Scratching is an innate and necessary attitude for a cat. Scratching cleans and sharpens the nails and is something a cat will do regardless of the sacredness of the objects in your home. If you wish to keep it away from furniture, having a scratching post is essential. Whenever the cat scratches the wrong thing, just pick it up and place it on the scratching post so that it gets the message.
If you have a large house, you can find a solution upstairs or downstairs or have several scratching posts strategically placed where they spend most of their time in the house. And to save your budget, it is really easy to build them at home for a lot less than the products on the market. In fact, you can build his scratching post with scrap materials if you wish.
Steps
Step 1. Decide on the size of your scratching post before starting
The scratching post must be stable, as if it flips over easily, the cat may reject it. As an example, the model in the photo measures 71 cm in height and the base is approximately 45 cm by 30 cm. The scratching post must be, at a minimum, the length of the cat plus a few centimeters for it to stretch out.
All the wood will be covered, but as a precaution, you can smooth it to get rid of any long splinters
Step 2. Use a 12 x 12 cm scratching post or two 6 x 12 cm pieces joined together, and cut to the required length
Keep these aside for now.
Step 3. Build the base
The basis of this model has two layers. The first layer consists of a support of plywood, the second of two boards as wide as the plywood.
- Attach these two parts to the plywood and line them up.
- Secure the top layer to the bottom with wood screws. This makes the base solid and stable.
Step 4. Cover the base with the scratching material of your choice, something along the lines of a Berber carpet or a turf cover (Astro Turf)
Or, buy the materials to make a doormat in a shop all for one euro. Natural rope, such as sisalana (sisal) agave, is fine, but takes time to wrap tightly and neatly, and must also be glued in place. A manual stapler is perfect for this project, but large head nails and flat tacks are also things you need.
- Be sure to drive nails or tacks flush with the scratching material. Avoid anything that protrudes or is placed in such a way that it can get caught in the cat's nails. Eliminate anything that is not flush and redo it in a workmanlike manner.
- If you are using staples, tap lightly with the hammer to even out flush with the surface, as the stapler does not always push the staple head all the way.
- If you are using sisal rope, use a non-toxic glue. The cat can sometimes lick the rope, just because it can.
Step 5. Place the scratching post in the center of the base
Attach it to the base using a screw on each side.
Step 6. Cover the scratching post with scratching material and attach as described for the base
Step 7. Attach a toy, or something hanging and irresistible to the top to entice the cat to learn about the new scratching post
This image shows a luminous dangling rope to entice the cat to play.
If you want double fun, and a dual-purpose scratching post, attach an old toothbrush to the cat's eye level. It's perfect for having great feline expressions! And for more fun, rub some fresh catnip deep into the fibers. Your cat will LOVE it
Method 1 of 1: Alternative Solution
Step 1. Make sure the scratching post is completely dry
If you start the job with a wet or damp scratching post, it will shrink as it dries and the string won't be tied tightly around it.
Step 2. Put on work gloves
Nail one end of the string all the way around the top of the scratching post (at least 4 nails around).
Step 3. Roll the string tightly down the scratching post
The rope should be wrapped as tightly as possible, with no gaps between each ring. When you reach the bottom, once again nail the rope all the way around the bottom (at least 4 nails around).
Step 4. Nail the base to the scratching post using the thin coated nails
Make sure there are no sharp pieces sticking out and that the base has no splinters.
Step 5. Give the cat the scratching post to enjoy
Advice
- Waste materials are everywhere! Check with neighbors or friends (anyone who doesn't have pets at home). And ask the dealers for carpet clippings you don't need.
- You can find all sorts of items thrown away on construction sites near your home! Do not take anything or even take a look without asking the company first and always be careful when you are on the site.
- Rub catnip on the scratching post to make it even more attractive.
- Cats deprived of nails still have the urge to "scratch" and can enjoy a scratching post like this.
Warnings
- Use goggles and gloves. Accidents always happen unexpectedly, and they can be prevented.
- A used rug is wonderful, but make sure it comes from a pet-free home. The smell of an unknown animal can cause the cat to reject the scratching post - or worse, to mark it by spraying it.
- If you add something hanging to play, make sure it's not long enough to snag, like a ball of yarn. This could endanger the cat if he plays with a lot of frenzy and there is no one around to free him.
- Make sure there are no embossed staples, screws, and other grips. They are unlikely to risk hurting the cat anyway, but it's always best to be safe, and besides, you want your work to be as tidy as possible.
