Anyone that owns a cat and who has decided to go and buy a scratching post rather than building one themselves from a simple set of cat scratching post plans has likely suffered a near heart attack at the prices companies charge for these simple structures. However, if you’re willing to put a little bit of sweat equity into a project and buy the materials, then you can save yourself money now and in the future when your scratching post is, inevitably, scratched all the way down to the wood.
Cat Scratching Post Plans
The first part of any decent cat scratching post plans is the wood you’ll need to build the scratching post in question. You are going to need two pieces of plywood (an 18″x24″x3/4″ piece and an 18″x22″x3/4″ piece), a 4″x4″x24″ wood post, 2 pieces of 1″x3″x24″ pine strips, wood screws, wood glue, and enough carpet remnants to cover all the surfaces of the scratching post once you have it assembled according to the cat scratching post plans you’ve downloaded. A simple blueprint of one method for building your own scratching post may be found at http://web.archive.org/web/19981207022751/http://www.sidus.net/kloader/usepost.htm.
According to most cat scratching post plans you’re also going to need certain tools to get the job done. You don’t have to be a major do it yourself kind of person either; most of these tools you can either find in a basic tool box or you can pick up at the store for cheap. You should have; screwdriver, measuring tape, marker or pencil, box cutter razor knife, saw and wood glue. Alternatively if you choose to use nails instead of screws (not recommended, but you can do it) you will need a hammer rather than a screw driver. If you choose to do this just replace all steps that talk about screwing with hammering in nails.
When following your cat scratching post plans, begin with the two large playwood sheets and the large wooden post. If the plywood sheets aren’t sized yet, then measure them to the above dimensions and cut them using a saw. Place the larger plywood sheet on your work surface. Use wood screws to attach the wooden post (wood glue will work also, but the screws make for sturdier construction) to the left side of the plywood, centering the post along the left edge. Drive the screws in from underneath so that they go straight through the plywood and up into the post. Use one screw on each corner, and one in the center to make sure the post is steady. Place the second, slightly smaller, sheet of plywood over the top of the post and center the left side along the post as you did with the bottom sheet. Screw the plywood to the post and ensure that you have a firm frame to continue with.
The next step in cat scratching post plans is to add feet to the underside of the plywood. Screw the plywood base to the pine strips once you’ve centered them along the long sides of the wooden base. Alternatively you may use wood glue to hold these pine strips on, but it will not be as strong. If you are putting this scratching post on carpet then you should leave the feet as bare wood to increase their hold, but if you’re putting the scratching post onto a wood floor then you may want to consider attaching a layer of carpet to the feet so that they don’t scratch up your floor while your cat is sharpening up its claws.
When the wooden skeleton is completed, as according to your cat scratching post plans, you have to check to be sure that it’s steady and stable. Cats don’t like unstable scratching posts and if your post wobbles or tips easily then the cat is likely to avoid it like the plague. So before progressing press down on your post and see if it bends or tilts, and if so then add wood or weight to the post so that those concerns are no longer a problem. Once the frame is steady you’re ready to continue with the final stages of construction.
Add the skin of carpet to the scratching post. According to the cat scratching post plans, you should measure each surface you’ll be adding carpet to, and then mark those surfaces on your carpet remnants. Cut the remnants using a razor knife (a box cutter for those who work in retail) and then attach the carpet skin to the wooden scratching post using wood glue. Attach one piece at a time, and angle or turn the scratching post so that gravity isn’t tugging at your glue and pulling on your carpet. Also, don’t be afraid to get creative here. While it doesn’t say so in most cat scratching post plans and blueprints, you can mix and match carpet colors or weaves in order to make a more interesting looking scratching post and to intrigue your cat just a little bit more.
Cat Scratching Post Plans – The Conclusion
Once you’ve followed all of the directions, you should have a steady, easy to use scratching post that will more than stand up to any abuses that a household feline could heap upon it. Of course you still have to introduce your cat to the scratching post and convince said pet to use it rather than the floor, furniture or other places in the house that cats like to scratch at, including hardwood floors and wooden door and closet frames. If your cat is one that likes catnip (only 50% of cats are susceptible to it), then you should make a habit of giving catnip to your cat on the scratching post, or spritzing the post with a catnip spray. If you can’t bribe your cat though, then whenever you catch him scratching somewhere he’s not supposed to, pick him up and bring him to the scratching post. If you followed the cat scratching post plans, your cat will thank you.
