Unless you enclose it in a cage of some kind, there’s no way you’ll keep animals out ???? per cent of the time. A cover is good for when not in use, truck is remembering to put it on

Covering the sandpit when it’s not in use would be my suggestion.

Some kind of cover would work, as already mentioned a few times below. Nothing worse then digging up a cat poo while playing in the sandpit

put a cover on it. Even preschools do this.

I use a cover for my kids sand pit on that is easy for them to take off and on but also so that dog and cat cannot get into it.

Get a sturdy cover – wooden boxes with a pull over cover work well but you have to remember to put it back on after play.
You could also fence it – I have lazy cats and as long as they can see through they won’t jump short barriers

I bought one from tiys r us that has a plastic lid that you pop over it, otherwise a tarp with clips over the side

I made a cover for ours

We have a fitted, blue plastic cover on ours. I saw a great idea the other day – a kids tent with sand in the base. Shady and you can zip it up when not in use!

When it’s not in use, we have a cover that slips over it

I think im going to make a cover

Put a cover on at all times when not in use. Also cats don’t like pepper so could sprinkle pepper around edge just before it and it may deter them!

If you already have one and can’t move it than you need to cover after use or if yours is moveable than consider buying a small tent and placing sandpit in it — 1/ you just zip it up after use and 2/ it provides sun shelter

get a shell pool thing that you can close up at night

We just cover the sand with a bit of shade cloth after the kids have finished playing. Seems to be doing the trick so far. My dogs would avoid the sandpit anyway, but we have lots of neighbours with cats which wander around at night…

my husband built a frame that he covered with shade cloth that sat over the top of the sandpit.

Simple cover it. Once a month reek over sand to remove any excrement and spray bleach or disinfectant onto the sand to prevent growth of harmful bacteria. Do not let your children use the sand for a day. Moth balls (camphor) in bowls of water also can be put around when not in use or loosely over the sand during winter or you can use a spray bottle to put over sand. Cats hate this. Watch out that the kids do not touch or eat them.

my dog loves lying in ours, I don’t mind though

A few years ago one of our neighbours had the same problem – with a stray cat – the kids got a nasty rash. Initially she used a special spray to kill any germs that were in it and covered it with pieces of timber that cats couldn’t get through but let sunlight in. At a later date they were allowed to play in it but it had to be re-covered as soon as the children left it.

I’d buy one with a lid, but if it’s too late for that, try a tarp over the top.