Making an easy and cheap cat scratching post
Your cat scratching the sofa? Offer him an irresistible homemade alternative.
Recommended Materials
- Sisal rope (DIY store)
- Corrugated cardboard
- Wood glue (non-toxic)
- Wooden board
Steps to follow
Step 1
Understand the need: The cat does not scratch to annoy you, but to mark its territory (glands between the pads), stretch and wear down its claws. He needs a stable, vertical support high enough for him to stretch out fully.
Step 2
The post scratcher (Sisal): Take a wooden post (or a solid PVC tube). Wrap sisal rope (rope section DIY store) very tightly all around. Glue the ends with strong glue or a glue gun. Fix the post on a heavy and wide base (so it doesn't tip over) or directly to the wall.
Step 3
The cardboard scratcher (Cat's favorite): Cut strips of corrugated cardboard of the same width (e.g. 10cm). Roll them on themselves tightly to form a large flat disc (like a snail). Glue as you go. Place it on the ground or in a shoe box lid. Cats love the texture of cardboard they can shred.
Step 4
The natural log: A simple raw wooden log with its bark, brought back from the forest, makes an excellent natural, aesthetic and free scratching post. Make sure it is stable (screw it onto a board if necessary).
Step 5
Attractiveness: To make the cat use the new scratching post, rub a little catnip on it or play with him around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
He keeps scratching the sofa ?
Place the scratching post RIGHT IN FRONT of the spot on the sofa he attacks. Stick double-sided tape on the sofa temporarily (cats hate the sticky feeling). Once he has adopted the scratching post, move it centimeter by centimeter to its final place.
Precautions
- Check stability (if it falls, he will be scared and won't go back).
- No accessible staples.
