New Cat Scratching Posts
The latest version of cat scratching posts are up for sale on the Handsome Etsy site. There is a floor-to-wall version that includes hardwood floor-like decks, and a wall-mounted version that also acts as a perch for kitty. Both feature a full size sisal wrapped column. These scratching posts are made from reclaimed wood shipping pallets from a local Human Society shelter.
Wall Mounted Scratching Post Progress
I installed the latest design of the wall mounted scratching post today, and I’m quite happy with it (so are the kitties!). This version is made of birch plywood, which I have stained with a dark Danish oil (it looks great as plain unfinished birch or you can stain it in any color that you like). I am toying around with multiple sections of sisal or manila, which allows easy replacement of just one section instead of having to re-wrap the entire post….and I will probably add a small section of Floor tile to the top of the post to help protect if from claw scratches.
Scratching Post and Cube Tree Update
The latest version of the scratching post - both a wall mounted version and a free standing floor version, should be ready to install in our apartment for testing within the next day or so. I finished up all the wood work today in the shop, and coated them in a layer of dark walnut danish oil. Tomorrow I will add the manila (instead of sisal), then bring them up for the kitties to try out.
For my first project these have certainly turned out to be a labor of love, and quite the learning curve. I guess it’s good in a way that I started with something relatively complicated! I am certainly learning a lot already, taking notes to streamline the process for the future.
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I recently came up with another version of the cube tree prototype that I have been toying with - this one included all 3/4” birch ply, the addition of yellow and orange accent panels, an extended base for stability, and the addition of Floor carpet tiles onto the top of three different cubes.
I like where the look of this new version is going, but I am still unhappy with some of the structural issues. This is definitely a case of form fighting function.
I actually have a another idea for a tree that I want to try out, so for now this version will go onto the side burner (as opposed to the back burner). I’ll keep toying and tinkering with this one…but I think it still has a way to go. My other tree idea will combine elements of this cube tower, plus features that I liked about a very early version of a cat tree that I constructed this summer, which allowed for a sort of spiraling staircase for the cats to use in navigating up and down the structure. In fact, that early tree prototype was the very first thing that I worked on in my shop!
