How to Tie a Cat Shank

The cat-shank knot is used to shorten rope.

The cat-shank knot is a reliable knot used for decreasing the overall length of a rope. The cat-shank knot is similar to a sheep-shank knot, but it is less likely to slip. This characteristic makes it more useful if the rope will have weight or force exerted on it. In order to tie this knot, you'll need access to at least one side of the rope.

Things You'll Need

• Rope

Instructions

1. Form an overhand knot and form a loop with the free end of the rope.

2. Make a second overhand knot to the right of the first one. You'll want to place the distance the rope must be reduced in between the two knots.

3. Tie two bights into the rope, one at 1/3 of the distance between the two overhand knots and the other at 2/3 of the distance.

4. Pull the bights through the farthest overhead knot from that bight and pull the ropes tight.

References

• "A Handbook of Knots and Knot Tying"; Geoffery Budworth; 2003

Resources

• 20-20 Site: Overhand Knot
• Animated Knots By Grog: Bowline on a Bight