DIY Hidden Litter Box Cabinet

Hide that ugly cat litter box with this DIY kitty litter cabinet! These free plans show how to make a stylish wooden enclosure that’s perfect for any room.

Hide that ugly cat litter box with this DIY kitty litter cabinet! These free plans show how to make a stylish wooden enclosure that's perfect for any room.

Cat Litter Box Cabinet

Cats are cute, but litter boxes are ugly! I have the purrrfect solution for you to hide that ugly litter box. This looks like an attractive cabinet but the doors open to reveal a hidden litter box. There’s even space for extra litter. Adorable little curtains welcome kitties on their way to the bathroom.

You may also enjoy this DIY Corner Cabinet and this DIY Wine Cabinet.

Originally published November 1, 2016 updated September 17, 2019

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Before we get into how to make a hidden litter box cabinet, be sure to click the subscribe button at the bottom of this page to sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter loaded with helpful pocket hole tricks, space-saving workshop ideas, clever DIY tips and more!


Where Can I Hide a Cat’s Litter Box?

Many pet parents ask “Where can I hide a cat’s litter box?” It’s a question my friend Linda asked me. Let’s face it. Litter boxes are not attractive. One place we can hide a litter box is inside kitty litter box furniture.

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What is Kitty Litter Box Furniture?

Kitty litter box furniture or a litter box cabinet is designed to hide a cat’s litter box. It’s often built to look like an ordinary piece of furniture like an end table, nightstand or cabinet.

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Inspiration for This Wooden Litter Box Enclosure

This DIY cat litter box cabinet started life as a butcher block kitchen island. My friend Linda bought the island second hand for her kitchen. The problem is Linda’s house is small. It’s so small that this island looked more like a continent in her tiny kitchen!

An old kitchen island was repurposed into a kitty litter cabinet

Linda had two problems. A big island that didn’t fit in her kitchen. And the second problem was that she didn’t have a good place to hide her cat’s litter box.

I had an idea to completely transform this oversized island. I redesigned it to fit her space and provide a hidden spot for the litter box. Check out the outdoor plant stand, outdoor coffee table and bathroom vanity that I also built for Linda.

First, I repurposed the legs from the island and built an entirely new frame. The new frame was topped with the repurposed butcher block to create a stylish kitty litter cupboard for her kitchen.

A litter box cabinet is a great way to hide a litter box.

At the top of the cupboard, there are three drawers. Below the drawers are two doors that hide the litter box. There’s also storage for extra litter next to the box.

Kitty litter box furniture hides a litter box and has storage for extra litter

Homemade curtains create an attractive entrance for her kitties on their trip to the bathroom litter box. And yes, I sewed the curtains myself! I’m an amateur when it comes to sewing, but later on, I’ll do my best to explain how I made the curtains.

Make a cat litter box cabinet with these free plans

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What Kind of Wood Do I Need to Make a Kitty Litter Cabinet?

Most of this DIY kitty litter cabinet was made with inexpensive common pine. The pine was purchased at my local big box home improvement store.

The legs and butcher block top were repurposed from a secondhand kitchen island. Don’t worry if you don’t have legs and top to repurpose. I’ll share how to make your own later in the cat litter box cabinet tutorial.

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What Tools Do I Need to Build a Litter Box Cabinet?

Most of this project was built with miter saw, drill, and a Kreg Jig. There are a few pieces that will need to be cut with either a circular saw or a table saw.

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Where Should I Put Litter Box Enclosure in My House?

Linda’s house is small. Her place is only about 700 square feet. She really wanted to put the litter box in the bathroom, but there’s not enough floor space. You can see the small vanity I made for her bathroom here.

She has a small spare bedroom, but again the floor space is limited. She decided the best place for the wooden litter box enclosure was in her kitchen.

The enclosure is close to a garbage can so the box can be scooped regularly. It’s also right next to a window when some fresh air is needed.

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How to Make a DIY Hidden Litter Box Cabinet

Printed Plan

  • Get the FREE plan here (includes detailed instructions, measurements, and bonus tips).

Supplies

Tools

Step 1. Make the Legs

The repurposed legs I used for this project measured 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ x 34-5/8″. You can make your own square legs if you don’t have legs to repurpose or can’t find legs in this dimension.

Option 1:
There are several ways to make your own legs. One way would be to use 5/4 wood (spoken as five-quarter). 5/4 wood is approximately 1-1/8” thick. Two pieces of 5/4×3 wood glued together would give you a piece that is 2-¼” x 2-½”.

The leg wouldn’t be square, but I think it would be close enough for this application. For this option cut 8 pieces of 5/4×3 to 34-5/8″. Take 2 pieces, apply glue and clamp together. Repeat for the remaining pieces to form 4 legs.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Wood Sizes

Option 2:
The second option would be to use 4×4 wood. 4×4 wood measures 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″. In this case, you could use a table saw to rip the 4×4 to 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″. For this option rip 4 pieces of 4×4 to 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ and cut to 34-5/8″.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Table Saw Safety

Step 2. Make the Front and Back Stiles

Cut 4 pieces of 1×3 to 28-7/8″.

Step 3. Make the Front and Back Rails

Cut 6 pieces of 1×3 to 31-1/2″. Drill pocket holes in each end of the rails.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Jig

Step 4. Make the Drawer Dividers

Cut 6 pieces of 1×3 to 5-1/8″. 4 pieces will be used as drawer dividers and 2 will be used as spacers to help properly align the drawer opening.

Step 5. Assemble the Front and Back

Apply glue to the top and bottom rails, clamp to the stiles and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Dimensions of the DIY litter box cabinet face frame

Clamp the 2 spacers from Step 4 to the inside of the stiles. Do not attach. Apply glue to the middle rail, place below the spacers, clamp in position and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws. Remove the spacers.

Installing the middle rail on the cat litter box cabinet

Cut 2 pieces of scrap wood to 10″, clamp to the underside of the top rail and the upper side of the middle rail. Do not attach. Apply glue to a drawer divider, place against the scrap wood and clamp in position. Drill countersink holes in the top and middle rail. Attach with 1-1/4″ wood screws. Repeat Step 5 for remaining side.

Related: How to Use a Countersink Bit

Positioning the drawer dividers on the DIY kitty litter box furniture

Step 6. Assemble the Side Subframe

Cut 2 pieces of 1×2 to 27-3/8″ for the stiles. Cut 1 piece of 1×3 to 9-3/4″ for the bottom rail and 1 piece of 1×4 to 9-3/4″ for the top rail. Drill pocket holes in the end of each rail. Apply glue to the rails, clamp to the stiles and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Assembling the side of the wooden litter box

Use a circular saw and a Kreg Accu-Cut or a table saw to cut a piece of 1/4″ plywood to 12-3/4″ x 27-3/8″. Apply glue to the panel, clamp to the subframe and attach with 3/4″ brad nails.

Related: 4 Ways to Make Straight Cuts with a Circular Saw

Attaching the side panel of the DIY cat litter box furniture

Step 7. Make the Side Frame Parts

Cut 4 pieces of 1×3 to 28-7/8″ for the stiles. Cut 5 pieces of 1×3 to 12-3/4″ for the rails. Drill pocket holes in the end of each rail.

Two stiles will be used in Step 8 and two stiles will be used in Step 9. Two rails will be used in Step 8 and three rails will be used in Step 9.

Step 8. Attach the Frame to the Subframe

Apply glue to 2 rails (Step 7), position on the top and bottom of the subframe (Step 6), place a stile (Step 7) on each side of the sub frame and clamp in position. Note: the faces of the frame and subframe are flush. Attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Next, measure in 3/8″ from the face of the assembly on the top, bottom, and sides. Drill several countersink holes on each side to join the frame to the subframe. Attach with 1-1/4″ wood screws.

Attaching the frame to the subframe of the DIY litter box enclosure

Step 9. Assemble the Kitty Litter Entrance Frame

Apply glue to the frame rails (from Step 7), clamp to the stiles (from Step 7) and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Building the kitty litter cabinet entrance

Cut 1 piece of 1×6 to 12-3/4″ and use a table saw to rip to 5-1/4″. Place the frame face down on your workbench, place the 5-1/4″ x 12-3/4″ panel at the top of the frame, apply glue to the remaining rail, place below the panel and clamp in position. Attach the rail with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Position the panel so it sets in a 1/4″ from the front of the frame. Next, measure in 5/8″ from the face of the assembly on the top, bottom, and sides. Drill several countersink holes on each side to join the frame to the panel. Attach with 1-1/4″ wood screws.

Installing the side panel of the DIY litter box enclosure

Step 10. Assemble the Carcass

Clamp the front assembly to two legs. Measure in 1-1/4″ on each side of the frame. Then drill several countersink holes and attach with 1-1/4″ screws.

Attaching the legs to the DIY litter box cabinet

On the right side, position the solid side frame, the third leg and clamp. Measure in 1-1/4″ on each side of the frame. Then drill several countersink holes and attach with 1-1/4″ screws.

Installing the right side of the litter box cabinet

On the left side, position the kitty litter entrance frame, the fourth leg and clamp. Measure in 1-1/4″ on each side of the frame. Then drill several countersink holes and attach with 1-1/4″ screws.

Attaching the left side of the cat litter box cabinet

The back frame sets in a 1/4″ from the edge of the back legs. Clamp in position. Measure in 1-1/4″ on each side of the frame. Then drill several countersink holes and attach with 1-1/4″ screws.

Adding the back to the kitty litter box furniture

Step 11. Install the Bottom

Use a circular saw and a Kreg Accu-Cut or a table saw to cut 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood to 14″ x 33″. Drill pocket holes on each edge. Place the bottom in position and attach using 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Installing the bottom in the DIY wooden litter box

Step 12. Install the Skirts

Cut 1 piece of 1×3 to 33″ and cut 2 pieces of 1×3 to 14-1/4″. Drill pocket holes in each end. Also, drill several pocket holes on the top edge of each skirt.

The skirts set in a 1/4″ from the edge of the legs. Apply glue to the 33″ skirt, clamp on the front and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Apply glue to the 14-1/4″ skirts, clamp to the sides and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Making the skirts for the DIY cat litter box furniture

Step 13. Install the Back Panel

Use a circular saw and a Kreg Accu-Cut or a table saw to cut a 1/4″ piece of plywood to 33″ x 31-3/8″. Place the panel on the back and attach using 3/4″ brad nails.

Installing the back panel on the litter box cabinet

Step 14. Install the Drawer Supports

Cut 2 pieces of 1×3 to 14″ and cut 2 pieces of 1×5 to 14″. Drill pocket holes in the end of each piece.

Apply glue to the ends of each 1×3 drawer support, position at the end of each frame and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Measure 5-5/8″ from each 1×3 drawer support, apply glue to the ends of each 1×5 drawer support, and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws.

Installing the drawer supports for the DIY litter box enclosure

Step 15. Install the Drawer Guides

Cut 6 pieces of 1×2 to 18-1/4″. Position on top of the drawer supports, flush against the back and attach with 1-1/4″ finish nails.

Attaching the drawer guides for the kitty litter cabinet

Step 16. Make the Drawer Boxes

Cut 6 pieces of 1×6 to 18-1/4″ and use a table saw to rip to 4-7/8″. Cut 6 pieces of 1×6 to 7″, use a table saw to rip to 4-7/8″ and drill pocket holes in each end.

Apply glue to the ends of two 7″ pieces, clamp to two 18-1/4″ pieces and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws. Repeat for the remaining pieces.

Building the drawers for the litter box enclosure

Use a circular saw and a Kreg Accu-Cut or table saw to cut 3 pieces of 1/8″ hardboard to 8-1/2″ x 18-1/4″. Apply glue to the bottom of a drawer, position a bottom and attach with 3/4″ brad nails. Repeat for the remaining drawers.

Adding the bottom to the DIY litter box cabinet

Step 17. Install the Drawer Fronts

Cut 3 pieces of 1×6 to 9-3/4″. Place a straightedge from corner to corner and make a mark to locate the center. Drill a hole in the center of each drawer front.

Place the drawer box in the opening of the cabinet. Then, place the drawer front on the drawer box and position it so there is equal spacing between the drawer front and the drawer opening. There should be about an ⅛” gap on each side of the drawer front. Adjust the measurements of the drawer front if necessary.

Drill a hole through the hole in the drawer front into the drawer. Remove the drawer front and drawer box. Attach the knob to hold the drawer front to the drawer box. From inside the drawer box attach with 1-1/4″ wood screws. Repeat for the remaining drawers.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Using a Power Drill

Installing the drawer front on the litter box cabinet

Step 18. Make the Doors

Cut 4 pieces of 1×3 to 21-1/4″ for the stiles. Cut 4 pieces of 1×3 to 10-9/16″ for the rails. Drill pocket holes in each end of the rails.

Apply glue to the ends of two rails, clamp to two stiles and attach with 1-1/4″ pocket screws. Repeat for the other door.

Assembling the doors for the cat litter box cabinet

Use a circular saw and a Kreg Accu-Cut or table saw to cut 2 pieces of 1/4″ plywood to 15-9/16″ x 21-1/4″. Apply glue to the back of the door, place door panel in position and attach with 3/4″ brad nails.

Related: How to Make Cabinet Doors (Without Complicated Tools)

NOTE: Instead of wood panels, I installed glass in my doors.

I used a straight cutting router bit to form a rabbet. The glass sits in the rabbet and is held in place with glass clips.

Related: How to Use a Router Table for Beginners

Attaching the door panel for the kitty litter box furniture

Step 19. Install the Doors

Position the doors in the door opening. There should be about an ⅛” gap on the top and bottom of each door. There should also be an ⅛” gap on the side of each door and in between the doors. If the doors are too large, use a table saw to adjust the size of the doors if necessary.

Attach the doors to the cabinet with hinges according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 20. Make the Top

For my cabinet, I repurposed the butcher block top from the original piece. Here’s how you can make a top if you don’t have a butcher block.

Related: How to Make a Farmhouse Table Top

Cut 6 pieces of 2×4 to 40″ and a use table saw to rip to 3-3/8″. Set your Kreg Jig to drill into 1-1/2″ material and drill pocket holes in the pieces to join them to form a solid top. Apply glue to the edges, clamp and attach using 2-1/2″ pocket screws.

Related: How to Edge Join with Pocket Holes

Making the top of the wooden liter box

Step 21. Attach the Top

Drill several 3/8″ diameter holes through the top of the front, back and side rails. These oversized holes will allow the top to move during seasonal changes.

Related: How to Join a Table Top to a Base (The Right Way)

Place the top on the cabinet, so the back is flush with the back of the cabinet and centered side to side. Place a washer on a 2” wood screw and attach the top through the holes in the rails.

Screw hole locations for the top of the DIY cat litter box furniture

Step 22. Sand, Prime, and Paint

Sand the cat litter cabinet, apply a quality primer and paint using the color of your choice.

Step 23. Make the Curtains

I’m an amateur when it comes to sewing. I’ll do my best to explain how I made the curtains.

Cut two pieces of fabric to 7-1/2″ x 23-5/8″. On long sides, fold over 1/2″ and stitch along the edge. On one end of each piece, fold over a 1/2″ and stitch.

On the remaining end, fold over 1″ and stitch a 1/4″ from the cut edge, then stitch a 1/4″ from the folded edge.

This will form a pocket for the tension rod. For the tiebacks, fold some remaining material, wrap around curtains and hold in place with push pins. Install the curtains with a tension rod.

This wooden litter box cabinet has cloth curtains in the entryway


Final Thoughts

Cats are cute, but litter boxes are ugly! A cat litter box cabinet is the purrrfect solution for you to hide that ugly litter box. This looks like an attractive cabinet but the doors open to reveal a hidden litter box. There’s even space for extra litter. Adorable little curtains welcome kitties on their way to the bathroom.

Get the free plan (including the detailed instructions and measurements) now!

Thank you for stopping by. If you found this information helpful, would you please pin it to Pinterest? Other DIYers would appreciate it and I would too! Thank you – Scott


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8 Comments

    1. Hi Kelsey – Yes, you could adjust the plan to move the opening from the side to the front.

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