What to make a scratching post for a cat. Do-it-yourself cat scratching post: detailed instructions for making

We always had a cat scratching post made by ourselves, but after the repair, we decided to buy a magnificent construction for fabulous money. And what do you think, our cats boycotted the expensive construction and went to tear up the furniture in the kitchen. I had to make a simple scratching post myself, with my own hands, as always.

Making a scratching post for cats with your own hands is exciting and inexpensive, but at the same time, you will not only save money, but also show your love and attention to your pet.

The most suitable shape is a cylindrical shape, and the best material for making is cotton clothesline. Of course, there is no limit to imagination, so our pet stores have a wide variety of cat scratching posts available.

• The form includes cylindrical posts, rings, and a variety of square and rectangular rugs for horizontal and vertical placement on the floor and on the wall.
• Materials. They are made from different materials, but most often they use natural material: wood, twine, cardboard, coarse fabrics.
• A multi-piece building. There may be "towns", special houses, soft or plastic toys, bridges, shelves, sunbeds, or everything in the complex.
• Dimensions - medium, in height from 80 cm to 1 meter, and huge solid, reaching the ceiling, attached to the walls.

For one animal, a medium-sized structure will suffice; in this case, a large scratching post is not needed. If you have a cat couple or family, then pay attention to complex designs.

It is necessary to place the scratching post, taking into account the natural behavior of the cat - on turns, in places where the animal most often passes, in doorways, in the hallway. Then the pet will adapt very quickly and fall in love with your product.

And don't be happy with the fact that your pet doesn't scratch anything and sleeps all day long. Sedentary cats do not exist in nature. If a furry animal does not want to play, it means that he is sick. A healthy pet will gladly accept your gift and will jump and climb the structure all day long, grinding down its claws in the process.

1 What materials are best for work

It is very important to take into account the fact that the cat scratching post should have a hard surface, but such that the animal does not damage its paws and the living part of the claw. Therefore, the material must be chosen coarse, but moderately fibrous, rough. It is necessary that the claws do not cling and do not get tangled when cleaning. In addition, cats are very sensitive to static electricity, so it is better to look for thick cotton clothesline

or something like that. Otherwise, the cat will not even approach the structure.

• - The house can be made from any fabric that is not electrified.
• - It is better to make the basis of the structure from thick cardboard, thin plywood or dry boards. Do not use painted, laminated, with chemical additives material.
• - It is better to fit the structure with hard twine or a tourniquet. It is necessary that the composition of the material does not include soft fibers from synthetics, since the cat can catch on its claws and get injured.
• - The soft part should not be stuffed with down, wool or straw, it is better to take a synthetic winterizer lining with a hypoallergenic composition.
• - The upper part can be made from carpet, after rinsing it in water and drying it in the sun. Leather materials should not be used as they are slippery and always cold, and cats love anything soft and warm.

The choice of materials requires a lot of attention from you. Pets are very fastidious and sensitive, so they immediately react negatively to synthetic materials, and will not use the scratching post if they do not like the smell or break through the electric charge.

2 Do-it-yourself wooden scratching post

We bring to your attention one of the most affordable and easiest ways to make wooden scratching post at home with your own hands.

• Step one. Take a look around in your yard or park. You will definitely see some kind of log or stump. Take this natural preparation with you. Birch, or any coniferous tree, except spruce, is most suitable.
• Step two. It is necessary to clean the bark with a brush, dry the workpiece in a dark place.
• Step three. Set a dry log in an upright position, securing it on a strong base. You can divide the log into two halves and attach the half to the wall.

It should be noted that the proposed design should have a height according to the height of the cat, without taking into account the length of the tail. Cats love to stretch out by scratching the surface.

Unfortunately, not all whims may like such "handicraft". An arrogant animal can simply walk past your structure, and it is impossible to force it to use an accessory.

3 Do-it-yourself scratching post from a simple burlap

Build a frame of any size from improvised means and pull burlap over it (you can use another dense fabric folded in layers). Use pieces of a quilt to put between layers of fabric. Place your scratching post right next to the furniture set that your pet loves so much. A little effort and the cat should realize what can be scratched and what is not.

4 Do-it-yourself cardboard scratching post

• Take pieces of pressed cardboard from simple boxes.
• You choose the shape of the product yourself, but the round shape is the easiest.
• Cut the cardboard into pieces. Bend each part so that you get a loose spiral. Next, you need to pull off the roll, glue along the edges and inside.
• We bring the circle in diameter to 50 cm, fasten it, dry it and decorate it with decor.

The decor can be a ribbon glued in the middle in order to initially attract the cat. Like here:

Although without an accessory, draws inflows such as this handsome man.

To perform more complex forms, you must have primary skills in working with the material, be able to design it, cut it, sew it with your own hands, using the necessary tools. For example, you can familiarize yourself with the model of a scratching post with an upper sunbed. It is desirable that such a structure be arranged in the form of a branched tree. Then animal instincts wake up in the pussy, and she enjoys using such an artificial device.

Do-it-yourself scratching post house - dimensions and drawings

We make a cat scratching post house with our own hands to match our home and the number of pets.

The simplest house, couch and scratching post. The advantages of this house are its small size and the ability to use it both as an ottoman for the owner and as a house for a pet.

A very simple and comfortable house for both playing and manicure.

Chic and cozy scratching post and bed from the box

Tepee house with a drawing and cutting

And here are the drawings of the scratching posts, which you will have to work on.

We must not forget that the device for cats must be made of more durable materials, since the claws of a cat, compared to the claws of a cat, are more durable, although they grow much more slowly.

Do-it-yourself scratching post MK video

How to make a scratching post column, simply, clearly and quickly in this video:

Corner scratching post

Do-it-yourself cat scratching post is often located in the corner. It is very convenient to arrange it in the very corner that your pet has already chosen. There is no need to accustom him to another place.

The simplest corner structure can be made from two boards. Take two boards of the right color, wrap them with a clothesline with your own hands, fasten the rope on the back of the boards with a stapler, and attach them on both sides to the door jamb, for example. Pussies will not refuse to tear claws there, even such as our harsh Dusya.

It is advisable not to use metal parts in the design of fixtures. They are too hard and the cat can damage its claws.

Do-it-yourself scratching post with a bed

Animals love to climb higher, provide them with conditions for both lying down and lifting their claws.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo, but we made such a couch or “nurse” for our cat from an ordinary board, without covering it with anything, and as a result, the whole board was torn. The kitty really liked to watch, basking in the sun and immediately stretch and tear its claws.

Lovely scratching post for comfortable lying.

DIY scratching post for cats>/a>

Wall scratching post

There is a feature here. You can not make the wall dralka too small or narrow. Otherwise, the surface of the adjacent wall will suffer.

Crafts for cats, scratching post toys

Hang the toys from the scratching post with an elastic band. Pussies like to grab the toy with their teeth and try to carry it away, but the fact that the toy breaks out and returns to its place attracts the cat and encourages him to play for a long time.

How to train a cat to a new scratching post

The cat is quite narcissistic and fastidious animal. Therefore, it is not easy to change something for your pet or pet. Even if you have the best intentions, you need to find a special approach to your pet so that he follows your lead.

When the scratching post is ready for use, take your animal gently in your arms, talk to it, stroke it. Do everything to make him relax and believe you. And only then take his paw and run it over the surface so that the cat releases its claws. At this time, the glands on the foot will work, releasing a specific smell. Thus, the new thing becomes labeled by your cat. And he now recognizes her as his without much effort.

Release the fluffy beast into the wild and watch its behavior. After a while, he sniffs the territory and will come to the right place himself to stretch out to his full height and thoroughly grind off the claws on the front and hind legs.

You can also use such a trick as interestingness attached to the device. A soft ball stuffed with synthetic winterizer, a ball with an elastic band or a bag of burlap with catnip inside, also attached with an elastic band so that it can be taken in the teeth and dragged, and it would break out, the elastic would shrink, and the toy would return to its place.

Where is a cat or a cat more willing to sharpen its claws

Pay attention when you come home, your pet meets you and tries to sharpen its claws. For a cat, sharpening its claws is not only a hygiene procedure, it is also a manifestation of love, and a demonstration of revenge,

and God knows what else a cat puts into such a simple action. I hope that we have nothing to take revenge on our pets, but to show our love for us must be provided to them without fail.

There is an opinion that the pussy sharpens its claws exactly where the owner can admire it, or it tears up exactly those things that, as it seems to it, the owner loves, well, this is in the case of a manifestation of love and devotion. I'm afraid to imagine that she fights in a fit of revenge.

If the cat has chosen the corner of the sofa

If the choice has already fallen on the corner of the sofa, I offer two options:

• Do not argue and sew a cover
• To argue, by gluing double-sided tape (after checking how easy and without trouble for the sofa it can then be peeled off). If you decide to argue, then be prepared to immediately offer a mustachioed beauty or handsome man a good scratching post in a good place.

Do cats need a scratching post and can a cat live without claws

The thing is that the claws of a cat, like the nails of its owner, grow very quickly, and if the cat does not find a thing in the apartment suitable for grinding them, then many things will suffer from its manipulations - furniture, carpeting, wooden parts tables and chairs, soft toys and clothes in the hallway.

This behavior of the pet is unlikely to please the owners, but it is very dangerous to stop the process of grinding the claws. The pussy will get cracks and chips on the claws, and this will bring such pain to the animal that even a twisted fingernail in a person cannot be compared.

In addition, a cat with long claws cannot fully climb wooden surfaces and vertical planes. Although at home there is no such possibility, the animal still receives a lot of stress due to the fact that it loses its natural ability to climb using its claws. It is stress that causes all diseases, and your beloved fluffy may die.

With long claws, a cat in motion experiences such an unpleasant sharp pain, every step brings her pain. At first, she does not even understand what is happening and tries to endure, and as a result, lameness occurs.

Some too busy owners rush to seek help from a veterinarian who offers to remove the claws altogether. But such a procedure brings the cat incredible suffering and pain. In fact, a natural imbalance sets in, and a cat that has undergone such an operation becomes disabled. Therefore, you should not engage in such “living”, it is better to show a little ingenuity and create conditions for your beloved pet with your own hands as close to natural as possible with the help of a scratching post.

How does a cat's claw work?

What is a cat's claw? This is, in fact, a keratinized finger. Organic substances come to him all the time with blood. Since this process is in constant contact with the air, it hardens, and its ends become brittle and prevent the beast from moving. The cat needs to get rid of these unnecessary particles from time to time. So the cat does not undermine its claws, but gets rid of too much length.

By its nature, the cat's claw grows in an arcuate manner, and then cuts into the pad on the paw, which leads to injury, inflammation and sharp pain. The longer the cat's claws, the more dangerous the jump onto a hard surface. When a push occurs, depreciation is not provided by all parts of the animal's body, but only by the ligaments on the legs. Such a blow can lead to injury to the ligaments. Cat stretching will bring incredible pain.

The growth of claws, in addition to the above problems, leads to a loss of sharpness. So, cats lose their defense function. Although it is not necessary for a cat to scratch other household inhabitants, and even more so the owner, it must have confidence in its capabilities.

When a cat "cleans" its claws, it leaves its smell, released by special glands on the paws. It turns out that the cat, thus, marks its territory. And for animals, this is a very important aspect in a certain habitat.

A domestic cat that walks by itself in the yard does not require special conditions to shorten its claws. She does not need special tools, because in the yard there are many improvised means for “manicure”. But still, the owner should control the condition of the claws of his pet. In the yard, the cat often runs away from the dogs, climbing a tall tree, as a result of which it loses or breaks its claw. With such injuries, it is better not to let the cat out into the yard, even for a walk.

The kitty is such a cute creature that always wants to please its owner. But nature takes its toll - and cat's claws leave their mark on things, furniture. In this case, you should not show discontent and punish the beast. You must know the natural needs of a pet and always find the right way out. You just need to create the most comfortable conditions for the cat, close to the natural environment. Just a do-it-yourself scratching post for cats will come to the rescue of both you and your cat.

Yes, but the “design” was presented to the neighbors, their cats appreciated and fell in love with it immediately and irrevocably. Here is one of the family members of our neighbors.

I hope your cat found the opportunity to tell you what kind of design she wants and where she agrees to sharpen her claws.

Information taken from sites: meow-cat.com, rem-stroitelstvo.ru, the9life.com and from personal archives

If your cat or cat constantly disappears in the closet, scratches the wallpaper or sofa, hides under the covers and this bothers you, try making a cat corner. A properly made house for a cat or a cat will be a favorite place to spend time. All kinds of cat corners, with and without scratching posts, are full in stores, but this is not the same at all ... Made by yourself is better and more reliable ... You can develop it personally for the needs of your pet.

Which option to choose?

Building a house for a cat is not so difficult, but you need to choose the right design. After all, I want something made with my own hands to be actively exploited, and not just standing there to collect dust. To make your cat or cat like the house, take a closer look at where the pet prefers to spend time, what he likes to do, where he prefers to relax - climbing higher or on the floor ... In general, you need to select the design of the cat's house based on the habits of your pets.

How to develop a design

The preferences of cats and cats may differ. For example, cats prefer houses with two entrances - in case of emergency evacuation of offspring. Therefore, many people like pipes or structures similar to them. At the same time, they do not like a hole that is too large, as it is necessary to feel in a shelter. Therefore, the entrance / exit to the house must be made not too large so that the pet can easily pass into it, but no more. And one more thing: not all cats like houses that stand on the floor - cats live in them with kittens. "Singles" prefer shelters at a height, although this is also not a fact, and depends on the habits of the individual.

Cats prefer to spend time at height, watching everything that happens around them. They rarely sit in the house, but on the playgrounds they can wallow for hours. If you have a cat, make more areas, and of solid size - so that the animal can lie stretched out to its full height without the risk of falling. Railings, if needed, are only for the highest shelves and obviously not around the perimeter, but only from the back and a little from the sides. In general, males feel great even on sites without any fences: there are no fences on the trees. Railings are needed more for the peace of mind of the owners than for cats.

And by the way, there are cats who like to sit on the playgrounds no less than cats. So they also need viewpoints, just like cat houses. You never know, maybe he will be in a bad mood and he will decide to hide from you there. So yes, we have not simplified the task of choosing, but this is exactly the case - until you try, you will not understand what your pet needs.

What to add

When the owners say “cat house”, they usually mean a whole cat complex, in which, in addition to the house itself, there are playgrounds and a number of additional devices. Usually one or two sites are actively used, while the rest are only occasionally visited. But the fact is that you don’t know in advance what your pet will like.

Useful additions to the cat's house are scratching posts and climbing frames. Scratching posts are vertical surfaces that are usually wrapped with natural fiber rope. Climbing boards - horizontal and inclined boards, on which cats can move from one level to another. Scratching posts, by the way, can also be used as climbing frames - animals climb onto them on the upper tiers.

What else can be in a cat complex? Hammocks. Usually it is a piece of rectangular fabric, fixed on two crossbars. Another option is also possible - a rigid frame with a fabric sewn to it or a piece of fabric suspended at four corners from the site.

The combination of a hammock and a pipe is one of the "light" options for a corner for a cat

Some other cats like pipes. They are sewn from fabric, for rigidity a circle or an oval of wire is inserted into both ends. One end is fixed higher, the other is thrown down. The main thing is that a gap is visible at the end of the tunnel, otherwise you won’t lure the cat any tighter. It turns out a good place for an ambush, in which some furry hunters like to spend time.

There is another feature that cats like, but which not many people know about - clothes brushes nailed to vertical surfaces at about the level of your pet's back. The bristles on the brush are artificial, of medium hardness. Try it, your pet will be happy!

Height selection

In general, for cats, the rule is true - the higher the better. Therefore, the height of the house that you want to make with your own hands can be whatever you are ready to make it - even to the very ceiling. And no matter how many tiers it has, most often the top one will be occupied. And if there are several cats, there will be a “leader” at the top, and it is this place that will always be contested.

The minimum height of the cat corner is about a meter. Such low structures are safe even for kittens, however, they quickly grow up and then want to climb higher.

Wall options

Not even the largest house for a cat takes up about a meter of free space on the floor. It is not always possible to allocate such a space. For such cases, there are wall options for cat corners. Houses and platforms are attached to the wall in the chosen place by any available method. Where directly - with nails to the wall, somewhere with the help of brackets. Transitions are made between the fixed parts. From boards - straight and inclined, rope ladders, rungs are stuffed at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other, steps are made in the form of a ladder ... In general, everything is limited only by your imagination.

Wall "simulators" for cats

Such wall corners for cats are also called shelves for cats, since the construction is very similar to traditional bookshelves. By the way, the furry ones love them very much and actively move around.

Material selection

The cat house, with all the additions, is usually assembled from construction debris. This is quite justified, because many (or all) surfaces of the finished structure will be sheathed with fabric, textiles, entangled with ropes, etc. So if there are leftover building materials, you can use them. There are two requirements for materials (all):

1. They should not have a strong odor. In any case, one that perceives the human nose. Natural smells (wood, wool, etc.) do not count. If the material was recently purchased and there is a chemical smell, hold it outside to let it air out.
2. Materials must not be electrified. Static discharges are very unpleasant for cats, so they do not like open plastic surfaces. Also, do not use silk.

All requirements, but there are still wishes. Do you want your cat to quickly and actively master the house? Soak building materials for a while in the house. They will be saturated with familiar smells, will be examined by a curious beast. The complex made “from settled” materials in the house will be accepted with greater favor.

Foundation materials

If you look at the photo, the cat house consists of different parts and they can be made from different materials. The list of basic materials is as follows:

Explanations require only a tree trunk, as a material for a cat complex. Everything is literally: take a tree, clean it from the bark if it crumbles. Branches are used as stands for placing houses, playgrounds, baskets.

How to sheathe

A twisted rope made of natural fibers is suitable for arranging scratching posts: jute, linen, hemp, sesal, etc. Take a thicker diameter and several tens of meters at once - if the base is not wooden, you will have to wrap all the pipes with a rope.

Shelves and houses are sheathed with dense material with a short pile, usually carpet. The shorter and denser the pile, the better. Long and shaggy only look good, and while they are new - over time, dust, wool, various garbage fill up in them and the cat's house becomes the cause of allergies (yours or cat's).

The color of the upholstery is generally unimportant for cats - they do not react to colors. Therefore, you can choose "under the interior", the most "practical" color, the color of the pet's coat, contrasting with the cat's coat ... any.

Fastening

In order for a do-it-yourself cat house to be safe, you should think about fasteners. It is undesirable to use self-tapping screws, since wool can cling to them, staples should not be used either - they can be dangerous for claws (both types of fasteners are suitable if they are covered with upholstery). It remains, in fact, only two types of fasteners: glue and nails, and the glue is only PVA. It is normally tolerated by cats, since after drying it does not smell. Ropes and upholstery are glued to it, and shelves, houses and everything else are nailed.

You can also make it safe to use self-tapping screws. Under the cap, drill a hole with a diameter greater than the diameter of the cap, install fasteners, cover with putty. Yes, just like in the manufacture of furniture, but what can not be done for the safety of the pet.

And one more thing: if the cat complex turned out to be too high, it is better to fix it. To the floor or to the wall, or both to the floor and to the wall. Otherwise, there may be problems - there were cases when cats brought down the structure.

Photo with dimensions

No matter how much they talk about the construction of a cat house, the best way to understand the dimensions is to allow drawings with dimensions. If you look closely at them, you will notice a solid run. This is understandable - there are large and small cats, respectively, and the size of the cat house will be larger / smaller. You can adjust them yourself depending on the size of your pets or the available area.

The height of the presented buildings is rather big - 180 cm and above, but you can reduce it by removing the floors that you think are unnecessary. All these dimensions can be taken as a basis to develop your own layout, put down approximate dimensions. Having a drawing in hand, you can start purchasing materials and manufacturing.

Instructions for making a house for two cats

The family has two cats. The older one is an aggressor cat and the younger one is more mobile. Therefore, the design was designed so that the younger one could hide on the highest platform, and the older one, due to his weight, could not get there. They decided to place the house high, as both cats prefer height. They made it larger in size so that both individuals could be there at the same time.

For this design, thick furniture plywood (12 mm) 75 * 50 cm in size, poles made of timber 50 * 70 (4.2 m), jute-based carpet - 1 * 2.5 meters, 20 meters of rope were purchased. Fasteners - corners. For a house - 15 * 20 mm, for fixing platforms - 40 * 45 mm, 55 * 20 and 35 * 40 - for insurance, and a couple of large ones - for attaching to the wall.

We prepare the platforms and attach to the poles

There are three pillars in the chosen design: one is 220 cm, the second is 120 cm and the third is 80 cm. They will be attached to the plywood sheet base. On the base it is necessary to place the pillars so that the longest one is closer to the wall. In order not to confuse, when marking on a sheet, using a ruler and a pencil, they first drew a stencil on paper, on which the arrangement of the pillars relative to each other was applied. From the finished layout, the markup for installing pillars was transferred. They were fastened with long nails through the base (4 pieces each), having drilled holes of a slightly smaller diameter in the plywood. Then they were fixed outside with corners 55 * 20 for a large pillar and 35 * 40 for smaller ones.

Using the same template, on the platforms they marked the place where the pillars passed, then, according to the markings, holes were cut out for them. To do this, they took a 12 mm feather drill, drilled holes in the corners marked for the installation of squares, into which the jigsaw blade fits perfectly. From experience: it is better to make cuts under the pillars a millimeter or two more. Platforms are still held by the corners, and if you make the slot too small, you have to finish it with a file or sandpaper for a long time.

Before installing the platform, we “try on”, adjusting the slots if necessary. Having placed the platform horizontally (using the building level) at the desired level, mark with a pencil where the platform stands. According to this markup, we then set the corners, so that we make clear marks, from all four sides. When all platforms are properly installed, we upholster them with carpet.

Assembling the body of the house

Two pieces of plywood 75 * 50 cm cut into 4 rectangles. They made a roof, a floor and two side walls. During the manufacture of one of the shelves, a piece of plywood with a semicircular hole on the side was left. It was decided to make it an “entrance”, and the back wall was cut out from one of the pieces. It remains to assemble the house, which is not difficult at all. Small metal corners were used, which were fastened with short self-tapping screws.

Preparing a "nest" for a cat

Before covering the house with a roof, it was beaten from the inside, thus closing the fasteners and increasing comfort. Working inside the case is not so convenient, but you can handle it. The roof was beaten on both sides, after which it was fixed using the same corners, but placing them outside. Not very pretty, but not deadly. The finished house was fixed in the place allotted to it. The corners helped out again, but larger ones - 35 * 40 mm.

We wrap the poles

The last stage - we wrap the poles, making a scratching post. Fastening the rope to the pole is easiest with staples. A few staples and you're done. Further, tightly pressing one turn to another, we wrap the pillars in a spiral. We reach the barrier, fix the rope with staples again and continue on the next section.

As it turned out, the rope must be knocked out with a hammer ...

From experience, it must be said that no matter how hard they tried, the turns of the rope did not fit one to the other very tightly, over time, they “mellowed out” and began to “ride” up / down a little. Having done the work on the mistakes, they found a way: after laying a few turns, we knock them out with a hammer. Everything is simple, but if I knew in advance ... That's all, we made a house for a cat with our own hands. It took about 6 hours.

A similar design is seen in the video below.

House from a box and a T-shirt in two minutes

For the simplest and most budgetary option, a minimum of “ingredients” is required:

• Cardboard box of suitable size;
• Old T-shirt;
• Wide tape.

Of the tools you will need only a mounting knife and scissors.

Photos of interesting cat houses/complexes

Living for years next to us, cats become not just pets, but family members. I want to create all the conditions for them to be comfortable, so the owners are trying, inventing more and more new devices / designs. We have collected some interesting ideas in this section.

Compact "high-rise building"

Shelves for cats - the name is clearly not accidental ...

Bedside table cat…

Cold is not an aunt ... Hammock near the radiator

When the window sill is too narrow ...

Guards...

Combination of cat shelves with hammocks… Almost a work of art

Additional video ideas

A house with a periscope and a scratching post for the cat Ryzhik.

Option using PVC pipes with a diameter of 100 mm.

When getting animals, people often think only about having a good time in their company, but they forget about the huge number of various troubles and responsibilities that can bring not the most pleasant emotions. For example, even a funny little kitten is a born hunter with all the instincts of a wild animal.

One of the basic feline needs, which people for some reason perceive as an attempt to annoy them or a harmful prank, is sharpening claws. Everything is very simple: the cat's claws grow, like human nails, pieces of keratinized skin then interfere with the animal when walking and cause discomfort, so the purr will always look for a convenient place to sharpen its claws.

Living in nature, cats, as a rule, sharpen their scratches on the bark on tree trunks, and sometimes their claws are erased from the fact that their paws run over stones and earth, and not along soft carpets, like in pets.

Those who are lucky enough to live at people's homes have no choice but to sharpen their claws on upholstered furniture, wallpaper and other items of your interior. However, there is a great way out of this situation: just provide the animal, so to speak, “for personal use” with a special scratching post for cats: this will improve your pet’s life and simplify it for yourself. However, be careful: if the cat has broken a nail or observe any unusual changes in the nails of a cat, be sure to contact the veterinarian.

Basic principles and types

Pet stores offer a huge selection of ready-made cat scratching posts, but looking at them better, you will realize that such a product is worth making yourself. The fact is that the scratching post is almost always used as one of the elements of the play complex for the cat, or in conjunction with the house. To install such a structure at home, you need to know the exact dimensions of the height of the room, because the house will be installed between the ceiling and the floor (by surprise).

Despite the fact that the hollow plastic pipes that manufacturers use are very easy to install and easy to carry as a support, they are absolutely unreliable, and any active animal will loosen the entire structure in a couple of months. Don't forget the price factor as well.

So, it is much easier, cheaper and more reliable to make a scratching post for a cat yourself. There are many master classes, after looking at which you can understand the basic principles and scheme of actions.

Before you start making an accessory, think over its design (how you want to make it, from what, how to decorate or complement it, etc.) and decide on a few important nuances.

1. What type and shape will your design be? The simplest is a vertical scratching post in the form of a high column. You can also make it in the form of a ring, like a hanging or floor mat (cushion).
2. What material do you want to use? For strong and durable products, it is worth taking wood or chipboard (DVP) sheets. Additionally, hard material pipes, sisal rope or jute rope are used. Some are made from rough cardboard or durable fabric.
3. How large are you going to make the design: will it be just a mobile post on a stand (attached corner scratching post), or will the cat get a house, or will you aim at a whole play complex, which has numerous tiers, shelves, beds, bridges, etc. At the same time, decide how you will mount the product.

Important nuances

In the course of the preparatory work, calculate the height of the claw point. It should be sufficient for your pet to be able not only to stretch out to its full height, but also to lean on the product: purrs often like to stretch out when they sharpen their claws (the free height of the column for grinding cannot be less than 90-100 mm, and its thickness in section is not less than 8-10 cm).

If you still have a small kitten living with you now, you need to make a device, taking into account the weight and size of an already adult cat. If the kitten is very playful and energetic, be sure to take care of a solid base for the structure (even a simple stand can be screwed to the floor or wall).

When choosing a material, focus on its quality and strength, and not on beauty. Materials must not be treated with paint or other chemicals. Also, make sure that the rope does not contain synthetic stretchy fibers, because the kitten's claw can get caught and the animal will be injured.

Manufacturing options

The simplest and cheapest option is a tree trunk or a stump / block of wood, which many people use both as a scratching post (the animal can also climb on it, like its relatives in the wild), and as an original decor element of their home. However, the tree must be processed, plus - it requires a lot of space.

It is very easy and fast to make wall and corner scratching posts:

• on the corner chosen by the cat, it is necessary to nail two boards, which you first need to upholster with carpet or furniture fabric;
• planks or pillows are also nailed to the wall (in the case of pillows, take the coarsest fabric and stuff them tightly. Then you should make pillowcases for pillows from furniture fabric or sheathe them). Planks are also fitted in a similar way (felt, carpet, jute rug can also be used) with one nuance: the upholstery is attached to the plank inside out (you can fix everything with furniture nails or a stapler). When wrapping the planks with a rope, pull it as tight as possible, laying tightly layer by layer. Be sure to fasten the first and last turns. Planks are attached to the wall with screws.

It will be very interesting for lovers of kote and a master class for making scratching posts from cardboard. To make such a product, you will need: a piece of plywood (under the base), a drill, a screwdriver, screws, a wooden dowel and a knife for cutting cardboard. And, of course, the material itself is a lot of thick corrugated cardboard.

1. Prepare the base - measure the board, marking the center on it, and drill a hole in the center.
2. You need to connect the wooden dowel to the plywood base. To do this, you can use a drill to drill a hole in the center of the dowel, and then, screwing the screw into the board, screw the dowel to the plywood. It is very important that the future column is screwed absolutely straight.
3. Next, you need to prepare templates with diagrams of different levels of corrugated cardboard products. After printing them, you can draw the desired shapes on cardboard, and then cut them out.
4. When cutting, use a special sharp knife for cardboard, so as not to spoil the material. All layers must be cut along the contour.
5. Collect the layers by stringing them on a column in the order that you noted. It is not worth gluing the parts together - this way you will be able to easily replace a damaged or damaged element.

You can choose any shape and size for the product.

Detailed master class

Based on the chosen shape, scale and design, you can search and buy the necessary materials and prepare the appropriate tools for the job.

For a guide, you can follow the master class, as step-by-step instructions for actions will not let you forget anything. A scratching post is wonderful, but if you supplement the design with some other convenient device for the cat (for example, a bed or a shelf), she will be very grateful to you.

1. You will need 4 rectangular pieces of wood (2 MDF and 2 MDF) of the same size. Take a pipe under the column, solid, made of durable material, with a diameter of 80-110 mm. You will also need a wide metal strip, metal corners for fastening, rope, filler (foam rubber can be) and upholstery fabric.
2. You will cut wood rectangles when you decide on the size of your base and bed. Make one rectangular and one oval blank for a bed from fiberboard, and in the same way - from chipboard. To cut an oval out of wood, first draw an oval shape on paper, and then attach it to the material. If you see that there are roughnesses on the wood, it is better to rub them with sandpaper.
3. Cut out an oval of the same size from the foam rubber - this will be a soft lining for your cat's rookery. First make the sides out of paper, and then circle these blanks by attaching them to the metal strip.
4. Now take a column. The selected pipe must be fixed. To do this, insert wooden blocks into both ends of it and screw them with self-tapping screws. There is also the option of fixing with metal corners.
5. You can assemble the whole structure. The column must first be fixed in the center of the rectangular base (use two methods of fastening - self-tapping screws and corners). Next, the base must be covered, for example, with faux fur or velor, etc. It is also better to close the bottom of the pipe with a cloth (you can glue it with a heat gun). Glue the joints well so that the cat does not tear anything off. Turning the design over, fasten the fabric on the back side (to make it even more reliable, you can use a furniture stapler).
6. It was the turn of the bed. Lay the oval pieces of fiberboard and chipboard on top of the structure so that their centers coincide with the center of the column. The upper fragment is fixed to the pipe, like the base. Glue a foam blank to the bed and, following the same principle as you did below, glue it with fur or cloth. If you want to make an additional toy for the cat, then attach a rope blank for it using a furniture stapler.
7. Be sure to paste over the foam rubber and fur and the metal side. Screw it to the bed. It is better to smooth the fur of the side, smooth it and stretch it, attaching it with a stapler to the bottom of the couch. Now you can glue the fiberboard oval to the bottom of the bed so that staples, excess fabric, etc. are not visible. Do the same with the base so that the fabric does not crumble and peel off.
8. Wrap the pipe with rope very tightly and tightly. In the master class, you can see that 2-3 extreme turns are even glued so that the rope holds better.
9. Attach a toy and call your pet.

Everyone knows that cats love to sharpen their claws. So they mark their territory and grind off the old layer of the claw. Under natural conditions, they do this by climbing trees, and at home, upholstered furniture and other interior items suffer from the claws of a pet. How to save your property and make your pet's life full? There is a simple solution to the problem - a special scratching post for cats.

Pet stores sell ready-made claws in the form of a log, pillow, plank, or even a whole play complex. But it will be much cheaper to make a scratching post with your own hands from improvised materials and wrap it with a rope. Your pussy will be very grateful to you for this.

What is the best material for scratching posts?

Preference is given to natural ropes made of jute or sisal. Environmentally friendly fibers of natural origin are not electrified, are safe for people and will not harm your animal. A plant-fiber-coated rag is loved by cats, while a purchased artificial rope scratching post can be ignored. They can be scared away by the smell of synthetics, impregnation and paint.

Nylon or polypropylene ropes are much stronger than natural ones, but they are prone to stretching, and cat claws can get stuck and tangled in them. If you make a scratching post with winding from, then it will not last long. Your caudates will quickly fluff and break off its fibers.

Sisal rope for scratching posts

A coated claw brush is a win-win option for solving the problem of sharp claws. Its hard and moderately prickly texture is attractive to cats. Strong sisal fibers from agave leaves are ripped and scratched out by animals much more slowly than other bast fibers. Sisal ropes and ropes are distinguished by light shades from white to golden and have a neat, dense 3-strand weave.

Jute rope for scratching posts

Rag for a cat from is less durable, since its fibers are inferior in strength and resistance to "drape" sisal. It is less hard and more hairy, and has a beautiful golden brown color. Thanks to its elasticity, it fits well with any shape. Rope from - an inexpensive wrapping material for a cat claw that will help distract your pussy from rugs, sofas and other furniture.

The most optimal rope diameter for making scratching posts is from 6 to 10 mm. Such a rope looks attractive and it is convenient to wrap around structures. Most often, the cat's "sharpener" is made in the form of a column on the platform. The coils of the rope should fit snugly against each other and wrap around the pole with tension.

How to calculate how many meters of rope you need for a scratching post?

Suppose you have a pillar 1 m high and 11 cm in cross section. The length of one turn will be 11 x 3.14 = 35 cm, respectively, the total length is ≈ 35 m.

The cat, although a pet, is not without wild instincts. If you are not yet familiar with the problem of torn wallpaper, scratched door jambs, torn upholstery of upholstered furniture, pillows and blankets chosen by pets, hurry up to make a rope scratching post for your kitten.

Helpful Hints

Each fluffy breeder tries to provide his pet with everything necessary, buying him high-quality food and various toys. Many of them forget about such an element as a scratching post. This device is designed to protect your furniture and other items from scratches with claws. Not everyone knows that cats need to constantly grind their claws, otherwise they will break off and lose the necessary properties. For those who want to make a scratching post on their own or want to repair an old one, you need to know what material the device consists of. The rope for the scratching post should be strong enough, but not harm the animal.

The modern market offers a huge selection of varieties of scratching posts, the main options include:

• columns;
• houses;
• wall structures;
• corner structures.

Almost all owners in the pet store literally run up their eyes, but it is very difficult to choose a product that will meet all your requirements. Therefore, you can make this device yourself, it is enough to know which rope to use for the scratching post and consider the features of its creation. This solution has a huge number of positive qualities, first of all, to save the animal from problems with claws, therefore, they are suitable for it in most cases, we will consider the advantages in more detail:

1. Saving. If you make the product yourself, then you need to pay only for materials, while in stores there is an extra charge for delivery, wages to employees, rent, etc.
2. The claw brush will meet all the requirements of the pet owner, and the quality will not be inferior to the store version.
3. For a pet, you can make a real play center, where there will be various shelves, moves and posts, it is very difficult to find one in a pet store, and besides, its cost will be too high.
4. For production, you do not need to purchase special tools and rare materials, all that is needed is a post and a rope for the scratching post, the name of which depends on its variety.
5. The design can be made according to the dimensions of your animal directly, so that it is comfortable for him to use the scratching post or even the whole game center.

You can make a scratching post yourself, it is enough to know which rope to use and consider the features of its creation

In stores, you can buy standard models that are expensive and often do not correspond to the characteristics of the animal, which prevents him from using the claw-claw for its intended purpose.

You can make any design with your own hands - the main thing is to approach this matter responsibly and with imagination. Even a child can make a simple column, things are somewhat more complicated with the manufacture of a whole game center, only craftsmen with certain skills can handle the last option. In any case, you need to acquire the necessary materials, first of all, prepare a rope for the scratching post, be patient and set aside some time.

You can make any design with your own hands - the main thing is to approach this matter responsibly and with imagination

The most popular are simple claws with one or more posts. This design can be made even more versatile if you place a stove bench or even a house at the top. You can buy all the necessary materials at a hardware store or use improvised resources, which will be even more reasonable.

Varieties of ropes

To create a product, you need to determine which rope is needed for the scratching post. There are several varieties, each of them has a number of features and distinctive nuances. The column can be wrapped with such ropes:

1. Cotton. It looks very attractive and is suitable for any interior, but there is also a negative side - the cost, because it is much higher than other options.
2. Sisal rope. This material costs much less, but has a fleecy structure, durability at a high level, as well as strength. It has a grayish or pale yellow tint, great for creating a scratching post.
3. Jute. Many people ask what is the name of the rope for the scratching post about this particular option, because it is used in almost all store claws. This product is the cheapest, which is also manifested in its appearance, so it is not suitable for a luxurious home interior. The strength characteristics are average, so long-term use in an active cat is out of the question.

To attract the attention of the animal to the structure, you should use toys made by yourself, but you need to securely fix the toy and the scratching post, since the pet can fill up the product.

For manufacturing, you do not need to have special knowledge or special skills, just consider a simple algorithm of actions and determine which is the best rope for a scratching post in your case. This accessory can make life easier for the owners of the animal and the cat itself, so you need to purchase it without fail or make it yourself. With a small investment, you can save your furniture and just enjoy having a pet without any consequences. will definitely rejoice at the new acquisition and repay with his affection and love.