How to Make a Cat Scratcher

If you want to prevent your cat from scratching and ruining furniture, carpets, and curtains, you will need to make a cat scratcher to offer an alternative. Cats naturally sharpen and keep their nails trim by scratching. Because the act is instinctive, do not expect to teach your cat not to do it. You can get your cat to prefer using a scratching post though. Since bad habits can be difficult to break, you will want to get your cat started on using a scratcher as soon as possible. You can get your cat’s interest by sprinkling some catnip on the scratching post when you finish making it. How do you make a cat scratcher?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Twine - about 20-feet
• Plywood 12-inches-by-12-inches
• Glue or Liquid nails
• Hollow cardboard tube - heavy
• Cat Toy
• Catnip
• Nails (10)
• Large Spring about 2-inches long

1. 
    
   Attach a tube to the plywood

   Use liquid nails to attach a hollow cardboard tube to the center of the piece of plywood for your cat scratcher. Be sure to use a heavy cardboard tube like the ones that come in the center of commercial rolls of aluminum foil. (Try asking the school or local restaurant to save one for you.)

2. 
    
   Coat the tube with liquid nails.

   Coat the outside of the cardboard tube with liquid nails.

3. 
    
   Wrap the twine tightly

   Wrap the twine tightly around the tube making sure not to overlap the twine. Push the twine tightly towards the wrapped twine under it as you go towards the top so you do not leave any bare spots.

4. 
    
   Allow to dry

   Allow the liquid nails to dry for at least 24 hours before offering the scratcher to your cat to use.

5. 
    
   Place a toy

   Cover the top of the scratcher and place a toy there to encourage use.

Tips & Warnings

• Sprinkle catnip on a new scratching post to get your cat's interest.
• Place a cat toy on the scratcher to get your cat curious about the scratcher.

Resources

• How to Make a Kitten Scratching Post
• How to Make a Weather Vane
• How to Build a Decorative Stone Mailbox
• How Much Does a Domestic Adoption Cost?
• Hump Day Hippie Recycling and Crafts

[juliemcmurchie]

on 11/15/2009 Great instructions for making a cat scratcher. We finally had to throw the old one out because our cat loved it so much.

[zoegus]

on 9/11/2009 Great idea, I have three cats and they love to scratch my funiture. 5*

[nonar21]

on 8/23/2009 I love that idea, my cats would love it. 5*

[kaytay]

on 3/29/2009 cats love these cat scratchers. great way to make them yourself

[sonni57]

on 3/22/2009 I used to have a cat scratcher for my cat she loved it thanks for the good instructions.