Ghostbusters Firehouse Catbox Cover
I wanted to have a cover for our catbox to minimize smell and dust/litter. Also just so the cat box wasn't just in the middle of the room. We don't have a lot of space so I had to get creative. It took a while but then it came to me; Ghostbusters Firehouse, of course!
I knew I had to take some liberties with the accuracy and proportions of the dimensions from the real building but I figured nobody would mind.
I started with some initial sketches, I even modeled out the basic shape I would need in Maya. I then had to gather materials. I found a lot of the wood that I would use for this build so I kept cost reasonably low.
Initially I was planning on having a lid that could be removed. This lid would also double as a chill-out pad for the cats so I anticipated some fabric material on top. I also wanted to have a door in the back available in case the cats wanted more light, kind of like a window. So the original construction of the frame and the back, was designed with a door that could be latched and opened if needed. In hind site, this was an unnecessary addition but it wasn't a big deal to keep it.
The front of the box was designed to be hinged and open even if the lid was still on. This is how the cat box is accessed for cleaning. The main door for the cats was originally designed to be hinged and spring loaded so that it would stay closed. Kinda like a saloon door. But after adding the springs, it just seemed cumbersome and possible harmful to the cats. So I decided to leave the front doors (still hinged), open. I then added the drapery to minimize the litter from escaping.
The cat box cover also needed to be a scratching pad so I designed each side with a space for carpeting.
I added a window made from acrylic plastic and hinged the cat door entrance (the black doors). I then added the main door to the box and hinged it using door hinges.
I also added casters to the base. I know it's hard to see but they're there. It really helps moving this thing around.
Then it was onto painting this suckuh. I did a minimalist paint job to just get the basic colors and architecture from the building. The building in real life was turned into Hook and Ladder #8, a fully functioning firehouse. That meant that the architecture was still available for reference but not necessarily the details and color from the Ghostbusters movie. That also meant that I had to re-watch the movie for reference, shucks!
The added strips of wood were just added for a little dimension and I also created some pieces to look like some of the stone work near the roof. I then finished everything with a gloss spray.
Next it was onto adding the carpet. I found a teeny roll at Home Depot for a bargain and it was just enough to carpet the inside of the box as well as the 2 exterior sides.
My next task was to build the chill pad/roof/lid. In Photoshop, I designed an image of the Stay-Puft Marshmallows onto an image of actual marshmallows to get the design. I then printed out 9 seperate panels onto heat transfer material. I then ironed on these images onto some fabric.
Oh, and I also grabbed a stuffed bear at D.I. for the roof's padding material. Sorry cute bear.
Once the image was set onto the material, I stuffed and secured the fabric. I then added some buttons to bring the material closer to the lid. I then stapled everything to the lid and then added the side frame pieces. This was designed to have a lip around the entire cat box.
The last things to do were the details; I created a cute little Ghostbusters sign that can be seen right above the black doors. On those black doors, I painted the little windows and doors on them. And then I added the yellow pillars that sit on both sides of the front door.
It was at this point that I attached the door entrance drapery.
I also wanted to litterbox disposal unit to be Ghostbustery so I added some decor to the trash box to make it look a little like the storage facility from the movie (taking design liberties, of course). I also made sure that the trash box was secured by magnets so that it would stay closed.
