Is There a Way to Re-Cover a Cat's Scratching Post?

Cats love scratching posts, and they are a great way for cats to exercise their arms and claws without ruining furniture and other household items. Unfortunately, all this scratching can cause the carpet material on scratching posts to become worn over time. When this happens most owners will buy a replacement tree, but replacing the covering on a scratching post is a fairly simple process that can save money and make a fun project for any cat owner.

Things You'll Need

  • Durable carpet
  • Narrow putty knife
  • Staple gun
  • Utility knife
  • Carpet glue (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the old covering by cutting it with the utility knife and pulling it away from the scratching post. If you find that the material is glued to the post, pry it away from the post using the putty knife.

    • 2

      Wrap the new carpet material around the scratching post. Use the utility knife to cut the material to the proper height so that it barely covers the top of the post. Cut the width so that the carpet meets but does not overlap itself when pulled tight.

    • 3

      Hold one edge of the carpet in place and use the staple gun to put two or three staples through the carpet and into the post. Align the staples vertically to reduce the chance that your cat will get its claws stuck in a staple. It may be helpful to have a friend hold the carpet while you staple it into place.

    • 4

      Pull the other edge of the carpet as tight as possible and put two or three more staples in this edge to secure it into place. Align the staples vertically.