okay i found my door online. It is a craftsmaster clermont. i wonder how much it would cost to replace it if I destroy it with a cat door?

http://www.craftmasterdoors.com/pageBuild.asp?PageID=C_clermont_ps

Still looking for alternatives to cat door though.

There's a thread in the kitchen forum describing access through the wall. That could be patched with drywall fairly easily if you had a good spot for it. We're thinking of putting a cat door to the laundry room in the wall under a bench in the back entry hall. It won't be hidden exactly, but it won't be obvious either.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cat door options

thanks lmarletto,

That was a great thread! It got me to thinking. However, I also have a furniture idea. The premade cat furniture is way to expensive. $200 and up. It is nothing more than a chest with an opening cut out for the cat. I noticed that the more beautiful the furniture the more it cost. I've seen some litter box cabinets for $500! They are so overpriced!!!! I started thinking maybe i can get a handy man to build a cabinet for me or I can buy and existing piece of furniture and install a cat door. So I searched and searched as I wanted something attracive. I found some large trunks for $80 - I need two as I have two cats. What do you think of thest trunks good idea?

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I door through the drywall is no problem, I have done it several times. In all the homes I've lived, I framed off a small area in the garage for the litter boxes. I just make a small closet 2x3 with a regular door into the garage and a cat door through one of the walls into the house. All the mess and smell is out in the garage and no lugging litter up/down stairs or through the house. I tend to make them fancier for each house. The current one has small stairs since the garage is a foot lower than the main house. I also added a motion actived night light. The cat door is an opaque plastic and its funny to walk through the house when its dark and see the light on in her room.

The drywall into the encloseda area in the garage...that is very original. I think that is something I can do.

I like the trunks idea--since they open from the top, you can clean them easily, and a door cut into the end would be relatively unobtrusive.

You *will* have litter spillage on the floor beside it, however. Two cats' worth.

I like the idea of putting a cat door into the drywall of the SIDE or that pantry--do the side or back walls of that pantry alcove abut any other area of the house? Could you put the cat door there? Then *you* can go in through the real door, and the cat can go through a hole in some OTHER wall.

That would be my first choice.

The trunk would be my second.

I LOVE the alcove in the garage, but I'd be too lazy. I especially like the motion-activated light.

I love that cat alcove idea but can't think of a wall where I could use it. The door to the garage is already in the big pantry: the room we are putting the sliding door into. On the house side of the garage wall are a solid row of kitchen cabinets. On the wall at right angles to that is my dining room. That side is OK, but the garage on the inside is covered with shelving floor to ceiling on one part, and my big van (which barely squeaks into the garage if you fold the mirrors back) is almost against the wall. I'd have to move the van to change the litter box!

For atlcharm, thinking of the trunks, will your cats be willing to go into a totally dark box to use the litter box?

Hey Linnea56,

I think they would as they use covered litterboxes right now, so wouldn't it be almost the same thing. Also with all the litterbox furniture for sale - I'd assume it's totally dark in there too.

Well with all the ideas that everyone has been throwing around. I really like the garage idea but can't do it because the door to the garage has no clearance on either wall beside the door - very narrow. Only the half bath and the laundry room really share a wall with the garage. So the garage is out.

However, I did like the idea of putting a cat door in the drywall leading to the pantry and then I can put a bench or something there to make it not so obvious. I am really considering this even over the trunks. The trunks are so beautiful. I'd hate to mess them up - plus I'd have to put them upstairs in a spare bedroom

Though most people are worried about the look of their exterior home doors, there is no cause for concern. UPVC external doors come in various styles. If you don't want to go for the standard white vinyl door, choose a UPVC door with a light or dark wood effect for your remodeling assignment. It will look as attractive as the external wooden door but is highly durable.

Here is a link that might be useful: PVC Door

wendys20, You are all over the place with the pvc response. If you are a distributor and are getting some advertisement ordeal out of this, it's not allowed on these forums per the garden web. Just a heads up to keep you out of trouble.

We're going to go with the custom-built cabinet / window seat. I'll be building it myself once I finish the addition and kitchen remodel. As far as light goes, I'm considering some small translucent plexi panels as part of the design.

FYI, my cats have never had a problem going in the litter box in a pitch black room, so you may not need to worry about lighting too much. My cat is 15-16 yrs old now and nearly blind and still gets around easily.