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DIY cat scratching post step by step how to make a scratching post
For a domestic cat that does not go outside, a special scratching post is needed, otherwise furniture, wallpaper and other surfaces can be seriously damaged. You can buy this attachment at a pet store. But a do-it-yourself scratching post for cats is much more profitable and more interesting. It can be made from almost any available materials and at the same time take into account the preferences of your pet, as well as the compatibility of the scratching post with the interior of the room.
You can make any scratching post for cats with your own hands.
How to make a scratching post with your own hands: the easiest option
First you need to decide on the shape, for this it is useful to observe the cat. If she most often sharpens her claws on a carpet or other horizontal surface, then the scratching post is best done on the floor, horizontal or with a slight slope.
For those who like to scratch the wallpaper and sides of sofas, fixtures attached to the wall or in the form of a vertical column are more suitable.
How to make a simple wall scratching post:
- prepare a wooden panel on which the scratching post will be attached. It should be several centimeters wider so that the cat, carried away, does not scratch the wallpaper;
- fix the panel to the wall. Its upper edge should be at such a height that the cat can barely reach with its paws;
- fit a wooden block or wide board to the size of the panel;
- drill holes for fixing the board, two at the top, in the middle and at the bottom;
- insert screws into the holes;
- wrap the board / bar with jute or thick twine. The coils must be very tight and the ends securely fastened;
- screw the scratching post to the panel.
The simplest device is ready to be tested with cat’s claws. By the same principle, you can make a horizontal scratching post by attaching the panel to the floor.
This option is very popular with cats, because they love to lie on a dais. So this device combines three functions: a sunbed, a scratching post and a toy.
Let’s consider step by step how to make a scratching post for cats with your own hands:
- a wooden beam with a side of 10 cm is ideal as a column. But you can also use a regular plastic pipe for plumbing. Only it will need to be made heavier by closing the holes and filling the pipe with sand or screenings;
- glue the wooden base with a carpet;
- the post can also be wrapped in carpet or wrapped in jute;
- exactly in the center of the base, securely attach a beam or pipe;
- to the upper end of the post, attach a platform for a sunbed, wrapped in a shaggy or plush cloth, with screws;
- from the bottom to the lounger, you can hang a ball, mouse or other toy on a string.
These are just two options for a homemade scratching post. With the help of your imagination and simple materials, you can make any design to please your pet and save furniture and walls from its claws.