When a cat appears in the house, you need to allocate a place for it. Many owners can’t get by with a simple bed from the store. They want to make an original house with their own hands. This task may seem daunting. But if you understand all the details of production, then the structure can be made without difficulty! You can also build a house that matches the color of the interior style. And in regular stores it’s difficult to find something like this. Everything will be discussed in more detail later in the article.
There are a number of rules that will help you prepare for work on arranging a hut for a cat.
First, learn the most basic ones:
- Before you start building a house for an animal, think about what materials you will use. It is better to use fabric made from natural fibers and natural wood in such work. These materials are the safest for cats. But in any store they are expensive. And Chinese analogues, as a rule, consist of synthetics and plastic.
- You need to clearly understand what kind of house you want to make. To do this, draw it on a piece of paper in advance. Such a sketch will help you not to forget anything. You will also properly plan the purchase of materials and prepare the means at hand.
- This is a fun activity for parents with children. After all, participation in the creative process always brings joy.
Houses for cats step by step: main recipes
Making a cat house with your own hands is more fun with your children. Just give preference to safe materials. So, the simplest and cheapest option for arranging a hut is the following:
- You need to take a large corrugated cardboard box. It is better that the box has dimensions of at least 35 by 50 cm in width and up to 50 cm in height.
- Now you need to prepare the available tools: scissors, glue, a stationery knife, fine sandpaper, tape, pencil, colored paper, upholstery material and more.
- For the internal frame (laying on the floor), you can use foam rubber. But if it is not available, an unnecessary blouse or a piece of an old blanket will do. For the exterior decoration of the house, you can use colored paper. But it is more relevant to use boucle fabric or fur.
- Now let's start preparing the box itself. To do this, remove the stickers from it, glue the places where there are cracks with tape, cut off the burrs, and sand the roughness with sandpaper.
- Draw a hole on the end of the box. To do this, place a saucer with a diameter of at least 20 cm on it and circle it around the edges. Then we cut out a hole using a stationery knife. Gently sand the edges with sandpaper.
- Once again we seal all the joints with tape or glue. The house should be durable so that the cat feels comfortable and calm in it. Dry the product before starting exterior finishing.
- Now we cover the house with colored paper or textiles. For the second option, silicone quick-drying glue is suitable. In this case, you cannot use a furniture stapler, as the cat may be injured from the inside of the staples.
- To match the size of the floor in the house, sew a small pad made of foam rubber and upholstery fabric.
Now the house is ready for use. And you can let your pet into this cozy nest. It can be supplemented with glued toys, hanging threads, and sparkles.
Popular options
The cat building may have a non-standard shape. You can make it from available materials. It may also not have a scratching post at all. Let's consider several of these options:
- Wigwam. The structure is made of metal rods in the shape of a tent. Then it is covered on all sides (except one) with fabric. Foam rubber and bedding are laid on the floor of such a house.
- Ottoman house. A standard square ottoman usually consists of a wooden or MDF structure. Therefore, we remove the fabric from the bottom of the pouf and cut out a hole with a jigsaw. Then the wooden part can be covered with latex paint, and a soft lining can be placed inside.
- Hammock house. Any cat is interested in new places. Making a hammock for her to relax is very simple. To do this, you can use: a small coffee table, an armchair or a chair. But these pieces of furniture must have 4 legs. So, at the level between the floor and the tabletop/seat, the canvas is stretched. On its sides two fabric strips should be sewn to each. Then the canvas is attached to the legs using ties. And voila!
- Triangle house. This is the simplest type of pet hut. To make it you will need 3 small pieces of OSB. They can be cut from a thin board, 6 ml thick. The pieces should be equal in size and rectangular in shape. Then we place the first piece on the floor, and on top of it we make a dome from the remaining two. We fix the parts together using nails or screws. Additionally, you can use metal triangles. Using a glue gun or a furniture stapler, we frame the outside of the house with fabric. We put a soft lining inside.
- Shelf house. From available materials (osb boards, boards, laminate or chipboard) you can prepare shelves of various levels. But its main task will be to become a place for the cat to relax. So, you will need to cover the resulting piece of furniture with fabric and place it on the floor.
Houses with scratching post
Every cat needs to sharpen its claws. If your pet is indoors and it is not possible for him to go outside regularly, then he will have to do this at home. Without the claw grinding procedure, the owner will have to trim them.
And if there is no scratching post in the house, the pet will begin to sharpen its claws on the furniture.
Therefore, it is better to make a house for a cat with a scratching post, which will fully perform its intended function.
Materials
First decide on the construction site. Then you need to measure the allotted “angle” in height and width. Now prepare the materials most convenient for sharpening the animal’s claws. This:
- carpet;
- tapestry;
- jute rope;
- tree.
Carpet is a fairly durable and soft material. The cat will sit comfortably on it and also comfortably sharpen its claws on it.
In addition, you will need:
- plywood sheets;
- wooden beams;
- plastic pipes as support pillars;
- self-tapping screws;
- corners;
- screwdriver;
- jigsaw
But these tools may not be found in the house. Therefore, it is worth taking care of their availability in advance.
What and where to buy?
To build a hut with a scratching post for an animal, buy a whole sheet of plywood at once - 1.5 by 1.5 cm. Then cut it into pieces: 0.50 by 0.75 cm.
For the support (post), you can use a regular beam, which will need to be divided into several parts. Choose timber up to 2.5 m long.
It is advisable to choose plywood sheets with a thickness of at least 10 mm. Since the cat will often jump on them in the future. And this material must be strong.
Advice
You shouldn't buy the most expensive carpet. Give preference to the cheap option. You can also ask the seller to sell you scraps of this material.
Jute rope can be found in every hardware store or market. The difficulty is that it is sold in bulk. You'll have to buy a whole skein or look for a store that sells rope by the meter. But the price of a cut product is much higher. Take a rope at least 1 cm thick.
Safety fastening elements are purchased for the building: corners and triangles for better fixation of structures.
Manufacturing process
When the design of the hut is completed and all materials are at hand, you can begin to work. The basic frame can be one-, two-, or even three-tiered. The number of platforms also depends on the number of cats in the house. So, if two pets live in an apartment, then each of them should have its own seat.
So let's get started:
- A wooden beam is attached to the plywood base.
- You can put a plastic pipe of suitable size on it (so that the pipe fits tightly to the walls of the beam and does not twist).
- If we make several platforms, then at some distance from each other on a single base we fix 1-2 more beams.
- Each of them has its own platform (at different heights). We fix them on top with self-tapping screws and metal corners on the sides.
- The first shelf must be fixed not only to its beam, but also be connected to the second. Therefore, a hole for the second beam is prepared in advance in the plywood. He will have to go on the board. The second shelf is attached to the third in the same way.
- Now you can begin framing the plywood surfaces with carpet. Here you can use a stapler or use regular nails and a hammer. If you decorate the house with ordinary fabric, then soon the building will need its replacement. Most likely the animal will want to sharpen its claws on the fabric too.
- Tie all the pillars from beginning to end with rope. Try to keep their rings tightly adjacent to each other.
Now the scratching post structure for your pet is ready! Additionally, you can decorate it with colored felt, threads with buttons, sparkles, and foil.
Scratching post options
In addition to the most common scratching posts for cats, you can make simple but original analogues. So, it is permissible to make a scratching post in the form of a picture. To do this you will need a simple piece of plywood (rectangular) and carpet.
The carpet is fixed to the board using nails and a hammer. The corners of the fabric should be hidden on the back. They even attach a mini hanger. Then the finished painting is hung on the wall in the corridor or room. It should hang at the height of the pet. This refers to the cat's height at the withers, and not from the floor to the tips of his ears.
Are you interested in the question - how to make a scratching post for a cat? Then we suggest you make a scratching post with your own hands, because in any family where a representative of the cat family lives, sooner or later such a need arises.
By nature, cats are predators, and therefore their main weapon is not only their teeth, but also their claws. In nature, cats actively run and climb trees, during which their claws are worn down. It is important to let our pets have their say. In animals, “to pour out emotions” means to caress, protect territory, sharpen claws. It’s the latter that often brings owners a lot of trouble, a lot of inconvenience and both emotional and material losses. Just look at the damage to new wallpaper and good furniture that you were going to use for a long time.
It is worth making sure that your pet has a “magic wand” – a scratching post. Let's make it with our own hands!
Today, scratching posts are presented in a wide range in stores, the choice is great, but we will make such a device ourselves.
Bringing a log into the house is not always feasible, especially for city dwellers, but wooden slats and blocks can be found in hardware stores. From these we will make a claw holder for the cat.
The slats need to be shortened to the optimal size and glued together.
Compress well with clamps or in a vice for strength.
Mark the distance from the edge.
Attach thick twine to this point.
Cover the area of the glued board with it.
If desired, decorate with durable colored threads.
We drill two holes at an equal distance from the edge on both sides.
We attach a lace, you can take the same twine, you can make a leather lace.
We fix it at a level accessible to the pet from the floor, introduce it and make sure that this item is used for its intended purpose.
In any case, no matter how severe the devastation, do not cut the animal’s claws under any circumstances!
There is another option for making a scratching post, which is presented in the video. He will require from you the following tools and materials:
- Base: plywood, USB, chipboard, PVC pipe or for stacking
- Wrapping: twine, jute rope, linen rope
- Design: carpet, lining fabric
- Tools: construction stapler, knife, screwdriver, glue gun (screws, corners), PVA glue
Balance beam
Let's make a gymnastic beam for the cat, which will give him a lot of joy; he can climb the beam and sharpen his claws at the same time.
A 4-meter cardboard tube was purchased from carpet sellers, on which the carpet is wound.
We shorten the pipe to the required length. We make the lower edge obliquely - then it rests on the floor with its base.
Sew a piece of carpet onto the pipe (you can glue it). It is advisable to do this overlapping. 
The most difficult job is sewing the edge of the carpet. This will have to be done, because the glue at the joint will not hold up, the cat will easily tear it. Sew with thick threads. 
We install the log (optionally on the balcony), screw it to the edge of the carpet with screws.
The lower end is simply installed on the floor. You can also secure it if desired.
So, we learned how to make a scratching post in symbiosis with a balance beam for gymnastics for cats!
Carpet scratching post
Materials for production:
- board
- timber or piece of plastic pipe
- thick plywood or boards for the base
- carpet for covering
If you do not want to beat the scratching post, then you will need a rope; hemp rope, which is very durable, may be suitable for this. If you still decide to upholster, it is recommended to choose a carpet with a woven base rather than a glue base. For climbing and scraping, a woven cover is an ideal and durable option.
So, how to make a scratching post for a cat. First you need to take a column and cover it all with carpet fabric. The simplest option would be to cover the wooden board with a coating, but this needs to be done as tightly as possible. The block should be wrapped with hemp, the turns are secured every 10-15 cm with a bracket, you can also use a special clamp for this. When the post is completely entwined, the mobile scratching post needs to be secured to the base. We select a heavy base so that it stands stable.
If you have a stationary scratching post, then you need to mount it from the wall at a distance of at least 20 cm, and on top you can additionally install a bed, a kind of shelf. We cover such a shelf with carpet, but so that the pile is outward.
There is also the easiest way to make a scratching post. It can be wall-mounted, namely, attach a piece of carpet to the wall, you can choose tapestry fabric, a piece of carpet, etc. All edges must be additionally secured with slats, so they will not fray later, or simply tuck the edges.
It won’t be difficult to accustom a kitten to a scratching post, especially if he is still a baby. It will be more difficult with an adult cat, because it will not be clear to her why it was previously possible to sharpen its claws anywhere, but now it is not possible. However, diligence will help, take your paw and lightly press on the pads, so the cat will release its claws, and run the claws along the scratching post.
It will be convenient to make several scratching posts that can be placed in those places where the cat is already accustomed to sharpening its claws.
Sports town
The sports town consists of climbing poles, mezzanine paths and several bed-shelves.
The upper mezzanine is made of plywood about 1 cm thick. The width of the path (path) is 35 cm, and the same distance to the ceiling so that the cat can move freely on it.
First, we attach standard metal corners (brackets) under the ceiling, the length of the “arms” is 25cm + 35cm.
We fasten them at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other. This will prevent the plywood from sagging. For fasteners we use 8 mm plastic dowels with self-tapping screws.
We attach the plywood (cut) to the corners using 12-15 mm bolts, it is advisable to choose bolts with a countersunk head. The top of the plywood must be tightened with a nut. For strength, we attach a block (support point) to the ceiling, and secure it at the bottom with a self-tapping screw.
We attach a side around the perimeter, making it from a 25x15 mm block. It is also secured with self-tapping screws.
At the end of the path we will make a secret place where the cat will hide.
To make beds, we attach bars for supports, 25x15 mm, in the selected corner. We secure it using self-tapping screws and dowels. We place shelves on them, cut to the shape of a corner. You can use plywood as a material.
Then the pole itself, which acts as a scratching post and a ladder along which the cat will climb up.
For the pole we take a beam of about 100x100 mm, choose the length corresponding to the ceiling. And, of course, the rope. The best option would be hemp. It is best to take a thickness of 16, 19 or 22 mm, because... a very thick one will bend poorly, and a thin one will slip. The length must be calculated independently; for this example, with a rope thickness of 19 mm, a height of 2.65 m, and our timber it took 60 m.
The rope must be wound tightly, with tension. We strengthen every few turns with a staple or nail.
We fix the ends with crimp clamps, nailing them to the beam.
At the end, the plywood parts can be finished with carpet, securing it with a stapler, or we can place mattresses made of thin parallon covered with fabric there. The outer part can be varnished or draped with fabric.
Thus, by making a scratching post for a cat with your own hands, you can make a whole town if you wish.
Everyone knows that cats love to sharpen their claws. This is how they mark their territory and wear off the old layer of the claw. In natural conditions, they do this by climbing trees, and at home, upholstered furniture and other interior items suffer from the claws of a pet. How to save your property and make your pet’s life complete? There is a simple solution to the problem - a special scratching post for cats.
Pet stores sell ready-made claw toys in the form of a log, pillow, board, or even an entire play complex. But it will be much cheaper to make a scratching post with your own hands from scrap materials and wrap it with rope. Your pussy will be very grateful to you for this.
What material is best for a scratching post?
Preference is given to natural ropes made of jute or sisal. Environmentally friendly fibers of natural origin do not electrify, are safe for people and will not harm your animal. Cats adore a cloth coated with plant fibers, while a purchased artificial rope scratching post may be ignored. They can be scared off by the smell of synthetics, impregnation and paint.
Nylon or polypropylene ropes are much stronger than natural ones, but they are prone to stretching, and cat claws can get stuck and tangled in them. If you make a scratching post with a winding made of, it will not last long. Your tailed ones will quickly fluff up and break off its fibers.
Sisal rope for scratching post
A nail polisher coated with wood is a win-win option for solving the problem of sharp claws. Its tough and moderately prickly texture is attractive to cats. The strong sisal fibers from agave leaves are frayed and scratched by animals much more slowly than other bast fibers. Sisal ropes and ropes are distinguished by light shades from white to golden and have a neat, dense 3-strand weave.
Jute rope for scratching post
Rag for a cat made of less durable, since its fibers are inferior in strength and resistance to “draping” than sisal. It is less coarse and more fleecy, and has a beautiful golden brown color. Thanks to its elasticity, it fits well to any shape. Rope made from is an inexpensive wrapping material for a cat scratcher that will help distract your pussy from rugs, sofas and other furniture.
The most optimal rope diameter for making a scratching post is from 6 to 10 mm. Such a rope looks attractive and is convenient for wrapping around structures. Most often, a cat “sharpener” is made in the form of a column on a platform. The turns of the rope should fit tightly to each other and wrap around the pole with tension.
How to calculate how many meters of rope are needed for a scratching post?
Let's assume that you have a pole with a height of 1 m and a cross-section of 11 cm. The length of one turn will be 11 x 3.14 = 35 cm, respectively, the total length is ≈ 35 m.
Although a cat is a domestic animal, it is not without wild instincts. If you are not yet familiar with the problem of torn wallpaper, scratched door frames, torn upholstery of upholstered furniture, pillows and blankets favored by pets, hurry up and make a scratching post for your kitten from a rope.
Useful tips
All cats have a need to sharpen their claws. This leads to the fact that they begin to damage wallpaper and furniture. A special design - a scratching post - will help to avoid this.
Scratching post with shelves
To create such a scratching post for a cat with your own hands, you will need to follow the following steps.
Stages of making a scratching post:
1. Manufacturing drawing, calculating dimensions and purchasing materials.
2. Jigsaw Parts of the required configuration and size are cut out of a furniture panel or sheet of plywood. Cut pieces of pipes to the required length.
3. On the board that will be the base, mark the place where the pipe is attached by tracing it. Suspensions for straight-shaped drywall, bend and attach with self-tapping screws to the base along the edges of the circle. They place a pipe between them and also secure it with self-tapping screws. This type of fastening is reliable.
DIY scratching post with a cat bed. Photo
4. The base is tightened cloth, making a hole in it for the pipe. Fasten the fabric using a furniture stapler.
5. Next, to make a scratching post for a cat, attach it to the pipe on top shelf. Awnings fixed to the pipe. Holes are cut in the shelf in the right places. Canopies are threaded through them, bent and fixed.
6. Two pipes of smaller diameter are installed on the shelf. Fastening is carried out in the same way as in the case of a large pipe.
7. Lay a layer on the surface of the shelf foam rubber. It is covered with fabric on top, making holes for the pipes. The fabric is fixed with a stapler.
8. A shelf is installed on the pipes and secured in the same way as the previous one. It is covered with a foam sheet and fabric.
9. All pipes are wrapped with rope, securing the ends with durable glue.
how to make a scratching post for a cat. Master Class
DIY cat scratching post with bed
To make a scratching post with a cat bed with your own hands, you first need to prepare. The master class below will help you cope with the task.
Since cats differ in height and size, the choice of design sizes must be approached individually. First, find out how much space the cat needs when lying down. Based on this, a material with the required parameters is selected. It will then be cut out oval bed.
For the lower base you will need a board with the same characteristics so that the structure is stable. You can take thicker and more massive material.
To determine the height, the cat is raised on its hind legs. The required height is the point where it reaches with the front ones. You can make it a little higher to make it more comfortable for the animal.
Cutting out the details
Next, in making a scratching post with a cat bed with your own hands, you need to cut out all the details. First, two rectangles are cut out according to the given parameters. Diagonal lines are drawn on them to determine the center. On the part for the bed - on both sides.
DIY scratching post with a cat bed. Photos step by step
Before sawing out the bed, make a paper sh ablon. It is applied to chipboard or plywood and outlined. The resulting oval is cut out, and the edges are cleaned with sandpaper if there are any roughness on them. You will need two such ovals, one preferably made of a thinner material. Using the same template, an oval is cut out of foam rubber.
The side for the bed is made from metal. First, it is cut out of paper to determine the size. And then with metal scissors from a metal strip.
Next, to make a scratching post for a cat, cut off a piece of pipe of the required length. The pipe is taken with a diameter of eight to eleven centimeters. It can be either a plastic or cardboard part, but it is quite durable.
To make the pipe more stable, two bars of the required size are inserted into it and secured with self-tapping screws.
Assembling the scratching post
You should assemble a cat scratching post with your own hands in the following order. First, the pipe is applied to the base board and the fastening points are marked. At these points, the material is slightly drilled out to deepen the heads of the screws.
Base board sheathed fabric or fur. To cut it, they place it on the material and measure out the necessary parameters, taking into account allowances for bends of four centimeters on all sides.
The rectangular piece is cut out, turned upside down and a circle is drawn in the center to fit the size of the pipe, and then cut out.
To save rope when winding, bottom part the pipes can also be covered with faux fur. Cats usually don’t use fifteen centimeters below.
The cut out rectangular part is glued to the pipe from below. A hot glue gun is used for this. Glue is required without a strong odor.
A piece of sheathing for the base is put on and glued. The cutout area around the pipe must be glued especially carefully so that the material does not come off.
The structure is turned over to glue the edges that bend to the other side. Additionally, they are secured with a furniture stapler.
Take one of the ovals (the one that is thinner), apply a pipe to the center and draw a circle. This circle needs to be cut out. The oval is placed on a pipe leg.
Attach the oval base of the bed according to the same principle as the base.
Glued on top of the bed foam rubber and cover it with fabric or fur. The bottom edges of the material are carefully glued and secured with a stapler.
Attach a rope to hang the toy. This is also done with a stapler from the underside of the bed.
The metal side of the bed is covered with foam rubber. Excess pieces of foam rubber are cut off.
The finished side is screwed to the bed with self-tapping screws.
The structure is turned over, the fur or fabric is stretched and straightened. Secure it with a stapler to the underside of the bed.
After this, the wooden oval that was put on earlier is lowered onto the lower side and carefully glued.
A rectangle of chipboard or plywood is glued to the bottom of the base, which will cover the edges of the fabric.
The structure is almost ready. Left wrap the post a fairly thick, wear-resistant rope. It is better to take cotton or jute rope. The first two and last two turns are glued to the pipe.
Scratching post with a house with its own arms
When planning how to make a scratching post for a cat, you should consider the variety of possible types. One possible option is a scratching post with a house.
Start making a scratching post for a cat with your own hands by selecting the material and cutting out the parts. On rectangular pieces Chipboard draw truncated circles with a radius of twenty-seven centimeters.
DIY cat scratching post step by step instructions. Photo
The circle for the back wall is solid, and on the front they draw the entrance to the house with a diameter of twenty-two centimeters and three decorative holes with a diameter of five and a half centimeters.
Below is a diagram of a cat scratching post and the location of the circles.
make a scratching post for a cat - drawings
Walls and holes are cut out jigsaw. You can cut out small circles using a drill with drill bits.
The walls are placed on top of each other, seven points are marked - the places where the slats are attached. To mark them, drill with a thin drill.
At the places where the slats are attached, recesses are drilled. The screw heads will be hidden in them.
Saw off seven slats 37cm long and with a cross section of 3x4cm. The bottom two may be a little thicker. The surfaces are treated so that there are no roughness or sharp edges.
The slats are screwed to the walls with self-tapping screws.
Parts for finishing the walls are cut out of the fabric, not forgetting about the allowances.
The walls are covered with fabric. The glue is chosen so that there is no strong odor. Can be used hot glue gun.
The fabric on the front wall is cut and the edges of the holes are carefully glued. To make the look neat, you can glue an additional fabric strip.
The house blank is tried on the base - a chipboard board measuring 44x61cm. Mark its position, cut out a piece of foam rubber to fit the bottom, and glue it to the base. Draw a circle where the pipe is attached.
Cut out a piece of fabric for the base, not forgetting about the allowances, and paste over its surface.
The upholstery can be additionally secured on the sides furniture stapler. The bottom is covered with a fiberboard sheet of the required size.
A piece measuring 40x122cm is cut out of fiberboard. This will be the roof of the house. It is covered with fabric.
Two pieces are cut out of the fabric that was used to cover the base. They are glued to the sides of the lower slats of the house.
The house is placed on the base and secured there with self-tapping screws. Recesses are first made on the slats so that the caps do not protrude. The remaining fabric covers the slats completely.
The roof secured with a furniture stapler. You can remove the staples by straightening the fabric pile from underneath them.
Those side parts of the house that are visible from the outside are also covered with fabric.
To make a scratching post for a cat in this complex, you need to install a pipe on the base. To do this, take a pipe sixty centimeters high and eleven centimeters in diameter.
To fasten it with self-tapping screws, you need to insert dry wood blocks inside. Such wooden cylinders are inserted on both sides.
For the top bed, semicircles are cut out of chipboard and fiberboard.
A round hole is cut out of the fiberboard blank and placed on the pipe.
The chipboard part is screwed with self-tapping screws to the block, which is located in the pipe.
The house is turned over onto the back wall. Attach a pipe with a stove bench to the base. To ensure that it lies flat, objects of the required thickness are placed under it.
On the underside of the base, recesses are made for the heads of the screws. Then screw the pipe with the stove bench.
The lower part of the pipe is covered with fabric.
A piece is glued to the bed foam rubber. A rope for the toy is secured with a stapler on the bottom side.
The top of the bed is covered with fabric, and at the bends it is additionally secured with a stapler.
A piece of fiberboard is glued to the underside of the bed. The pipe is wrapped with rope and the first two turns are glued from the bottom and top.
For an inclined scratching post, take a board 18x41cm. For better support, the lower rib is cut at an angle of 45 degrees. The board is covered with fabric on both sides, and a rope is wound in the middle.
Cardboard scratching post
You can make a comfortable scratching post for a cat with your own hands from different materials. Below is a master class for making a structure from cardboard.
1. For the base you need wooden plank. A hole is drilled in its center.
2. The cardboard will be attached to wooden dowel. A hole is also drilled at one end.
3. The dowel is secured with a screw to the base. To do this, screw a screw into the base, and then screw a dowel onto it. The screw is held with a screwdriver.
4. Prepare and cut templates several levels of scratching post.
5. Using the templates, trace the required number of parts on thick cardboard.
6. Cut out the parts along the contour using a sharp knife.
7. The parts are put on the dowel one after another. There is no need to glue the layers, which allows you to replace damaged parts.
This instruction allows you to make a scratching post for a cat from almost waste material.
Scratching post options
. Conical scratching posts with rope wrapping. In the first option, a rope of natural color is used, and the base is also covered with it. In the second case, the rope is white and the base is covered with fabric.
Variant of scratching post in the form square post on the base. All sides are covered with hard fabric, which is comfortable for the cat. Symmetrical details at the top and bottom make the product more aesthetically pleasing.
Wall-mounted scratching posts look like squares with fleecy fabric in the center. This option is convenient in cases where there is no space on the floor for the required structure.
A simple flat scratching post in the form boards with wound rope. It can be placed on the floor, placed against the wall or hung on the wall. Such a scratching post can be attached to the place where the cat is used to sharpening its claws, for example, on furniture.
Interesting option corner inclined scratching post. It is compact and convenient for both adult cats and kittens. The spring toy makes the design even more attractive to animals.
Another option inclined corner scratching post. It looks more serious and representative due to its size and design. The black base contrasts with the light brown material in the center.
Interesting complex consisting of a spacious house below, two scratching posts and two beds. This option is perfect for several cats at once. The house and beds are covered with soft material, and the scratching posts are wrapped with rope.
Teaching a cat to sharpen its claws on a scratching post
A cat has natural instincts that must be taken into account. In particular, the need to sharpen claws. A scratching post will help protect furniture and wallpaper, but in some cases the animal needs to be accustomed to it.
First you need to observe where exactly the animal likes to sharpen its claws most. This will help you find a place for the scratching post, as well as choose the material for it.
If your cat likes to sharpen its claws on the wall, then it is better to hang the scratching post there. If you are more attracted to floor carpet, then a flat or inclined design will help.
To attract an animal to a scratching post, you can use catnip or a drop valerian. Even better if there is the smell of another animal. This will force the cat to leave its mark. During the training period, rewarding with a treat is mandatory.
You should not shout at the animal or punish it. This will not achieve good results.
how to train a cat to use a scratching post. Video
Today, the behavior of cats has been studied enough, so owners are familiar with their habit of sharpening their claws from personal experience. However, one should not think that they act this way only to annoy their masters. This happens on an instinctive level. Their nature requires this. Do not forget that cats are predators, although they differ in size from their wild relatives. This explains the urgent need to sharpen the claws. Owners who know what they will face before bringing a cat into the house must first purchase a scratching post so that it will help preserve the furniture in the house.
Living in the wild, cats and their relatives sharpen their claws use tree trunks. Since their claws are constantly growing, and at a high speed, they must sharpen them, otherwise it will be difficult for them to move while hunting. In some animals, claws can grow into their paws, causing cats to feel severe pain. Therefore, they need a hard surface so that they can sharpen their claws without experiencing discomfort.
Pets are limited in this regard, although if there is an ornamental tree growing in the house, they can use its surface to sharpen their claws. However, if there is no suitable item in the house, then the owners need to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and purchase or make a scratching post.
What is the purpose of this device? Many cat owners have the incorrect impression that their pets intentionally tear up carpets or sofas. However, in reality, everything is not so: cats only follow the call of nature, maintaining their claws in proper condition. A person cannot change this situation. All that remains is to do everything possible so that cats can do their “manicure” without harming their home environment.
If you realize the urgent need for a scratching post, then you should not rush to the pet store and choose a suitable device for sharpening claws. Any owner can make the simplest version of this device on his own. This will allow him to save a lot, as well as get an additional reason to be proud of himself.
Why is it better to make a cat house with your own hands?
If we consider the design of store-bought scratching posts, their stability is ensured by a retractable stop. In other words, most of these devices look like a house that is placed discord between floor and ceiling. Seeing such a pipe, young cats will definitely have a desire to climb onto it. However, if they do this too often, over time the device will begin to wobble and at some point fall.
Plastic pipes are used to make the supports of the scratching post, but it is not able to provide this device with sufficient strength. In addition, many devices are designed for use in apartments with standard ceiling heights. They are equipped with a stop of a strictly defined length. In apartments with a high ceiling, it will not be possible to use such devices, so the owner will have to think about purchasing a custom-made scratching post. Naturally, its cost will be much higher than ready-made models. However, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money on this device, because you can make a cat house yourself, saving a lot of money and time.
DIY scratching posts for cats
To begin with, it won’t hurt to take a closer look at the cat scratching post. You should know that the cat house must have certain characteristics so that it can effectively perform its functions:
Project planning
Before you start making your own scratching post, the following issues need to be resolved:
- draw up a design layout;
- prepare the necessary tools;
- purchase building materials.
You should definitely decide which version of the cat house you will make: portable or stationary. If a young, active cat lives in your home, it is recommended that the structure be secured to the floor to give it greater stability.
It is also worth paying attention to the color of the decoration of the cat house. To do this, focus on the design style of the room where you are going to install the claw sharpening device. Make sure that the upholstery material not only looks beautiful, but is also durable enough. Calculate the height of the device in advance, correlating it with the characteristics of the animal. The size of the scratching post should be sufficient for your pet to stretch out to its full height when it wants to sharpen its claws.
If you live in a small apartment, then you can choose one of the following options for making a cat house:
- rope post;
- personal rug on the wall;
- forest thicket;
- corner design.
How to make a scratching post for a cat with your own hands: materials for making
First of all, to you materials need to be prepared to make a cat house:
DIY scratching post: step-by-step instructions
Once the necessary tools and materials are ready, you can begin assembling the cat scratching post with your own hands. Master class on making a cat house with your own hands described in the following steps:
- Base of the structure. It will require wooden boards, the length of which is calculated taking into account the size of the pet. If you are making a scratching post for a short animal, then you can use boards 40 x 40 cm. To make it convenient for large cats to sharpen their claws, it is better to take boards 50 x 50 cm. We take the prepared upholstery fabric, for example, carpet, and spread it on the floor, remembering that that the wrong side should be facing the ceiling. We lay a board on it. Then we mark the required amount of fabric: to do this, the board must be positioned at a distance of 5 cm from the edge. Next, we treat the pattern with glue, and then apply it to the board. To ensure that the material holds well, we additionally secure it with nails.
- Vertical column. Here we need furniture corners. With their help we will install a plastic pipe to the base. However, first you will have to check the dimensions of the pipe and, if necessary, adjust them. When determining the height of the pipe, it is necessary to proceed from the size of the animal, but it should not be lower than 50 cm. When the pipe is installed, we wrap a hemp rope around it from below. At the very beginning, its free end must be fixed to any corner. During winding, the rope should fit as tightly as possible to the pipe, this guarantees its integrity during use by the animal. The other end of the rope must be fixed in a hole that will have to be made in the upper part of the pipe.
- Sun lounger. You can make the scratching post more functional by placing a lounger on top of the pipe. It is made by analogy with the base. The difference is that the space between the board and the fabric is filled with foam rubber. It will be pleasant for the animal to lie on this stand. When the bed is ready, it is fixed to the end of the upper pipe using furniture corners that are secured with screws or nails.
You can also offer many other ideas for making a scratching post with your own hands.
rope post
If you don’t want to bother making the cat house described above, you can make a simpler option - rope post. The master class for creating it looks like this: we will need a wooden beam, a plastic pipe or a board. You need to wrap a rope around the base. This must be done very carefully so that each turn is adjacent to each other as tightly as possible. For greater strength, the rope is secured with nails, driving them in at a distance of 10 cm from each other.
By following these fairly simple steps, you will have an excellent tool for sharpening claws. So that the animal can start using the post, it is placed on a heavy, stable base and fixed to it. This will allow you not to worry that your cat will be able to turn the device over while sharpening its claws.
If desired, you can add a padded shelf to the end of the pipe. Having played enough, the animal will begin to look for a suitable place to rest.
Personal rug on the wall
You will bring joy to your pet if you make for him such a version of a scratching post as personal rug mounted on the wall. This design will be of interest to those owners who do not have the time or desire to make bulky devices for sharpening claws. Making such a rug is simple, since you will need very affordable materials for it: wooden planks, carpet, felt or other dense upholstery material and self-tapping screws.
So, let's move on to the master class. First, we take the fabric and cut out a flap from it, which we hang on the wall, fixing it with strips. They are attached on all sides so that the structure takes the shape of a square or rectangle. When you get a small cat in your house, you can easily teach it to use this device. If you are making a scratching post for an adult animal, then you can let him know what it is if treat the rug with your pet's favorite scent.
forest thicket
You can also do it even simpler, without spending a lot of time and effort on making a special device for sharpening claws. While walking, try to find a dry tree without leaves or a thick branch with a lot of knots and branches. The branch will serve as an excellent material for making a scratching post, which can turn into a real gymnastic corner for an animal.
Corner scratching post
This version of a cat house for sharpening claws can act as a wall for your pet to climb on.
For greater clarity, we will describe a master class on making this device. To make it, you will need boards that must match the width of the door jamb. On top of them attach thick furniture fabric or wind rope. When the claw clipper is ready, it is attached to one side of the door frame. Usually it occupies the entire height of the opening. Having access to such a device, the cat will have the opportunity to sharpen its claws, as well as perform other movements necessary for development - to pull itself up, climb up and down the door frame.
The cost of a homemade scratching post
Making a homemade scratching post is very profitable, since the costs in this case are 3 times less than if you purchased the device in a store. In addition, a homemade claw clipper is superior to its store-bought counterpart in terms of its performance characteristics. It is distinguished by such qualities as increased functionality, stability and reliability.
Conclusion
Every cat owner knows that their pet regularly has the urge to sharpen its claws. To prevent the animal from causing damage to the furniture in the house, it is recommended to ensure that there is a special device in the house - a scratching post. Moreover, you don’t have to go to a pet store for this, because you can make it yourself. If you follow the step-by-step instructions for creating this device, you can make it at minimal cost functional and reliable device for your pet. If the owner does not have enough time, then he can choose simpler options for scratching posts, which will allow him to save even more.
