Cat Scratching Posts

Just to tell everyone here on the Forum that our cat, who is just out of being a kitten and was neutered about three weeks ago, suddenly started to scratch and claw at our furniture.

So we looked at those scratching posts you see in pet stores and DIY superstores, but they were SO expensive.

My husband is quite a good DIY person, so he made one, from a square base of plywood, which he sanded down around the edges, and then he fitted a large dowel, like twice as thick as a broom handle in the centre of it, and covered it with some old carpet we had in the garage.

Now whenever we see James starting to scratch, we gently pick him up and put him on the scratching post. It works a treat ! You just have to let them know that it is ok to do it on the post, rather than telling them off for doing it somewhere else.

Cats are very intelligent and catch on quickly. When you lift your cat from the area where he or she is scratching over to the scratching post, just lift their from arms up when you get to the post, and show them they can attach their claws into the carpet and scratch away until their hearts content.

Hope this helps out other cat lovers. If anyone needs more details how to make one, just put a note here and I will ask my husband to explain it better.

Rgds

Debs

My dad bought our cat a scratching post from one of the big supermarket type DIY stores, Homebase I think, and it wasn't that expensive.

Now all three of our cats use it regularly.

They had started to sharpen their claws on the newly fitted Axminster carpet, much to dads disgust, so now they can scratch as much as they like, and our new carpet stays in one piece.

You often see your cats in the garden, scratching their front paw claws on tree bark, I guess that is a similar action and they do it to sharpen the claws.

Well done to your husband for making one. I imagine the base has to be very stable and square much bigger than the post, as ours it, as sometimes one perches on the top of the post while the other tries to jump up and dislodge him. It is so funny to watch.

Kind wishes


Viccy

My new kittens started to claw at everything. I have a "Cat tunnel" play place, It consist of a board covered with carpet about 12" X 16," a half circle is over this, covered inside and out with carpet, on one end is a small post covered with carpet. The post is about 12" - 15" high with a spring on top and a fuzzy ball at the very top. They love it. Climb in, under, on, sleep inside, climb on top and bat at the ball. If I find them scratching at an undesirable place, I pick up say "No, No," carry them to the post or top and scratch with their paws. They have ruined a small foot stool with rush seat, so I also "allow" this to be scratched now, by taking them to it and scratching their paws on it. This is working pretty well. As said, they are very intelligent and catch on quickly. I had thought of getting a fireplace sized stick of wood and nailing to a good, heavy base. A stick of fireplace wood could also be leaned in a corner or laid on the floor for this purpose.