How to Make a Scratching Pole for a Cat

Make a scratching pole for your cat

Is your cat scratching up your furniture and curtains leaving them in ruins? Before you throw the cat out, or have it declawed in desperation, consider making a simple scratching pole. If you can make a scratching pole that your cat prefers over anything else, you may solve your problem and save your furniture and curtains from further destruction. It is actually quite easy to make a scratching pole for a cat.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• One board 10-inches-by-10-inches
• Two boards 2-inches-by-4-inches-by-18-inches
• Nails about 10 three-inches long
• Carpet remnant 16-inches-by-18-inches
• Carpet remnant 12-inches-by-22-inches
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Toy (optional)
• Catnip (optional)
• Carpet glue

1. Cut the base where you will attach the scratching pole so it will stand up. This piece of wood should be approximately 10-inches-by-10-inches and about one-inch thick. Next, you will cut the pieces to make the pole that will go in the center of the base. From a board 2-inches-by-4-inches cut two pieces that are each 18-inches long to make the scratching pole.

2. Cover the base with your 12-inches-by-22-inches carpet remnant wrapping the carpet all the way around the board. You may want to cover the board with carpet glue before putting the carpet around it for a more secure attachment. Then use your staple gun every inch or two to secure the carpet to the board, covering the sides of the board as well.

3. Nail your two boards that are 2-inches-by-4-inches-by-18-inches together making one 18-inch long four-by-four.

4. Paint the four 18-inch sides with carpet glue and then wrap 16-inches-by-18-inches carpet remnants around the pole. Do not paint the top or bottom.

5. Staple every inch or two to secure the carpet to the pole, taking special care on the edges to put the staples closer together.

6. Nail the pole to the center of the base using several nails to secure. Set the pole on a flat secure surface. Lay the base on top of the pole and hammer the nails through. Turn it over.

7. Get creative if you have extra materials

   Sprinkle a little catnip on your new scratching pole to attract your cat's interest. Once interested, you probably won't need to repeat the application. You can also attach a toy to the top of the pole to help attract your cat. Hammer a nail into the piece leaving about a quarter of an inch sticking out. Tie a piece of 8-inch yarn around the nail head and then tie a toy such as a ball or toy mouse filled with catnip onto the other end of the string. Allow it to hang down and entice your cat.

Tips & Warnings

• Trim your cat's nails every month.

• You may be able to get free or cheap carpet remnants at your local carpet store.

• Declawing a cat leaves it vulnerable to attack if it should get out of the house. Declawing may also affect its personality.