Homemade scratching post for cats with your own hands. Master class on making a scratching post. A simple DIY scratching post made from container cardboard

Homemade scratching post for cats with your own hands.  Master class on making a scratching post.  A simple DIY scratching post made from container cardboard
Homemade scratching post for cats with your own hands. Master class on making a scratching post. A simple DIY scratching post made from container cardboard

A simple and functional scratching post made with your own hands is easy and quick. If you have the time and desire, then you can make a beautiful scratching post with a bed or with a house on top, which will look no worse than one bought in a store. If you have neither one nor the other, then you can buy a cat scratching post in a store or market. But in this case you will have to spend a considerable amount of money, because even completely simple accessories for cats made from the most common materials are not cheap.

A simple and functional scratching post made with your own hands is easy and quick.

So it’s worth looking at the prices for ready-made accessories and finding out how to make a cat scratching post with your own hands. It is imperative to pay attention to materials that are suitable for their manufacture and safe for cat health. And after that, carefully weigh everything and decide whether it’s worth spending the money or not.

After all, scratches for cats very quickly lose their attractiveness. appearance which they have in the store. And aesthetics matter only to the owners. But for a cat, the appearance of the object on which he sharpens his claws is completely indifferent.

You also need to take into account the fact that the cat may not even approach the purchased claw sharpener, despite all the admonitions of the owners. In some cases, he may even begin to bury the beautiful thing purchased for him with love. This is due to the fact that the animal does not like the smell of some synthetic materials and dyes used in the production of the accessory. In such cases, forcing an animal to use an object it does not like so harshly as lubricating the surface with valerian tincture is unsafe. After some time of using an unsuccessful accessory, the cat may become lethargic and begin to lose fur and appetite. And this will certainly affect his health.

Materials suitable for making scratching posts

Cats are much more sensitive to odors than people, and therefore natural materials that do not have strong odors are best suited for making cat accessories. This is wood, natural fabrics, burlap, cotton wool, twine, hemp, cardboard. Synthetic fabrics And twine cannot be used for a scratching post for another reason: a cat scratching fibers that are too strong can damage or tear out the claw. And this is very painful. This may not happen, but it’s not worth putting your pet’s health at risk. Materials colored with synthetic dyes cannot be used in the manufacture of accessories for cats. They can not only cause allergies in animals, but also contribute to the development of serious digestive diseases and the occurrence of tumors.

The simplest claw clippers - easy and fast

In a house where a cat has appeared, a scratching post for it becomes almost an essential item for the owners, if they do not want to subsequently admire damaged things. Because in her absence the cat will sharpen its claws on anything, most often furniture. And if she gets used to something, it will be quite problematic to wean her off later.

If a cat appeared in the house unexpectedly, or there is no time to create a stationary claw sharpener, then the simplest methods for making them are suitable for this case. The simplest scratching post can be a piece of soft wood log with peeled bark 70-100 cm long. A wooden scratching post is very strong, durable and does not require cleaning. You can cut a log in half along the grain and attach it to the wall.

A DIY cat scratching post made from packaging cardboard can be made instantly. To do this, simply roll the packaging cardboard tightly and tie it tightly in several places with twine. The height of the roll should be approximately equal to the length of the cat with its paws extended, and the width of the roll should be slightly less than the thickness of the cat. With a high degree of probability, the cat will show interest in the process and begin to scratch the cardboard without waiting for the end of production. As a result, the furniture in the house will be safe and sound.

If the cat has not shown interest in the process, then you need to play with this roll with it after production is completed. This should be done when the cat wants to play, and not eat or sleep. Under no circumstances should you wake up a sleeping cat and try to play with him with such a roll. This is often provoked by children who are impatient to offer their pet a new game. Therefore, children need to be explained in advance that a sleepy animal can be frightened by such a large object, and after that it will avoid the cardboard roll.

If you don’t succeed in playing, then you need to lightly moisten the tip of your finger with tincture of valerian and touch it to the roll or rub the cardboard a little with catnip. From an old carpet or rug with fabric base You can make an excellent claw scraper in a matter of minutes. To do this, you need to roll the carpet with the wrong side out and tie it with twine in several places. Cats love this type of scratcher regardless of its size and get used to it instantly - just show it once. It lasts a long time and is suitable even for large active cats.

A wonderful DIY cat scratching post can be easily made from an ordinary bag made of natural material. You need to put the old one in the bag unnecessary thing from natural fabric, twisted into a tube, or a strip of cardboard 7-10 cm wide. And then roll the bag tightly. Secure the edge of the bundle with twine, threading its pieces into the burlap and tying them with a knot. The distances between the burlap threads are large, and threading twine through them will not be difficult. For convenience, you can use a crochet hook, if you have one.

A voluminous roll of burlap, inside of which there is a folded item, can be stylized as candy by tying it with twine at a short distance from the edges. You can also stylize it as a sausage by tying it with a rope at equal distances along its entire length, just as sausages are tied up. On a flat claw board you can draw a fish or a cat’s face with a marker or felt-tip pens, and it will look much more interesting. And a small kitten can use such scratching posts made of burlap for quite a long time.

It is imperative to pay attention to materials that are suitable for their manufacture and safe for cat health.

Wall scratching posts

Wall-mounted scratching posts are the best option for apartments and small house. They won't be lying around anywhere. They are permanently mounted on the wall and do not take up space in the house, unlike floor-mounted ones. They do not need to be cleaned of wool. Such products cannot be turned over, creating a rumble at the most inopportune moment, so they are ideal for large active animals.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on materials to make them. Almost all the necessary materials are often found in every home. They have one more an undeniable advantage compared to other models of claw machines. A wall-mounted scratching post can be used to cover a wall or corner scratched by a cat. To make both a flat and a corner scratching post for cats with your own hands, the manufacturing scheme is quite simple - a piece of plywood with a soft fabric layer is attached to the wall with slats around the perimeter.

The size of the piece of plywood you will need depends on the size of the cat. The length of the plywood should be 5-10 cm longer than the length of the cat with outstretched paws so that he cannot scratch the wall above the scratching post. The width of the plywood for a flat wall-mounted scratcher should be about 40 cm, so that the cat, spreading its paws, does not scratch the walls next to it. To make a corner scratching post with your own hands, you will need 2 pieces of plywood at least 25 cm wide. If the kitten is still small, then you need to focus on the size of an adult cat of his breed.

A piece of old carpet with the wrong side facing out is perfect as a soft layer. If possible, you need to lay the carpet in 2 layers. Then the nail clipper will be softer and more durable. A wonderful soft layer will come from a piece of quilt covered with several layers of burlap or thick corduroy fabric. If you don’t have a carpet or a wadded blanket, a natural fabric blanket folded in several layers is perfect.

A piece of carpet or blanket must be cut to the size of the plywood and secured around the perimeter with glue or a stapler. Burlap or corduroy should be cut with a margin of 7-10 cm at the edges. Place the plywood with a soft layer inward on the fabric laid out face down, fold the edges of the fabric and secure it around the perimeter with glue or a stapler, pulling it tightly.

Then prepare 4 slats equal to the sides of the plywood rectangle, screw screws into them at a distance of 4-6 cm from each other so that the edge of the fasteners does not protrude from the slats. Such a small distance between the screws is necessary for the durability of the scratching post. The screws must be long enough. When choosing their length, you need to take into account the thickness of the batten itself, the plywood with a soft layer and the depth to which the screws must go into the wall to securely fasten the claw clipper. Now you need to secure the prepared plywood with a soft layer to the wall with slats, tightening the screws until the end. There should be no distance between the floor and the scratching post, because the cat will sharpen the claws on its hind legs in the lower part.

How to make a scratching post for a cat with your own hands (video)

Floor scratching posts

There are different floor scratching posts - flat, columns, combined with a bed or a house. They take up a lot of space in the house, but in some cases they are irreplaceable. Flat and heavy floor mounts will help out when the wall material does not allow wall mounts to be attached to them. And you don’t want to constantly trip over light cat rags made of cardboard or fabric that the cat drags around the entire apartment. A floor-mounted claw clipper located under the table will not disturb anyone. The poles will be very good for an active and young cat if there is no place for him to climb in the apartment and there is no way to go outside. Complex complexes with houses and beds will be especially useful where there are several cats and kittens are often born. All animals will have a place to frolic, and they will not constantly get underfoot, scratch and damage furniture.

Flat floor scratching posts

Making a flat, floor-mounted cat scratching post is very easy. To do this, you need to take as a base a piece of wooden board, chipboard or multilayer plywood 40-50 cm wide and 70-100 cm long. A part from an old cabinet is perfect for this. The base can be wrapped on both sides with carpet with a fabric base, the wrong side out. An old wool rug is ideal for this.

The edges of the carpet must be sewn together with strong threads or fastened together with twine using a crochet hook. This nail sharpener and scratcher at the same time is perfect for a calm, phlegmatic pet. And when one side becomes pretty tattered, you can turn it over. The disadvantage of such a bed comb is that it must be regularly cleaned of wool.

Scratching posts - posts

Claw posts can be made with or without a base. Long posts without a base are secured using metal corners and screws to the floor and ceiling. They can be made from tree trunks 7-10 cm thick with peeled bark or from a plastic pipe with a diameter of 5 cm, tightly wrapped with twine or thin rope in 1 or several layers. Before winding, the pipe must be coated with glue, and the twine, when winding, must be compacted by tapping it with a hammer. But you will need a lot of twine and rope, so a long training post made from a pipe for an active pet will cost a decent amount of money. Making a wooden one is much more profitable.

The column on the base must be made at least 1 m high. The base requires a heavy board or multi-layer plywood 40-50 cm wide and 50-70 cm long. For the column you will need a piece of thick plastic pipe. The pipe must be attached to the central part of the base using metal corners and screws. Cut a piece of carpet 10 cm wider and longer than the base. Cut a round hole in the center of it, equal to diameter pipes.

Place the cover on the base with the wrong side facing up. The protruding edges of the covering must be folded over inner part base and secure with strong adhesive or a stapler. The pipe must be coated with glue and tightly wrapped with twine or rope. You can insert a soft toy into the hole in the pipe.

With a bed or a house

After learning how to make base posts and flat floor scratching posts with your own hands, the step-by-step instructions for creating complexes with beds and houses do not look complicated. If you want to do it with several posts, beds and houses, then you should first make a drawing of the future structure. If there are several cats in the house, then when drawing up the drawing you need to plan the complex so that each animal has its own house or bed. They must be done at the same height, because the animal located below will experience discomfort and may begin to damage the furniture. It is advisable to place posts in a complex for several animals at a distance of at least 60 cm so that the cats do not interfere with each other.

After drawing up a drawing and calculating the amount of necessary materials, you can begin manufacturing the complex step by step:

  1. Prepare the base for the product. If the building has one post, then the stand is made as for a post with a base. If the complex is planned with several racks, then the base is cut out.
  2. Attach the pipe sections to the base using metal corners.
  3. Make a pattern for the base covering with holes for the pipes. Place the cover on the stand and secure it.
  4. Wrap the pipes with twine or rope.
  5. Make beds based on the principle of a flat floor scratching post of such a size that it is convenient for animals to sit on them, and attach them to the pipes using furniture corners.
  6. Attach a house to one of the beds. It must be removable so that it can be washed. It is convenient to fasten it with a zipper, sewing one part of it to the base around the perimeter of the house, and the other to the bed.


It is advisable to attach the completed complex to the floor in the corners so that cats do not turn it over during active games.

Attention, TODAY only!


Cats are the most skillful and intelligent of predators. And the most economical: a pride of lions goes hunting once every 2-4 days, killing 1 antelope or a couple of small ones for food. One of the secrets of the evolutionary success of cats is retractable claws, which are always sharp, ensure silent walking and are protected from accidental damage during minimum consumption body resources for their maintenance.

With or without claws?
Make or buy?
How cats sharpen their claws
What should I scratch my claws on?
Device
Constructions
How can I explain it to her?

It is for this reason that cats need a scratching post: the claws do not wear out unnecessarily, and without care they do not support them. the required form and strength. There is nothing you can do, you have to pay for success. In nature too. Wild cats, big and small, choose their nail grooming sites very carefully. Households do not have this opportunity; they have to rely on the owner. Therefore, a home scratching post for cats should satisfy their natural needs. It goes without saying that she will preserve the furniture and decoration.

With or without claws? Is it possible to do something with the cat to prevent it from scratching? Veterinarians know 8 or 9 ways to deprive her of this opportunity. But after the most “humane” of them, the animal will feel like a child playing with tightly bandaged hands or walking in a straitjacket. Impacts of “moderate severity” will cause sensations in the animal approximately the same as filling a carious tooth without painkillers in a person, and they will have to be used regularly: cat’s claws are constantly growing. And “radical” methods generally smack of fanaticism and leave the animal disabled

Make or buy? A good, “correct” scratching post costs about 600 rubles. It will have to be changed 2-3 times a year. It seems like God knows what kind of expense it is, but mass-produced products are designed for average representatives of certain breeds, and cats, as you know, are animals with character. That's why optimal solution, since there is a fluffy in the house, make him a scratching post with your own hands, after first observing the pet and choosing the right one for him. Which one and how - this is the material of this article.

How do cats sharpen their claws? How cat claws are arranged is shown in Fig. Actually, cats don't sharpen them. Rodents and lagomorphs sharpen their teeth, especially the incisors. Their teeth are layered, and the hardness of the material increases from the inside out. When gnawing, the inner layers wear out faster, and the tooth profile naturally remains wedge-shaped.


The device of cat claws. Cat's claw is a much more vibrant formation. To make a scratching post correctly, you need to know how the claw lives. Its excellent performance is ensured by the continuous exchange of structural materials. Notice the pinkish color of healthy claws in Fig. at first? Their cavities are filled with bloody pulp that delivers dissolved organic matter, a kind of raw material for plastic. Then moving outward, the “cat plastic” hardens and hardens, reaching maximum strength and elasticity in the outer, working layer. But then it comes into contact with air, which is why it gradually becomes keratinized: it becomes less durable and fragile. It is this stratum corneum that the cat needs to periodically clean off; The shape of the claw is ensured by physiological processes in the body. On the hind legs, cleaning is required less often, because When hunting and fighting, they participate less and the material of their claws is updated more slowly, but they are still needed. Therefore, big wild cats choose trees with roots protruding from the ground for their “manicure”.

Note:
Actually, a cat scratching post is a claw cleaner.
The common but dissonant “claw cutter” is still closer to the essence of the matter.

The next point is the pads of the paws and fingers. When cleaning the glands, they release odorous substances that are unique to each individual, just like fingerprints are for us. A scratching post (let’s call it that, since it’s generally accepted) is also a territory marker, no less significant in the wild world than a toilet. In nature, cats' scratching posts are located in corners and at turning points of their territory. These factors also need to be taken into account when making and placing a scratching post.

What should I scratch my claws on? The base of the claw cleaner can be anything strong enough; We will return to this issue later. Much more important is the “abrasive” itself: the cat’s scratching post must be strong enough to remove the keratinized layers, but not excessively, so as not to damage the living tissues of the claw. For the same purpose, the material of the cleaning surface should be fibrous and moderately rough, not too fine, but not too rough. To prevent the claw from getting stuck and tangled in it, the tensile strength of the fibers of the material should be lower than that of the “plastic” of the claw, but again, not excessively, otherwise nothing will get ripped off on it. Finally, cats sense electricity. Not nearly as subtle as fish, but they still feel it. Therefore, claw cleaning material should allow static electricity to flow away, but should not be highly electrically conductive.

These requirements are fully satisfied by natural materials:

Wood, but not all wood, see below.

Hemp hemp and woven/twisted products made from it: burlap, carpet bases, ropes, ropes.

Jute hemp and the same products made from it, plus coarse furniture fabrics.

Braided coarse wool products: drape, tapestry, old greatcoat cloth or green cloth for gambling tables.

Packaging corrugated cardboard - for kittens and small weak decorative breeds

Synthetics of any type are not suitable: their fibers are too tensile, but at the same time too smooth and slippery.

As well as sisal and manila hemp fibers. The cotton fibers are very weak, the cat will tear them, but will not clean the claws properly.

Note:
metal and plastic fastening/supporting parts included in the scratching post (see figure),
accessible to the animal,
should be avoided if possible - metal instantly removes static, which is unpleasant for the cat, but plastic, on the contrary, accumulates it itself.
In addition, both of them can tear your claws.

Incorrect use of metal in a cat scratching post

Wood A wooden scratching post is most suitable for a cat: he is the original owner and protector of his site. He needs his claws not only for hunting weak prey; the cat must be ready at any moment to enter into battle with an equal or even stronger person. Therefore, cats' claws are renewed more slowly than those of cats, but are more durable. The tree for the cat’s scratching post should be a strong, absolutely healthy, straight-grained one. From hardwood Birch will do; their conifers are all except spruce. In any case, the wood must be well exposed to air and light (and not in the shade, as is sometimes written) so that its fragile viscous volatile (and odorous) components are completely weathered or bituminized; At the same time, the tree turns gray, and in conifers the layering clearly appears. Look at the picture: such a serious man won’t scratch his claws on anything. Yellow plaque is nothing, it’s a lichen, harmless and safe.

Wood suitable for a cat's claw point. The second condition is that the wooden scratching post must have a straight-layer section free of knots with a height no less than the height of the animal without a tail. It is on this that the cat will tidy up its claws. It is best to start from the floor or bed to make it easier to tear the back claws. Product on item 1 Fig. Suitable for kittens who do not yet know how to climb properly, but as they grow older, they will begin to look closely at baseboards, wallpaper and furniture. But what’s in pos. 2, suitable for a cat of any age, does not require purchased material and is compact enough for installation in an apartment.



Scratching posts for cats made of wood.

Smooth-haired cats are generally energetic, tenacious, and willing to climb. A wooden scratching post for them can be made from fairly thin branches with bark, pos. 3. Long-haired cats are more phlegmatic and are not particularly good at climbing, so wooden blank need to be wrapped with rope (pos. 4 and 5). A thick branch, partially wrapped, is suitable for both, pos. 6.

Device. Cat on a bed To tear through its claws, at worst, a simple post or board will be enough for a cat, pos. 1 in Fig. However, it is better to complement it with a bed, pos. 2. Firstly, in nature, cat markers are not equivalent. One of them, with an elevated bench for relaxation and an observation deck above it, is the main one, so to speak, the capital. It is not necessarily in the center, it can be on the periphery. The cat's territory in the home is limited. You can do without boundary (contour) markers, but the main one will give the cat dignity, which, in turn, can well decorate the interior, see fig.

Scratching posts for cats with a bed But to combine a scratching post with a house, and even installed below, as in pos. 3, should not. IN natural conditions The cat's den is never adjacent to the main marker for safety reasons. Some exceptions are cats of Asian origin: Siamese, Bengal, Abyssinian, etc., the territory of whose ancestors in the jungle is limited to an area of ​​just one tree. But then the house must be elevated and equipped with 2 exits: a spare one perpendicular to the main one and opens onto an additional platform, pos. 4. It is best if the scratching post with a bed and viewing platform is not a straight column, but
A branched cat on a bed, somewhat reminiscent of a tree, pos. 5. This can be built from cardboard


About the sites. Houses, toys, climbing frames and beds for cats are actually a different topic. In relation to scratching posts with platforms, it would be appropriate to say that the bed and the “observatory” do not need to be covered: cats have soft fur of their own. If you want to visually ennoble the product, then you don’t need to fasten the fabric like furniture, with nails or staples: metal can tear off a claw if it gets caught, and it conducts electricity too well for cats. Cat areas are lined with PVA glue: when dried, it is odorless and is harmless and indifferent to cats.

Step-by-step instruction Here's how to cover a cat bed with fabric:


Drawings of scratching posts with beds and climbing frames

We cut with an allowance for the edge thickness plus 25-30 mm;

We cut out the base (plywood or board 16 mm thick) with rounded corners so that the folds on them are small or can be completely dispersed;

Apply glue to the upper part in rays and along the contour, see fig. on right.

It is better to do this with a brush to immediately disperse the glue in a thin layer;

Immediately, before the glue begins to set, we apply the fabric;

We coat the edge with glue and, together with it, under the platform along the contour for 35-40 mm;

We fold the fabric over the edge and tuck it under;

From the bottom we pull the tight-fitting thread with a needle, zigzag along and across;

Straighten the folds at the corners;

We dry it for a day, there is no need to apply pressure;

We cut off the excess fabric at the bottom along with the threads; Instead of overcasting, we impregnate the fold of the fabric on the underside with the same PVA, diluted by half with water.

Constructions.

Columns with platforms. Construction of a wooden scratching post with a bed How a wooden scratching post with a bed is arranged can be seen in Fig. on right. The base is covered with fabric in advance; the bed - after installation in place. It is advisable to place batting or synthetic padding under the skin of the bed so that the cat does not feel the metal at all. The first turn of the winding is glued with PVA, secured with tape and winding is carried out when the glue has dried. Another 2-3 turns are glued along the winding, as well as the last 2-3. They are also secured with tape before drying. There is no need to glue all the turns, so that it is easier to change the winding as it breaks, sorry, wears out.

Note: in a wooden climbing post with intermediate platforms, they are cut into the post already covered with fabric. In the column, grooves are selected with a margin for fabric; the platforms are attached with glue and self-tapping screws, wrapped through the post into the edges of the platforms. Preparing fasteners
Arrangement of a wooden scratching post with a bed

will hide under the winding.

It would be easier to make a scratching post with a bed and a viewing platform using cardboard pipes. The diagram of its device is given in pos. I fig. below.


The assembly of the scratching post on cardboard poles is carried out in stages as follows:

Holes in the base (1) for the posts are made with a feather drill or cut out with a jigsaw. No special precision is required, but an allowance of approx. 1 mm under the fabric.

The base is covered with fabric in advance.

After the glue dries, the fabric above the holes is cut with wedges, wrapped inside and on the underside with glue, as described above.

Pipes (2) and (3) are also inserted with glue and immediately secured from the inside with small, 1.5-2.5 mm, self-tapping screws (4), 3-4 pieces each. onto the pipe evenly around the circumference.

The installation holes for the screws are pricked with an awl.

The bed (5) is first placed without covering, secured with self-tapping screws on a short pipe and set horizontally.

On a long pipe, the bed is secured with a pin (pin) made of bamboo or hard wood (6) with glue. Pin diameter - approx. 3 mm; the hole for it, 0.5-0.7 mm narrower, will have to be drilled right through.

The short pipe is plugged with a plug (7) made of dense foam plastic, soft wood, polyurethane foam, etc.

Cover the bed with fabric (8).

The hole in the pattern for the long post is cut out in advance. Into the joints (A) and (B) 3-4 drops of PVA diluted with 30-50% water are added evenly around the circumference.

The observation platform (9) is installed in a similar way.

Wrap the pillars with rope (10).

Note: on pos. II and III show how to form a kink in a cardboard pillar.


Corner scratching posts for cats

The main types of corner scratching posts are shown in the photo.

The simplest one is a scratching post-book, 2 boards wrapped in rope, pos. 1, and connected by a hinge made of a strip of textile.

The turns of the winding are most often all glued together, then when the outer side is torn off, you can turn the scratching post with the “fresh” sides out.

The ends of the boards before the wrapping are covered with fleecy or woolly, “catchy” fabric so that the cat can clean the claws on 3 paws while holding on to one.

The fact is that you can’t lower a simple corner scratching post to the floor: it interferes with cleaning and gets dirty. Cats, as you know, are clean.
They will ignore the dirty cleaner and go scratch something else.

Therefore, it is generally inconvenient for them to tear their claws on scratching posts, pos. 2, and not every cat accepts this product.

You might even get nervous that your favorite corner is closed.

Corner attached scratching posts, pos. 3 and 4. The side ensures the cleanliness of the cleaner, and the owners can move it away during cleaning. However, to make an attached corner scratching post you will have to do a lot of work, see for example. video - master class below. However, the work can be simplified by building a corner attached scratching post from cardboard tubes and plywood, pos. 5.

A special case is a corner wooden scratching post not in the corner, pos. 6.

It will help to avoid many problems if several, up to 4, cats that do not form a pride live in a rather cramped room.

Each has its own corner for pulling claws, and all together is a kind of border post.

Wall-mounted Sometimes cats, ignoring the corners, tear at the walls and it’s impossible to get them to use a normal scratching post.

This is generally not typical for the cat breed, but it is not a pathology: in this case, it will be cheaper and easier to make a scratching post for a cat on the wall than to run to veterinarians and animal psychologists.

But covering only the immediately scratched area with a small board with a cleaner, on the left in the figure, is wrong.

Someday you will need to tear out your hind legs, and then there will be wallpaper, baseboards, and carpet.

The cleaning surface of a wall-mounted scratching post should be no more than 12-17 cm from the floor so that the cat can reach it with its back paw, in the center.

Perfect option, of course - a wall-mounted scratching post with a bed, on the right, but this is due to the presence of bent wooden parts is already quite a complex piece of carpentry.

Video: DIY corner scratching post for cats

Wall mounted

Sometimes cats, ignoring corners, tear at walls and it’s impossible to get them to use a normal scratching post. This is generally not typical for the cat breed, but it is not a pathology: in this case, it will be cheaper and easier to make a scratching post for a cat on the wall than to run to veterinarians and animal psychologists. But covering only the immediately scratched area with a small board with a cleaner, on the left in the figure, is wrong. Someday you will need to tear out your hind legs, and then there will be wallpaper, baseboards, and carpet. The cleaning surface of a wall-mounted scratching post should be no more than 12-17 cm from the floor so that the cat can reach it with its back paw, in the center. The ideal option, of course, is a wall-mounted scratching post with a bed on the right, but due to the presence of bent wooden parts, this is already a rather complex carpentry product.


Wall-mounted scratching posts for cats.

Floor-standing

There are cats, and entire breeds of them, that don’t like not only to climb, but also to rear up. Persians, for example. Most likely, this is due to admixture in the gene pool from steppe cats; There are some among them who would rather drive a dog up a tree than climb it themselves. In this case, the cat needs a floor scratching post. This is basically the same board wrapped with rope, but with an emphasis on one edge, pos. 1 in Fig., so that you can practice claws while lying around for your own pleasure. Support/strut (item 2) - worse, more difficult with the hind legs.


Floor scratching posts for cats

Cardboard

Container cardboard is a readily available material. Even a completely ignorant kitten can scratch its claws on it at random without the risk of damaging them. But adult cardboard scratching posts are only suitable for cats of small, weak breeds. A street scumbag who has been awarded a promotion for good behavior will not clean his claws properly on cardboard, and will have to upset his owners by returning to street habits. By the way, not all small cats are weak. Try holding a Siamese or Abyssinian in your hands if she doesn’t want to.



Scratching posts for cats made of cardboard

The technology for making a cardboard scratching post is quite labor-intensive, but simple:

strips or blanks are glued together in rows, pos. 1 in Fig., or spiral, pos. 2.

In this way, sometimes very elegant products are obtained, pos. 3.

It is also easy to glue a wave scratching post from cardboard, pos. 5, or corner, attached or separate demarcation, pos. 6.

There are cardboard scratching posts on sale; most often - pillars of various configurations, pos. 4.

Branded animal psychologists assure that there is some kind of cat-like meaning in them, but the animals do not confirm this with their preferences, they would tear their claws, and that’s all.

House with a sharpener

A special kind of special type is the scratching post-house, see fig. You can accustom a cat to it only if it was adopted as a very young kitten. In this case, the conditioned reflexes acquired in safe human housing are able to prevail over the instinct for the safety of the lair, which has weakened there. Attempts by owners of this kind are justified if they take the cat to the dacha for a long time in the summer or, say, with them on vacation. The cat scratching post house is compact, lightweight, and does not cause any complaints from customs officers. And a cat in a familiar abode will not run wild and will not fall into hysterics in a strange environment.


Houses with scratching posts for cats

How can I explain it to her? Well, we made a scratching post and put our hearts into it. And our Felis, you know, is a catus (domestic cat) who fights and fights where she fights. How can I explain to her that something is better here? First of all, do not use valerian, catnip, etc. They have a narcotic effect on cats and can be addictive. Let us not be like some southern peoples who wean babies by slipping them a tampon soaked in wine.

Vet pharmacies sell products that can attract a cat to new clothes without spoiling its psyche and character. But it’s not cheap, especially since, most likely, you will have to try several drugs until you find one that’s suitable for a given person. So let’s try to do it on our own first. We take a cloth made of natural soft fabric, wash it thoroughly and then boil it in an open container for an hour and a half. Then we hang it on the balcony or in the yard so that the wind blows it properly and the sun bakes it. Street odors are not a problem, but household odors need to come out without leaving a trace. Next - thoroughly, with pressure, the area is torn three and three times. And then we rub the new scratching post in the same way. The former spontaneous one is wiped with a rag (you can use the same one, the smell is transferred) moistened with a weak solution (1-2 drops per liter of water) of dishwashing detergent with the smell of lemon or apples. For a cat, it is like a connoisseur of cognacs and natural wines, the amber of Sumy potato moonshine. For those who don’t know, bourbon whiskey with its fusel scent is compared to lavender.

Note: Petrozavodsk vodka of the Brezhnev bottling was even cooler. The author once had the misfortune of smelling one; I didn’t dare try, it became bad. But they don't make it anymore.

But let's return to our cats. We drag our mustachioed tabby or whatever color he has to a new scratching post. There we take his paw, and with our index finger we do not press very hard on its pad. The claws will come out and the odorant glands will automatically turn on. Now with this foot we scratch the cleanser of the new thing several times; This is necessary to renew and enhance the smell. Just be careful not to tear off the claw! Your strength is not that of a cat. That's all, let's release. He/she, of course, of course, has a tail like a pipe, and will rush to the old fight. But cats are not stupid; they will quickly understand that the new one is better and more pleasant.

Based on materials from the site question-remont.ru

Despite the many positive emotions that cats give us, a positive attitude can deteriorate if you find traces of their natural instincts in your apartment: scratched furniture, torn wallpaper, ties on the curtains and other “charms.”

To avoid such surprises, from the first day your cat is in the house, you should provide her with the opportunity to sharpen her claws in a convenient place.

But this does not mean that you should urgently go for expensive nail clippers: such a device is very easy to make with your own hands.

Let's find out about best practices and see a photo of how to make a scratching post step by step - corner, wall, floor, with a cat house - with your own hands.

Corner scratching post for cats, photo

What to consider before making a scratching post?

A homemade scratcher for cats has many advantages. At a minimum, this is an opportunity to create a convenient device for the point of the claws that is suitable in size and shape, fit it harmoniously into the interior, use available materials and avoid high waste.

A durable, functional and beautiful scratching post will delight not only pet, but also the owners themselves.

The first thing you need to do is decide on general scheme and sizes of scratching posts for cats with your own hands. If it will be a house, it is important to take into account the age of the cat and anticipate that over time he will need even more space.

If it takes the form of a separate device with a specific function, the main task will be to provide enough space to allow the claws to point on both paws at the same time, so do not make it too narrow.

Attention! The height of such a product should be twice the length of the body of an adult pet.

When starting a master class on a DIY cat scratching post, think about some other points in advance:

  • material for a scratching post. It must be durable and wear-resistant, but at the same time, comfortable enough for the animal;
  • fastening method claw clippers. Most often they have a wide, stable base or are mounted on a wall;
  • decide Will the claw sharpener be intended for other purposes?. They are often supplemented with a sleeping place or devices for games (mice, birds, feathers and other objects).

House with a scratching post for a cat, photo

It is important to consider that any scratching post can be subject to “attacks” from cats, so it is better to securely fasten the product. Next, we will talk about the most common options for nail clippers with and without a house, which can be made from scrap materials.

Making a rope post

This type of scratching post remains the most popular due to its convenient shape and relatively small size. The product consists of a stable base and an internal part, mainly cylindrical in shape.

What to make a rope scratching post for a cat from? The entire device is wrapped in a special rope (many people don’t know what the rope for a scratching post is called - ask for hemp rope in stores).


Scratching post for a kitten, photo

Advice: Make sure that the rope is not slippery and does not tear into small pieces at the first touch of the claws.

How to make a scratching post for a cat with your own hands? In addition to a skein of rope, you will need plastic pipe or wooden beams, as well as dense material for the lower base.


DIY scratching post: step-by-step instructions, photo

The pipe is tightly wrapped with rope: for a lasting effect, use glue every 10 cm. The base of the claw can also be wrapped with rope or decorated with thick fabric.

If desired, the claw scratcher can be supplemented with a convenient shelf for the cat to rest. But in order for such a shelf to support the weight of the animal and hold firmly at the top of the scratching post, it is necessary to calculate all the proportions in advance. A “shelf” that is too wide will warp the product, so the base should dominate in size.

Another option is a sleeping place, as in the photo:


DIY cat scratching post, photo

Scratching posts of this type are often supplemented with special toys and other accessories. Before you start creating a functional device for cats, look at the photo with variations of rope posts.

rug on the wall

Now let's discuss step by step instructions DIY scratching posts that attaches to the wall. It is believed that this is the most optimal option for owners, since the product is made very quickly and takes up minimal space in the apartment.

You will need thick fabric (preferably carpet or tapestry), strips for fastening and screws.

Start by cutting out a piece that fits the parameters: remember that the cat should be able to easily extend its front legs for the claw point, so the fabric should be long enough. The flap can be fixed directly to the wall or to a wood base of a similar shape.

For fastening on each side, use self-tapping screws and slats.


DIY wall scratching post, photo

Advice: Show your imagination and create a scratching post of an unusual shape. For example, in the form of your pet's paw print.

That's all. Now it’s a small matter: treat the textile fragment with your cat’s favorite scents - and soon your pet will be using the new device every day.

Flat nail clipper

This scratching post looks like a rope post. The diagram on how to make a scratch for a cat of this type with your own hands differs only in the shape of the central element: instead of a cylinder or pipe, a flat board or other material is used. Securely fix the flat part to the base and cover the entire surface of the sharpener with carpet or other type of fabric.

If desired, you can use jute or hemp rope, as in the first description. And with the help of special furniture hinges This product can be mounted on the wall.


Floor scratching post for cats

Corner type scratching post

The corner scratcher for cats has similar features to the vertical and wall scratches, since it is often held in place by floor base, and due to wall mounts. This option is especially loved by pets, since the specific shape of the claw scraper allows the cat to climb on top.

To create this product at home, you need to take three boards with a width corresponding to door jamb, screwdriver and screws, fabric or rope for external decoration.

To begin, wrap all the boards or cover them with carpet, which is secured to the base with the wrong side. If you use rope, do not forget to glue the material and also secure the edges of the rope with a construction stapler for greater reliability.


Now all that remains is to secure all the boards to door frame or walls. To do this you will need a screwdriver. As a rule, such scratching posts are made to cover the entire height of the opening, but you can choose other parameters.

Wooden claw point jig

When creating a cat scratcher, it is not necessary to use rope or fabric. Wood is an excellent material for such purposes, so you can take a wide branch without leaves and turn it into a cat claw sharpener with simple manipulations.

Attention! For such a scratching post, you can take branches with twigs and branches so that your pet can play.


DIY cat scratching post

On wooden base You can make either a separate scratch or a whole cat house with a scratching post with your own hands. To make it easier to secure the product, it is better to align the inner side. Then it will be easier to place the sharpener on a wall or floor, and also to install it at an angle.

By the way, a wooden claw board fits perfectly into your home interior, regardless of the chosen style of decorating the space.

Other options

To ensure maximum safety of furniture, textiles, accessories and other interior items, you can implement other ideas for homemade nail clippers:


Accustoming your pet to a new scratching post

After making a cat claw, all that remains is to help the pet get used to the allowed place. To do this, place the cat's paw on the surface and press on the pad. As soon as the kitten releases its claws, run your paw along the scratching post: this way he will understand that this can be done here.

If over time you notice that the cat has forgotten about where it is possible and where it is not possible to sharpen its claws, let him understand that it is wrong to do this.

Don't offend your pet: just scold him and take him to the nail clipper.


DIY claw sharpener for cats

In some cases, you can lure the animal to the permitted place using aromatic treatment. For example, you can spray the scratching post with valerian or another product that cats like for its smell.

A scratching pad should be in the house in any case, since scratching is a natural necessity of every cat. Therefore, you will not be able to wean your animal from sharpening its claws, but by taking timely care to create the device, you will protect your home from damage.

If you don’t have time to create a homemade scratch, buy ready product, but do not forget to accustom the cat to it as quickly as possible. If he develops the habit of sharpening his claws elsewhere, it may be difficult to wean your pet off.

Video

Watch a video with a master class on a DIY cat scratching post:

No matter how domestic and affectionate a cat is, it will always have the instincts of a wild animal. IN wildlife animals sharpen their claws on trees, grass, soil, stones.

When a pet lives at home, he involuntarily makes cat scratches on the furniture, so it is more economical to make a scratching post for him with your own hands according to the instructions at home.

The optimal shape of the nail clipper is a column, the material is coarse twine. The selection at the pet store is much more varied.

There are different types of scratching posts:

  1. By shape– hanging, floor or corner mat, ring, pole.
  2. By design- “town”, with toys, tiers, shelves, bridges, a house.
  3. Based on materials– from cardboard, fabric, wood, twine.
  4. By size– monolithic, large, medium.

If the kitten is alone, there is no point in building a huge structure for it. When there are two or more of them, you can purchase a multi-level scratching post.

Corrugated cardboard scratching post

A scratching post made of corrugated cardboard is made according to a very simple scheme. Known fact that cats have a special love for boxes, so your pet will also like this look.

An eco-scratching post can only be used for a couple of months, so making one yourself will be much more profitable.

What you will need:

  • corrugated cardboard (can be replaced with cardboard boxes),
  • paper knife,
  • fabric for decoration,
  • thick paper,
  • PVA glue,
  • adhesive tape.

Master class step by step:

  1. Lay out the boxes on flat sheets, draw stripes of the same width. You can take any width, but it is recommended that the scratching post pillow be 10 cm higher. The stripes on the cardboard should be horizontal to the folds of the boxes.
  2. Cut cardboard into strips.
  3. Start rolling the strips with your hands. Twist the first one more tightly, since it will act as the core of the claw hammer. Secure with tape or glue.
  4. Wrap the remaining strips around the core, securing with glue or tape.
  5. Fasten the last strip especially carefully.
  6. Wrap the cardboard in fabric and secure.
  7. Place the resulting pillow on paper and trace it with a pencil. Cut out the bottom, attach the base.

The claw sharpener is ready!

Wooden scratching post

There are several more budget and easy options for making a scratching post. For example, find a small stump or log on the street. Clean the bark with a coarse brush and dry in a dark room.

After this, you can choose to do the following:

  1. Secure the log in vertical position on a wide stand.
  2. Unfold vertically, securing half to a stand or wall.

You can decorate a log by making it not only a scratching post, but also a decorative element.

To do this you need:

  1. Clean the log with a brush.
  2. Wrap with twine. You can not wrap it completely, but wind it randomly in pieces.
  3. Using a drill, secure the structure to the wall, hang toys and balls.

Scratching post-post

The scratching post acts as a cat simulator for pets. The height of this device is 1 meter. It’s not difficult to make; it’s much more difficult to find such a column.

What you will need:

  • post pipe;
  • wood base;
  • jute thread or carpet;
  • base fabric;
  • pipe filler (for example, construction foam);

Master Class:

  1. Cover the podium with fabric and secure it with a stapler from the floor side.
  2. Wrap the column with thread or cover it with carpet.
  3. Place the pipe in the middle of the base and secure it with a self-tapping screw.
  4. Disguise the top of the column (you can sew a “cap”).
  5. Hang your pet's toy on a long rope.

Wall-mounted scratching post

A wall-mounted scratching post can also be called classic version. Pets enjoy sharpening their claws on it.

You will need:

  • wall panel or block of wood with a height of 50 to 70 cm;
  • electric drill;
  • screws;
  • jute or hemp twine (diameter – 5 mm) – 2 skeins;

Algorithm of actions:

  1. For an accurate understanding of height wall panel You can measure the height of a cat without taking into account the tail. The pet's height must be multiplied by two.
  2. Drill six holes in parallel in the wooden panel and block - 2 on top, 2 in the middle and 2 on the bottom.
  3. Wrap tightly with twine and secure the ends.
  4. Screw the block and wooden panel onto the wall.

You can call the cat for a test!

Corner scratching post

Your pet will like the corner claw clipper because it will be able to climb up.

To make it you will need:

  • board – 3 pcs.;
  • screwdriver;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • fabric (rope) for decoration;

Instructions:

  1. Wrap the boards or cover with fabric. Fasten the fabric to the base with the wrong side. The rope needs to be glued and the edges secured with a stapler.
  2. Secure the boards to the wall using a screwdriver.

Scratching post with shelves

A scratching post with shelves is not an easy option, but your pet will appreciate it.

Instructions:

  1. Make a drawing, calculate the dimensions and purchase the necessary materials.
  2. Cut from plywood or furniture board cut out parts of the future scratching post.
  3. Cut off pieces of pipes.
  4. Mark the place where the pipe is attached and circle it. Bend straight hangers and attach them using self-tapping screws to the base along the edges of the circle.
  5. Place a pipe between them, securing it with self-tapping screws.
  6. Make a hole for the pipe on the base and cover it with fabric. Secure the fabric with a stapler.
  7. Secure the shelf on top of the pipe, secure the awnings to the pipe. Cut holes in the shelf, thread the canopies, bend and secure.
  8. Install 2 smaller pipes on the shelf using the method described above.
  9. Place foam rubber on the surface of the shelf. Cover it with cloth on top and make holes for the pipes. Secure the fabric with a stapler.
  10. Install and secure the shelf onto the pipes. Cover with foam rubber and fabric.
  11. Wrap all the pipes with rope and secure the ends with glue.

Cat's house

It is much more difficult to make a house-shaped scratching post, but this design will last for a long time.

Step-by-step algorithm:

  1. Stage 1. Draw truncated circles on rectangular pieces of chipboard. The radius is 27 cm. For the back wall, the circle is solid; for the front wall, you need to draw the entrance to the house. Diameter – 22 cm. Draw 3 holes to decorate the house. Diameter – 5.5 cm.
  2. Stage 2. Use a jigsaw to cut out the holes and walls. For small holes, you can use a drill with drill bits. Place the walls on top of each other, mark 7 points (drill with a thin drill). They serve as places for attaching slats. Drill the recesses (there will be screw heads in them).
  3. Stage 3. Saw off 7 slats. Length – 37 cm, cross-section – 3 x 4 cm. The 2 lower ones may be slightly thicker. Treat surfaces so that there are no sharp edges or roughness. Screw the slats using self-tapping screws to the walls of the house.
  4. Stage 4. Cut out the details for finishing from the fabric, do not forget about the allowances. Cover the walls. Pay attention to the choice of glue - there should not be a strong smell. It is recommended to use a hot glue gun. Cut the fabric on the front wall, carefully glue the edges of the holes. For neatness, you can glue a strip of fabric.
  5. Stage 5. Try the resulting workpiece on the base. It is a chipboard board, size 44 x 61 cm. Mark the position, cut the foam to fit the bottom, and glue it to the base. Draw a circle on the pipe fastening area. Cut out the fabric for the base and cover the surface with it. Secure the upholstery from the sides with a furniture stapler. Close bottom fiberboard sheet, suitable in size.
  6. Stage 6. Cut out a piece of fiberboard - the roof of the house. Size – 40 x 122 cm. Cover with fabric. Cut 2 pieces from the fabric intended for the base. Glue on the sides of the bottom slats.
  7. Stage 7. Place the cat house on the base and secure it with self-tapping screws. Before doing this, make indentations on the slats so that there are no protrusions of the caps. Cover the slats completely with the remaining fabric.
  8. Stage 8. Secure the roof with a furniture stapler. Straighten the fabric lint out of the staples. The side parts visible from the outside should also be covered with fabric.
  9. Stage 9. For a scratching post you need to take a pipe. Size – 60 cm, diameter – 11 cm. Insert dry wood blocks inside. Cut out semicircles from fiberboard and chipboard for the top bed.
  10. Stage 10. Place the fiberboard blank on the pipe, having previously made a hole in the shape of a circle. Screw the chipboard blank using self-tapping screws to the block located in the pipe. Turn the house over onto its back wall and attach a pipe with a stove bench to the base. To ensure that it is in a level position, place objects under it. Make recesses for the screws on the bottom side. Screw the pipe with the stove bench. Cover with cloth bottom part pipes.
  11. Stage 11. Glue foam rubber onto the bed. Secure the ball rope at the bottom with a stapler. Cover the upper part of the bed with fabric and secure it to the folds using a stapler. Glue the fiberboard to the bottom of the bed. Wrap the rope around the pipe and glue the first two turns from the bottom and top.
  12. Stage 12. To make an additional inclined scratching post, you need to take a board. Size – 18 x 41 cm. For a good stop, cut the lower edge at an angle of 45 degrees. Cover the board with fabric on all sides and wrap a rope around the middle.

The location for the scratching post must be chosen very carefully. To do this, it is worth observing where the cat most likes to sharpen its claws.

To attract the cat to the prepared scratcher, you can put catnip there or drop a little valerian. If another animal sits on the scratching post, the cat will have no choice but to leave its mark there. During the training period, you need to encourage your pet with a treat, but under no circumstances scold or punish.

We always had a self-made scratching post for cats, but after repairs, we decided to buy a magnificent design for fabulous money. And what do you think, our cats boycotted the expensive design 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 fun 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 best material for production - cotton clothesline. Of course, there is no limit to imagination, which is why our pet stores stock a wide variety of scratching posts for cats.

  • The form includes cylindrical posts, rings, and a variety of square and rectangular rugs for horizontal and vertical placement on the floor and wall.
  • Materials. They are made from different materials, but most often used natural material: wood, twine, cardboard, coarse fabrics.
  • A structure made from several items. There may be “towns”, special houses, soft or plastic toys, bridges, shelves, sunbeds, or all in combination.
  • The sizes are medium, from 80 cm to 1 meter in height, and huge solid ones, reaching the ceiling, attached to the walls.

For one animal, a medium-sized structure will be enough; a large scratching post is not needed in this case. 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 - at turns, in places where the animal most often passes, in doorways, in the hallway. Then the pet will very quickly adapt and fall in love with your product.

And don’t let the fact that your pet scratches anything and sleeps all day long not make you happy. 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 on the structure all day long, grinding down its claws in the process.

1 What materials are best suited for the job?

It is very important to take into account the fact that the scratching post for cats must 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 that is coarse, but moderately fibrous and rough. It is necessary that the claws do not catch or get tangled when cleaning. In addition, cats react very strongly to static electricity, so it’s better to look for a 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 or chemically added material.
  • — It is better to cover the structure with rigid twine or rope. It is necessary that the material does not contain soft synthetic fibers, since the cat can get caught in its claws and get injured.
  • The soft part You should not stuff it with down, wool or straw; it is better to take a padding polyester lining with a hypoallergenic composition.
  • — The upper part can be made from carpet, after rinsing it in water and drying it in the sun. There is no need to use leather materials, since they slip and are always cold, and cats love everything soft and warm.

The choice of materials requires a lot of attention on your part. Pets are very picky and sensitive, so they immediately react negatively to synthetic materials, and will not use the scratching post if they don’t like the smell or get an electric charge.

2 DIY wooden scratching post

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

  • Step one. Look around you in your yard or park. You will definitely see some kind of log or stump. Take this natural preparation with you. Birch is most suitable, or any conifer tree, except for spruce.
  • Step two. You need to clean the bark with a brush and dry the workpiece in a dark place.
  • Step three. Place the dry log in a vertical position, securing it to strong foundation. You can divide the log into two halves and attach one half to the wall.

It is necessary to take into account that the proposed design must have the height of the cat without taking into account the length of the tail. Cats love to stretch out, scratching the surface.

Unfortunately, not all whims may like such “handicrafts”. A proud animal can simply walk past your structure, and it is impossible to force it to use the accessory.

3 DIY scratching post made from simple burlap

Build a frame of any size from available materials and stretch burlap over it (you can use another thick fabric, folded in layers). Use pieces of quilt to place between layers of fabric. Place your scratching post right next to the furniture set that your pet loves so much. With a little effort, the cat should understand what can be scratched and what cannot.

4 DIY cardboard scratching post

  • Take pieces of pressed cardboard from plain boxes.
  • You choose the shape of the product yourself, but round form easiest way.
  • Cut the cardboard into pieces. Bend each part so that you get a loose spiral. Next you need to tighten the roll, glue it along the edges and inside.
  • We bring the circle to 50 cm in diameter, 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, it attracts outflows like this handsome guy.

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




DIY scratching post house - dimensions and drawings

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

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

Quite simple and comfortable house both for playing and for manicure.

Chic and cozy scratching post and bed from a box

Wigwam house with drawing and cutting

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

We must not forget that the device for cats must be made from 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.

DIY scratching post MK video

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

Corner scratching post

A DIY cat scratching post is often located in the corner. It is very convenient to place it exactly in the 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 planks suitable color, wrap them with a clothesline with your own hands, secure the rope on the back side of the planks with a stapler, and attach them on both sides to the door frame, for example. Pussies will not refuse to rip their claws there, even those like our stern Dusya.

It is advisable not to use metal parts when constructing devices. They are too hard and the cat may damage its claws.

DIY scratching post with a bed

Animals love to climb higher; provide them with conditions both to lie down and to scratch their claws.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo, but we made such a bed or “sitter” for our cat from an ordinary board, without covering it with anything, and as a result, the entire board was torn. The kitty really enjoyed watching, basking in the sun and immediately stretching and scratching her claws.

A lovely scratching post shelf for comfortable lying on.

DIY scratching post complex for cats>/a>

Wall-mounted scratching post

There is a peculiarity here. You can't make a wall rack too small or narrow. Otherwise, the surface of the adjacent wall will suffer.

Crafts for cats, scratching posts toys

Hang the toys from the scratching post using 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 accustom a cat to a new scratching post

The cat is a rather 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 it 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 trust you. And only then take his paw and move it along the surface so that the cat releases its claws. At this time, the glands on the paw will work, secreting specific smell. Thus, new thing becomes marked by your cat. And now he recognizes her as his without much effort.

Release the furry animal into the wild and observe its behavior. After a while he will sniff the territory and come to to the right place himself to stretch out to his full height and thoroughly sharpen the claws on his front and hind paws.

You can also use a trick such as an interesting item attached to the device. A soft ball stuffed with padding polyester with an elastic band or a burlap bag with catnip inside, also attached with an elastic band so that you could take it in your teeth and drag it, and it would break out, the elastic would contract, and the toy would return to its place.

Where is a cat more likely to sharpen its claws?

Please note that when you come home, your pet greets 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 there is no reason for us to take revenge on our pets, but we must certainly allow them to show their love for us.

There is an opinion that a pussy sharpens its claws exactly where the owner can admire it, or tears 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 is in a fit of vindictiveness.

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:

  • Don't argue and sew a cover
  • Argue, using the method of gluing double-sided tape (after checking how easily and without trouble for the sofa it can then be peeled off). If you decide to argue, be prepared to immediately offer the 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 a cat’s claws, like the nails of its owner, grow very quickly, and if the cat does not find something suitable for grinding them down in the apartment, then many things will suffer from its manipulations - furniture set, carpeting, wooden parts of tables and chairs, Stuffed Toys and clothes in the hallway.

The owners are unlikely to like this behavior of the pet, but stopping the process of grinding down the claws is very dangerous. The pussy will have cracks and chips on the claws, and this will bring such pain to the animal that even a twisted human nail cannot be compared.

In addition, a cat with long claws cannot fully climb on wooden surfaces and vertical planes. Although this is not possible at home, the animal still receives severe 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 furry may die.

With long claws, a cat experiences such an unpleasant sharp pain when moving; every step brings her pain. At first, she doesn’t even understand what’s happening and tries to endure it, but the result is lameness.

Some too busy owners rush to seek help from a veterinarian, who suggests removing the claws altogether. But such a procedure brings incredible suffering and pain to the cat. 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 “knackering”; it is better to show a little ingenuity and create with your own hands for your beloved pet conditions 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 essentially a keratinized finger. Organic substances are constantly supplied to it through the blood. Since this process is in constant contact with air, it hardens, and its ends become fragile and prevent the animal from moving. The cat needs to get rid of these unnecessary particles from time to time. So the cat does not sharpen its claws, but gets rid of too much length.

By its nature, the claw in cats grows in an arched 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, not all parts of the animal’s body provide shock absorption, but only the ligaments on the paws. Such a blow can cause ligament injury. For a cat, a sprain will cause incredible pain.

The regrowth of claws, in addition to the above problems, leads to loss of sharpness. So, cats lose their protective function. Although the pussy does not have to scratch other household inhabitants, much less its owner, it must have confidence in its capabilities.

When a cat “cleans” its claws, it leaves behind its scent, which is released by special glands on its paws. It turns out that the cat is thus marking 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 their claws. She doesn’t need any special products, because there are plenty of “manicure” products available in the yard. But still, the owner should monitor the condition of his pet’s claws. In the yard, a cat often runs away from dogs by climbing a tall tree, as a result of which it loses a claw or breaks it. With such injuries, it is better not to let a cat out into the yard, even for a walk.

The cat 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 and furniture. In this case, you should not show dissatisfaction and punish the animal. You must know the natural needs of your pet and always find the right way out. You just need to create the most comfortable conditions for the cat, close to their natural environment. Just a DIY cat scratching post will come to the rescue of both you and your cat.

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

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

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