Tidy Cats Breeze XL Cat Box Modified W/ Pine Pellets

[@Memlimi]

Thank you for taking the time to go over step by step and links to the items you used for the pine pellet system !!❤ you’re awesome

[@Thewilksfam]

You are so welcome!

[@joedelarios1]

Great system, thanks for sharing!

[@danutaneikam9351]

Thank you for your recommendations, we are getting a retired ragdoll female on 12/2, I ordered this xl litter box and want to use the pine pellets with it, I’ve been searching for a bottom that would fit this litter box and you’ve found it! Your xxl large pee pads are a great suggestion! I’ll definitely will be using this system, thanks again!

[@Thewilksfam]

You’re very welcome!! Best cat box system ever by far

[@marycallan1937]

I used wood pellets a few years ago with a double container system I made with a drill. This is easier. I’m getting a new cat tomorrow! 🐈‍⬛

[@Thewilksfam]

Congrats!🎉

[@twinfin8571]

I just ordered this size litter box and I’m so glad to find your channel with the base box info. Everyone on YT has the smaller breeze boxes. I’m excited to try this and I hope my elderly cats transition to pine pellets. I have two litter boxes but they both use the same one and they do tend to step in pee clumps even though I sift it at least twice a day. ( the tote is huge…30x19x14 high) but they pee in the same place. Lol. I’ll be setting this up next Wednesday. Waiting for delivery on everything. Thanks so much.

[@Thewilksfam]

So glad!! That’s why I made this video!😇

[@twinfin8571]

@@Thewilksfam . A lot of people ask about the XL size on many breeze videos. The only response was a mixing tub at Home Depot. I went back to many of those channels and commented that your channel gives another option. So I expect your views will go up since I didn’t say what your option was….just go to your channel and watch! Good luck. 👍 and thanks.

[@charlesmoore1762]

I love you! So do my five cats!! (All Indoor Cats!) I have become a Cataddict (new word). I have two BreezeXL systems and one Breeze regular size). I got tubs from Home Depot but they're too big and the pellet tray shifts. I can't wait to get my delivery from the Container Store. BTW if you buy two there is a BOGO which saves you some $$. But if you buy THREE, no discount on the third one. So probably get four. Anyway, thanks for the very detailed explanation with dimensions and for speaking clearly and explaining everything!

[@Thewilksfam]

Yay! We’re so happy. Glad you found this video!

[@live2seemc863]

I've been wanting the Xl version of this! thank you so much!! Liked and subbed

[@amandab8115]

After watching your video I bought two litter boxes and two bottoms from the container store. My cats have already been using pellet litter. Which has always been a pain come cleaning in a regular litter box. And a lot of the other sifting litter boxes holes pellets get stuck in. Thank you for your video.

[@amandab8115]

For cyber Monday they are only $38.00 at Petco for anyone thinking about buying but the normal price stopping you.

[@Thewilksfam]

So glad to hear!!🩵

[@AlysseAhlensdorf-be9hg]

Love this! We just got the XL for our 2 cats- and now I will be upgrading to a deeper bottom because the amount of saw dust just from tonight it’s almost full 😅 any sort of lid or top with a door you have come up with for this?? The box is in the bathroom and my big struggle is being able to now smell their 💩 where as before it was a hooded box with a swinging door and I never really smelled it…

[@CynthiaFeller]

Awesome video. I recently saw the cat lady video and have been trying to transition my two cats over to the pine pellets. Tired of all the wall and furniture dust from traditional litter! Started with the Breeze hooded box near their regular hooded boxes to get them used to it. Took a while to find the bottom pan to replace the tray. Not using yet, but they have investigated it. Realized that box is going to be too small for my 18 lb boy. I’ve just added the XL breeze box to the room, but didn’t know what I could use for a bottom pan. I’m hoping the Container Store box works. My only possible concern is the stability since it’s not an exact fit. Hope all the trial and error pays off as it has been quite a process so far 😂.

[@Thewilksfam]

It fits perfectly I can promise that!! It’s so stable! Best system ever 😊

[@CynthiaFeller]

@@Thewilksfam Thanks for the reply! I plan on moving forward with the tray then. Waiting for my two cats to use the box to do their business. It’s been more than a month now and they haven’t done anything but step into it a few times. I’ve tried adding some of their poop to the new box; one will go in and bury it, but that’s all. I’ve added Dr Elsey’s attractant, they go in and sniff. I haven’t cleaned their old box for over a week now. I took away their 2nd old box yesterday. They are being such boobs!!!

[@epoulos108]

Did you mix in the old cat litter with the pellets over a week or two period? Only a little old litter at a time. That worked for me.

[@CynthiaFeller]

@@epoulos108 Hi, yes I tried all the tricks and finally, more than a month at it….success!! No more dusty cat litter!! So happy I didn’t give up. They have fully acclimated to the new system!! Tks for your comment!

[@jalyhnwa]

I literally needed this video! I have the normal breeze box but my big vag poops off the sides. Ill definitely have to try this

[@Thewilksfam]

So glad it helped you!🩵

[@dh2392]

If one isn't going to use the sifting grate, just buy medium concrete mixing tubs for litter boxes, they're 20" x 28" x 6", and less than $8 each at Home Depot. Personally I do use these with pine pellets as I found I greatly prefer external sifting, as you eliminate sawdust clogged slots, pee going straight thru the grate, and collecting on the rim underneath as it does in Breeze boxes, and you don't need pee pads as the urine can't escape the pellets as it can thru a grate.

[@epoulos108]

I don’t understand what you’re saying. You just use pellets with the Home Depot box?

[@epoulos108]

What is external sifting?

[@dh2392]

@@epoulos108 external sifting is using a sifter that's separate from the litter box, not built into the litter box. The SiftEase is an example of this. I use a 13-1/4" diameter stackable classifier gold prospecting pan with 1/4" mesh on top of a 5 gallon bucket with 13 gallon trash bag inside. Using an empty concrete mixing tub, I set the 5 gallon bucket inside of it to avoid getting sawdust on the floor. Then starting with one litter box, and using a dry food scoop, I scoop pellets from the dirty litter box into the classifier pan, and shake. The sawdust falls quickly thru leaving only pellets. I then pick up the classifier pan, and dump the remaining pellets into the empty pan my bucket is sitting in. I repeat until the box I was cleaning is empty, and all remaining pellets are now in the formerly empty pan surrounding my bucket. I now remove the bucket, pick up the pan with the cleaned pellets, and dump them back into the litter box I just cleaned. If you have a extra tub, or 2, and like I said they're less than $8, you may want to wash the tub you just cleaned, and let it air dry while you use a fresh mixing tub. Since there is no grate in the litter box, you will never have to deal with wet sawdust clogging the sifting grate at the bottom of a sifting pan, or sawdust piling up above the grate if you don't sift often enough.

[@HeatherPerez-n5q]

Thank you for this video so much!!! Just got my container store container and now I just need xxl pee pads and I’ll be set!! The litter was going to drive me nutssss!!!!

[@Thewilksfam]

You’re welcome!

[@kj8011]

I use popping corn (they work better than the pellets) and cheaper pads from amazon. It works great.

[@benicio1967]

Wow. I’ve never heard of that. Very interesting. Is it expensive to buy enough to fill up a box?

[@JosephDalrymple]

Interesting video! I may try the tape. Our cats are picky with the clumping litter, and I've had a hard time finding a large litter box like this that will accommodate all of them.

[@Thewilksfam]

Tape worked amazing! Clean pull for 6 months! Good luck!

[@janetstanley3645]

I’m going to try this method. I like the Breeze XL and have 3 of them. It’s the only litter box that contains the mess since my large boys like to pee standing up. What I don’t like about the Breeze system is the high cost of the pads and pellets and the smells. I have been spending over $100 a month just maintaining the litter boxes so I really hope this will work out.

[@juliemoonrise4529]

I buy pine pellets from tractor supply 40lb bag about $7.00 it’s all natural used in horse beds best thing I ever did was switch to pellets. I’m sure most feed stores would carry similar.

[@ShoddyAvenger]

I've been using pellets for about a year with great success. the only thing I don't understand is why most of the videos on pellet litter waste time and money on puppy pads and plastic liners. the pellets above the grate act as an odor barrier, and the sifted sawdust that falls through is easy to just dump into a bucket with a lid. the sawdust is generally dry enough that it doesn't really stick to anything. a regular double or triple tray sifter should take about 20 seconds to siftt, 2 seconds to dump and then stack it back together. top up pellets as needed. scoop poops as soon as you notice them since most cats don't bother burying poops in a pellet based system. if you have an organic/compost curbside bin it can go directly in. no plastic bags etc. better for the environment and less work and money spent for you

[@lianamurphy6955]

Thank you so much for such a helpful video.

[@marilyn8700]

This seems like a perfect set up for the XL box. We have 3 cats and are thinking of upgrading the current ones to this size. Is the sifter part stable over the container store box when they jump in?

[@Thewilksfam]

Yes! No movement whatsoever!

[@dskgc]

I loved your video, so helpful and well thought out! Have you made any changes to your system now that it has been 9 months?

[@patp6835]

Thanks for sharing. You are creative. 😊 Question, would it work if I keep the tray and empty the saw dust daily?

[@Thewilksfam]

It could, but it won’t lay flush

[@sykokitten19]

Does the base of the litter box that it came with fit in the underbed container with out the pee pad tray for a better seal?

[@Gikarin.Gamemaster]

No

[@ginarouse9977]

I ordered the same container you have linked and it is over two inches too small in width. It slips all around on the container and falls off. 😢

[@sajero2]

Do you just have the one box for the two cats? I'm thinking of getting two cats, but I am concerned about having space in my home for multiple boxes. Wondering if having just an XL one would suffice.

[@Thewilksfam]

Yes 1 box for 2 cats! I clean 2x a day. Box is always fresh for them! Sometimes cats may have territorial issues, then 2-3 boxes would be needed. If kitties don’t care, neither should you 😸🩵

[@thlp6872]

Is tape actually needed or were you just using it to make the old litter work until you switched to pine? Thanks.

[@Thewilksfam]

No tape needed for pellets! The pellets need to be able to break apart and fall through the slats. For any other litter you could use the 3M no residue tape to cover the slats so the litter won’t fall through 😁

[@abbeys.2808]

​@@Thewilksfam Then why would you even buy an expensive sifting box to begin with? Why buy a Breeze box and then cover the grate which is the feature that makes the boxes cost more than a regular litter box? If you don't need the sifting action, you might as well just buy one of those containers you're using as a base, and use THAT as the entire litter box. And there are many ways to easily make a THAT into a high-walled litter box, ​or to simply make a DIY high-walled large litter box out of a taller storage container in the first place!

[@epoulos108]

I end up smelling the urine within a few days because I think she pees through the holes directly. I also see that not only is there sawdust but there is also pee directly in the pads-big yellow stain. Did you have that problem?

[@Thewilksfam]

No, depends on the pellets you’re using. I used the Americas Choice bedding pellets and it worked great

[@epoulos108]

Is it pine?

[@Thewilksfam]

Yes they’re kiln dried pine pellets. I got them from petco

[@ambermartinez6295]

Why was all this necessary? Why did you need to order a container? I thought it comes together as a whole system?

[@Thewilksfam]

Because the bottom that comes with the box is used with a tray and smaller pee pad. It’s not conducive enough to use with non clumping pine pellets. The pellets used with tidy cats breeze are liquid repellent so the urine drains through the bottom onto the pee pad. I changed the bottom box to have a large open surface for a larger dog pee pad to hold the immense amount of saw dust the pine pellets produce. Hope this helps!😊

[@pls5551]

@@Thewilksfam This idea is fantastic! I saw other methods to do something similar but this is so much easier, wow. Thank you for giving us the details on sizes, etc., and for putting up this video, very detailed. I love the pine pellets. I’ve been using them but that tray is ridiculous. Oh, I’m also going to drill more holes to the left of the vents.

[@twinfin8571]

@@pls5551 . I ordered this box and it is supposed to arrive today. Plz update how the extra holes you drilled worked out when you can. I was thinking the same thing but I don’t even have one yet nor do I know if my cats will use it. Lol. I sure hope they transition to pine. That’s a win, win all around since my azaleas will get the saw dust! I hear they love it.

[@twinfin8571]

@@Thewilksfam . Thanks. I have the system up and running! Cats have adapted. I use the bottom along with the sifting tray but without the pee pad tray. It fits on the mixing tub from Home Depot. I use a smaller pee pad and change it out twice a week. I need the bottom so the wall fits well. I also have pine in a regular litter box with high walls. I scoop and sift that box by hand through a colander from $Tree that I made larger holes in with a soldering iron. A little more work but those Tidy litter boxes are $76 now. Kinda expensive.

[@epoulos108]

The urine with this method also goes directly to the pee pad too. I also get a lot of sawdust too but some area of pad is just urine staining.

[@jesgfccc]

Why is the pee pad necessary? Can't you just dump the dry saw dust when it's full?

[@jns51408]

Is the saw dust bad to breath in or go into the air? When you shake the box, does the saw dust fly out or spread?

[@Thewilksfam]

@@jns51408 no there is no dust output at all with this system!

[@Gikarin.Gamemaster]

Reporting for new watchers: Idk if the tidy cat XL box changed, or if the container store listing linked in the description changed their container: but either way I bought both these products new and now they DO NOT fit together well at all. It isn't stable the container store box is too Small and then tidy cats green tray is too curved. Cat will def knock this apart

[@Thewilksfam]

@@Gikarin.Gamemaster I’m sorry to hear that! The listing on the container store website dimensions haven’t changed, so I’m not sure what’s going on

[@Gikarin.Gamemaster]

@@Thewilksfam not your fault! Id bet tidy cats ever so slightly changes their box shapes to prevent this method that affects their bottom line lol

[@epoulos108]

Same here but then I noticed hers doesn’t fit perfectly either In the video. I ended up buying the cement washing box it fits better if you fold the liner between the top and the bottom

[@cristychilders2404]

@@epoulos108 which mixing tub did you get?

[@epoulos108]

The one from Home Depot that she talks about. I think it’s the medium concrete mixing tub. They’re black.

[@EPoulos]

Anyone have an update on the correct tub the one from container store didn’t work. I think they changed it even though it was the one referenced on the video. I bought the wet cement tub and it’s not a great fit but it works until I find another solution. My cat tears the doggy pads apart! Anyone else have that problem?

[@Thewilksfam]

I have checked the dimensions on my purchase and the current listing and the dimensions are the same

[@Gikarin.Gamemaster]

Same issue 😭

[@epoulos108]

The cat tears it apart? Yeh it ends up in the litter or her stomach not sure which.

[@yournaturalhealthconcierge]

My larger cat has started spraying urine out the opening of the Breeze litter box entry opening. He is fixated on peeing right there in front of the opening. Any suggestions? I will be switching to pine pellets soon and hopefully that will help. TIA

[@Thewilksfam]

@@yournaturalhealthconcierge my cat would pee out the opening too. I had to tape cardboard over the opening and turn the box towards the wall. The cats would then jump in and out instead of going through the opening. That was the best I could figure out 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

[@yournaturalhealthconcierge]

@@ThewilksfamGreat solutions! Thanks so much.

[@yournaturalhealthconcierge]

​​@@Thewilksfam I bought the under bed storage box you suggested and it's definitely smaller than the Breeze XL green tray. The Container Store lists the correct dimensions but it's definitely too small. The green tray hovers on it but won't sit down in the container. I'll have to shop around for another option. I'm using it anyway as of today. Just hope my cat doesn't knock it off the container. He's a digger! 😂

[@Thewilksfam]

@@yournaturalhealthconcierge yes it is smaller, as finding a perfect fit is very difficult. Mine wasn’t a perfect fit, but it is sturdy and fits better than anything I’ve tried! Especially when it sits in a corner.

[@yournaturalhealthconcierge]

@@Thewilksfam Thanks for your reply. Much appreciate the information. For some reason I thought it would fit better. I probably misunderstood the video. 🙏😊

[@sherriehampton9287]

Why do you use the dog pad? Can you use a garbage bag? Or is there liquid that gets trapped I to the dog pad?

[@Thewilksfam]

The dog pad helps absorb odors and moisture. I’m sure a garbage bag could work though. I haven’t tested that though

[@emmacarter3294]

My question too, I think I'm going to try it this way... sounds less expensive if it works

[@ckeramat1]

can you not just keep the tray and let the saw dust fall through and replace? I know its not as roomy but just wondering.

[@Thewilksfam]

Yes, it just won’t fit flush for optimal capacity

[@Christopher_Hampton]

Whats wrong with the pellets that come.with it?

[@Thewilksfam]

Those are waterproof so the pee drips off the pellets into the pad down below. Also the pellets are harder on their paws. The wood pellets break down into saw dust and that falls through the grate instead of straight pee. 🙂

[@abbeys.2808]

Why would you even buy a sifting box, then block the sifting apparatus? I don't see the logic there. The Breeze litter boxes cost (A LOT) more than similar solid-bottomed boxes BECAUSE they incorporate the grate design. If you don't need the sifting action, you might as well just buy one of those containers you're using as a base, and use THAT as the entire litter box. Or simply make a DIY high-walled large litter box out of a taller storage container w/ a similar base footprint in the first place. I'm confused. Please explain your reasoning.

[@RemyDroddy]

She used the tape to block during transition time. Her cat was used to clay or clumping litter which falls thru the sifting grates. Onec transitioned to pellets only,she removed the tape.

[@LisaSvagr]

I got the container you suggested and mine doesn't fit on it.

[@Thewilksfam]

@@LisaSvagr I’ve heard this from a couple people. I’m not sure why it’s not fitting as I checked the measurements to make sure they weren’t changed. I’m so sorry!

[@LisaSvagr]

@@Thewilksfam It's not your fault. I am wondering if something changed with the liter box because mine does not sit on top of the container right. It tips and falls in.

[@Thewilksfam]

@@LisaSvagr oh no 😞 I’m not sure what changed if it’s the box or the container!

[@isabellajones]

The one I made the pad just goes inside and I fold it to throw it away

[@jeanrussell1233]

You do know that you can compost the sawdust....don't throw it in the garbage.

[@Thewilksfam]

Yes! Thats great to do

[@dandanjordan]

27.8"x16"

[@JustinHoMi]

The breeze box is terrible for pine pellets. They get stuck in the slits and make it very difficult to clean.

[@efremendez]

It's just saw dust why waste money on pee pads?

[@asherrogers2687]

Pee soaked sawdust. It's dry but still has a slight smell, I think. You don't have to wash or even wipe if the box has the pad in. 2 pads a month for 2 cats, plus wood pellets is soooo much cheaper and cleaner than any other system.

[@jillianstulen4485]

I agree!😅

[@epoulos108]

It’s not all sawdust it soaks up the pee that gets through the holes

[@epoulos108]

I use to spend sixty bucks every 45 days on that other clay crappy litter. What a racket.

[@1godgodgodgodgod]

modified? lol why dont you just let them piss in a shoe box?