We have stray cats using our grandchild's sand box for a litter box. The sand box is 8ftX6ft, made with treated 2X10. We are thinking of making a vinyl lattice cover with hinges, hoping to make it like a panel screen where it folds over itself until it folds off the sandbox, and maybe have it hooked to the box on one side. I can't find any web sites for that kind of design. Do you have any suggestions that will help me? Web site, personal experience, or other suggestions.

You could just make a "window frame" type constuction and put the lattice right on it with nails or staples. I think that's a great idea to keep the cats out. Be sure you sterilize the sand after you clean it out. There can be parasites from cats left behind.

You might want to build just a screen piece to go over it. If you use just the plastic lattice they will just go through the holes to let themselves in. And you may think that the holes are too small - but they aren't. I had a Maine Coon who weighted 27lbs. And she was able to squeeze herself between the box spring and the bed frame which had a gap of only 1 1/2 inches. It is amazing how they can make themselves fit.

Get a plastic tarp to throw over and use heavy rocks to hold it down until you can figure something else out.

I agree with cjomomma, just use a tarp. Cheaper and lighter to move.

definitely consider replacing the sand before letting the children in again after you cover it. I agree with jljane...cats can leave parasites in the sand that you don't want your children to get. You can google cat parasites in sandboxes and I am sure you will get a thorough explanation. Kinda the same reason pregnant ladies should NOT clean cat litter! Good luck! :)

We made a simple frame and used screening to keep cats out of ours. This way it was light enough for me to move easily. We attached latch hooks to keep cats from being able to lift it up. Of course we had made our own sand box and it was made out of wood and was square, so it was easy to make a screen cover. good luck

good luck in make a cover for the sandbox, I would get rid of the old sand and put in fresh new sand

Exactly why we no longer have a sand box. We covered with a tarp, then with plastic. But the wind would blow it up.
The final straw was when my toddler was playing in it, along came a cat, and it came in and pottied right beside her.
Good luck, kids love sand boxes.

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Many years ago we did the same thing...far too late. In addition to removing all the sand, my DH poured boiling water over the bottom dirt and let it steam till cooled, then added the new sand. And then immediately the frame top. As soon as our son was old enough to not want any more sand box, out it came.

We used a tarp too!

You will have to have a strurdy cover, if not it will continue to be a problem. No more than sand cost I too would get new sand. Wormy kids yuck, been there lol

My boys spent literally hours in the sandbox with their farm toys , much better than being inside with the tv all day :)

We have a sandbox that currently has.... well, let's just say it's "full!" lol! Stray cats and who knows what else apparently used it all winter. Dh is going to be digging it all out and replacing it with fresh sand (sand is cheap) and we will definitely be covering it with a tarp from now on!

i think i would make a simple frame and staple screening material to it. you can get screening at home depot or lowes. it is softer than regular screening..won't tear.(used for replacement on doors) i think it is on a roll.

Had the same problem, dh make a small sandbox (portable) we would put it out for my GD and bring it in the garage when she was through playing..liked it because she wasn't sitting in it, but was playing off a card table. Worked real good!

Go to your local hardware store & purchase enough chicken wire or hardware cloth to make a cover. They can't use it then.

When we had an outdoor sandbox, we used 1/4 inch plywood cut to fit the top of the box.
Hubby put hinges on one side, and brass handles on the top on the other side. The boys could lift the top, flip it over and play as much as they wanted. The cover kept the neighbor hood cats and debris from the trees out of the sand, AND the wind would not blow it up or away.
Good luck with your project.
Susan

I made a cover for my grandson's out of sunbrella and daughter velcroed it to the box - made of wood using staple gun. Could use industrial velcor which sticks on if it is plastic.

This is a UK site, so you may not want to order, but is a simple idea.

http://www.activetoy.co.uk/products/...sandbox_cover/

If you use screening to cover it, use the PET quality kind at Lowe's of Home Depot. It is wonderful screening. My outdoor cats climb it all the time and it holds up to the claws and climbing of several cats. It is black in color. It comes in rolls and says pet screen on it. The screen attached to lattace sounds best to me to use. Good luck, take care.
Linda

Build a wood frame that will fit the top of the box, then put screen wire on it, Will be easy to take on and pull off when the kids want to play, the screen will keep the cats out of the sand.

Make a cover for the box and use it. Only way to stop the cats. If you see a stray cat in your yard, spray it with water. They might get the message and not come back. Good luck.

We used a square (the size of the sand box) of plywood with a 2x4 frame. Put hinges on one side and a latch hook (like on a wooden screen door) on the other. When the kids wanted to play we simply unhooked it and flipped the lid open. When not in use, hooked it closed. This also helped to keep the racoons out too. ;-)

I also agree with using a tarp.

I agree,just get a tarp.

Suggestion for screening to use, it is called pet screening and is sold at the big home store. As quilters we use it for making purses.

we took wire fencing that comes in small rolls about four feet high and put that around the dirt for planting (we plant in kiddie pools.less weeds and is like container planting.)that keeps the cats, squireels and possums out. when we need to get in just take off the twistie and pull back rolls right back up and set it back when done a twist top and bottom with twistie or tie.

Cats don't like chicken wire either, (or tin foil to keep indoor cats out of potted plants!). Maybe you could fashion a lid out of the chicken wire.

I use heavy tarp type material from the home store and I use those black binder clips to attach to the frame.

We had the same problem...the neighbor's cat..UGH! The neighbor just smiled and explained that he was an outside cat. So we covered it with a tarp like cjomamma advised and used logs from the woodpile to keep the tarp from blowing. It was a pain to uncover. Kids could not do it by themselves, so I always had to help. And definitely had to remember to cover it back up.

Along with the cover try some natural cat repellants put near the box.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4546406_make...repellent.html

Our sandbox in Oak Harbor had a cover. Knowing cats like I do, anything that covers the sand will work. Cats don't thing to pull back a tarp or something like that. If it is covered with anything, they won't get into it.