How to Design a Cat Scratching Post

Scratching is a normal behavior for cats, but it is the owner's responsibility to provide an appropriate scratching surface for Kitty. If cat scratching posts found at retailers are too costly, it is easy and affordable to design a cat scratching post the cat will use.

Things You'll Need

  • Sturdy mailing tube or wooden dowel 2 to 3 inches diameter, 30 or more inches long
  • Carpet remnants
  • Ink pen or marker
  • Carpet knife
  • All-purpose glue
  • Scrap of cardboard or paperboard
  • Ball of twine
  • Metal Christmas tree stand
  • Catnip
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Instructions

  1. Create Scratching Post

    • 1

      Cut a section of carpet in length equal to the length of the mailing tube or wooden dowel and a width equal to the circumference of the tube or dowel.

    • 2

      Roll the tube in the length of carpet with the right side of the carpet facing the tube or dowel.

    • 3

      Use a pen to the back of the carpet where it should be cut to completely cover the tube or dowel.

    • 4

      Cut the carpet along the line drawn in Step 3.

    • 5

      Squeeze glue onto the tube or dowel. Create lines of glue all around the tube. Spread the glue with a scrap piece of cardboard to cover the tube or dowel. The goal is to achieve a thick a surface layer of adhesive.

    • 6

      Wrap the carpet around tube or dowel with right side of the carpet placed against the adhesive.

    • 7

      Run a bead or line of glue down the seam of where the carpet is joined to itself.

    • 8

      Wrap twine around the carpet on the tube or dowel in the same manner as you would see the lines on a barber pole or peppermint stick and secure with a knot The twine will serve as a clamp to hold the carpet in place until the adhesive has dried.

    Set Scratching Post into Base

    • 9

      Twist bolts of the Christmas tree holder to the approximate diameter of the tube or dowel wrapped in carpet.

    • 10

      Tighten bolts to clamp tightly into the carpet-wrapped dowel or tube. Tighten all bolts until there is a tight grip and the scratching post is tightly secured.

    • 11

      Rub catnip into the weave of the carpet backing. This will entice kitty into using the post.