Cat Scratchers

Did you know scratching is a natural behaviour for cats? At the Shelter, it’s really important to allow cats to act as they would in a home, which means providing them a good place to scratch!

These instructions will teach you how to make simple cat scratchers at home that can then be provided to the cats waiting for their forever homes at the Regina Humane Society.

Cat Scratcher #1

Supplies needed:

  • A cardboard rectangle (ideally 6 inches wide, and 12 inched long)
  • Sisal twine
  • Scissors
  • A ruler
  • A single hole punch

Step 1

Begin by taking your scissors and making a 1cm cut at both ends of the rectangle. At the top of the short edge, you will want to leave approximately 2 cm (you will need this space later!)

Step 2

You will now take your sisal twine and making a knot, tuck it into one of the top cuts in the cardboard.

Step 3

Begin wrapping the sisal around the cardboard until you reach the bottom cut you made.

Step 4

Once you have the sisal twine wrapped all the way around the cardboard rectangle down to the bottom cut you made, make a knot to secure the twine in the bottom slit. The results should look like this.

Step 5

Since these scratchers will need to be secured to a kennel door, so to do that, punch two holes into the top of your cardboard rectangle where you left the 2cm space.You will cut about an 18 inch piece of sisal out, and thread it through both holes coming out the back of the scratcher.Tie a bow (like you would with shoelaces) on the back of the scratcher.This should be easily untied, so that it can be secured onto the kennel door.
Voila! You’re done! These scratchers can now be brought to the Shelter, and can be secured onto a cats kennel for them to scratch at their leisure!

Cat Scratcher #2

Supplies needed:

  • A piece of old carpet
  • Shower rings, binder rings or twine
  • Electric knife or other cutting instrument
  • A Sharpie or permanent marker
  • Scissors (if using twine)
  • A ruler

Not for children. Please proper safety precautions when cutting carpet.

Step 1

Begin by taking your ruler and measuring your carpet piece out into an 8 inch by 6 inch rectangle. It’s easiest to use your sharpie and mark out the rectangle on the back side of the carpet. Depending on the size of your carpet piece, you may be able to get quite a few rectangles out of one piece!

Step 2

Next, using an electric knife or another cutting tool such as a carpet knife cut out your rectangles. Each rectangle will make one kitty scratcher.

Step 3

Once your pieces of carpet are cut out, if using binder rings or shower rings you should be able to punch them through the carpet piece. You can use twine or string as well.
Voila! You’re done! These scratchers can now be brought to the Shelter, and can be secured onto a cats kennel for them to scratch at their leisure!