How to Build Your Own Scratching Post

If your cat is shredding the couch, it may need a scratching post to save its claws and your sanity. Cats like to stretch to their full heights when scratching, so if you've had trouble getting your cat to use a scratching post in the past, the problem may have been that the post was too short. Build your own with a cedar plank and long-lasting sisal rope. The height of a homemade scratching post can be modified to accommodate a larger cat.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 x 4 x 36 inch cedar post
  • 125 feet of 1/2 inch non-oiled sisal rope
  • 16 x 16 inch piece of 3/4 inch plywood
  • Box of 1/2 inch roofing nails
  • Four 3/4 inch 16D coated sinker nails
  • Hammer
  • Work gloves
  • Dry catnip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your cedar post is dry. Put on work gloves to protect your hands from splinters.

    • 2

      Use roofing nails to attach the rope to the top of the cedar post. Nail the first row several times to make sure it's secure.

    • 3

      Continue to wind the rope around the post, keeping the rows tight. Do not hammer in nails again until you get to the bottom round; you don't want your cat's claws to catch on them. Push the rows together every five to 10 wraps to make sure they're as tight as they can be.

    • 4

      At the base of the plank, hammer the same number of nails into the last wrap as you did with the first row.

    • 5

      Turn the post upside down and center the plywood base on top of it. Use the four, 3/4-inch nails to attach the base to the four corners of the bottom of the post. Set the post upright and make sure it can't be easily pushed over by your cat's weight. Sprinkle with catnip and place the post in a location your cat visits frequently.