Many cats like to climb. A homemade scratching post provides your kitty with many hours of fun and distraction, and you can build it for less than buying one at a pet store. To make one, you need to build a tall structure, with several levels where your feline friend can crouch. This project also allows you to give your cat a personalized scratching post based on his personality and your aesthetic needs. With some basic knowledge and tools, you can try your hand at a simple and fun job.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: With Wood and Carpet
Step 1. Design the scratching post
Before buying all the necessary materials or starting construction, you need to define a project, which you can draw on paper, so as to draw up a list of everything you will need. There are several aspects to consider when planning this item.
- First, consider the space available to you. Think about where you will put it, then what size it must have to fit the position. It is worth taking a few measures to be sure that the finished product is within the limits.
- You should also weigh the cat's personality. If he loves climbing, then you should think about a model with several shelves. If, on the other hand, he is more inclined to hide or seek some privacy to sleep, then think about a scratching post with a protected niche to take a few naps.
- Finally, don't neglect your carpentry skills. If you are inexperienced with nails and planks, then try to limit yourself to a simple project so you won't feel overwhelmed.
- If you don't know where to start, then know that there are many websites with pictures of homemade scratching posts, from which you can get inspiration. You can also find pre-made schematics and model designs.
Step 2. Buy the material
Using the blueprint as a guide, determine which items you need. Plywood is a good choice for horizontal decks; boards with various sections and cardboard or PVC are perfect for vertical supports; the carpet is suitable for covering wood. You will also need these tools to assemble the scratching post:
- A drill and wood screws.
- A staple gun.
- A hand saw and a power table saw.
- Hammer and nails.
- A carpet or general purpose cutter.
- Wood glue or another strong adhesive.
- If you also want to create covered areas where the cat can relax and stretch out, take a disposable formwork for cylindrical pillars. These very strong cardboard tubes are great for making tunnels.
- You can also cut them lengthwise with a utility knife and create concave platforms or open kennels for the kitty.
Step 3. Cut all materials to size
Always use your blueprint as a reference and cut each piece of plywood or plank to the measurements indicated.
- For planks you can use a simple handsaw, while for plywood sheets you will have to rely on a table or hand circular saw.
- Sand rough edges if desired.
Step 4. Build a sturdy base for the structure
The scratching post must rest on a solid structure that extends, from the center, well beyond any platform mounted higher, in order to maintain the center of gravity and prevent the structure from tipping over. For this element, consider cutting two plywood squares to size and glue them one on top of the other to obtain a single sheet of greater thickness.
A square with a side of 60 cm is fine for a simple scratching post, but the higher the structure, the larger the base must be to ensure its stability
Step 5. Cover the base with carpet
Before attaching any vertical supports, it is best to cover the base with thick carpet or upholstery.
- Cut the fabric according to the measurements, but remember to leave a few inches of margin to wrap the edges under the plywood edge. Finally, secure the upholstery with wood clips from the underside of the base using a staple gun.
- You will need to cut small notches in the corners in the carpet to be able to fold it neatly under the plywood.
Step 6. Attach the vertical supports to the base
They will support the platforms and you can connect them to the plywood with screws, nails, bolts or glue.
- Turn the plywood square over so that the fabric-covered part is facing down. Next, drill holes where you want to attach the vertical supports. To complete the work, join the vertical elements at the base with nails and screws, passing the latter through the holes you made.
- It is advisable to cover the vertical supports with carpet before locking them in place, doing it later would be more complicated.
- To allow the cat to also vent its instinct to scratch, wrap one or more vertical elements with hemp rope, fixing each end with staples or headless nails. If you've decided on staples, remember to hammer them back in to make sure they don't protrude too much from the surface.
Step 7. Now connect the horizontal supports and platforms
You can use wood screws and / or glue for this.
Remember to cover all the elements with carpet or fabric after attaching them so you can hide the screws, finally staple the upholstery from the underside of the platforms, just like you did with the base
Step 8. Continue building the scratching post respecting the plan
Connect each element you planned by referring to the measures and anchor points noted earlier.
You can also make changes to the design as you go, to address stability issues, implement new ideas, or correct measurement errors
Method 2 of 2: With a Ladder
Step 1. Get a ladder
For this simple and unique project, you just need an old wooden staircase. Take a tour of the flea markets and thrift shops, read the private ads or go to some secondhand shop to buy a 90-120 cm high ladder.
- Choose an old, wooden model that looks like an inverted "V" with several steps on either side and arranged in pairs at the same height.
- It's fine even if the wood looks a bit old, but make sure the base isn't too wobbly. You must be sure that the structure does not overturn with the risk of injuring the cat.
- Find a ladder about 120cm high. A very high one is too unstable or too dangerous for the cat to play with.
Step 2. Gather all the materials
The ladder will be the base of the scratching post, but you will have to modify it a bit to make it suitable for the needs of your feline friend. Here's what you need:
- A piece of plywood long and wide enough to rest on two opposite rungs at the same level. It will be the platform for the cat. If you want more than one platform, then buy several pieces of plywood.
- Hammer and 5 cm nails.
- Carpet.
- A staple gun.
- A piece of jute, denim or other sturdy fabric to create a hammock between the two lowest rungs.
- A can of paint (optional).
- A toy to hang with a piece of rope or twine.
- A hemp rope to wrap around the legs of the ladder.
Step 3. Sand and paint the ladder and wood pieces
Use fine-grit sandpaper and remove all splinters and jagged edges. Do the same with each piece of plywood you have purchased.
- Paint both the ladder and the plywood with a coat or two of paint if you have decided to use it. Wait for it to dry completely.
- As for painting, let your imagination run free. You can color the staircase to match the rest of the furniture, but you can also choose green and brown to make it look like a real tree. Also consider using stencils to create decorations along the sides.
- Instead of coloring the platforms, make them more comfortable for your cat by covering them with carpet. Attach it to the plywood pieces after nailing them to the ladder. To block the carpet around the perimeter and in the center of the platform, use staples; make sure, however, that they do not sprout from the wood; if necessary, flatten them with the hammer.
Step 4. Nail the platforms to the ladder
First place the piece of plywood on a pair of rungs at the same height so that it remains horizontal and transverse to the ladder. Use the hammer and four nails to secure the platform to the wooden pegs, fixing a nail at each corner.
- Check that the platform is very secure once nailed. You may need to use more nails or wood screws to get a stable structure.
- If you have a second piece of plywood to create another platform, follow the same procedure and fix it where you want.
Step 5. Assemble the hammock
Many cats like to sleep in hammocks. If you feel like adding one to your pet's “playground”, measure and cut a piece of sturdy fabric so that the four corners extend towards the four legs of the ladder. With staples or nails fix the fabric to the inside of each leg of the ladder making sure that the corners of the hammock are all at the same height.
- Make sure the fabric is thick enough to hold the cat's weight. You can fold it in half or sew the hem on the edges to make it more resistant.
- The slightly stretch fabrics are ideal for "feline hammocks".
- Always check that the nails and staples do not protrude from the wood, to prevent the animal from getting injured or scratched. Tap them back with the hammer if necessary.
- You can replace the hammock with a durable cardboard tube covered with upholstery and attach it to the ladder thanks to two wooden planks with a 5x10 cm section. Secure these boards with bolts, nails or screws between the ladder legs. This will make the scratching post harder to carry, but certainly more sturdy.
Step 6. Wrap the rope around the ladder legs
If you want the scratching post to allow your cat to vent its instinct to scratch as well, then cover the base of the ladder with a thick, sturdy rope.
- Cut the rope into four segments. With staples, fix one end on the inside, at the base of one leg of the ladder.
- Wrap it tightly, tapping it with the hammer if necessary. Always block the other end with a metal staple, making sure that it is not exactly where the cat will use it most often.
- Repeat this procedure for all other legs of the ladder.
- If you wish, cover the legs of the ladder completely with the rope, from the base to the upper end. Between one peg and the other use a new piece of rope. In this way the cat will have many points to be able to scratch, in any area of its "playground".
Step 7. Refine the scratching post
Hang the toy you bought at the top of the ladder in a place that the animal can reach, so that it is encouraged to play with it. Add all the final details you want to make your scratching post unique and fun.
Advice
- Use a spirit level to check that all platforms are flat and horizontal.
- Look for some scratching post templates online as inspiration for your project.
- Rub the carpet and upholstery with a little catnip to make the structure attractive to the cat.
Warnings
- Check that all the metal material (nails, screws, staples, and so on) does not protrude from the wood or carpet in the areas that will come into contact with the cat. Where possible, make sure it is covered in carpet.
- Make sure the structure is sturdy and stable before allowing the cat to play with it. If not, you may still need to use screws or nails.
- Check that the rope does not come loose from the scratching post. The animal could get entangled and hurt itself.
