Cats are smart, friendly animals that give their owners a lot of positive emotions, know how to love and show sincere emotions. It is a well-known fact that cats need to regularly grind down their claws, this is how they get rid of overgrown nails and mark their territory.
Few people would agree to give up their favorite sofa, armchair or recently hung wallpaper to be torn to pieces. To save property and help the cat satisfy the natural need inherent in nature, buy a scratching post for your home - the second most important item after the litter tray and toys. Today we will talk about what types of claw scratching posts there are, what materials they are made from, we will find out what jute or sisal is, what is better for a cat.
What do you need for a scratching post?
scratching post
-column
For work you will need: a beam approximately 70 cm long and at least 5 cm wide, a round or square support made of wood about 4 cm thick. Instructions for assembling the scratching post
: On the support of the future claw handle, draw one line in the middle and a second line perpendicular to it, connecting them in the center.
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Kinds
A scratching post for domestic cats, who are unable to climb trees and remove the peeling nail layer naturally, is an important accessory. A timely installed accessory and the correct configuration are a guarantee of the safety of your furniture, repairs, your nerves will be calm, and your budget will be saved. Let's find out what models of scratching posts there are.
Our online store offers a large selection of scratching posts and multi-level complexes:
note
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HOMEMADE SCRATCHING POT, cardboard with catnip (small)
small large
small
294 ₽
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HOMECAT cardboard scratching post Mint wave 48 x 25 x 8 cm (1 piece)
1 PC
564 ₽
512 ₽
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Complex for cats multi-level Zoonik purple fur/hemp 110 x 47 x 190 cm (1 piece)
1 PC
8 052 ₽
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ANTI-SCRATCH – Soft glossy caps for cats 40 caps (white)
white blue yellow green gold red orange transparent purple black
white
209 ₽
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Complex for cats with a house, a hammock and a bed Zoonik blue fur/carpet 101 x 43 x 170 cm (1 piece)
1 PC
9 265 ₽
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Materials for making a scratching post with a bed
- two rectangles made of chipboard or other solid wood material (sizes are selected individually)
- two fiberboard rectangles (same dimensions as chipboard rectangles)
- pipe made of solid material (diameter 80-110 mm)
- rope (cotton, sisal, jute)
- foam rubber
- metal strip (width about 7 cm, length depends on the size of the bed)
- glue
- self-tapping screws
- metal corners
- faux fur or upholstery fabric
Should I have an onychectomy?
Finally, we should remind you about the operation permitted in some countries to remove the claws of domestic animals - onychectomy. Yes, this procedure will save the owners from a lot of trouble and preserve the furniture, but is it really harmless to the animal itself? After all, along with the claws, the front phalanges of the fingers are removed, which affects the functioning of the entire musculoskeletal system.
A cat is a fairly mobile animal and without claws it is doomed to endless injuries - there is nothing to cling to. She will not be able to climb onto a low surface; it will be difficult for her to maintain balance. After the operation, you may suffer from pain for the rest of your life, which is shortened by almost three times due to the disruption of your usual life. In addition, having lost its claws, the animal becomes more aggressive and tries to solve all its problems with the help of its teeth.
Pillars
The scratching post is often used by cat lovers due to its versatility. A cat can sharpen its claws on both horizontal and vertical surfaces, climb up, and chase a toy attached to a post. If you fix a horizontal platform on top of the post, then the issue with the bed will also be resolved.
Simple scratching post
Scratching post with toy
Floor-standing scratching post with horizontal scratching post
Sometimes cats tear up furniture legs, most often table legs. Here you can improvise - wrap it with twine and you will get a ready-made claw blade.
How to make a scratching post
To make a scratching post, any available material is suitable - a board or plywood for support, a small block or a piece of plastic pipe for a post. Having screwed the beam to the base using self-tapping screws or secured with metal corners, you need to tightly wrap the beam with twine or sisal rope (can be bought at Leroy Merlin) using a glue gun for fastening.
We wind the rope tightly around the scratching post bar of the post
Advantages of sisal rope: high strength, durability, natural material
The base can be painted, sealed with a piece of thick fabric, carpet, or the same rope can be laid in a spiral, glued for strength. The main requirement for such a structure is stability. It is necessary to carefully calculate the proportions of the height of the column and the area of the base, or “peep” the dimensions of finished products in pet stores.
Which rope is better to choose?
The choice of ropes is very large, but the main thing you need to pay attention to when choosing is natural fibers. Environmentally friendly materials of natural origin are the best ropes for scratching posts; they are completely safe for both animals and people, are not electrified and will not harm the pet. A cat will definitely like a scratching post coated with natural fiber, which cannot be said about a purchased one made from artificial rope. Some pets may be put off by the synthetic smell, as well as the presence of paint and impregnation.
Polypropylene and nylon ropes are several times stronger than natural ones, but they tend to stretch, and cat's claws can get tangled and stuck in the fibers of the material.
A hemp rope wrap for a scratching post will not last long; the material will quickly fluff due to fragments of fibers.
How much rope will be needed?
Any modern rope for a scratching post has a high degree of strength and is resistant to tearing, which makes it an ideal material in this case. Before proceeding with the manufacture or replacement of this element, it is necessary to calculate the length that will be required.
There are two ways to measure footage:
- Using old rope for a scratching post. In this case, you need to remove the rope from the old post, measure its length, or take the rope with you to the store so that the consultant can help you choose the material and footage.
- Calculation using a special formula:
Rope length = (post height/rope diameter) * 3.14 * post diameter.
For example, there is the following data:
- The height of the column is 100 cm, its diameter is 10 cm;
- Rope diameter – 0.8 cm.
From here we get: rope length = (100/0.8) * 3.14 * 10 = 3925 cm, that is, 39.25 m.
The optimal rope diameter is considered to be 8 mm, but 6 mm is quite suitable for making a scratching post.
What is better for a cat, sisal or jute?
If you have a kitten or your cat uses the scratching post not very often and without much activity, then you can give preference to jute - it is softer and more pleasant in cost. If you have an adult cat (especially a large breed) or several pets, choose sisal
.
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Vertical, columnar
The accessory reminds a cat of a tree, which the animal regularly climbs in its natural environment, grinding its claws down. Assess the stability of the accessory - the device should not wobble and be similar in height and build. Otherwise, there is a risk of injury, or the cat will simply refuse to use it.
The floor structure comes in several variations:
- free-standing column with a flat, stable base;
- the accessory is complemented by a shelf;
- with gaming function;
- with unusual additions;
- The column is made in the shape of a decorative palm tree or toy figure.
How to calculate the length of a rope for a scratching post?
The length of the fiber directly depends on the height of the column. If it is 1 m with a cross-section of 11 cm, then the length of one turn will be 35 cm. By making a simple calculation, you can find out that the total length of the rope must be at least 35 m.
Although some animals have lived alongside humans for a long time, they are not devoid of their natural instincts. Properly chosen furniture for your pet will help avoid damaged furniture and torn wallpaper. Therefore, hurry up to make a house or scratching post for your pet. By making furniture for your pet with your own hands, you will not only save money, but also create a unique product that will suit your pet specifically.
Floor-standing
Perhaps the simplest designs to implement. They can be of various shapes and located on the floor or at an angle to it. In addition, they can be combined with some other elements, columns, houses.
How to make a floor scratching post
We suggest making a floor scratching post from corrugated cardboard yourself with step-by-step instructions. To work you will need:
- construction tape,
- pencil,
- ruler,
- scissors or wallpaper knife,
- glue.
You can take a box with low sides for the mold, but you can do without it by securing the finished structure with cardboard tape around the perimeter.
Necessary tools for making a scratching post
Place the strips tightly in the box
Cut the cardboard into strips to fit the length and height of the box. Glue the strips with glue and connect them. It is advisable to use glue with a minimally noticeable odor, for example, PVA. After drying, the nail clipper is ready for use.
Simple round corrugated cardboard scratching post
Corrugated cardboard bends quite easily, so the second version of the scratching post is a twisted long strip secured with glue or adhesive tape. In this case, the size can be chosen at your discretion, and in case of long-term use, simply add layers as the shaggy consumer grows.
