Hello Katie... nice to "meet" you too... I'm just a guy, who has a very understanding wife. HA!
Nope not an Engineer... I grew up in a very small town... and went to a "Liberal Arts" school... I should have gone to school to learn and become an Engineer or a Industrial Designer. But, didn't know what either was, back then. My Dad was an Architect... so I kinda think that way. I was an Art Major... so I can paint a picture without being arrested.
We had 5 cats, and new wood floors that were being "sanded" by all the tracked litter... so I started to do research. I looked at all that was out there back in 2003... not much back then. Bought some Astro-Turf... but the cats just jumped over it. Dah? While watching TV... one of out cats (we had 5 black ones then) jumped off the arm of the sofa... and upon landing left 4 piles of litter and then tracked off with paw prints behind. That was the light-bulb moment. The litter box has to be raised up off the floor, so the cats has to hop down... which opens the paws naturally and the litter falls out. AND... when the Asto-turf is inside the cabinet... the cats HAVE to walk on it! And off to the drawing board, literally I went.
And then yes, Home Depot... I don't recommend trying copy and make one yourselves... it's a lot a measuring, cutting, edge banding and well it will in the end, cost you more... off to Home Depot I went to buy board and after three days in the garage, and a another trip back to Home Depot for more board... I figured I could make it out of one 4 x 8 sheet.... but... "measure twice, cut once" ... does not always make a cabinet fit together.
AND... all 5 cats used it... I didn't have to bend or kneel to the floor to scoop and best of all NO MORE LITTER TRACKING! My issues were solved.
Later all our cats friends wanted one... so I made three more... then Christmas came and I got 12 orders, well, as I said I am an Artist with all 10 fingers, not a carpenter... and I love my fingers... and besides I had ruined my wife expensive iron... using it to iron on the edge banding... so... like any stupid male... though let's make this a business. Then the real learning began. I did get a few Patents... which have been invaluable and worth all the money first spent, and my wife has since forgiven me. But... "build a better mouse trap and the World will knock at your door" - not. Review the My Story page: https://outofsightlitterbox.com/my-story/
The wax saturated cardboard boxes came about when shipping costs really went up... they started charging for "dimensional weight" which is the size of the box... not the true weight. I was shipping out my custom made plastic litter pans... and the shipping was killing me. One evening while sleeping... the thought of a fold flat litter box came. PTL. I learned about the waxed board from my shipping box manufacturer... and then came the cost of the cutting dies. My wife has forgiven me for those too. So, two litter boxes fold flat, and are included within the cabinet shipping box. Winner! You are welcome "Kitty Poo Club" and all you others... that idea I didn't Patent... my wife has NOT forgiven me for that yet.
My cabinet is expensive. But it is made right. I too am a customer. All the panel edges are edge banded, even the "blind" ones you don't see when the cabinet is assembled. So if your cat "misses" the edges are sealed... and yes, I do include a large tube of clear caulking to seal the inside even better. It all adds up. And I did "engineer" my shipping box to withstand FedEx... and after 7 years, I have had not one panel damaged in shipping. I am proud of that. My goal is happy customers. And as the Testimonials Page reads... I have many of them. As customer in the video you attached above says... that is his THIRD cabinet. Enough said. You don't get repeat customers if the product does not work or is poor quality.
It is an investment. But the last one you will make for litter issues. I even forget what it does... I just scoop in the morning and then again before bed... and that is it. My customer emails make me smile and remember what the cabinet design does. OH, and it has cross ventilation front and back... which also lets light in... no "Light" needed... cat do see in the dark. And as for keeping dogs out of the litter box... my dog owning customers told me about that. Serendipity.
It's been a busy day on Analytics with this "Social Media"... I keep seeing this link pop up... with people from all other the USA. Katie... I have a place on my order page for customers to type in how they heard about me... it usually takes a week from first discovery to purchase... I'll let you know if any of your readers purchase one... and I do "take care of" my good customers... or potential customers... you won't get that personal customer service from "Washroom China".
THANK YOU AGAIN! This has been fun... and made the day fly bye today. PAUL - "Cat-man-doo-doo"