Thursday, March 21, 2013

Easy recycled hanging cat scratcher





If you’ve been saving your corrugated cardboard like I do you have a ready supply for a quick and easy hanging cat scratcher.  You only use a few supplies, many are on hand, so it costs practically nothing to make.

You will need:

Corrugated cardboard (you can get flat pieces at your local warehouse store, but you can easily use discarded boxes. 

Scissors--or a guillotine style paper cutter if your have one

Ruler and pencil

Glue gun and glue sticks

About 18 inches of scrap cord

Hole punch

Masking tape

Piece of craft fur (optional)

1.     Cut strips of cardboard approximately 1 ¼” inches wide by however long you can make it.  You will be rolling it into a circle and adding strips as you go so it doesn’t matter how long you make the strips.  Note:  It is important to make sure you cut the cardboard strips so that the ribs of the cardboard facing the correct direction and are bendable. 







2.     Heat up your glue gun and begin to glue and roll the cardboard.  (See photo) As you reach the end of each strip, attach a new strip with hot glue meeting end to end and continue rolling to the size you would like your cat scratcher to be.







3.     On the final piece of cardboard carefully work the hole punch into the center and punch a hole.  You may have to squeeze the cardboard a bit.  Wrap both ends of the cord with masking tape.  This step will make it easier to and feed them through the hole. knot the ends together.  Wrap this final piece around the edge adding hot glue as you go as before.  When you get to the area where the knot it located add some extra glue and press for a few seconds longer to set the glue.  Continue wrapping and gluing until you reach the end.






4.     If you would like your cat scratcher to be undecorated hang on a doorknob and let your cat enjoy her new toy…or your can optionally glue a strip of craft fur all around the edges for an added decorative touch.

Floor cat scratcher:
           Q:  My cat likes her scratcher to be placed flat on the floor, what can I do?
           A:  Easy!  Simply continue to add cardboard strips to make the circle much bigger,
            and eliminate the hanging cord on the last strip. Place flat on the floor for your cat's enjoyment.  



Is that a cat smile?





8 comments:

  1. Two kitties, and their very happy human, all THANK YOU VERY MUCH! (0; Can't wait to try this just as soon as I can gather up the boxes! ~tina

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ruby said to tell you thanks. The boys are playing with their new toys and leaving her alone.
    I just stopped by from the "Inspiration Spotlight LinkUp" to spread some love. I'm glad I did.
    Following everywhere. :)
    http://dustykatt.blogspot.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was laughing about the cat smile! LOL! I am going to have to make this for my brother and sister-in-law! Great stalking stuffer for Christmas! Thanks my friend ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lol! Love that last picture, and I love the project too, how fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have four cats so I will need to make four. Our dog destroyed their scratching post and a lot of their toys so they need some new toys. What a great idea. Take care now. Marion x

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great idea! Thanks so much for linking up with Inspired Weekends! Please stop by Horrific Knits on Friday for the next round!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brilliant! I need to make some for our cats. Thanks for sharing @ linking up at DearCreatives.com Hope your having a good week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh! This is so cute and useful!!! Thank you very much for sharing it with us!!
    Have a lovely evening!!!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your lovely comments!