This is a pretty easy DIY scratching post for your kitties. It’s a little unusual because the column has a wider diameter than most posts. This is not accidental —the creator of the tutorial noticed her cats preferred scratching on things wider than their shoulders. The post is also extra tall so kitties have lots of room to stretch and it’s weighted with plaster inside so it’s quite stable. It’s all topped off with a padded perch at the top.
You should be able to find the supplies at a home improvement store—she even provides the parts # for the hardware. Nice! The author of a different cat post tutorial (linked to bellow) recommends using 3/8″ Brazilian sisal rope because it’s stronger, but more importantly because it’s less heavily oiled than other sisal rope.) You might also want to try woven sisal which will shorten the time it takes to cover the post. (I’ve ordered woven sisal from Natural Abode and been very happy with the product, price, shipping, & customer service. And no, I’m note connected to the company in any way.)
The tools needed aren’t hard to come by either. You will need:
- pencil
- hand saw
- screw driver
- drill with 1/8” bit and 1/2” bit
- bucket
- stirring stick for plaster
- mixing bucket for plaster
- scissors
- magnet on a string (for fishing out tools and screws that you drop into the tube)
Don’t miss these other DIY cat trees and scratching posts.
- a Cat Tree
- the Monster Cat Tree
- a Scratching Post