Okay, so finding the right litter box for my Maine Coon, Max? Man, that was a journey. When I first got him, I just grabbed a standard “large” litter box from the pet store. Figured large cat, large box, simple right? Wrong.
Max grew, and grew… and grew. Pretty soon, that “large” box looked tiny. He’d try to get in, do his business, but half the time his butt was hanging over the edge. Litter everywhere. And his tail? Forget about keeping that magnificent fluff clean. It was constantly getting dragged through… well, you know. I knew I had to do something different.
The Hunt for Something Bigger
So, I started looking around. Checked out those fancy covered boxes. Seemed like a good idea at first, maybe contain the smell and the mess? But then I thought about it. Max is huge. Would he even feel comfortable in an enclosed space? Plus, I read somewhere online, maybe some vet advice, that those closed ones can really trap the ammonia smell, which isn’t great for the cat either. Decided against that route pretty quick.
Then I saw those automatic self-cleaning ones. Like, the Litter-Robot thing. Looked super high-tech. They say they work for big cats, even multiple cats. Honestly, I was tempted. But the price tag? Whew. And I still wasn’t totally convinced Max wouldn’t be freaked out by a robot toilet. Seemed like overkill for what I needed.
Thinking Outside the Box… Literally
I was getting frustrated. Nothing seemed quite right. Then I remembered seeing someone online, ages ago, mention using something else entirely. A storage container.
Lightbulb moment! Why not? So I headed down to the hardware store. Wandered the aisles looking at plastic storage tubs. I needed something really big, with high sides to stop the litter scatter-shot Max seemed to specialize in. I ended up grabbing this massive storage container, maybe like 110, 120 quarts? Something like that. It was way bigger than any actual litter box I’d seen.
Got it home. The sides were pretty high, so I thought about cutting an entrance. But honestly, Max is a big dude, he could step over it. So I just left it as is for starters.
Setting Up the New Digs
Next step, litter. I’d tried a few types before.
- Wood pellets: Sounded nice and natural, less dust maybe? Max wasn’t a fan. Just kinda poked at them.
- Basic clay: Okay, but didn’t clump great.
- Good clumping clay: This seemed to be the winner. It clumps hard, makes scooping easier, and seems to control the smell better, which is important with a big cat and a big box. So, I filled the new storage tub with a generous amount of the premium clumping stuff.
And the scoop! My flimsy plastic one wasn’t cutting it with the deeper litter bed and the, uh, larger deposits. I quickly realized I needed a metal scoop. Found a sturdy one, much better. Easier to clean too.
The Verdict? Success!
It worked! Seriously, it was like night and day. Max hopped right in. He had plenty of room to turn around, do his digging ritual, and actually keep his whole body inside the box. The high sides drastically cut down on the litter getting kicked out. His tail stays cleaner. It’s just… better.
Sure, it’s basically a giant plastic tub sitting in the corner, not the most stylish thing. But who cares? It’s functional. Max is comfortable, the area stays cleaner, and scooping is manageable with the right tools. Sometimes the simplest solution, even if it’s unconventional, is the best one. That storage container trick? Total game changer for us.
