DIY Scratching Post For Cats And Cats: How To Make At Home, Step By Step Instructions, Diagrams, Photos, Sizes, Choice Of Materials

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Scratching post: choose the right one or do it yourself

Every owner of a cat or cat knows how the predatory disposition of his pet manifests itself. Ability to attack from around the corner, interest in small moving objects and a special love for furniture and wallpaper. Sometimes it seems that a furry friend is simply doing dirty tricks, peeling off the latter. But this is not the case. You want to sharpen your cat's claws because of their nature. Therefore, you should not blame the domestic predator for all sins, but it is better to pick up a scratching post for him or make it yourself.

Content

• 1 Why do you need a scratching post

  1.1 Video: why cats sharpen their claws

• 2 Types of scratching posts

  • 2.1 Photo gallery: products with different coating options
  • 2.2 Wall-mounted scratching posts
  • 2.3 Corner
  • 2.4 Floor standing
  • 2.5 Columns with platforms
• 3 Buy or do it yourself

• 4 How to make a scratching post with your own hands

  • 4.1 What materials will be needed
  • 4.2 Floor scratching post: step-by-step master class
  • 4.3 Making a rag-column for a kitten
  • 4.4 Video: how to make a do-it-yourself scratching post game complex
• 5 Where to place the rag

• 6 How to teach a cat to sharpen its claws on a scratching post

  6.1 Video: how to train a cat to a scratching post

Why do you need a scratching post

A scratching post (claw, rag) is a device on which a house cat can sharpen its claws. Buying them or building them with their own hands, far-sighted owners distract the furry pet from carpets, a sofa and wallpaper. The cute predator's instincts are satisfied, the destructive process in the apartment is stopped.

The scratching post allows your pet to sharpen their nails without harming furniture and wallpaper

Why do cats sharpen their claws at all? This is how they maintain their physical and mental health:

• help to renew the claws;
• relieve stress and waste excess energy;
• stretch the spine and strengthen the muscles.

When I taught my cat to a scratching post, about a week later I found a claw next to it. I was frightened, decided that the material of the rag was too hard and damaged the claws of my pet. After examining his paws and spending 10 minutes on the Internet, I learned that this is normal. Domestic furries, like snakes, shed dead claws to allow new ones to grow.

Video: why cats sharpen their claws

Types of scratching posts

Scratching posts differ in the type and material of the cover. The most common ones cover:

• jute - ropes from the fibers of the plant of the same name. Not too durable material, but safe and economical;
• sisal - stronger ropes made of agave fibers (rags covered with sisal are more expensive);
• carpet - a material that repeats the texture of carpets;
• cardboard - an environmentally friendly, but short-lived material.

The types of scratching posts are distinguished depending on their use and installation.

Photo gallery: products with different coating options

Jute-coated scratching posts are the most popular for their economy

The sisal-coated scratching post is the most durable

Carpet-covered scratching post is not very durable, but ideal for cats who like to sharpen their claws on carpets

Cardboard scratching post - economical, but the most short-lived of the presented

Wall scratching posts

Wall claws are flat boards that are placed on walls. They are perfect for cats who like to sharpen their claws on your wallpaper. Usually such rags are covered with sisal or jute.

Wall-mounted scratching post works well for small apartments

Pros of a wall-mounted scratching post:

• does not take up much space;
• a large selection of places for accommodation;
• it cannot be turned over, so the owners will not wake up at night from a sudden roar;
• the product can cover a part of the wall with damaged wallpaper;
• low price.

Of the minuses, it can be noted that this claw frame is problematic to transfer from place to place. You need to re-drill the wall or drive in a nail to outweigh the plank. On the other hand, if the cat is used to sharpening its claws in one place, it is hardly worth changing the location of the rag.

Corner

An improved version of the flat wall scratching post - angular. As the name implies, such a plank is attached to the corner of two walls. Like a flat cloth, this cloth is well suited for small apartments, because it is compact and economical.

Changing the position of an angled scratching post is even more difficult than a flat one

The corner scratching post will protect the wallpaper at the corners from the attacks of a domestic predator

Some corner scratching posts are multi-storey. They are complemented with playgrounds, hammocks and other elements.

A corner scratching post with a platform will appeal to a cat who likes to jump on cabinets to watch what is happening in the apartment

Floor standing

Not all cats sharpen their claws on walls. Some people like to do this on carpets or other horizontal surfaces. For such pets, it is better to buy a floor scratching post:

1. Flat. This is a plank, usually covered with sisal. You just need to put it on the floor. Such rags are compact and easy to use.

   

   The flat scratching post is easy and convenient to carry from place to place

2. With curves. Wave-shaped scratching posts allow the cat not only to sharpen its claws, but also to play. They are more expensive than flat ones and require a little more space.

   

   The wave-shaped scratching post allows the cat not only to sharpen its claws, but also to play

3. Scratching post toy. Typically, such plastic products are covered with carpet on top. After the cat has played enough with the artificial mouse, he will sharpen his claws on the rug on the surface of the rag.

   

   A floor scratching post with an artificial mouse inside can become a kitten's favorite toy

4. Made from several layers of cardboard. These are the most short-lived scratching posts, but if your pet loves to sharpen claws on cardboard boxes, he will definitely like these products. Such a rag is very cheap, it will have to be replaced in 4-6 months. Some manufacturers impregnate the cardboard with scents that attract cats, so furry predators immediately show interest in a new toy.

   

   When choosing a cardboard scratching post, you need to be prepared to often sweep the pieces of cardboard torn off by a cat

Columns with platforms

Scratching posts in the form of posts with platforms are perhaps the most popular. When choosing such a piece of cloth, you should pay attention to its height. A half-meter column is suitable for a kitten, and for an adult cat - from 70 cm. Sufficient height will allow the fluffy predator to stretch its back and strengthen the joints.

You can choose a scratching post of different sizes, functionality and cost:

1. One column with a platform is the most economical and compact version of this type of rags. As a rule, such scratching posts are covered with not very durable jute.

   

   Scratching post-post

2. Corner - created for cats who like to sharpen their claws on the corners of the apartment. Such models are semicircular, they are easy to rearrange.

   

   Corner post scratching post can be easily moved to another room or installed at a different corner

3. With a house. In addition to the scratching post, the pet gets its own place to sleep and rest. The size of a standard house is 35x35 cm.

   

   Scratching post with a house

4. Large complexes with several levels. Such scratching posts are supplemented not only with houses, but also with couches, hammocks, ladders and tunnels. This is a great option for the active furry predator.

   

   Play complex with scratching posts

Buy or do it yourself

Whether the cat uses the scratching post or not depends on many factors:

• whether the pet is satisfied with the coverage;
• is the type of rag chosen correctly;
• Did the furry predator understand how to use the new toy;
• does he like the smell of the product.

Cats' sense of smell is not as subtle as a dog's, but nevertheless these animals are able to distinguish natural materials from synthetic ones by smell. The smell of the latter is likely to repel them. That is why pets may refuse to use a product bought in a store. If this is your situation, try making a scratching post with your own hands.

Homemade rags will cost less than similar store-bought ones, besides, you will definitely know the composition of the materials from which the device is made.

How to make a scratching post with your own hands

Before starting work, it is important to understand what a scratching post should be:

• stable - it is important that the product withstands the active pressure of a domestic predator and does not fall;
• compact - if you have a small apartment, the rag should be small;
• durable - the coating material must have sufficient strength;
• aesthetic - the design will become an element of the interior, so it is better to work on its appearance.

The scratching post must be stable enough so that the cat does not knock it over.

What materials will be needed

Observe your pet to find out which scratching post cover to choose. Some furry pets love cardboard boxes, while others often sharpen their claws on carpets and upholstered furniture. The first is suitable for rags made of cardboard, the second - from jute, sisal or carpet.

It is better to choose natural materials for the coating. Synthetic ropes have important disadvantages:

• can scare a cat away with their smell;
• quickly deteriorate;
• dangerous if swallowed (if the pet decides to chew the rag).

I bought a jute-coated bollard for my cat. No matter how much my husband and I tried to accustom the little wallpaper pest to the scratching post, he did not show the necessary interest in it. Our pet played with a toy tied to a rag, sat on a platform attached at the top, but flatly refused to sharpen his claws and continued to spoil the walls. The decision came naturally when we bought a new washing machine. The cat happily took up manicure on the box in which the equipment was packed. We gave it to our pet to be torn apart, and later made a claw-rail from corrugated cardboard sheets. So we saved the wallpaper remaining in the apartment.

There are also cats who prefer to manicure on trees. For such pets, you can simply bring a beautiful stump or part of a post of a cut down tree - and the animals will be happy!

Floor scratching post: step by step master class

For a simple floor scratching post you will need:

• wooden plank;
• two bars for the sides;
• twine;
• 4 screws;
• drill;
• stapler.

Manufacturing process:

1. We attach the bars to the sides of the board with screws.

   

   It is important to choose screws that will securely attach the bars to the board.

2. We make two holes in opposite corners of the board. We pass the end of the twine into one of them, tie a knot. We wind the twine, securing it with staples.

   

   You can fasten the twine with staples using a stapler

3. The floor scratching post is ready!

   

   A flat scratching post is best placed where the cat likes to sharpen its claws

Making a rag-column for a kitten

For a small post-scratching post, you need to prepare:

• several empty cans (their total height must exceed 50 cm);
• a piece of carpet;
• wooden board;
• hot or silicone glue;
• knife;
• jute or sisal;
• woolen thread and feathers;
• nails.

A scratching post for a kitten can be made not from a wooden block, but from tin cans or a piece of plastic pipe

Manufacturing:

1. We cut out the carpet in the form of a board with a margin. We glue it to the board. We put on the weights and wait until it dries completely.

   

   In order for the glue to set better, it is better to put weights on the carpet.

2. We glue the cans to each other - we have a base pipe. First, you need to put a weighting agent in the bottom (a piece of wood, a weight, or just a bag with cereals). We glue the pipe to the bottom platform. We glue it with carpet.

   

   You can glue the cans to each other, and then glue them with carpet, or glue each one separately, and then assemble them into a solid structure

3. We process the middle section with glue. Until it dries, we wrap this part of the pipe with a jute or sisal cord. We make a toy from woolen thread and feathers and attach to the top.

   

   Bright toy will attract the attention of a playful kitten

4. The scratching post for a playful kitten is ready!

   

   Having fun with a toy, the kitten gradually gets used to the scratching post

Video: how to make a do-it-yourself scratching post game complex

Where to place the rag

It is worth placing a scratching post where a pet likes to sharpen its claws. Did the cat take a fancy to the wallpaper and scratches the wall in a certain place? It is worth hanging a rag there. Little predator putting nails on the sofa? Place a post next to it on the platform or put a floor clipper.

If you decide to buy or make a whole play complex or a multi-level scratching post, there is not so much choice for placing the structure. Place the rag where it is convenient for you, and gradually train the cat to sharpen its claws there.

How to teach a cat to sharpen its claws on a scratching post

There are several ways to train a cat to sharpen its claws on a piece of cloth:

• put on a structure or hang some kind of toy on it - the animal will reach for it and involuntarily touch the coating with its claws;
• teach your pet by example - pretend you are sharpening your nails on a scratching post;
• rub the claw cover with a rag, which you previously held over the fur of another cat - your pet will begin to mark the territory, scratching the surface with a strange smell.

Be sure to praise your cat for sharpening its claws in the right place. Iron it, treat it with delicious treats. But in no case should you force your pet to direct a manicure on a scratching post. By dipping its claws into the coating and running the animal's paws along the surface, you can involuntarily hurt your pet. Do not rub the coating with valerian - its smell inhibits the cat's instincts.

Video: how to train a cat to a scratching post

The scratching post helps the house cat to maintain its health without harm to the interior of the apartment. It is worth choosing a product, focusing on the preferences of your pet. If you decide to build a structure yourself, it is important that it is safe for the pet and has an aesthetic appearance.