How to Make a Cat Scratching Post? A DIY Guide

Making your own cat scratching post is not as complicated as it might seem. Of course, you will need some basic carpeting skills and tools, and also some useful instructions.

Fortunately, you can find online many different cats scratching post plans and designs, so all you have to do is compare them and choose the one that suits best the tastes of your kitty and the available space in your apartment.

Here I will give you some basic tips that will help you build a cat scratching post and have fun at the same time!

For this, you will need:

• A positive attitude
• Lots of affection for your furry friend
• A measuring tape
• A saw
• A wooden base (if you don’t have a board big enough, you can screw in place several boards in two layers – position 3 at the bottom and screw them in place with the help of other 2 bigger boards which have to be positioned crosswise on top of the first layer)
• Several screws
• A power drill
• A staple gun
• Carpet scraps for covering the base and sisal rope for the post (however, you can use carpet scraps for the post as well – it depends on your cat’s preferences)
• A couple of nails (optional – in case you use sisal rope)
• A cat toy (once the post is ready, you can attach it to the top – your cat will adore playing with it!)
• A wooden pole (it has to be long and thick enough to allow your cat to climb and stretch on it)

You should begin by determining the dimensions of your future post. For this, measure your cat and make sure that the post is longer – she will not play with a short post which will not allow her to stretch properly!). After making the measurements, use the saw for cutting the wooden pole to the desired length.

Then, you have to make sure that the base is sturdy enough to support all your kitty’s scratching, stretching and climbing. If the post will easily tip over, Kitty will soon lose all her interest in playing with it. You can use one big sturdy wooden board or several smaller boards (as explained above).

Next, cover the base with the carpet scrap and use the staple gun to attach it securely to the board.

After completing the base, it’s time to install the post! Position the wooden pole in the center of the base and attach it with the help of several screws – place one in each corner. Use the power drill to insert the screws diagonally.

If your wooden pole has a square surface, it will be easier to cover it with carpet scrap. If it is rounded (like a natural wooden log), you can also cover it with sisal rope, by wrapping the rope tightly around the post.   Some cats enjoy scratching carpet fabric, while others prefer sisal rope, which offers a tougher ‘scratching challenge’.

You can also attach one or several dangling toys from the top of the post – this will surely entertain your cat for hours, making her forget about your furniture! In the training period, you can also spray the post with catnip or rub some dried catnip into the carpet covering or sisal rope.

That’s it! Your homemade cat scratching post is ready for new adventures!  Just be aware that your cat will not be gentle with her new post – she will tear and shred it with a veritable feline passion! That’s why you should be prepared to repair the post from time to time, making sure that it will not collapse and that all its nails, screws and sharp surfaces are safely covered – otherwise they could hurt your kitty!