7 DIY Cat Litter Mat Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

Cat owners will know that cat litter mats are essential because their cats can easily track litter all around the house. However, it can be difficult to find a litter mat that meets your home’s specific needs. Factors like texture and size determine if a litter mat is a good fit for your cat.

Fortunately, there are several DIY cat litter mat plans that you can try out. A lot of these mats are more affordable than commercial cat litter mats while being effective and more customizable to fit your home.

Take a look at these plans below to draw inspiration and ideas for a cat litter mat that would be a great addition to your cat’s litter box setup.

The 7 DIY Cat Litter Mat Plans

1. T-Shirt Cat Litter Mat

This fun and creative project uses old t-shirts to create a customized litter mat for your cat. All you need to do is cut t-shirts into strips and braid them together. It can take a little time to get used to sewing the braid into a coil, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a pretty easy process.

You can also weave in twine for added traction that helps to trap more litter.

2. DIY Garage Tile Litter Box Mat

Garage tiles are also effective materials that trap kitty litter. Some manufacturers sell them in different colors, so you can mix and match fun colors or choose one that blends in well with your home decor.

Garage tiles are also typically easy to sew, so they’re great if you’re trying to create a mat that fits perfectly in the space that contains your cat’s litter box. After you shape your garage tile litter mat, you can smooth out the edges using sandpaper.

3. DIY Litter Box Cat Paw Mat

This project makes use of an old doormat and fabric paint to create a personalized cat litter mat. It’s the perfect DIY project that lets your creativity shine, and it’s also a fun activity for young children.

The best kind of mat for this project is a carpet mat because the fabric paint will adhere to it the best. You can use different colored paints and stencils to pat down patterns using a sponge brush. Just make sure that the paint dries completely before placing it by your cat’s litter box to avoid tracking paint around the house.

4. Absorbent Bed Liner Cat Litter Mat

This DIY cat litter box setup is specifically designed for Ragdolls and other larger cat breeds. A DIY cat mat is included in the complete instructions of a whole litter box station. It uses machine-washable medical absorbent bed liners as a litter mat, which provides enough coverage for large cats. Bed liners are soft, so cats will like how they feel against their paws.

Washable bed liners are also easier to clean and machine wash since they’re more lightweight than bath mats and rugs. If the bed liner is too big for your litter box space, you can line it up and tape it along the surrounding walls.

5. Carpet Tile Cat Litter Mat

Carpet tile is an affordable alternative to expensive cat litter mats. You can get really creative and cut out fun geometric shapes and patterns, or you can just make a mat that fits your cat’s litter box space. Once you piece the carpet tile together, use duct tape on the bottom of the carpet to hold everything together.

You can place the edge of the carpet underneath the litter box to keep it from moving around. However, if it still slides around, place a rug gripper underneath it to keep it in place.

6. DIY Cedar Bath Mat Cat Litter Mat

A cedar bath mat is also an effective cat litter mat, and you can make a custom mat that perfectly holds and supports your cat’s litter box size. When you’re assembling the pieces of cedarwood, make sure that the gaps are close enough together so that your cat’s paws can’t slip between them.

Cedar mats and other wooden mats are great for placing right underneath your cat’s litter box. They should be a little longer than the litter box so that when your cat steps out, they have enough space to step onto the wooden mat. Litter and other debris will fall through the spaces, so placing a tray underneath can make cleanup even easier.

7. DIY Sisal Litter Box Ram

Placing a sisal ramp at the entrance of your cat’s litter box can help reduce litter scattering around the house. Since many cats use sisal scratching posts, they’ll already be used to the feeling of sisal and be more likely to use the ramp to step out of their litter boxes.

This DIY project just requires a sisal rope and a wooden board. All you have to do is wrap the sisal rope around the wooden board and use wood glue along the way to keep the sisal in place. After that, you just have to wait for the glue to dry completely, and then it’s ready for use.

In Conclusion

There you have it—a variety of mats you can create using a few simple materials and some spare time. Which one will you try first?

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• DIY Cat Diapers (with Pictures)

• DIY Cat Water Fountain Plans (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Kokorina Mariia, Shutterstock