How to Make a DIY Cat Scratcher (From a Timber Post and Sisal Rope)
A quality scratching post is one of the easiest ways to keep your cat's claws (and your furniture) safe — but store-bought ones can be flimsy, overpriced, and not quite the right height. Building your own from a square or round timber post and sisal rope is cheap, satisfying, and lets you make a post that's tall and sturdy enough for even the most enthusiastic cat.
Here's how to do it in a single afternoon.
What you'll need
- Timber for the post — a square post (e.g. two 70x35mm timbers screwed together into a 70x70mm post) or a sturdy branch, around 900–1200mm tall
- Sisal rope — a 200m roll of 4mm sisal rope covers about 2m of a 70x70mm post (use our rope calculator to check your exact size)
- A hot glue gun and glue sticks (or staples) to secure the rope
- A sturdy plywood or timber base board and a few screws (optional, for a standing post)
Step-by-step
1. Prepare your post
Cut your post to height and sand any rough edges. If you're making a standing post, screw it to a wide, heavy base board so it can't tip over — cats love to stretch and lean, so stability matters.
2. Start wrapping
Apply a line of hot glue to the timber, then press the end of the sisal rope into it and begin wrapping tightly, working your way up the post. Keep each wrap snug against the last — a tight wrap is what makes the final post last through lots of scratching.
3. Add extra glue as you go
Sisal is durable, but hot glue gives each row extra grip. Add a bead of glue every few wraps on the timber side so the rope can't slide down over time.
4. Finish the ends
When you reach the top, trim the rope, glue the loose end down flat, and tuck it under the last wrap so there are no dangling strands for your cat to chew.
5. Offer it to your cat
Place the post somewhere your cat already likes to hang out. Rubbing some catnip on the sisal is a great way to get them interested.
Sturdier and cheaper than the store
A homemade post like this is typically much cheaper than a comparable store-bought one, and you can build it to exactly the height and size your cat prefers. Cats love the natural texture of sisal — it's the ideal material for a DIY cat scratcher.
Got a branch or offcut lying around? Wrap it with 4mm sisal rope and you've got a unique, sturdy scratcher your cat will love.