the side/corner and this setup is very sturdy. Every day I scoop and flush the poop, then push the pellets around in the box so the dust falls through. I remove the sawdust and dispose about once a week. Best of all, the pine pellets that would normally last me 1 week lasted 3 with some to spare, and the sawdust tracking/hitching a ride in my long hair's leg fur is virtually nonexistent now. Thanks again :)
Clever using the glass jars to lift the top bin up higher. I was going to use mini cans from a friend who buys pricey cat food or cut some pieces of PVC pipe as legs. I flush the poop in the toilet as well. I use cheap tongs (Dollar Store), hung on the back of the bin, to grab any poop whenever I'm nearby.
I've been looking into buying a sifting litter pan, but i was a little hesitant to pay for something that may not work. This is such a great and easy idea, plus, i love new projects!!! thanks so much!
Great video! I have recently adopted 2 kitties and use pine pellets, they are fantastic for litter the sifting is just a pain. This was super useful, going to make one this weekend!
Great video. I also did the one inch distance for 1/4 holes but for me not enough of the dust falls through. I end up doubling the amount of holes and works much better.
Plus you have two lids. Like you said place liter box on one and empty the bottom one... lol but forgot to say place the other lid on so you don’t smell it or wind throughs in your face. Lol great idea & I am doing it
For cats, you may have to incorporate some regular cat liter on top of the pellets to get them use to it. Mine was kinda hesitant to go use the box till I pour a little cat liter on top. Now she uses it without any problems.
I always reccomend putting a handful or 2 of used litter in your new litter box. When they have there smell in there they should begin to use it. If the texture is wierd to them do more old than new and slowly change over. Good luck. Rick
True, if you have adult cats who've always used clay litter, getting them to adapt can be a process. I recommend doing one box completely, then transferring the rest of the boxes gradually, taking about 2 cups of clay litter and sawdust out each night and replacing it with a cup of pellets. Eventually, the clay litter is mostly replaced with pellets (within a week or two) and you can clean the clay out of the box completely. That was 5 of my clowder. I had one brave cat who immediately started using the pellets. Surprisingly enough, he was the oldest. Go figure.
Bev M Thank you so much for the suggestion . I am in the process right now switching to the pine pellets .I have two Adults cats one of them seems to take to the pellets . The other cat went poop but he kicked his poop out onto the floor only time will tell but I’m not going to give up. I filled the cat litter box with 2 inches of pine pellets and I did a top layer of their old litter about an inch thick. I’m going to try your way instead thank you for the suggestion.
I used the boxes nesting that you showed I drilled the holes too small the first go round now going back and opening every other one up a little more. The pellet can be pushed through but so far in a week none has dropped through in my twice daily scratching around process to get the sawdust to go down. One thing I did do and it is working so much better for me is to flip the top box handles over to create more space between the boxes for the sawdust to fall into This made my life so much easier. The top box now shifts/rocks a little bit but the kitties are used to the boxes and the slight rocking does not seem to bother them Not finding any messes about. If I can find some thing or things to set between them to stableize the top box I will post it here. I know more to clean but it would make me feel better. LOVING this pine pellet system and with 5 kitties even cleaning boxes twice a day the clay did smell once in awhile Now I do not smell and pee smell.
I too wanted to have at least 3 inches of space for the sawdust. What if you bought THREE of the containers and drilled holes in the top one, but completely cut the bottom out of the middle one? You'd basically have the outer walls of the second container only, which would raise your top pan double the height from the bottom pan???? When emptying, you'd grab both the 1st and 2nd pan together to pull them out of the 3rd pan. Maybe even glue the 1st and 2nd pan together. (dang, college has finally paid off!!!).
Easy fix....Go to your Big Box Store & get some PVC Pipe. Anything from 2" to 4" about 12" of it. They have small sections you might have to buy it in 4'. Cut sleeves to the length you want your box to sit up or stop sagging if it is an issue. Good luck, Rick
SO far all is good once I flipped the handles. I am so thankful for your video on this as with 5 kitties in the house this is saving me so much $$$ to use the pine pellets. I also love I can dump the sawdust part in my flower beds. There has been no odor from it. Seems to dry up and any pee smell goes away with sunshine. So much less for me to have to haul to the dump. Not to mention the pellets go so much further than the clay litter. I will add the legs if they sag too much One of my kittens is getting to be a big boy.
Just completed this diy project, I got my containers from Target. They are HEFTY brand and are 40 quart, with 7.8 inches in height. Put the new set up next to their old litter box, so far no takers. They continue to use the old one 😕 going to try putting some more old litter in the new one. Wish me lucky🤞🏻
I made a set a long time ago. But I got two of a size that gave me about three inches space between. Also, I found I needed more holes to make the sifting work better. And I used a soldering iron to make my holes. 🙂
ZeroR2 Well, I used a Main Stays 64qt. latching tote for the bottom (16.25 x 23.5 x 13.5). And a Main Stays 50qt. clear tote for the top (16.13 x 23.5 x 10.77). Got both at Walmart. I like that extra space between the two bottoms. Take care...🙂
@@susanpratt4061 Thank you for responding. Today I went to Lowes, Home Depot, Target and Walmart and did some research. The best for me was from Walmart. It is a Sterilite 25 qt (24.38 x 15.12 x 6.12 Inches). It has a little over 2 inches of clearance (for dust) and lower profile. Stacking the two on top of each other is a bit under 8" (little more than standard litter box) and has nice handles. Really appreciate your response. Thanks.
Stickee Bee Garden Yes, high enough for now. Because one of my cats; Smudge tends to be that way too. But he doesn't use it yet. My other cat; Mudslide does use it and she didn't even hesitate. I love it and am trying to figure how to get Smudge to use it too. Not sure how. 🤔 If and when that happens, I will see then if I will need to make any side taller for him. But I think it will be fine as it is. 🙂
Saved me a fortune on buying a shifting litter box and it's twice the size as the ones they sell on store. Well worth the extra effort and way more affective all round, great job thanks your channel is awsome! Keep up the good work xx
This is great!! Thanks for doing this video! I have the smaller commercial one, and use the pellets from Tractor Supply for my 2 cats, but I'll be turning into a "cat lady" in the near future so need a couple of these around! 😻
U know what. I did exactly like that yesterday but using sand. And ur vid came out today. What a day. I was looking for this kind of video for many weeks but couldnt search. Today it is just pops up. Hehe.
This man's a flippin genius! I also recently got hip to the scam of buying pet supplies at pet stores. Cat stuff is somehow even more expensive than dog supplies despite being smaller! I'll be picking up some plastic tubs immediately. Even if someone can't find those particular stacking tubs they can get 2 that fit within one another and put some 1-1.5 inch spacers made from (see below for better suggestions) glued to the bottom tub to keep the top tub lifted up some. Thanks, smaerd!
Appreciate the Love. As for spacers you need to make them out of something that can be washed off. I would avoid wood in my opinion. Maybe some PVC pipe or other small plastic containers flipped upside down. 👍🤞😉
I wish I would have found this video before we made ours!! Our current set up is the same as yours, but our holes aren’t as well done and clog up everytime we shake it. Going to grab a new box and try again!
This has been something I've thought of doing but was having trouble finding bins that would give me that nice gap at the bottom - now I know what to look for!
Sharon Murray Like any box we can't just walk away from it for a week & not expect a mess. I check it everyday remove solid waste put it in my Genie. Give the box a thorough shaking and were good to go. Let me know how it works. Rick
@@DiyRick66 I use tongs (plastic ones from the dollar store!) to pick out the poop. Poo can be flushed in the toilet, so whenever *I* go, I grab any poo that's in the litter box & drop it in the toilet before I flush. One flush--my pee, their poo.
There's a woman on UA-cam with a set up kind of like this. The one thing extra she uses is a puppy pad lining her bottom box to absorb any extra urine. This is the 1st video of yours I've watched so I'm not sure what you're using but it looks line the kiln dried pine pelleted horse bedding. This is great content! Thanks 😁
I know the video you're talking about. I used that system. However, the pee pad didn't really absorb that well, it needed changing almost every 2 or 3 days. The only thing I didn't like about these pine pellets is that it doesn't clump. It's great for #1, not #2s.
If you have a healthy cat, yes, it's not a big deal. However, my cat started having loose stools and it made it difficult to clean and I had to switch litter and boxes. @@whitney6641
Hi She uses the puppy pad lining to lift the urine soaked sawdust out of the bottom tray to bag it. She gets the pellets for horse bedding in 40 kg. bags MUCH cheaper than the ones for cats, same product! That makes the puppy pads still economical, and more hygenic to handle . Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua.
I think I saw the same video. Maybe. Puppy pads have a layer of plastic. That's probably why some people don't use them - they want to avoid using single use plastic. Or they don't want the extra expense. One reason I'm intrested in switching to wood pellets is because it's more environmentally friendly AND cheaper. Wondering if there are pellets that come in cardboard or small bulk quantities so I could use my own container. I'm gonna stop now before I really end up on a soapbox about the topic.
This is such an amazing idea and when it works it's great! I tried to very slowly introduce my two cats to the new box and then still put litter on top of the pellets for a week to make sure they were adjusting well. The cats were holding themselves for long periods of time to only use their box when they absolutely had to, sadly one started peeing blood. After a couple expensive vet bills we found out she didn't have an infection which was good but her bladder was inflamed from continually holding out. She was an anti inflammatories for a few days and box is back to clumping. Sadly it didn't work for us
Sometimes I have heard stories like these. You can tryout 2 boxes 1 with pellets & 2 with clumping etc. 1 cat might use 2 the other use the old box then eventually watching the other cat maybe use pellet. But sometimes some cat have sensitive paws & they don't like the texture & feel of the pellets. They have to stay with the softer sand feeling. You definitely don't want to have your cat holding it back. Stresses them out and health issues can arise plust accidents outside the box. Sorry it didn't work for you & Good luck. I was thinking about looking at crystal type litters & figuring a way to clean & reuse them. Maybe another project another day. 🤔
@@DiyRick66 Thanks :) I did try the two boxes together for some time and then went to a mix of both with the clumping on top. I told my cat she was a Diva!! I was a little disappointed it didn't work for me as there was literally no smell and easy clean up with the pellets! All the best
You could also combine this idea with the diy top entry cat litter box to combat litter being scattered all over the floor. You would just need bigger totes and a hole in the lid. Also I just watched a vid where a lady suggested buying pellets for a wood burning stove or equine pellet bedding. she claims its the same stuff just must cheaper.
I have suggested the same on my other Videos for pellets. Just make sure they are kiln dried to dry up the pine oils that are reported to be unsafe for animals.
@@DiyRick66 i had found the idea recently but your system is what we are trying to replicate with the containers :) bigger and better than the advertised litter boxes !
Great video! I am convinced this is a better way to go! I"m a cat rescuer, so kitty litter is a BIG issue! BTW, Acetone will remove paint from painted windows with a paint scraper. Takes minutes to remove from a whole window!
Thank you so much for making this video!!!! I sent the link to this video to my dad. He's fed up with clay litter, so I'm trying to convert him into using pine litter! His cat is so big, he'll probably need to make his own.
Dude!!! this is so clever and helpful. I was going to purchase the breeze boxes but with 7 cats, and I already use the same box you displayed, but bigger....i am half way there. Thank you for this video. Cheers. Kelley
I have an English Lop rabbit and I've been looking for something like this for a while now for her. So I think I'll give this a try and see how it goes.
just the fact that this guy drilled a thousand holes in plastic for his cat is a well earned like!
And that he took the time to clean off the ink marks on a project that is going to be covered in cat litter and crapped on is impressive craftsmanship :-)
@@mddrudge ......Shows he takes Pride in his work.....No matter What it is !!
More like about 160 holes (16x10)
@@ericcsuf It's my humor not actual numbers. 😁
@@sheilabaker7599 Appreciate the Love. I'm a retired union craftsman. 😁
If you're feeling overwhelmed about making this, the good news is that it's only about 256 holes, not 1,000 holes. :)
LOL. Guess I over exaggerated. 😉 Good luck.
Who's anal?
Or no drilling needed at all. Watch this lady's solution instead. ua-cam.com/video/HGhQc-B3euM/v-deo.html
@@TimeIdle I saw this one and its very good
LOL 🤣😆🤣😆🤣
First off....I want to say...THANK YOU !!....This has been such a life saver. I'm in my 60s, disabled, on a limited income and have 2 indoor cats. I was spending a Crazy amount of money on cat litter each month. It's been about a year since I first caught your video and right away went to get all of the items. My Son drilled the holes for me and I was SO EXCITED, I Almost danced a jig. The litter is MIND BLOWING.....Tractor Supply has the 40 lb. Bag for about 6.00, were anywhere else you're paying that for maybe a 12 lb. Cleaning only takes me maybe 5 minutes and the Only Time there's a smell is Sometimes when my big boy goes number 2 which l take care of right away. I wish I could reach through the video and give you a Huge Hug. Again...THANKS SO MUCH !! GOD BLESS !!
Oh, I am so happy this worked for you. Big hugs back at you & God Bless. People don't realize how much time & effort goes into these builds & making videos & in my case tons of edits. Especially since I also have disabilities which makes is much harder with not that much monetary reward. It is nice to get positive feedback. Thanks
This was my experience as well. I now have a zero waste cat box system, and so economical.
Ive made 4 of these boxes ( i have 3 kittys ) I use 4 empty cans in the bottom to raise up the top container 1 in each corner ohh yeah allso put a carbon puppy pad under the empty cans!!! I have saved alot in the long run!!!
Great tip!
What kinds of cans are you using so they don't block the holes too much? I need to prop mine up so I have more sawdust space.
@@lookingood364my husband used pvc caps glued to the bottom container to raise it up
You instantly gave us all a 50x better option than any pet store can even offer. I refuse to fall into any more “pet-supplies” scams. Keep making more videos if you get more great, simple, and cost effective, solutions or ideas, in place of expensive pet products. Thank you!😸
I used a Main Stays 64 qt. latching tote for the bottom (16.25 x 23.5 x 13.5). Then added a Main Stays 50 qt. clear tote (16.13 x 23.5 x 10.77) for the top. Got both at Walmart. 🙂
I made one of these yesterday using a wood burning tool (outside due to smell) but was able to do quickly with no chance of cracking box. Super easy, thanks for giving me the sterilite container & pellet idea!
Thanks for watching. You are very welcome. Good luck. 👍🤞
A better alternative to acetone on the plastic to remove sharpie is rubbing alcohol. You have to be careful with acetone on plastic because it can melt the plastic, it does not react well with plastic. Sharpies are alcohol based markers so rubbing alcohol is safer on the plastic and works just as well!
The cat litter industry is such a rip-off I'm doing this tomorrow
I'm right there with you Robert
A lot of industries are rip-offs lol They just want our money. It's smart to do research and try to find many options when buying anything. Often, the best (and cheaper!) products are less-known to most people. Less advertising, I guess lol *rolls eyes*
Robert Byerly ya I’m going to set this up for my cat and get the kiln pine pellets from tractor supply 40 lbs for $5 . WAY cheaper than reg litter
Lisa Malcolm I’ve been doing that for years Lisa. So much healthier and cheaper for my cats.
Where I'm from a 130 Liter bag -(20 Kg) costs as little as 3 dollars
Watching this in 2024: still super duper helpful! Thanks so much for making this video.
@@v4756nb1rs appreciate it & good luck 🤞👍
I have fifteen cats all rescues..had invested in four large sifting boxes and several Modcat boxes. The sifter holes were too big, and the modcat boxes were too heavy duty to drill. So,I bought some hardware cloth,cut it to fit the sifters,taped it inside with duct tape..I sit the sifter on top od a fairly tall bin…scoop the poop, then dump the box in the sifter,push it around and shake..then empty the good stuff back in the litter box. The modcat boxes are very smooth,nothing sticks to them,and the have nice handles on the sides. So,if you have already put a lot of money into litter boxes,you can modify them and not have to drill holes or buy new boxes! Ps..the tall bin really saves your back…
I have a sifting box I built on my channel. Glad you found something that works for you. 👍🤞
I finally figured out a way to stop the cat urine from corroding the bottom of the plastic container. I would have to scrape the bottom and the ends with a razor blade, but now I spray the bottom with cooking spray and that solved it. Yay
👍🤞
We made our first sifting box yesterday, and plan to make another soon. What a difference the larger holes make! Our Feline Pine system works well too, but has tiny holes and requires more vigorous stirring throughout the day. Two Sterilite tubs cost $15 at Target. 40 lbs of kiln-dried pine pellets cost $8.50 at a horse supply store. I dump our pine litter in the green bin, so no plastic bags needed. Clean and simple! Thank you so much, Rick!
I can’t explain my gratitude toward you for making this video 😭 I have lots of cats and I’m sick and tired of cleaning clay litter out of every nook and cranny my tiles. This is awesome!!!
Love the pellets. When they need to be changed I put the pellet-sawdust in my flower garden as mulch. 2 for 1.
It will also keep other animals away because they smell your cats sent. 3 for 1 😉
Just made one and I am so unskilled but it was simple. I followed exactly what was done. Bought the sterlites and step bit (truly the best tip!) made holes and then went through them again on the other side. Dumped in my dirty litter and oh my word I wish I had been using this method for my wood pellets YEARS ago!! Time saver!! Thank you!!!!
❤🤞
Do the wood pellets take care of the smell?
yes, if you sift regularly, the sawdust takes away the urine smell with it. Many cats (mine included) won't bury solids well (or at all) so you've really got to stay on top of that. I like to scoop sawdust onto the poo (if there is any) before scooping which encapsulates the stink.
Love this simple idea. I bought much larger sterilite containers because one of our boys refuses to squat, lol. They are about 32x19x13 ish. I was just batch sifting with a scooper in a normal sterilite bin after we stopped using the hooded breeze box because of him causing pee issues.
Hopefully it works for you. 🤞👍
I love the drill tip tip! It's funny that I made one like this about one year ago after watered another vedio about altering breeze box and I've been loving it! You can go as big as you want so your cats would have a superior bathroom experience! I did add pvc tube legs on the bottom to give it more room and better support, that doesn't effect the falling-through. Also I use dog training pad on the bottom box to catch urine, that makes it a litter easier to clean, too!
I have just made one of these as per your directions. I have been using the wood pellets for litter for a while now, and would spend up to 10 minutes scooping out the pellets in portions and shaking them through another scoop to filter out the sawdust, wrapping the sawdust in newspaper and placing the packet in the garbage. Merely shaking the tray so the sawdust falls through the holes is such a great way to do it. I love that there is no cat urine smell using this litter and that the wood pellets are so much cheaper than regular cat litter.
Great.....I am glad it works for you. Congratulations & good luck. 🤞
I bought same pans at Target for $14 two of them. I paid $6 for 40 lbs equine (horse) wood pellets NO HARSH CHEMICALS- just pine.
Cats use it!!! YAY!!
Love the idea of using plastic storage boxes. I have really big cats and most traditional litter boxes are much too small. 👍
This is BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!! We currently use shop bought sieve litter trays and we have seven trays as we have six indoor cats. BUT we have fairly large cats and even the largest trays I can buy still allow for pee accidents over the side. So your DIY version is going to be a very worthwhile investment despite the time it will take. Now we can buy whatever large size trays we want and turn them into deluxe sieve trays for our large cats. THANK YOU!!!!
This is genius! I used this litter in the past and my house was covered in wood dust, BUT I didn't have the sifting pan, thank you for sharing! The pan is the secret!👍🐈
I just switched to pine pellets this week and the smell difference is amazing! I used to use the non clumping ones and whenever my cat use the litter box and start pawing it to cover her pee or poop, you would smell it and it stinks. With the pine pellets, it doesnt stink when she cover or pee or poop.
Great video. I have the same thing using some Sterlite boxes. Rubbing alcohol removes permanent marker, and likely safer than acetone. Just a word of caution with Pine pellets...they are not created equal. Phenol in pine and some other woods is very toxic to cats. To minimize the phenol, the recommendation is to ensure that pine pellets used in litter are not treated with any chemicals and are KILN DRIED. Word of caution #2. Some claim that kiln drying is not sufficient to remove phenols as it only heats to under 100 degrees, and to remove phenol, much higher heat is required. Essentially, if you can smell "the pine smell", you are smelling phenols present in the wood. That said, if you are going to use pine, recommend finding Kiln Dried as the safer alternative. I personally use HARDWOOD pellets and avoid the controversy altogether. They breakdown just like pine when they get wet.
where do you get hardwood pellets?
@@stephanieveglia7381look for wood fuel pellets. I buy mine at Tractor Supply
Way to go, Smaerd66!! I am making this day after tomorrow, when I get the right step-down bit. The Arm and Hammer sifting litter that I have for my light-weight male cat, does not have enough space between the 2 boxes. (DO NOT BUY THE ARM AND HAMMER, ALTHOUGH IT IS CHEAP).It is a design error.
I have been keeping tall bottle caps in there that I got off some drinks that I buy, to make sure the sifter box and lower level box, leave any room for the damp, used saw dust and that they don’t actually stick together. What fun that would be. This video and this guy, are worth their weight in gold. Thanks a million!
Just made mine today! Love it 1000 times more than two sifting litterboxes I bought in the store.
Thanks for your demonstration. I did exactly what you did and my litterbox turn out perfect. I have long and tall cats and the Breeze litterbox was too small for them. Most sifting litterboxes holes are too big for pellet litter and I tried several of them before I succumb to making my own. It was very tedious but well worth it and my cats are happy with their new litterbox.
Congratulations on your build. Hope you and your kitties love it. 😉
I went to a restaurant supply store and picked up2 deep table cleaning tubs. You may of seen waitresses or waiters use them when they clean off tables. They are real cheap and are made so well that I have found them to out last the life of the cat. Hopefully you will give them a try one day. Thanks for the video
🤞👍
I love this. The standard sifting boxes are not crazy unaffordable and work out of
The box... but for those bigger kitties the ready made boxes may be too small. I have tiny, medium and a huge cat. Each have their own litter box and litter preferences but I’m transitioning to pellets mixed with their regular litter and then will fully transition to pine pellets and this DIY box. ! Thanks for the instructions!
Good luck.
This is probably the best DIY wood pellet litter box/sifter solution I've seen. Thanks!
** Edit - Update **
I built this using a couple Hefty bins that I picked up at Lowes. If you get little burrs in the holes like I did, you can easily scrape them with a razor blade or paint scraper. I started with hardwood pellets (heating stove type), but they do not break down as easily (my cat is high output, if you get my drift). I am going to switch to the TSC pine suggested by @smaerd66, which I expect will work better. Even with the hardwood pellets, this was a huge improvement for a cat with litter box 'issues'. No accidents, happy cat and happy cat dad.
Appreciate the Like. 👍
I made a box like this. Got the boxes from Walmart. I like that you don't need anything to raise the top box. I found that 3/8" recommended by another UA-camr didn't work as well, so had to go up to 1/4" holes like you recommend. I use a dedicated tongs once a day, it's so easy to get the messes out, great idea! I put them in a little container and every few days take them to an outdoor pet waste composter I saw built on YT. I stir the pellets every day or 2 for a minute so the sawdust goes through the holes more fully. The sawdust (with no solid waste) goes into the big compost pile. So far it has worked very well (about 3 weeks now). So glad I learned about this--so much cheaper, no odor other than a very faint pine smell sometimes. I don't use an absorbent pad or a garbage bag because I'm aiming for zero waste cat box system. Can wash the bottom box anytime as desired.
Thanks for sharing... this has been the easiest DYI sifting litter box I’ve seen and the boxes you use even better... I don’t have to think about getting 2 different boxes, 2 boxes of the same size with the handles makes this project just so much easier.
Thanks a bunch
Brilliant idea, thanks so much for this! I used 2 different sizes of the Sterilite Latch & Carry totes, a 12 gallon nested in an 18 gallon, to allow a bigger gap between boxes. This provides a roomier box about the same height as a top entry litter box, although it may not be strong enough for large cats. My fur babies are small to medium sized and this box is perfect for them. Also, they handled the litter change from clumping to pellets like it was nothing.
I have been looking far and wide for a large litter box that would meet the pine sifting needs. This is perfect. Hubby and I will be running out tomorrow to purchase the supplies to do this. Have posted this video to some of the cat groups to which I belong. Thank you, so much!
I bought this system, it works great! They also recommend putting puppy training pads in the bottom of the second container to absorb the pee even better.
Now I am smell free and no more walking in clay litter that gets on the floor.👍
Just got back from Walmart and have already drilled the holes! Thank you so very much for this trick. I just converted to pellets this passed week but was not impressed with the labor it would take. This makes it very convenient and simple.. My only mistake was picking up the wrong lids so they are going back :)
Great DIY project... I just used a 220 grit sanding block to smooth out the extra plastic from the holes.... great idea thanks for the video!
Thanks & good luck 🤞
Great video! Very helpful.
I'd given up on using pellets for litter as separating used from unused took forever.
This solution solves it perfectly! I used restaurant bussing trays (for carrying dirty dishes,) which are nearly the same size (20Lx15.5Wx7deep inches.) And give a good gap between when stacked. They also have built in handles. The plastic is very sturdy, for hard use and when pierced with inch gap between holes, keep their structure. You can buy them online for $3-$4 apiece, but they don't have a top.
Thanks again for a great tutorial!
Awesome.... glad it worked out for you. 👍
How much headroom is there between the two boxes you used?
Just checked...they sell the lid separately for $4 so still worth it.
This vid is right to the point. Much cheaper and simpler than some of the Tidy Cat Breeze Box mods I've seen. Love the sturdy high tub. Thanx for the measurements. I subscribed to your channel because of this vid! Ya got some great ideas!
I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time but I couldn’t find the right containers. I finally found them at Biglots for $7.00 a piece. I love it and I think my kitties are happy too. It’s hard to believe that there are no litter boxes for sale except for the Breeze. I did get one, but returned it. I’ve used the Arm and Hammer sifting box for a long time, but there’s no room between the boxes for the litter to go down. I had to put something to create room between the two. This worked out perfectly and it’s very large.
Thank you so much for the video. I just bought the plastic containers at big lots $7.99 each and saw a comment with the idea of making the holes with a welder iron and I’m getting right now at Home Depot. Awesome idea thank you very much 👏👏👏👏👏👏my cat Lunatic thank you too
Does a welder iron punch holes through the plastic? thank you
Louise F. Yes! And it make perfect holes.
@@alistasia thank you! I got two similar containers at Target today!
Thanks for this! I watched this video like 100x. I try to implement same pattern along the bottoms of a large, top-entry, Amazon Basics litter box I found just a few days ago. My big cats LOVE the roomy spaciousness of the drop-top tub-like box. However, I do want to make the switch to the pine pellets. I will be studying this video for a few more days and try to make my own version of a top-entry, XXL box. Thank you so much for all of your work and information! Very informative video. And easy to understand.
We are sooooooooooo doing this!! We have 10 cats(!) & spend a fortune on the normal scoopable clay litter...
I only have two, but if I can find an easier way to do litter I might just adopt more!
Fishing, gaming and guitars
LOL I have 21 at present. Heading to my local farm store in the a.m. 😃
@@melodyclark4347 we did one box and the only issue we ran into was the holes not being quite big enough in the top box, so the disintegrated pellets wouldn't shake through to the bottom box... The pellets are 1/4" diameter, so I drilled the holes just slightly smaller - that turned out to be a mistake, so I have had to go back & widen the holes. It completely eliminates the urine smell! And, a single 40lb bag($6 at our local farm supply) has lasted all month for one box. We have 3 litter boxes and usually go thru five 40lb boxes of scoopable clay litter a month @ $15 each! This is sooooo much cheaper! Now we just need to switch the other 2 boxes. A few of our cats still don't know what to think about the wood pellets...
@@TonyHookedonVanlife
Thanks for the feedback. 😊
Have you had trouble with knats/flies in your boxes/home ? Especially since it's summer ! Does anyone know of something I can use in the boxes to deter them? I change or scoop mine sometimes twice daily! Very annoying and I've tried all kinds of sprays and baking soda .
Thank you! This project worked out perfectly for the pine pellet litter. Easy and cost effective to make. Used the size and depth of boxes that work best for my persnickety kitty!
Glad it helped!
Thank you so much!!! We are just starting the process of switching to kiln dried pine pellets from clay. (Way too much dust!) If any of you have a crazy kicking cat, I just found a larger container at Walmart. The dimensions are 32 x 19 x 13 in. I am buying 2 of those for our messy boy. Again, Thank you so much!!!
Good luck 🤞👍
Thank you. I made my sifter today. I knew there must be a way but couldn't figure it out. Your video was an eureka moment. 😁😁😁
Not only have Yu convinced me to switch Litter (from clay), but You'r also cute and huggable.😉🐱🐱 thanks
Thank you & good luck. 👍🤞
I just cut out the bottom and replaced it with a rigid screen material.
Is it made of metal? Any corrosion issues? How did you attach the screen to the bottom container?
Thanks!
I would like to know too!
I used my soldering iron instead of the drill. I ran out of arm strength. The soldering iron also melted the excess so I didn’t have to scrap off the shredded plastic from the drill. And the plastic stopped cracking. Fast and easy.
I did the same thing a few years ago using a heavy steel mesh with about 1/2" openings for use with clumping litter. When it is time to clean the box I place the one with the mesh inside of an empty litter box and slowly dump the contents of the full box onto the mesh. Then when I lift the box with the mesh all of the clean litter is left in the bottom box and the waste is on the mesh which I bump into a bag lined trash can. The mesh has held up for years since it only filters out waste that has already been clumped my the litter.
Do the cat’s claws get stuck in the screen?
I had been thinking about how I could diy a sifter tray when this popped up. Perfect!! Thank you. Very nicely demonstrated. I even have a stepdown bit which has never been used because I didn't know how to use it. So thanks for that bit of info too. 😊
If anyone doesn't want to drill or solder iron all those holes. There is another way to achieve the same results. Take a circular saw or jig saw & cut vertical slots the length of the top pan tray. Just make sure you space them out so you don't loose strength in the floor of top pan tray. Those will act like a filter screen also. Good luck. Rick
are you from Pittsburgh?
Exactly to what I am looking for! Thought of getting 1 plastic net tray and 1 tray in same size...But ur video solved my problem!! I needed 3 big litter tray like this
@@zonermom Delaware. Thanks
@Karl Shrimpbubblegum Tractor Supply sells a 40 lb. Bag of Horse Bedding Pine Pellets, it's exactly the same as what Feline Pine is, the 40 lb. Bag is about 5.99 each.
@Karl Shrimpbubblegum ....I forgot to mention....I just posted a comment to the video, hope this all helps, it's been a life saver for me. Good Luck !!
What a brilliant idea! I feel like I waste too much litter and this seems like a more environmentally friendly way to do it.
Sophie Gunes Just put enough pellets in to cover bottom. As they break down add some more. Thanks. Rick
I love how u did a d.i.y version of this litter box.
I bought different types of litter boxes in order to do this myself some time ago, works beautifully, I love it.
I use a large disposable puppy pad laying on top of the bottom tray so that when the dust falls through the holes it goes on the pads, making easy cleaning.
This d.i.y is just genius, thanks for posting!!!
Not to harp, but those pads are sooo horrible for the environment. Instead, do a search on Amazon for Biodegradable Trash Bags and use those instead, even if you have to just lay a large one down flat like a puppy pad. They are made of corn and they eventually biodegrade, unlike those puppy pads which will still be around for 1000 years.....Probably cost you less too...
Or, you know, wipe it out with a damp sponge. It's just slightly smelly sawdust. The urine partially evaporates as the pellets get moved around & they are exposed to the air, so the sawdust is pretty dry if you change it out regularly.
I made one of these and it is awsome.My containers have spacers built in so they dont get tight with the weight.I used a cooking tray from the oven and sat it on the container to get a even spacing.I have a small bin which i sit beside it and put the solids in there and simply shake the litterbox to get the sawdust into the bottom.I have a petsafe ultra scoopfree litter box which is still in its box and that is where it has been for a year.This method is cheap and easy and well worth the time to make.
Great video! I just ordered two sifting pans on Amazon, in my sincerest desire to reform my 14 yo boy from going outside of the box. Yes, I’ve had him to the vet. I love pine pellets, and I have several years of using them. They are way better than clay.
Great idea
This guy’s awesome! A man who’s handy & likes cats? Will u marry me?
I use concrete mixing tubs for a litter box. They are only a few bucks at the hardware store. I can't wait to try to drill some holes.
I have used them in the past & also did a video on them. Good Luck.
Thank you. I bought a sifting litter system which was spendy. Was going to buy another for my cat's outdoor pen, but this will be much more economical. Thanks again.
This seems like a simple and effective approach to kittie litter.
Update
Have had this for about 6 months and it’s working out great. I keep my box in my bathtub that I really don’t use. Makes clean up pretty easy. One of my cats still manages to poop over the sides but because it’s in the tub it’s easy to clean up. I guess she needs the height to be a little taller.
Glad it works for you. 🤞
I also set litter boxes in my bathtub that isn't used. I put duct tape over the drain. I had 6 40 gallon totes left from sorting through storage stuff. I drilled holes in 3. The height prevents overspray.
Great idea! I am going to put masking tape on the bottom before drilling the holes. Will leave the holes nice and clean and qon't have to keep going over them to smooth them out.
Sounds great!
Thank you for making this video! I had been trying to dream up some sort of filter I could put into my existing litter box to sift, and it took seeing this to realize I should just get two new ones. Mine has to be out in a very visible hallway so I didn't want clear, and I also need high sides. I used two of the Frisco High Sided litter boxes in extra large from Chewy. To create the gap for the sawdust, I just placed 5 mini hexagonal 1.5 oz jars I had (no lids, upside down). Since they're glass they wash easily. One of my cats only uses a box by perching entirely on the side/corner and this setup is very sturdy. Every day I scoop and flush the poop, then push the pellets around in the box so the dust falls through. I remove the sawdust and dispose about once a week. Best of all, the pine pellets that would normally last me 1 week lasted 3 with some to spare, and the sawdust tracking/hitching a ride in my long hair's leg fur is virtually nonexistent now. Thanks again :)
Clever using the glass jars to lift the top bin up higher. I was going to use mini cans from a friend who buys pricey cat food or cut some pieces of PVC pipe as legs. I flush the poop in the toilet as well. I use cheap tongs (Dollar Store), hung on the back of the bin, to grab any poop whenever I'm nearby.
I made this for my big boy Symba!!! He's about 1 1/2 years old and almost 15 pounds. It is perfect for him. Thank you!!!
I've been looking into buying a sifting litter pan, but i was a little hesitant to pay for something that may not work. This is such a great and easy idea, plus, i love new projects!!! thanks so much!
Good luck 😉
I made the mistake of buying the breeze boxes for the pellets, big bummer, and not cheap...This is perfect...and very affordable...thanks
Just started using the pellets. I luv them How do I get a senior cat to use the pellets. One cat does the other is not?
Leo was meowing cause he was asking, where is my toilet? I need to take a dump jack! lol.
I love this, it beats the sifter pans the pet stores sale for a small forture.Thank you!!!
Great video! I have recently adopted 2 kitties and use pine pellets, they are fantastic for litter the sifting is just a pain. This was super useful, going to make one this weekend!
Great video. I also did the one inch distance for 1/4 holes but for me not enough of the dust falls through. I end up doubling the amount of holes and works much better.
Nice job. I hope it works out for you, Rick
WOW!!!!! I am so blown away by this. Can't wait to make one for our little fur babies. Thanks!!!!
Plus you have two lids. Like you said place liter box on one and empty the bottom one... lol but forgot to say place the other lid on so you don’t smell it or wind throughs in your face. Lol great idea & I am doing it
For cats, you may have to incorporate some regular cat liter on top of the pellets to get them use to it. Mine was kinda hesitant to go use the box till I pour a little cat liter on top. Now she uses it without any problems.
I always reccomend putting a handful or 2 of used litter in your new litter box. When they have there smell in there they should begin to use it. If the texture is wierd to them do more old than new and slowly change over. Good luck. Rick
My kittens took right to it with no problem. It's the only litter I've ever used.
True, if you have adult cats who've always used clay litter, getting them to adapt can be a process. I recommend doing one box completely, then transferring the rest of the boxes gradually, taking about 2 cups of clay litter and sawdust out each night and replacing it with a cup of pellets. Eventually, the clay litter is mostly replaced with pellets (within a week or two) and you can clean the clay out of the box completely.
That was 5 of my clowder. I had one brave cat who immediately started using the pellets. Surprisingly enough, he was the oldest. Go figure.
Bev M Thank you so much for the suggestion . I am in the process right now switching to the pine pellets .I have two Adults cats one of them seems to take to the pellets . The other cat went poop but he kicked his poop out onto the floor only time will tell but I’m not going to give up. I filled the cat litter box with 2 inches of pine pellets and I did a top layer of their old litter about an inch thick. I’m going to try your way instead thank you for the suggestion.
+LateNightScrappingwithEvie Try a deeper box. I use a sterlite box with 12 inch sides.
Brilliant brilliant suggestion. Thank you so much. You've save me a tremendous amount of money.
Thanks 👍 Good luck 🤞
If you want to drill that many holes spend the 98 cents to buy a cheap dedicated size drill bit...I gave you a like..TY!
Brilliant! Love this idea. I can't afford to replace fake grass every month. This seems to work like a dream. Thanks!
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I used the boxes nesting that you showed I drilled the holes too small the first go round now going back and opening every other one up a little more. The pellet can be pushed through but so far in a week none has dropped through in my twice daily scratching around process to get the sawdust to go down. One thing I did do and it is working so much better for me is to flip the top box handles over to create more space between the boxes for the sawdust to fall into This made my life so much easier. The top box now shifts/rocks a little bit but the kitties are used to the boxes and the slight rocking does not seem to bother them Not finding any messes about. If I can find some thing or things to set between them to stableize the top box I will post it here. I know more to clean but it would make me feel better. LOVING this pine pellet system and with 5 kitties even cleaning boxes twice a day the clay did smell once in awhile Now I do not smell and pee smell.
Modify anyway that works for you. Good job. Rick
I too wanted to have at least 3 inches of space for the sawdust. What if you bought THREE of the containers and drilled holes in the top one, but completely cut the bottom out of the middle one? You'd basically have the outer walls of the second container only, which would raise your top pan double the height from the bottom pan???? When emptying, you'd grab both the 1st and 2nd pan together to pull them out of the 3rd pan. Maybe even glue the 1st and 2nd pan together. (dang, college has finally paid off!!!).
Easy fix....Go to your Big Box Store & get some PVC Pipe. Anything from 2" to 4" about 12" of it. They have small sections you might have to buy it in 4'. Cut sleeves to the length you want your box to sit up or stop sagging if it is an issue. Good luck, Rick
SO far all is good once I flipped the handles. I am so thankful for your video on this as with 5 kitties in the house this is saving me so much $$$ to use the pine pellets. I also love I can dump the sawdust part in my flower beds. There has been no odor from it. Seems to dry up and any pee smell goes away with sunshine. So much less for me to have to haul to the dump. Not to mention the pellets go so much further than the clay litter. I will add the legs if they sag too much One of my kittens is getting to be a big boy.
Another thing /i do is just hold one end up as I am scratching the sawdust down Works great. Not hard for me to do.
Just completed this diy project, I got my containers from Target. They are HEFTY brand and are 40 quart, with 7.8 inches in height.
Put the new set up next to their old litter box, so far no takers. They continue to use the old one 😕 going to try putting some more old litter in the new one. Wish me lucky🤞🏻
Mix the litters. 🤞
I made a set a long time ago. But I got two of a size that gave me about three inches space between. Also, I found I needed more holes to make the sifting work better. And I used a soldering iron to make my holes. 🙂
Which set has 3 inches? I agree that 1 inch isn't enough.
ZeroR2 Well, I used a Main Stays 64qt. latching tote for the bottom (16.25 x 23.5 x 13.5). And a Main Stays 50qt. clear tote for the top (16.13 x 23.5 x 10.77). Got both at Walmart. I like that extra space between the two bottoms. Take care...🙂
@@susanpratt4061 Thank you for responding. Today I went to Lowes, Home Depot, Target and Walmart and did some research. The best for me was from Walmart. It is a Sterilite 25 qt (24.38 x 15.12 x 6.12 Inches). It has a little over 2 inches of clearance (for dust) and lower profile. Stacking the two on top of each other is a bit under 8" (little more than standard litter box) and has nice handles. Really appreciate your response. Thanks.
ZeroR2 You are very welcome.🙂
Stickee Bee Garden Yes, high enough for now. Because one of my cats; Smudge tends to be that way too. But he doesn't use it yet. My other cat; Mudslide does use it and she didn't even hesitate. I love it and am trying to figure how to get Smudge to use it too. Not sure how. 🤔 If and when that happens, I will see then if I will need to make any side taller for him. But I think it will be fine as it is. 🙂
Saved me a fortune on buying a shifting litter box and it's twice the size as the ones they sell on store. Well worth the extra effort and way more affective all round, great job thanks your channel is awsome! Keep up the good work xx
Appreciate it & Thanks for watching. 👍🤞
This is great!! Thanks for doing this video! I have the smaller commercial one, and use the pellets from Tractor Supply for my 2 cats, but I'll be turning into a "cat lady" in the near future so need a couple of these around! 😻
im doing this concept but with net!! very good tip and saves time!
U know what. I did exactly like that yesterday but using sand. And ur vid came out today. What a day. I was looking for this kind of video for many weeks but couldnt search. Today it is just pops up. Hehe.
This man's a flippin genius! I also recently got hip to the scam of buying pet supplies at pet stores. Cat stuff is somehow even more expensive than dog supplies despite being smaller! I'll be picking up some plastic tubs immediately. Even if someone can't find those particular stacking tubs they can get 2 that fit within one another and put some 1-1.5 inch spacers made from (see below for better suggestions) glued to the bottom tub to keep the top tub lifted up some. Thanks, smaerd!
Appreciate the Love. As for spacers you need to make them out of something that can be washed off. I would avoid wood in my opinion. Maybe some PVC pipe or other small plastic containers flipped upside down. 👍🤞😉
@@DiyRick66 Oh, you're right! non-porous durable material. Thanks, man! (I wrote that after a 12hr shift so not thinking my best lol)
@@charcoalanderson8010 No problem. Retired Pipefiitter so I know how shift work is. Stay safe & good luck with your project. 🤞
I tryed this and it is absolutly perfect for my ferrets. Thank you so much for the help. I went thru many an idea and this is the best.
Glad it worked for you. Thanks
I wish I would have found this video before we made ours!! Our current set up is the same as yours, but our holes aren’t as well done and clog up everytime we shake it. Going to grab a new box and try again!
I did this about 4 months ago and I loved it! I wanted to thank you again I am very happy with this method 👏👏👏👏👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻💃🏻
Please tell me how you made it
Possible sizes of the box may any to download it
maro samir ahí Maro. Please read the comments and I explained how I did it 👍
Making one right now. I didn’t have a step bit so use a smaller one to make the hole the the larger bit. Thank you so much
You are so welcome!
Thank you this very easy DIY works great! We even made a second one for our new second cat.
Awesome.....glad it worked. 🤞
This has been something I've thought of doing but was having trouble finding bins that would give me that nice gap at the bottom - now I know what to look for!
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Cool. Seems better than and cheaper than the few I've seen online. With 5 cats I'm going make it and give it a try. Thanks!
Sharon Murray Like any box we can't just walk away from it for a week & not expect a mess. I check it everyday remove solid waste put it in my Genie. Give the box a thorough shaking and were good to go. Let me know how it works. Rick
@@DiyRick66 I use tongs (plastic ones from the dollar store!) to pick out the poop. Poo can be flushed in the toilet, so whenever *I* go, I grab any poo that's in the litter box & drop it in the toilet before I flush. One flush--my pee, their poo.
Can not THANK YOU ENOUGH for this video!!!🥰🥰🥰 I know it will save me a lot of money, and be way more earth friendly 🥰🥰🥰
You are so welcome!
There's a woman on UA-cam with a set up kind of like this. The one thing extra she uses is a puppy pad lining her bottom box to absorb any extra urine.
This is the 1st video of yours I've watched so I'm not sure what you're using but it looks line the kiln dried pine pelleted horse bedding.
This is great content! Thanks 😁
I know the video you're talking about. I used that system. However, the pee pad didn't really absorb that well, it needed changing almost every 2 or 3 days. The only thing I didn't like about these pine pellets is that it doesn't clump. It's great for #1, not #2s.
@@cretnotonic did the #2's dry up? That lady made it sound like they dried up and you could scoop them out easily.
If you have a healthy cat, yes, it's not a big deal. However, my cat started having loose stools and it made it difficult to clean and I had to switch litter and boxes. @@whitney6641
Hi
She uses the puppy pad lining to lift the urine soaked sawdust out of the bottom tray to bag it. She gets the pellets for horse bedding in 40 kg. bags MUCH cheaper than the ones for cats, same product! That makes the puppy pads still economical, and more hygenic to handle . Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua.
I think I saw the same video. Maybe. Puppy pads have a layer of plastic. That's probably why some people don't use them - they want to avoid using single use plastic. Or they don't want the extra expense. One reason I'm intrested in switching to wood pellets is because it's more environmentally friendly AND cheaper. Wondering if there are pellets that come in cardboard or small bulk quantities so I could use my own container. I'm gonna stop now before I really end up on a soapbox about the topic.
This is such an amazing idea and when it works it's great! I tried to very slowly introduce my two cats to the new box and then still put litter on top of the pellets for a week to make sure they were adjusting well. The cats were holding themselves for long periods of time to only use their box when they absolutely had to, sadly one started peeing blood. After a couple expensive vet bills we found out she didn't have an infection which was good but her bladder was inflamed from continually holding out. She was an anti inflammatories for a few days and box is back to clumping. Sadly it didn't work for us
Sometimes I have heard stories like these. You can tryout 2 boxes 1 with pellets & 2 with clumping etc. 1 cat might use 2 the other use the old box then eventually watching the other cat maybe use pellet. But sometimes some cat have sensitive paws & they don't like the texture & feel of the pellets. They have to stay with the softer sand feeling. You definitely don't want to have your cat holding it back. Stresses them out and health issues can arise plust accidents outside the box. Sorry it didn't work for you & Good luck. I was thinking about looking at crystal type litters & figuring a way to clean & reuse them. Maybe another project another day. 🤔
@@DiyRick66 Thanks :) I did try the two boxes together for some time and then went to a mix of both with the clumping on top. I told my cat she was a Diva!! I was a little disappointed it didn't work for me as there was literally no smell and easy clean up with the pellets! All the best
You could also combine this idea with the diy top entry cat litter box to combat litter being scattered all over the floor. You would just need bigger totes and a hole in the lid. Also I just watched a vid where a lady suggested buying pellets for a wood burning stove or equine pellet bedding. she claims its the same stuff just must cheaper.
I have suggested the same on my other Videos for pellets. Just make sure they are kiln dried to dry up the pine oils that are reported to be unsafe for animals.
so glad to find out about this stuff, having health issues sensitive to a lot of cat litter etc, it's not fun. this is so much better!
Glad I could share. 😉
@@DiyRick66 i had found the idea recently but your system is what we are trying to replicate with the containers :) bigger and better than the advertised litter boxes !
Great video! I am convinced this is a better way to go! I"m a cat rescuer, so kitty litter is a BIG issue! BTW, Acetone will remove paint from painted windows with a paint scraper. Takes minutes to remove from a whole window!
Thank you so much for making this video!!!! I sent the link to this video to my dad. He's fed up with clay litter, so I'm trying to convert him into using pine litter!
His cat is so big, he'll probably need to make his own.
Dude!!! this is so clever and helpful. I was going to purchase the breeze boxes but with 7 cats, and I already use the same box you displayed, but bigger....i am half way there. Thank you for this video. Cheers. Kelley
I have an English Lop rabbit and I've been looking for something like this for a while now for her. So I think I'll give this a try and see how it goes.