From the page: The tube that holds infinite possibilities
Idea 7
Cat house or scratching post
Cardboard pressed in spiral layers is surprisingly resistant to compression — that's why factories use it to pack heavy loads. Cats love the texture for sharpening their claws, and crafters have discovered that whole tubes, joined together, become sturdy structures that hold the weight of a cat lying on them.
What you need
- A cardboard tube (a rolling tube; the thicker, the better)
- A saw or a strong craft knife with a fresh blade
- White glue or hot glue in abundance
- A rigid base (a leftover piece of plywood or several pieces of cardboard glued together)
- Sisal or rope (optional, to reinforce the scratching spots)
How to make it
-
1
Measure the desired height: for a scratching post, about 50 to 60 cm works well, since it allows the cat to stretch fully — the taller the cat, the taller the post.
-
2
Cut the tube into 5 to 8 cm rings for a house, or keep it whole for a scratching post — the rings stacked on their sides form the walls and the "bed" of the house.
-
3
Glue the rings side by side onto the base, packed tightly together — the contact between the tubes distributes the weight, exactly like a honeycomb distributes loads.
-
4
For the scratching post, secure the whole tube to the base with plenty of glue and, if you like, wrap sisal rope around the upper half — this extends its lifespan and adds texture variety.
-
5
Let it dry for at least 12 hours before introducing it to the cat, since poorly dried glue comes loose with the first claw pull.
Finishing touches
Sprinkle a little catnip on the piece to attract your feline right away. If the cardboard starts to fray with use, just trim the loose edges with scissors — the structure keeps serving for months.
This is one of the ideas from the full page — see all the possibilities.
This page feeds the collective knowledge 🌱 — every discovery makes the next answer better.