How to Make a Cylinder-Shaped Cat Scratch Post

Cats are notorious for their scratching shenanigans. If you don't offer your cat alternatives for its scratching needs, you will soon find that you may need to replace your favorite piece of furniture. By creating a simple scratching post for your cat, you may be able to dissuade your pet from using your antique coffee table as its very own nail salon.

Things You'll Need

  • 36-inch-tall, 4-inch diameter cedar fence post
  • Two 18-inch-square, 3/4-inch-thick pieces of plywood
  • Carpenter's glue
  • Clamps
  • Straightedge
  • Drill
  • 4 wood screws, 31/2 inches long
  • Screwdriver
  • Fine-grit sandpaper
  • 36-inch-long, 5-inch-diameter heavy-duty cardboard mailing tube
  • Hot-glue gun
  • 36-by-18-inch piece of natural sisal carpet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Glue the 2 square pieces of plywood together with the carpenter's glue to form an 18-inch-square, 11/2-inch-thick base. Clamp the pieces together until the glue is dry. Remove the clamps.

    • 2

      Lightly draw a line diagonally from one corner of your base to the other using your straightedge and a pencil. Lightly draw another line diagonally to join the opposite corners, forming an X across the plywood base. (These lines will be sanded off for finishing.) Where the X crosses is the center of the base.

    • 3

      Hold the cedar post upright and apply hot glue to the bottom end. Align the center of the glued end of the post with the marked center of the square plywood base and press down to adhere.

    • 4

      Drill 4 pilot holes through the plywood base and into the cedar post. Keep the holes about 1/2 inch away from the edge of the cedar post and space them evenly around the post's perimeter. Screw a 31/2-inch wood screw into each of the 4 pilot holes.

    • 5

      Turn your completed scratch-post base upright and use the fine-grit sandpaper to lightly sand the plywood base to smooth the edges.

    • 6

      Using your hot-glue gun, glue the natural sisal carpet to the cardboard mailing tube, making sure to align the top and bottom edges as you wrap. Fold the carpet over at the seam and glue in place to finish.

    • 7

      Slide the sisal-wrapped cardboard tube over the cedar post.