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c
atbox
radle
a non-electrical hands-free solution to cat litter box cleanup
WE FLUSH THE
TOILET EVERY
TIME WE USE IT.
How can we make this habitual cleanliness
more present in the litter box?
Although cat owners love their pets and
sometimes even go as far as treating them as
their own children, most would agree that
dealing with litter box cleanup and odor are
two of the worst parts of owning a cat. The
Catbox Cradle is a cat litter box that aims to:
+ make cleanup easy
+ control dust and odor
+ allow the least possible contact with the waste
+ reject the need for electronic components
At about 86.4
MILLION CATS
owned and growing,
cats are one of the
most popular pets in
the U.S.
Based on the
“Litter Box Blues”
survey by
StrategyOne:
88%
Biggest concern is
litter box maintenance
FACTS + STATS
Cat owners spend $600-900 annually in costs,
with over $200 going towards cat litter supplies.
Statistics show that the litter box is definitely one of,
if not, the most troublesome aspect of cat ownership.
69%
Odor is the worst part
of owning a cat
44%
Mainly concerned with
how it affects their
home’s general hygiene
A Family Affair
SO WHY IS IT
WORTH THE
HASSLE?
Over ¾ pet owners consider their pets
as part of the family, meaning that most
pet owners, including cat owners, are willing
to go to great lengths to ensure their pets’
well-being.
“The market continues to grow
in large part because many
owners have developed deep
emotional bonds with their
pets that motivate significant
discretionary spending,”
(Mintel).
...In other words, pet owners are willing
to spend more for quality! Ever since the
innovation of clumping clay litter was
formulated, the market for cat litter supplies
has expanded to a wide selection of products
aside from cat litter itself, including litter
boxes, liners, scoops, and deodorizers.
IMAGE MAPPING: LITTER BOXES
INNOVATIVE
CLEANING
METHODS
FAMILIAR APPEARANCE
UNIQUE
Competitive Products
TYPE
DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
TRADITIONAL
LITTER BOX
made of plastic
retains odors over time
must be replaced yearly
inefficient + inconvenient
constant exposure to dust + odor
cheap
no complicated mechanisms
less parts
NON-ELECTRICAL
SELF-CLEANING
Litter Spinner
Omega Paw Roll ‘N Clean
made of plastic
softer clumps get stuck in sifter
user still exposed to dust clouds + odor
while cleaning
efficient litter sifting method
user not required to stick hand in litter box
no need for electrical outlets
ELECTRICAL
SELF-CLEANING
Littermaid Elite Mega
Automatic Litter Box
has plastic parts
requires electrical outlet (limited locations)
clumps get stuck in sifter if not maintained
might scare off the cat
efficient + time saving
user does not directly deal with the litter
CAT GENIE
requires connection to plumbing
great concept but imperfect execution
(many user complaints of faulty parts)
clumps get stuck in sifter if not maintained
less waste produced
litter is reusable/washable
almost completely self-sufficient system
(in theory)
TRADITIONAL
Almost all litter boxes are made from plastic
and must be replaced within a year. Users are
limited with automatic/self-cleaning solutions in
where they can place them because they require
an outlet.
Non-electrical sifting litter boxes have most
potential because they aim to simplify the
cleanup process without needing electricity;
however, there are flaws in the sifting
mechanism like clumps getting stuck and
clogging the rake/sifter.
IMAGE MAPPING: ODOR CONTROL PRODUCTS
ODOR ELIMINATING
Most odor control products either only mask
the smell with scents that are too strong
for cats’ sensitive noses or are too weak to
overpower the ammonia odor that makes cat
urine smell so bad.
air purifiers
odor eliminating
sprays
Bamboo charcoal seems to hold the most
promise out of the family of natural
household deodorizers because it has no scent,
is eco-friendly, and lasts longer than most of
the other products, balancing out its higher
cost.
natural known
household
deodorizers
electronic odor
eliminators
ARTIFICIAL
scented solid,
aerosol, + plug-in air
fresheners
Market Analysis + Bamboo Charcoal
NATURAL
INHIBITS BACTERIA GROWTH
ABSORBS ODOR
(including ammonia)
DEHUMIDIFIES
incense + potpourri
LASTS UP TO 2 YRS
DISPOSES SAFELY
scented candles
ODOR MASKING
BENEFITS
REMOVES ALLERGENS + DUST
HOW TO
INCORPORATE
INTO THE
DESIGN?
Most commonly, bamboo charcoal comes
either in long briquettes or broken up
in breathable satchets. It is also being
incorporated into bedding and clothing. For
my final design, I want to incorporate this type
of fabric as a filter for dust and odor control to
replace the ineffective, tiny carbon filters that
are currently available for litter boxes.
TOXOPLASMOSIS
CONFUSION
MILD
FEVER
HEADACHE
MEDIUM
BLURRED VISION
DUE TO INFLAMED
RETINA
SEIZURES
SEVERE
DAMAGE TO BRAIN, EYES,
OR OTHER ORGANS
INCREASED SUICIDE RISK
}
Who’s really at risk?
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite
Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite can be carried
by many animals, but only cats are capable of
transmitting it in their feces. Potentially all cats
that spend any time outdoors can get infected.
People can get the disease by not wearing gloves
or not washing their hands after scooping the
litter box cat litter.
SYMPTOMS
The CDC estimates
22.5% of the 12+
population in the U.S.
currently carries the
parasite — and estimates
run as high as 95% in
some parts of the world.
SO WHO IS REALLY AT RISK?
Most cases of toxoplasmosis are benign, and
there is much debate over the seriousness
of the infection. Most people get it through
consuming undercooked meat as opposed to
mishandling cat feces.
However, there are two groups who are at
serious risk:
+ pregnant women
+ the immunodeficient
(e.g. those with HIV/AIDS or on chemo)
Despite the low risk for
healthy cat owners, cat waste
is still essentially a biohazard
in the home.Therefore, in my
final design, one of my goals
is to allow for easy handsfree cleanup.
THE PROCESS OF CLEANING A LITTER BOX
1
2
3
Design Opportunities + Inspiration
No-contact sifting methods + actions
that facilitate these methods:
LIFT
ROTATE/FLIP/SPIN
Fill litter box with 3-4 inches
of litter
Wait for cat to do its business
Scoop out all solids using litter
scoop (at least once a day)
4
5
6
Transfer all solids to plastic bag
or other container
Dispose in trash receptacle
Repeat #2-5 daily until it is time
to change out the litter
TILT
TILTING METHOD EXPLORATIONS
After brainstorming and exploring various
ways to initiate hands-free litter sifting, the
tilting action felt the easiest and most natural.
The challenge, however, was figuring out an
easy way to get the solids out.
Finalizing Ideas
c
atbox
radle
Final Solution
PROVIDES A BETTER ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTION
FOR DUST/ODOR
MAKES LITTER BOX MAINTENANCE MORE USER-FRIENDLY
PROMOTES MORE HABITUAL LITTER BOX CLEANINGS
USES LONGER LASTING MATERIAL
PROBLEMS
SOLVED
REMOVES NEED FOR A LITTER SCOOP
TOP VIEW
FRONT VIEW
SIDE VIEW
EXPLODED VIEW
1. LITTER TRAP RAMP
2. RUBBERIZED GRIP SHELF HANDLE
3. STAINLESS STEEL SHELF DOOR
4. (4) ROD CONNECTORS
5. TEFLON-COATED SIFTING RAKE
6. STAINLESS STEEL CRADLE
7. FROSTED PLASTIC WALL SHIELDS
8. (4) HEX SCREWS
9. VENTED BAMBOO CHARCOAL FILTER TOP
9
Parts List
slides in to close off cradle opening when it’s time to clean the waste
for easy handling
shelf door, handle, rods, + rake connect together to be pulled out as one unit
connects shelf door to the sifting rake
automatically sifts litter when cradle is tilted
the main litter box
edges attach magnetically to the cradle via neodymium magnets
attaches wall shields to the vented top
contains bamboo charcoal fabric sheets that filter dust + odor
8
5
7
3
1
2
4
6
HOW IT WORKS
1. Wait for cat to do its business.
2. Slide litter trap ramp in to close the cradle’s litter opening
3. Tilt the cradle back and wait for all the litter to sift
4. Pull out the shelf + sifting rake by the handle + dispose.
5. Insert the shelf + sifting rake back inside
6. Tilt the Catbox Cradle back to original position.
7. Slide out the litter trap ramp
Controlling Odor + Dust
The Catbox Cradle comes with bamboo
charcoal dust + odor filter sheets that get
inserted into the vented top. These sheets are
made with the same kind of nanotechnology
used to make bamboo charcoal clothing. They
are washable and can last up to 2 years.
COLOR VARIATIONS
THANK YOU