The lightweight scratching posts you find at most pet stores are undersized and underweight for all but the tiniest cats. If you've got a china-shop-wrecking tom cat on your hands this super sturdy scratching post is a perfect fit.
A casual observation of cats and scratching posts might lead you to believe that they are just doing a system check and keeping their claws in top shape. Cats use their claws to stretch out their entire bodies, however, and a sturdy scratching post is key to helping your kitty get a deep stretch.
Instructables user weiblen.c bought a regular old scratching post from the pet store but noticed that his cats weren't paying it any heed. He started observing the things they did enjoy scratching and took notes:
I have noticed that when my cats start scratching at the furniture, the pieces they choose to destroy have a few things in common:
1. They are stable and heavy. (I have observed that my cats always prefer a post that does not move when they dig their claws in and yank.)
2. They are wider than any standard cat posts. (My cats prefer a post that is wider than their shoulders.)
3. They are taller than any standard cat posts. (My cats prefer a post that is at least twice as tall as they are long. They like to reach up as high as they can and get a good long stretch.)
He stumbled upon some of the major rules for scratching post selection we highlighted in our guide to keeping your cat from destroying your furniture. His solution involved building a solid base out of lumber and constructing the actual scratching post out of a heavy duty cardboard tube—a concrete pouring form—wrapped in natural-fiber rope. While his design is already very sturdy due to the wide base and tall thick post, the hollow nature of the design makes it super easy to add extra weight via bricks or sandbags if your super-size kitty requires a sturdier post.
Check out the full build guide at the link below and don't forget to check out our guide to keeping your kitty on the post and off the back of your favorite chair. Have a favorite pet-related DIY to share? Let's hear about it in the comments.
Best Cat Scratching Post Ever AND Cat Weight-loss Device [Instructables]