DIY scratching post for cats. DIY scratching post

When a cute and fluffy bundle of joy appears in your home, your belongings are at risk. At one moment they can turn into a cat's claw sharpener. That's why the cat needs a scratching post. How to make it yourself?

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age

Have you already turned 18?

Of course, you can buy a scratching post at any pet store. But it’s much more interesting to make it yourself. A simple and functional version can be made very quickly. It does not take a lot of time. At the same time, you can save a decent amount. After all, all accessories for pets are not cheap. If you wish, you can also make an original scratching post with a house or a bed. It will be able to compete with those sold in the store.

It is worth paying attention to the choice of materials, paying attention to the nature of their manufacture and how they affect the health of animals, whether they are safe for pets or not.

All scratching posts quickly lose their beautiful original appearance. But this only matters to the cat's owner. The animal does not care at all what the object on which it sharpens its claws looks like. The main thing is that it fulfills its function. In addition, cats can very quickly turn a new scratch into something old, ridiculous and tattered.

Also consider the fact that if you buy an expensive scratching post, the cat may not even approach it. After all, he doesn’t care how much money you spent. This happens if a furry pet does not like the smell of the materials and dyes that were used in the manufacture of the product. Never force your cat to use a new accessory. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's high quality.

Synthetic materials and paint can negatively affect your pet. He may become lethargic, thin and slow, lose his appetite and may begin to lose his fur.

That is why a homemade scratching post made from proven quality materials is the best option for kittens.

It can be made:

from rope;
from cardboard;
from corrugated cardboard;
from a cardboard box;
from a sewer pipe;
from scrap materials;
made of wood;
from carpet;
from a chair.

There are many options for what you can use to make a nail clipper. Choose the appropriate material that will be the most affordable and convenient to purchase.

How to make a scratching post for cats with your own hands?

There are several types of scratching posts:

floor;
wall-mounted

The floor can be flat, or it can be combined with a house or a bed. Similar accessories for Maine Coons, Persian cats, British Folds and other breeds take up quite a lot of space. But often they are necessary. Heavy flat ones are used by those whose wall finishing material in the house does not allow attaching a wall scratcher. Of course, they can be replaced with light and simple products made from cardboard or textiles. But they will always be scattered under your feet. But a floor-mounted scratching post can be located under a table or near a chest of drawers or a sofa. And she won't bother you. Posts will be a great idea for pets who live in cramped homes and for those who do not go outside.

Large complexes with houses and beds are perfect for cats who often give birth to babies. Master classes will help you create excellent accessories for furry pets.

DIY cat scratching post: diagram

A flat floor claw clipper is incredibly easy to make. Its basis is a piece of plywood, chipboard or wood 70-100 centimeters long and 40-50 centimeters wide. The base can be wrapped in carpet with the wrong side facing out. An old wool carpet is perfect for this.

Sew the edges of the carpet together with strong threads or secure them together with twine using a crochet hook. This accessory is perfect for a calm adult cat. When one side becomes ragged, you can turn it over. The downside of this sharpener is that it constantly needs to be cleaned of wool.

Let's figure out what a scratching post is. A large and tall scratching post in the shape of a column can be with or without a base. A claw sharpener without a base is attached to the floor or ceiling with metal corners and screws. Ideally, it should be from floor to ceiling. The cat will be delighted with such an attraction.

The claw hammer can be made from wooden trunks 70-100 millimeters thick with peeled bark, as well as from a plastic pipe with a diameter of 50 millimeters, wrapped in thin rope or twine.

Before wrapping, the pipe must be lubricated with glue. During wrapping, the rope must be compacted by tapping it with a hammer. If you want to make a tall post up to the ceiling, it will take quite a lot of twine. It is much more profitable to make a wooden one.

On the base, the column must be made at least ten millimeters high. As a base, you can use multilayer plywood or a heavy board 50-70 centimeters long and 40-50 centimeters wide. For the scratching post you will also need a piece of thick plastic pipe. It must be attached to the central part of the base with metal corners and screws.

Cut a piece of carpeting that is longer and wider than the base. In its center, make a round hole of a size corresponding to the diameter of the pipe. Coat the pipe with glue and wrap it with twine. You can put a toy in the hole.

DIY cat house with scratching post: drawings

At first glance, it may seem that it is very difficult to create such a luxurious complex at home. But if you follow step by step instructions, you can understand that it is very simple.

If you want to make a complex with several houses or beds, you should start with drawings.

If you have several pets at home, make your own house for each of them. All of them can be combined into one large complex.

After developing the drawing and calculating the materials, you can begin manufacturing:

Prepare the base for the scratching post. If the complex will have one post, use the same stand as for a pillar with a base. If there are several racks, the base must be cut.
Attach the pipe sections to the base with metal corners.
Make a pattern for the base cover with holes for the pipes. Place the cover onto the stand and secure it.
Wrap the pipes with rope or twine.
Make beds using the technology of creating flat floor scratching posts. Please take into account the size of the animals. It is important that they feel comfortable in the complex. Attach the beds to the pipes with corners.
Attach a house to one of the beds. It should have a removable design so that it can be washed.
It is convenient to attach it using a zipper or Velcro. Sew one part to the bed, the second to the base around the perimeter of the house.
Attach the complex to the floor in the corners so that cats do not turn it over while running and playing.

Even though the scratching post is wall-mounted, it itself does not need to be attached to the wall. To make it, you will need a wooden panel, which will serve as a mount for the future accessory. The height should match the claw sharpener. And you can choose any width, depending on your preferences. If you want to make a corner claw, you need to use two panels.

To create a scratching post, take:

wooden panel;
drill;
screws;
jute or hemp twine (with a diameter of 5 millimeters) - two small skeins or one large;
bar.

To create a kitty accessory you will need a wall panel or a regular wooden block. The height of the bar is from 50 to 70 centimeters. To find the exact size, measure the length of your cat without the tail. The height of the bar should be twice as high.

Using a drill, drill six holes in the wooden panel and in the block: two holes each at the bottom, in the middle and at the top. They must be parallel. Insert screws into them.

Carefully wrap the twine around the wooden beam. In this case, it is necessary to secure the edges of the thread well.

The last step is to screw the block with threads to the wooden panel attached to the wall with screws. The scratching post is ready! Your cat will love it! Especially if you present him with an accessory rubbed with kittennip.

The destructive process, which ends sadly for the home environment, is not carried out by cats out of harm. Nature forces them to sharpen their claws.

Although small predators were not successful in size, they retained the basic instincts of their wild counterparts. Well, a cat can’t help but sharpen its claws.

That’s why forward-thinking owners purchase or build scratching posts for their furry pets in advance.

We’ll talk about how to make a scratching post for cats with your own hands.

It is not at all necessary to run to the pet store and buy exquisite works of art in the form of entire wooden spans for sharpening claws. You can build the simplest model of a scratching post yourself. In this article you will learn how to make scratching posts for cats with your own hands.

What is a scratching post for?

In the natural environment, large and small predators of the cat family, take, for example, or, grind their claws on tree trunks.

This procedure is vital for animals.

The claws grow quickly, they begin to interfere with the movement of the predator, and can even grow into the body, causing pain to the animal.

To avoid such troubles, animals constantly grind their claws on hard surfaces.

Domestic cats, be they long-haired breeds like or, are deprived of this opportunity, unless, of course, you have a tree growing at home.

But it definitely isn’t growing, which means you should take care of purchasing a “claw picker.”

Why "claw pickers"? Yes, because, as it seems to you, the cat is tearing up your sofa or carpet, and not sharpening its claws at all.

However, the cunning cat knows that he is doing his manicure, and it is impossible to prevent him from doing this - nature demands it.

This means that you should meet nature and the desires of your pet.

However, it is not at all necessary to run to the pet store and buy exquisite works of art in the form of entire wooden spans for sharpening claws.

You can build the simplest model of a scratching post yourself. It will cost you much less than buying it.

And you will get much more pleasure from your own creativity than from a finished product.

Before we begin construction, we will determine the properties that a self-made scratching post for cats must meet.

Sustainability. The design must withstand the active pressure of the animal, seeking to eliminate the factor that is bothering it. Simply put, your scratching post must withstand the weight of the animal and not fall under the pressure of its powerful paws, even if it is a large breed, or.
Compactness. It’s great if you live in a large apartment and can afford to create a personal office for your furry pet. Then a multi-level bookcase can be built, but most often we don’t have enough space anyway. This means that our scratching post should be small in size.
Durability. Seeing what furniture upholstery turns into after several sessions of cat manicure, it’s worth thinking about the reliability and durability of the materials for the scratching post.

If you are interested in a complete list of large breed cats, you can read the article

Beauty. No matter how you turn it, the cat in the toilet or hallway won’t even pay attention to your work. The scratching post is installed in one of the rooms, freely accessible for the animal. Since it automatically becomes an element of the decor, it is necessary that the product fits organically into it.

Scratching posts can be horizontal or vertical, but the design of the structure is chosen by the one who builds it.

Let's take the simplest option for construction, having mastered it, you can create a more complex structure over time.

Important! Observe your cat to find out in what position she prefers to sharpen her claws. Just look at what gets more use in the house, the back of the sofa or the carpeting.

Materials for production

Let's make a list:

A wooden block 50 - 70 cm high (two lengths of your cat's body without a tail) and a square side of 5-6 cm.
Hemp or jute twine, thread diameter 4 - 7 mm. We don’t measure the length of the twine; we buy 2 ready-made skeins in the store. If you don't have enough, you can always buy more. You can use hard carpeting as a material for a nail clipper; choose what is preferable to you.
A piece of plywood or board for the base. The square size is 40x40 cm and 15 - 20 mm thick.
A scrap of faux fur, tapestry, or furniture upholstery for finishing the base. We take the size so that it is enough to cover the top and sides of the base.
A piece of the same material as used to cover the base, but smaller in size to cover the top of the block.

In the toilet or hallway, the cat will not even pay attention to the scratching post. It is installed in one of the rooms, freely accessible for the animal. Since it automatically becomes an element of the decor, it is necessary that the product fits organically into it

Important! Choose only durable natural materials for twine; cellulose twines quickly fray and can harm the animal’s health if they get inside it.

Tools for work

Wood glue
Screwdriver
Self-tapping screws
Hacksaw or jigsaw for cutting parts

Assembly

If required, we cut out the parts according to the specified dimensions.

Now that we have everything ready, let's start assembling.

We wind twine onto the block, coating the surface of the block with glue every 100 mm.

This procedure will help secure the twine more firmly. Having reached the top of the bar, we carefully glue the last two turns.

We also apply a layer of glue to the top of the block and cover it with a fabric flap. Trim off excess material.

We cover the base with material. We cut a hole in the fabric, in the center, with a side length slightly less than the side of the bar. (The hole can be cut in advance).

We attach the block to the base using self-tapping screws. After securing, check for looseness: the block should not act as a pendulum, it must stand firmly.

If the base lifts, weigh it down with additional weight.

Our scratching post is ready. All we have to do is wait for her acceptance by our beloved cat.

Too lazy to look for a block, use only a sheet of plywood. It must be covered with twine in the same way and laid horizontally on the floor or nailed to the wall.

Important! Don't be alarmed if you find your pet's claw near the scratching post. The thing is that the cat does not sharpen its claws; like a snake, it sheds dead plates, making room for the growth of a new claw.

If you buy a multi-level cat house, most likely there will already be a built-in scratching post. But it’s more interesting to do it yourself, isn’t it?

The imagination of folk craftsmen, as always, is limitless.

Cat owners familiar with carpentry create scratching posts disguised as real works of art.

We have prepared options for a DIY scratching post for cats, photos of which we present to your attention.

The scratching mat looks very aesthetically pleasing. And you need less materials for it, and it is convenient to place it.

Some craftsmen offer their pets not just a rug, but a “sea wave” with several bends.

The scratching post can be turned into an amazing ottoman that will fit perfectly into any interior. Or give the structure the shape of a fish.

The scratching post with the figure of a dog looks great. The subtle subtext makes you smile, and the cat enjoys taking revenge on the eternal enemy with health benefits.

If you try, you can combine it with a scratching post for a cat. A shelf with edges is attached to the top of the block, and the structure is ready.

For those who have more than one pet in the house, a multi-tiered composition would be the best option.

Advice: You can paint the scratching post any color, it doesn’t matter to cats, but for your interior the color combination will definitely play a positive role.

Despite the fact that cats have long become domestic animals, the instincts of their wild ancestors are still firmly seated in their minds. In nature, claws are an important tool in the life of cats; they are needed for hunting, protecting their territory, and protecting themselves from enemies. But the claws must be looked after, otherwise there is a high probability of them breaking off, bending, growing into the skin, as well as excessive contamination. Instinct tells you that in order to be fully armed, you need to monitor the condition of your tools. Therefore, an animal in nature constantly sharpens its claws on trees, walls, grass, and all kinds of surfaces suitable for such use. And pets need a scratching post if the owners of the animal are not ready for furniture, carpets, and wallpaper to be used in this capacity.

What is a scratching post for?

Once at home, your pet will be forced to look for an object to realize his desire to sharpen his claws. Anything can get under your paw: a carpet, a sofa or chair, walls, furniture, shoes, bags and other things dear to you. There is no point in scolding your pet, because, in fact, he is not to blame for the deeds he has done. But pointing it in the right direction and teaching your purr to use a scratcher is an important and feasible task for a loving owner. And it is not at all necessary to buy this accessory in a store; it is much more interesting to make a scratching post with your own hands based on your own preferences and the habits of a furry hunter.

A scratching post made from a trunk is an option that is as close as possible to its natural analogue

Project preparation

All cats have individual characteristics and preferences. Therefore, it is important to properly plan a scratching post that matches the character, age, size, and habits of your pet:

A tall structure is well suited for active animals, preferably with platforms on which they can climb, climb, and jump.
If your cat loves to climb walls, curtains, or a hanging rug, come up with a device for her that will allow her to climb up to the ceiling. This role can be played, for example, by a piece of carpet nailed to the full height of the wall.
Many cats love to sharpen their claws on the corner of the wall, tearing your wallpaper to shreds. In this case, you need to take care of a hanging, possibly corner, scratching post.
Does your pet often crawl into all sorts of shelters and hide? Then a claw house could be an excellent option for him.
A quiet, calm, overweight cat will most likely choose a low bed with the opportunity to sharpen its claws.

When I was a child, I had a cat that never scratched walls, furniture, or anything else. Once on our floor there was a sofa mattress made of foam rubber, upholstered with furniture fabric. So this beast began to run around the perimeter of the mattress lying down. That is, the mattress is lying, our cat is also lying on its side, clinging to the edge with its claws, and began to wind in circles. It was quite fun to watch such an action, so they left her this entertainment. And now all the corners are covered with furniture fabric, because our current “star” knows no greater joy than to peel off all the wallpaper. Nothing saves. We do it ourselves and hang wall and corner claw clippers - without results. When access is completely blocked, she climbs onto the table and manages to turn the wallpaper into scraps of paper again.

In addition, you need to take into account the age and lifestyle of your friend:

You shouldn’t immediately build a large structure for a kitten. It is better for the baby to make a small column covered with carpet. Subsequently, having learned the character and determined the size of your pet, you will be able to come up with a more interesting and suitable option.
For an elderly animal, it is better to consider a low design with a lounger, so that it is convenient for him not only to do manicure, but also to take a nap after the work done.
If you pick up a stray cat, for the first time limit yourself to a round column that resembles a tree as much as possible. An ideal option would be a log brought from the street.

And of course, size plays an important role. The vertical claw blade must be higher than the length of its owner, so that he can stretch out as much as he wishes in the process. As a rule, cats like horizontal options less, so they are used less often. However, if your pet enjoys this type of device, make it according to the size of the cat. The animal must fit completely on it at full length and have a margin of 10–15 cm.
The planned structure must be strong, stable, and designed for a long service life

We make a claw grinder ourselves

So, let's start making a gift for our tailed friend. There can be many varieties, everything is limited only by your imagination, skill, and desire. In order for the item to please not only the cat, but also the household, it is advisable to think of an option that fits well into the interior of the apartment or house. It is better to choose a calm color, close to that found in nature: greenery, sand, earth, tree bark.

Rope post

This scratching post is quite easy to make.

You will need:

base with a diameter or width of 10–12 cm (timber, plastic pipe, small log, board);
sisal rope with a cross section of 8–10 mm;
plywood 22 mm thick;
a piece of carpet;
self-tapping screws;
sandpaper.

Also prepare your tools:

scissors;
jigsaw or saw;
screwdriver;
hammer;
measuring tape;
glue gun

Pre-calculate how much rope you will need:

Multiply the diameter of the base pipe by 3.14 or calculate the perimeter of the square base.
Divide the height of the stand by the diameter of the rope, this way you will find out how many times the rope will wrap around the base.
Multiply the number of turns by the number obtained from the multiplication in the first step.
Add 10% to the result for the reserve.

Now you can proceed directly to making the scratching post:

If you decide that the surfaces will be round, cut two slabs from plywood with a jigsaw: 30 cm in diameter for the top and 40 cm in diameter to support the post. If square, make them using a saw, the dimensions are the same.
You need to determine the center of the base plate and measure two points spaced 4 cm from the central one. These will be the centers for attaching the post to the base and top sheets of plywood.
Support structures are manufactured first
Sand all edges with sandpaper.
If you have a wooden post, attaching it to the supports will not be difficult using self-tapping screws of the appropriate length. The situation is a little more complicated with a plastic pipe. Drill three small screw holes on each side of the tube, equidistant from each other and 1cm from the edge. Cut two circles from plywood along the inner diameter of the pipe so that you can insert them tightly into it. Attach them to the side platforms using self-tapping screws. If a plastic pipe is chosen as a post, plywood plugs are first inserted into its edges, with the help of which it will be easy to attach the post to the base
Secure the rope at the top of the product using a strong double knot. If you made grooves for the edges of the rope, hide them. In a wooden post, you can fix it with glue; in a plastic one, you can simply put the prepared side plates on both sides. If no holes are made, leave a short end of the rope (at least 10 cm). When winding, place it along the product and wind it with the main part of the rope.
The winding should be done as tightly as possible, securing it with a glue gun every 7–10 turns. For a tighter fit, tap the coils with a hammer.
The final stage of making a column is connecting the main parts. You need to attach the side plates - the top and the base - to the edges of the post using self-tapping screws.
After completing the winding, the top and base are attached to the post
Cover the surfaces of the platforms with carpet, cutting out the appropriate pieces and finishing their edges with fabric edging. You can attach the carpet using a glue gun or a construction stapler.

I think that the wooden version of the post will be better and more durable. But if you have chosen a PVC pipe, I advise you to fill it with sand or gravel for stability. This will give the nail clipper strength and add weight so that your pet doesn’t accidentally drop the structure. Another tip: in both the wooden and plastic posts, you can drill holes on both sides equal to the cross-section of the rope so that the ends of the rope can be hidden in them.

If your pet tends to leave only scraps of your carpeting, make him a scratching post-mat.

Making this option is very simple. You will need:

plywood sheet 30*50 cm;
a piece of carpet corresponding to its size;
scissors;
hacksaw;
roulette;
construction stapler.

Attach the carpet to the plywood cut to the dimensions given above using a stapler, bending the edges so that the fabric does not fray.

If you want to make a floor-mounted scratcher, you need to place it in a place convenient for you and your cat. But cats often prefer to sharpen their claws while standing, against the wall. To do this, use a self-tapping screw (if the wall is wooden) or screws (if it is stone) to attach the nail clipper to a vertical surface. It should be located at such a height that the animal can stretch out to its full height during the process. You can attach a toy to the product, for example, a homemade mouse on a string.

Using the same scheme, you can make a corner scratching post by making two such panels and connecting them with a butterfly loop.

Photo gallery: options for scratching mats

Cute scratching post design will decorate your interior
The floor scratching post will appeal to those who like to tear up the carpet.
The triangular design allows you to do without attaching the rug to the wall

Scratching post house

If you decide to create a grandiose project, build a house with claw clippers for your furry friend. There can be many options, it all depends on your capabilities, skills, and imagination. We offer you one of them.

Required material:

carpet;
timber for supports;
plywood for platforms 22 mm thick;
jute rope;
self-tapping screws;
corners.

Tools:

saw;
jigsaw;
yardstick;
scissors;
pencil;
construction stapler;
glue gun

Preparatory activities are as follows:

Cover the prepared plywood with carpet using a stapler, secure the platforms to the posts with corners.
From sheets of plywood, corners and carpet you can make not only shelves, but also a house.
When the structure is ready, all you have to do is wrap the support posts with jute rope, securing every 7-10 turns with a glue gun.
Place the gift in the place prepared for it and offer to evaluate it for your pet.

Your pet will appreciate the results of your work.

Video: how to make a scratching post yourself

Where to place

So, the main stage has been completed. A wonderful handmade item that will bring joy to you and your pet. But another important question arises: where to place it now. Here you need to proceed from the following aspects:

the accessory should be located conveniently for the cat, preferably where he has already chosen a place for his manicure;
The scratching post should fit into the interior of the room, not get in the way of you and your household, and be pleasing to the eye.

The scratching post should be located in a convenient place and fit into the interior

There was a question about a scratching post and we decided to combine it with a house.

The stores were not happy with the low quality, or it was expensive and not quite what I wanted. Therefore, the husband decided to build the house himself.

Eventually The cat's house is popular. The cat sleeps in the house, plays, rests, hides, and most importantly, sharpens its claws. Left behind 2 started corners in the corridor.

He sits on the roof, on two shelves and in the house, and the somersaults he does, jumping from shelf to shelf and spinning around the scratching post, are a different story.

And I can’t take my eyes off the way he sharpens his claws! It’s so nice that this is not wallpaper, he tries so hard, puffs, and even licks the scratching post.

Time to prepare the house.

It took us almost a month on weekends. If all materials are purchased, it usually takes 2 days of continuous labor. A day for cutting, a second for sheathing and assembly.

But we were in no hurry; using trial and error, we gradually bought everything we needed.

We bought the rope twice. So the advice is smell the rope before you buy! First we bought jute rope for the scratching post, but it turned out to be smelly, apparently treated with something, the smell of kerosene. A cat will not fit into such a house. Washing and airing it on the balcony for a week did not help - the smell became a little less, but did not disappear.

We threw away the jute rope and bought a sisal rope - a little shaggy, but the cat adores it!

PRICE of the house.

Cost us about 3.5 thousand.

1. Plywood or chipboard. We have 16 mm chipboard.

2. Fabric claim. fur 1660 rubles:

leopard 1.5*1.5 meters = 810 rubles

gray claim. fur 1.45*1.0 = 470 rub.

shaggy fur for the roof 1.5*70 = 380 rub. (half remained).

They didn't skimp on fabric - they trimmed it on all sides, and on the inside too. The fewer seams, the better, so that there is nothing for the cat to catch on.

3. Glue and thermal gun - 50 rubles each at the fixed price.

4. Furniture stapler + staples. We worked in size 10.

5. Pipe for the bar counter (Stick for scratching post) = 700 rubles + 2 holders (100 rubles)

6. Sisal rope for a scratching post - 600 rubles (30 meters, 10 mm).

7. You will also need a screwdriver, a hacksaw for sawing the “bar counter”, additionally drilling a pipe mount (a metal drill), in 8 places. With 4 holes, the poles did not stand very firmly.

DIAGRAM of the house. Blueprints.

I'll post a working diagram. My husband drew it and gave it to friends who make furniture from chipboard to cut. You can cut it yourself.

The length of the sticks for the scratching post is 50 and 65 cm.

In the roof there was a mistake in the drawing with the angle; it was necessary to chamfer it at an angle of 22.5 in order

We decided to make the corners of the base and shelves at an angle so that there were no sharp edges. The roof - for beauty - is a “house”; sawing and cladding can be greatly simplified if you make a straight roof.

The shelves were lined with faux fur on both sides using a furniture stapler.

The base is only on top.

The roof was secured using ties and glue (we didn’t cut the angle correctly)

The walls of the house were first fastened with 3 pieces and sheathed on the inside.

Then the 4th wall was sheathed on the inside.

The circle was cut out with a stationery knife.

Additionally, the edges of the circle were attached with glue.

The fourth wall, sheathed from the inside, was attached to the remaining 3 walls.

And only then they sheathed all 4 walls in one piece from the outside.

Fastening the pipe to the roof and to the base.

And tips for choosing a scratching post house:

* 2 entrances are required, with 1 entrance judging by your previous cat and other cats of friends - not so interesting, with 2 entrances the view is wider and it’s fun to run through them + extra. ventilation.

* absence of foreign odors (only buy rope without impregnation)

And don't forget that the house is a restricted area for people. Do not get the kitten out of there if it is hiding. She explained to her children not to go in there, then the animal feels in a protected place and uses the house with pleasure!

Once again, a photo of the entire house.

We told you why it is so important for a cat to have its own place in the house, how to choose a house that your pet will appreciate, and described in detail how to make a bed for it. In this article we will continue the topic of creating furniture for our pets with our own hands and tell you how to make a bed with a scratching post at home.

Materials for making a scratching post with a bed

two rectangles made of chipboard or other solid wood material (sizes are selected individually)
two fiberboard rectangles (same dimensions as chipboard rectangles)
pipe made of solid material (diameter 80-110 mm)
rope (cotton, sisal, jute)
foam rubber
metal strip (width about 7 cm, length depends on the size of the bed)
self-tapping screws
metal corners
faux fur or upholstery fabric

Tools for making a scratching post with a bed

jigsaw
screwdriver
drill
hot glue gun
furniture stapler
scissors
metal cutting scissors
roulette
stationery knife
sandpaper
pencil, marker

How to make a scratching post with a cat bed

Preparation

First you need to determine what size the structure will be for your cat. To determine the size of the bed, estimate how much space your cat occupies when curled up and when lying stretched out. Based on these measurements, select a rectangle of a suitable size from which to cut an oval bed. For the base, select a rectangle of the same size. If the base is smaller, the structure may be unstable and the top will look too massive.

To determine the height of the structure, extend the cat along the wall. The highest point that the cat reaches with its paws from the floor will determine the height of the scratching post. The height can be increased a little, since cats like to stretch out when sharpening their claws. It is not necessary to wrap the bottom of the pipe with rope; the cat will not use it anyway. We will cover the bottom of the pipe with the same fabric as the base.

Cut out the main parts of the structure

Having determined the dimensions of the base and bed, we cut out rectangles of the required size. If you only have a hand saw, then to get a straight cut, draw a line along which you will cut and attach a guide to it - another board with a straight edge. If you work at home, keep a vacuum cleaner on hand so you can immediately remove sawdust and avoid spreading it around the apartment.

Before cutting out an oval from chipboard, mark the center on both sides of the rectangle. This should be done in order to accurately determine the place to which we should screw the pipe in the future. (In the photo we marked the center with a marker for clarity; in reality, it is enough to draw small lines with a pencil.)

To cut an oval, you must first draw this oval. We described how to do this in the article.

It is convenient to first draw an oval on a piece of paper, then cut it out and trace it onto the chipboard.

You also need to cut out a rectangle and an oval from fiberboard. We will glue them on the bottom to cover the edges of the fabric. Before cutting out the oval from the fiberboard, mark the center of the rectangle. If there are any rough spots left on the edges of the fiberboard, sand them down with sandpaper.

Additionally, we cut out another oval from foam rubber according to the template. This will be a soft lining for the bed.

Now we cut out the side for the bed. It is also convenient to first cut it out of paper, and only then from metal, tracing the paper blank.

All that remains is to saw off a piece of pipe of the required length and reinforce it with wooden blocks. You can take any pipe of suitable diameter, for example, plastic, used for laying sewers. We took a thick cardboard pipe left over from a roll of linoleum. The wider the pipe, the more stable the structure will be, but the more rope will be required for winding.

We insert wooden blocks into both ends of the pipe and secure them with self-tapping screws. We will screw the base and the bed to these bars. You can simply screw the pipe with corners, but with bars the structure will be much more stable.

Assembly of the structure

Now you can start assembling the structure. We try on the pipe in the center of the rectangular base; you can outline it with a pencil for clarity. We remove the pipe and mark two points at which we will screw the base to the block. At the marked points we drill holes several millimeters deep. These recesses are needed so that the screws do not protrude beyond the plane of the base. Select the drill according to the diameter of the screw head.

We place the pipe on the floor, install the base on it, check that it is exactly in the center, and fasten it with self-tapping screws in the places where the recesses were drilled.

We check whether the pipe is well secured. For stability, you can screw the pipe to the base with metal corners. It is convenient to use corners for attaching drywall.

We cover the base with faux fur. We place the base on the fabric and measure the desired rectangle, taking into account processing allowances of 4-5 cm on each side.

We cut off this rectangle, turn it fur side down, put the pipe in the center and trace it. Cut out the outlined circle.

We also measure on the fabric and cut out a small piece that will cover the bottom of the pipe. You can wrap the entire pipe with rope, but, as we have already written, the cat will still not use the lower 10-15 cm of the scratching post, and a small piece of fabric will cost much less than the several meters of rope needed to wrap this part of the pipe.

Glue a piece of fabric to the bottom of the pipe. It is best to use a hot glue gun and appropriate glue. Strong-smelling glue like Momenta can scare away a cat.

We put a piece of fabric with a round neckline on the pipe and glue it to the base. We glue the round neckline well so that the cat does not tear off the fabric.

We turn the structure over and glue the edges of the fabric left for allowance to the base.

For reliability, we attach the fabric with a furniture stapler. Using a stapler, we attach the fabric only from the bottom so that the staples are not visible. If the staples do not go in completely, carefully hammer them in with a hammer.

We place an oval piece of fiberboard on the pipe so that its center coincides with the center of the pipe, draw a circle, and then cut it out. If there are any rough spots left on the edges of the fiberboard, we clean them with sandpaper. We put the oval on the pipe through the cut out round hole.

We screw the oval top in the same way as we screwed the base: we make two recesses in the center, install them evenly and screw them to a block inserted into the pipe.

Glue the foam. We cover the oval couch with faux fur. For strength, we similarly attach the fabric with a furniture stapler (only from the bottom).

Using a furniture stapler, we attach a rope on which the cat toy will hang. The staples must go through the rope, otherwise the cat will eventually pull the rope out from under the staples.

We cover the metal strip with foam rubber, which will serve as the side of the bed.

We trim off the excess so that the foam matches the rounded sides.

We cover the side with fur. We glue the fur only on the inner side.

We screw the side to the oval bed. First of all, we screw the center of the side and check whether the edges are located equally relative to the middle. If everything is good, screw the side around the perimeter.

We stretch and smooth the fur on the side, glue it and staple it to the bottom of the bed.

We glue the fiberboard to the bottom of the bed to hide the glued fabric and staples.

We turn the structure over and glue a rectangular piece of chipboard to the bottom to hide the edges of the fabric and brackets. If this is not done, the fabric may crumble and peel off when the structure is moved across the floor.

Wrapping the scratching post

When choosing a rope for a scratching post, it is important to consider the following points:

the rope must be wear-resistant;
the rope should not have a strong smell (the smell may scare away the cat);
it is better if the rope is made of natural fiber;
aesthetics of the rope.

Cotton rope looks best, but it is also the most expensive. Sisal rope is also a good option. This rope is cheaper, but more “shaggy” and has a yellow or gray tint. Jute rope is even cheaper, but it is the darkest and does not look as aesthetically pleasing.

We wrap the rope tightly around the pipe. To keep the rope in place, glue 2-3 outer turns to the pipe.

All that remains is to attach the toy to the end of the rope hanging from the couch. As a toy, you can use a fur ball, a toy mouse, or a “monkey fist” knot. We attached a “fur eyeball”. We will tell you how to make it and other toys in the article “Toys for cats. We do it ourselves.”

All is ready.

Our cats immediately fell in love with their new furniture. However, it may happen that the cat will need time to get used to the new thing. It is important to be patient. Recommendations on how to help a cat get used to a new place can be found in the article.