DIY Cat Furniture
Cats need to sharpen their claws, and you don't want the cat to ruin your furniture during this natural process. One of the most important pieces of furniture you can provide for an indoor cat is one on which it can scratch on it as much as it wants. Make a simple scratching pad to keep your furniture intact and your cat content.
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic sheet
- Damp cloth
- Empty wooden electrical wire spool, 24-inch
- Brazilian sisal rope, 200 feet
- Nails
- Hammer
- Industrial-strength glue
- Plastic wrap, 200 square foot roll
- Carpet remnant
- Utility knife
Instructions
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1
Place a plastic sheet on your work area. Wipe down an empty wooden electrical wire spool with a damp cloth. Tip the spool so it is lying on one of the flat sides.
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2
Place one end of the sisal rope at the base of the inside of the spool. Hammer a nail through the end of the rope to secure the end of the rope to the wood of the spool.
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3
Apply glue to the wood as you wind the rope around the spool. Keep the coils tight to each other until the inner reel of the spool is completely covered with rope. Cut the rope with the utility knife when you come to the end. Drive a nail into the end of the rope to hold it in place.
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4
Wrap plastic wrap securely around the coiled rope on the spool to hold the rope tight to the wood as the glue dries. Allow the glue to dry according to the manufacturer's directions. Remove the plastic wrap when the glue has dried.
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5
Place the base of the spool on top of a carpet remnant. Trace around the spool, using a marker. Remove the spool from the carpet remnant. Cut out the piece of carpet within the trace lines, using the utility knife. Repeat to cut another piece of carpet the same size.
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6
Apply glue to the top flat surface of the spool. Glue the bottom of one of the pieces of carpet to the top of the spool.
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7
Tip the spool over carefully, keeping the top piece of carpet in place, until the bottom of the spool is facing up. Glue the other piece of carpet to the bottom of the spool. Place books on the glued carpet piece that is now on top, to hold the carpet down tight until the glue dries.
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Tips & Warnings
You can find a wooden spool at a flea market or check with an electrician or your electric company for an old wooden spool left over from installing electrical wire.
Place a wicker basket on the spool. Place a pillow in the basket for the cat to sleep on.
Place the spool in front of a sunny window so the cat can see outside.
References
- Photo Credit cat image by maxthewildcat from Fotolia.com
