Comments on: Hack your litter box

By: bob fairlane

bob fairlane — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:56:06 +0000

I found a way cheaper version on instructables. Someone used a covered catbox with a “doggy door” type flap, already commercially available, and used a computer fan and dryer hose. The little fan can run 24/7, no big deal.

By: dreamtimestudio

dreamtimestudio — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:43:35 +0000

I just put 2 holes in a plastic bag, then put the cats back legs through it. Tie the bag snuggly around the midsection of the cat then gaffa tape. wola cat poo catcher, cheaper too.

By: Kaj

Kaj — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:41:46 +0000

I just finished building my version of this today… very simple though. I made an enclosure from cardboard (soon to be replaced with chloroplast) for a normal-sized computer fan to run off of a wall-wart. It is very quiet and runs continuously. Since I do not have access to a wall vent and I cannot cut a hole in the wall, it just recirculates the air through a double-layer activated charcoal filter.

By: yossi

yossi — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:39:05 +0000

i can haz hax?

By: wiggyfifes

wiggyfifes — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:33:23 +0000

Those with the cheapo ideas must realize that if the fan comes on when the cat is in there it will scare it and it will then crap on your bed. Thus the need for something more sophisticated. Also the suggestions kind of pale against that fact that this guy didn’t posit the idea…he built it!

By: bob

bob — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:05:55 +0000

i meant to say:

This has nothing to do with that,
but here is a google hack search inurl:/view/index.shtml
on google,
and it shows almost all webcams

By: bob

bob — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:04:16 +0000

this has nothing to do with that but hers a google hack searchinurl:/view/index.shtml on google and it shows almost all webcams

By: joe

joe — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:27:33 +0000

Boy, talk about using a hammer to smash a fly. Cheap motion detector switch + Cheap Vent Fan = <$40
Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should.

By: Nitori

Nitori — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:56:38 +0000

I done the same project some time ago but decided to just run the fan continuously since the cat poo stinks the entire time it’s in the litter box vs when the cat is in there.
It only cost about $20 the biggest cost being the dryer duct the rest fan PSU etc I had on hand.
Though I’m thinking on adding a a device that will spray odor ban or sprinkle baking soda onto the litter after the cat leaves.

I guess I could go even farther make it self cleaning and it still would likely be under $80

By: Nitori

Nitori — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:44:50 +0000

I would have just used a picaxe controller for the fan vs hooking it to a mac mini.
I prefer to use a micro controller for such projects vs hooking everything directly to a PC.

By: anthony

anthony — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:55:52 +0000

ewwww, they ate it….

By: h3llphyre

h3llphyre — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:01:44 +0000

The corn based litter is great in theory, until put into use. I have four cats in my household, which belong to the misses. We tried the corn based litter and within 5 minutes of putting it in the freshly cleaned box, the cats all started to eat it. I recommended to the misses that I should “use” the litterbox first, to show them what to do. She didn’t find the humor in it. I’m looking at doing something similiar to this, except recirc’ing with an activated carbon filter. We’ll see how well it works. If that doesn’t work, I figure a cat door into the oven with a motion detector should fix the “problem”.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:57:03 +0000

Funny I already have this setup except its with a window fan which will soon be upgraded to a 92mm PC fan to save power. It works great

By: Ed3

Ed3 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:51:55 +0000

@crust – Second the corn-based litter. Low dust, unscented,
and scent reducing. Great stuff all around and works VERY
well in LitterMaid automatic boxes.

World’s Best Cat Litter – http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/Products/WBCL/default.aspx

AFAIK, it’s only sold in pet shops. Don’t bother looking for
it at Wal-Mart/Target.

PetSmart sells a similar LitterMaid-branded product, but it’s
twice the price per pound.

By: Alan Graham

Alan Graham — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:33:48 +0000

oh…and it isn’t the poo as much as it is the ammonia smell of the urine. I use a special organic litter that while good for the environment, is not great with smell…no matter how often you clean it some of it always gets by.