How to make a scratching post with your own hands, types of scratching posts
A domesticated animal is cute, affectionate and playful, but they still have the instincts of a wild animal. They love to climb trees or the like, sharpen their claws, extend their claws, and often this damages the interior of the house. Alternatively, cats damage curtains by pulling out threads from them, which also affects the sofa, carpet, cabinets and wallpaper. To prevent this from happening, a caring pet owner will definitely improve the conditions for his pet and buy a scratching post for him or make it with his own hands if he has available means, namely rope (string, rope, etc.) or a rug and plywood or boards.
Types of scratching posts or “scratches”
Pet stores sell standard nail clippers in the form of a panel covered with carpet or a column covered with rope.
There are several types of scratching posts:
- by design - scratching posts with toys, shelves, a town, several tiers, a house or bed, a bridge;
- according to shape and purpose - floor, ring, hanging, pole, corner rug;
- by size - large, medium and monolithic;
- by material - from fabric, twine, rug, wood, cardboard, knitted.
Usually one kitten gets a small scratching post with or without a house, and if there are more than two pets in the house, then it’s worth buying them in petshop.kh.ua/kogtetochki-dlya-kotov or make a multi-level cat bed with your own hands. The online store for purring lovers offers a huge selection of items for cats.
How to make a cardboard scratching post for your pet with your own hands
Many people know that cats love cardboard and various boxes made from them. This makes it possible to make a simple scratching post from corrugated cardboard. But remember this is a short-term item, it may only last a couple of months.
Prepare:
- stationery knife;
- corrugated cardboard or boxes made of it;
- thick paper;
- PVA glue;
- tape or sticky paper;
- material for decoration.
Instructions for creating a scratching post-pillow from corrugated cardboard
Lay out the cardboard from the box onto canvases, and on the surface, draw stripes of the same width, which can be different, with a pencil. But it is desirable that the scratching post pillow be higher; its width can be no less than 1 dm. The stripes on the cardboard sheet should be in a horizontal position in relation to the folds of the boxes.
- Cut the cardboard into strips.
- Start by hand rolling the strips tightly. Twist the first one more tightly, it plays the role of the core of the scratching post, be sure to secure it well with tape and glue.
- Start winding the remaining strips around the resulting core, constantly securing it with tape.
- The last strip should be secured especially carefully.
- All that remains is to wrap the cardboard product with cloth and secure it.
- Place the resulting pillow on a flat sheet of cardboard, trace it with a pencil, so that you can later cut it out and make the base for the scratching post.
A video on creating a scratching post-pillow from corrugated cardboard can be viewed here:
DIY wooden scratching post
A budget-friendly and simple option for a nail clipper. It can be made from hemp or a small log with branches. You need to dry it and remove the bark with a coarse brush. Next, you should secure the log on a wide, heavy stand in a vertical position. If you don't have such a stand, you can mount it to the wall. Next, you can attach a cat bed to the strongest branch. It can be made from a plywood sheet, a small board or cardboard folded several times. You can choose any size, the main thing is that your favorite pet fits. Be sure to trim it with thick terry or plush fabric so that the cat can sleep on it comfortably and softly. It would also be a good idea to hang the toys on a log-claw and, most importantly, take a wide rope and wrap it around the bottom at the base of the product. You can fix it with construction adhesive.
