There is nothing really very attractive about the cat litter box any more than the toilet in the bathroom is not the most attractive item in the house!

We have had a variety of cats in our time and we try to get them going in the garden as early as possible but there is always a period of time when the cat litter tray is required.

One of our most recent cats 'Min' (see picture) was particularly shy and even now it very rare for us to see her 'going' while her brother 'Spike' is happy to use any spare bit of dirt no matter who is around!

When Min was little we found that no matter where we put the litter tray she kept wetting a bit of carpet under some shelving in the lounge. Needless to say this was very annoying but we finally worked out that she was actually being very modest so we put the litter tray in the spot under the shelves and she was perfectly happy to use it after that....

The issue then became how to make it not look like a litter tray in the main living area while still making sure she had access. So we rigged up a 'casual' pile of books in front of it and it became quite a talking point when the books make a funny scratching sound and a pair of green eyes could be seen peering out.

It seems such a long time ago now and I have a big smile on my face as I recall it - the power that these animals have over us and the pleasure they bring is worth almost any inconvenience isn't it?