A Practical Guide to DIY Cat Scratching Posts

Evidence-Based Design, Safety, and Longevity Tips from Behavior & Grooming Professionals

Scratching is not a behavioral problem — it is a biological and emotional necessity for cats. It supports claw health, muscle conditioning, stress regulation, and territory communication. When scratching options fail, it’s almost never because the cat is “destructive,” but because the structure provided did not meet their physical or behavioral needs.

This guide outlines safe, effective, and genuinely cat-approved ways to build or retrofit scratching posts using reclaimed or low-cost materials — including carpet — while prioritizing stability, hygiene, and longevity, especially in homes with children.

1. Start With Stability (This Is Non-Negotiable)

The most common reason cats reject scratching posts is movement.

If a post shifts, flexes, or wobbles:

• Cats stop using it

• Confidence drops

• They redirect scratching to furniture or door frames

  
  

Behaviorists Expert Recommendations:

• Posts must not tip, rotate, or sway

• Base weight should exceed the cat’s weight

• Vertical posts should be mechanically anchored, not glued

  
  

Best practices

• Use a wide, heavy base (plywood, MDF, or thick solid wood)

• Secure vertical posts with screws or bolts, not nails

• If using PVC or tubes, anchor through the base into the core

A post that falls once may be avoided permanently.

2. Carpet: When It Works — and When It Doesn’t

Carpet can be an effective scratching surface if used correctly, but it is not universally appropriate.

When Carpet Is Appropriate

• Short, low-pile or looped carpet

• Clean, odor-free pieces

• Indoor-only environments

• Cats already accustomed to carpet scratching

  
  

When Carpet Is a Poor Choice

• Deep pile or plush carpet

• Carpet with padding still attached

• Carpet with urine contamination

• Loose or fraying fibers (entanglement risk)

  
  

Hygiene Matters:

Urine-soaked or heavily soiled carpet should not be repurposed indoors. Even after cleaning, scent residues can:

• Encourage inappropriate elimination

• Trigger stress responses

• Create hygiene risks for children

  
  

Professional rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t want it in a child’s play space, don’t use it for a cat scratching surface.

3. Attachment Method Matters More Than Material

Improper attachment is where most DIY projects fail.

Avoid

• Staples alone

• Hot glue

• Construction adhesive without mechanical support

  
  

Best Attachment Methods

• Industrial staples + screws

• Wrapped carpet pulled tight and secured at both ends

• Seams positioned away from primary scratching zones

  
  

For replaceable designs:

• Use removable panels

• Attach with screws through backing strips

• Avoid permanent adhesives so sections can be swapped out

4. PVC, Tubes, and Alternative Cores

Many commercially successful scratching posts use a non-wood core.

Why PVC or Tubes Work Well

• Moisture resistant

• Easy to clean

• Uniform shape for wrapping

• Compatible with replaceable covers

  
  

Tips for Success

• Use thick-wall PVC (thin pipes flex)

• Roughen the surface before wrapping

• Anchor through the base into the pipe

• Cap exposed edges

  
  

PVC posts paired with replaceable carpet or sisal wraps often outlast traditional wood posts, especially in multi-cat homes.

5. Replaceable > Permanent (Always)

From a behavioral, hygienic, and financial perspective, replaceable scratching surfaces are superior to limping along with a partially effective system.

Benefits

• Extends lifespan of the structure

• Reduces odor buildup

• Allows rotation of textures

• Supports sanitation in homes with kids

  
  

Replaceable Options

• Carpet panels

• Sisal wraps

• Corrugated cardboard inserts

• Fabric-covered foam pads

Even high-end commercial trees rely on replaceable elements for a reason.

6. Orientation & Placement Are Behavioral Tools

Cats do not scratch randomly.

Vertical Scratchers

• Should allow full body stretch

• Minimum height: cat length + extended forelimbs

• Best placed near:

  • Sleep areas

  • Entry points

  • Social hubs

    
    

Horizontal or Angled Scratchers

• Ideal for seniors or arthritic cats

• Mimic ground-scratching instincts

• Often preferred by cats who avoid posts entirely

  
  

Offering multiple orientations reduces furniture damage more effectively than correcting behavior.

7. When to Skip DIY and Upgrade

DIY is not always the most humane or cost-effective option.

Consider upgrading when:

• The core is urine-damaged

• The structure compresses under pressure

• The post has tipped previously

• Multiple cats compete for the same surface

  
  

High-quality trees with replaceable pads, even if more expensive upfront, often cost less over time than repeatedly rebuilding unsafe structures.

8. Safety Checklist (Especially for Homes With Children)

Before introducing a DIY scratching post:

• No exposed staples or screws

• No loose fibers

• No strong residual odors

• No tipping risk

• No sharp edges

• Materials non-toxic if mouthed

  
  

If any of these cannot be guaranteed, redesign before use.

Final Takeaway

A good scratching post is not about aesthetics or price — it is about meeting physical, emotional, and safety needs simultaneously.

When built correctly:

• Cats use them consistently

• Stress behaviors decrease

• Furniture damage drops

• Longevity improves

• Hygiene risks stay low

  
  

Scratching is communication. Our job is to give cats something worth saying it on.