Finally, A DIY Cat Scratching Post That Actually Looks Cute

By  Caroline Burke
Cat playing with an orange and yellow scratching post Caroline Burke

Cats love to scratch, but it's not just for fun — it's how they communicate, mark their territory, and clean their claws! If you want to protect your sofa and staircases from your feline friend, then a scratching post is a must-have. We decided to DIY our own color block post that packs more of a punch than the expensive (and rather bland) ones at your local pet store.

Tip

For other cute cat DIYs, check out this adorable hammock, an updated cat house, or our modern feeding station.

Cat playing with an orange and yellow scratching postCaroline Burke

Things Needed

Step 1

You'll need the following two lengths of wood to make the post:

  • 20 inches by 6 inches
  • 8 inches by 6 inches

You can cut them using a hand saw or ask your local hardware store to cut them for you. (We recommend using a 1-inch-by-6-inch-by-6-foot length of wood, which is readily available.)

Pieces of wood for cat scratching post DIYCaroline Burke

Step 2

Run wood glue along the edge of the smaller piece of wood.

Glue on wood for cat scratching post DIYCaroline Burke

Place it flush onto the end of the longer piece to create an 'L' shape. Leave to dry.

Wood pieces for cat scratching post DIYCaroline Burke

Step 3

We decided the colored rope would pop better against a white backdrop, so we painted our wooden post with one to two coats of white general purpose paint.

White paint on wood for cat scratching post DIYCaroline Burke

Step 4

Next it's time to dye your rope. Sisal rope is the best type to use for a scratching post. We used two 30-feet bundles of rope and dyed each bundle a different color. Mix your fabric dye according to your manufacturers' instructions and regularly turn the rope to soak up that beautiful color.

Sisal rope in orange dyeCaroline Burke

We dyed one 30-foot bundle of rope yellow and the other 30-foot bundle of rope orange. Leave the rope to dry before the next step.

Orange and yellow sisal ropeCaroline Burke

Step 5

Take a staple gun and staple the end of the yellow rope to the underside of the scratching post to secure it. (We stapled our rope approximately 3 inches from the end of the post.)

Sisal rope attached to white wood with staplerCaroline Burke

Step 6

Once it's secure you can start to wrap the rope tightly around the post.

Yellow sisal rope wrapped around white woodCaroline Burke

Step 7

Wrap about 7 inches along the post, trim the rope, and staple the end underneath to secure it.

Yellow sisal rope wrapped around white woodCaroline Burke

Step 8

Take the orange rope and staple the end down where the yellow rope finishes.

Yellow and orange sisal rope wrapped around white woodCaroline Burke

Step 9

Wrap the orange rope round the post as you did with the yellow rope. Once you've finished wrapping you can secure the end of the rope with the staple gun.

Yellow and orange sisal rope wrapped around white woodCaroline Burke

Your post is ready for scratching!

Yellow and orange sisal rope wrapped around white wood for DIY cat scratching postCaroline Burke
Black and grey striped cat next to yellow and orange cat scratching postCaroline Burke

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