From the page: Cardboard holds up to far more than just one more move
Idea 8
Cat house or scratching post
Domestic cats have always sought dens: enclosed, dark spaces with a single entrance, like the holes where their ancestors hid from predators. Cardboard fits perfectly because it insulates temperature, absorbs the animal's scent, and its corrugated surface, when exposed in layers, invites claws — the cat scratches to mark territory and wear down the sheath of its claws.
What you need
- 2 to 4 sturdy cardboard boxes (one large for the house, others to cut layers from)
- Utility knife or strong scissors
- Ruler and pencil
- White glue or hot glue
- Gouache or water-based latex paint (optional, for decorating)
- A piece of carpet, sisal, or thick rope (for the scratching post)
How to make it
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1
Pick the largest box and decide whether the entrance will be round or arched: draw it on the side using a saucer as a template, because the soft curve makes the piece look like design, not packaging.
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2
Cut the entrance with the utility knife, keeping the box closed on top and bottom — the closure creates the den feeling cats love and keeps body heat inside.
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3
For the scratching post, cut the other boxes into cardboard strips about 5 centimeters wide and roll them up in a spiral, gluing one to another, forming a firm disc; the corrugations of cut-exposed cardboard are exactly what pleases a cat's claws.
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4
Let the assembly dry thoroughly for a few hours, because water-based glues need to lose moisture for the disc not to sink under the animal's weight.
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5
Run the rope or carpet along the outside of the house (or wind it around the disc) and fix it with glue, creating a second, more durable scratching surface.
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6
If you like, paint only the outer edges with water-based paint and let it dry outdoors for a day — the inside should stay unpainted, so the smell of the material doesn't drive the cat away.
Finishing touches
Place the house near a spot where the family hangs out, because cats want to hide without losing sight of you. Sprinkle some dried catnip at the entrance so the debut is a success.
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