Pet Project: Scratching Posts

[Tuur]

Two, to be exact. I gave up piecing the sea grass cord and decided to completely replace the wrapping. After a short search, settled on sisal cord 3/8" (9.5 mm) in diameter. It's supposed to be non-toxic and abrasion resistant. Here I almost messed up...but we'll get to that later.

Though the manufacturer used small width long shank staples and glue to secure the ends of the cord, I chose to use only hot glue. Removed the post from the base, removed the old cord, then removed the raised staples. These were the ones that attached the cord. Secured the end of the new cord to the base and wrapped. Secured at the top with hot glue and trimmed, then reattached.

One of the two cats observed this entire process and seemed to approve.

Set the first scratching post back in its place, then removed the post from the base, removed cord as with the first, secured the new cord with hot glue, and proceeded to wrap. It was here that I discovered a problem. I had ordered 100' (30.5 m) of sisal cord, thinking it would be plenty. But toward the end of the second post, it was clear I was running short. Had enough to finish, though, secured the end with hot glue, trimmed, reattached the post, and set it back in place.

The other cat inspected it, and unlike the other, gave it a thorough testing. I mean sink in the claws and yank. I suspect this is the cat that had been breaking the weak places in the sea grass cord and pulling the repairs free (I used jute twine tied around the two ends in a compression knot).

What I should have done was to measure the diameter and the wrapped portion of the posts and calculated the cord needed. That's (Wrapped Portion / Cord Diameter) X (Post Diameter + Cord Diameter) X Pi. Yes, I know it's a spiral, but this should be close enough. If I ever do this again, I'll calculate how much I need first.

 

[Offline4Better.]

Two, to be exact. I gave up piecing the sea grass cord and decided to completely replace the wrapping. After a short search, settled on sisal cord 3/8" (9.5 mm) in diameter. It's supposed to be non-toxic and abrasion resistant. Here I almost messed up...but we'll get to that later.

Though the manufacturer used small width long shank staples and glue to secure the ends of the cord, I chose to use only hot glue. Removed the post from the base, removed the old cord, then removed the raised staples. These were the ones that attached the cord. Secured the end of the new cord to the base and wrapped. Secured at the top with hot glue and trimmed, then reattached.

One of the two cats observed this entire process and seemed to approve.

Set the first scratching post back in its place, then removed the post from the base, removed cord as with the first, secured the new cord with hot glue, and proceeded to wrap. It was here that I discovered a problem. I had ordered 100' (30.5 m) of sisal cord, thinking it would be plenty. But toward the end of the second post, it was clear I was running short. Had enough to finish, though, secured the end with hot glue, trimmed, reattached the post, and set it back in place.

The other cat inspected it, and unlike the other, gave it a thorough testing. I mean sink in the claws and yank. I suspect this is the cat that had been breaking the weak places in the sea grass cord and pulling the repairs free (I used jute twine tied around the two ends in a compression knot).

What I should have done was to measure the diameter and the wrapped portion of the posts and calculated the cord needed. That's (Wrapped Portion / Cord Diameter) X (Post Diameter + Cord Diameter) X Pi. Yes, I know it's a spiral, but this should be close enough. If I ever do this again, I'll calculate how much I need first.

Can you post the schematics and a picture of the pet post? Other people might want to know the brand.

And yes, your math seems correct. Use 3.14 for pi or even 22/7, as it is easier than using 3.14159265358979.

 

[Tuur]

Can you post the schematics and a picture of the pet post? Other people might want to know the brand.

And yes, your math seems correct. Use 3.14 for pi or even 22/7, as it is easier than using 3.14159265358979.

Can't remember the brand. Both are several years old. They're standard scratching posts: cardboard tubes wrapped with sea grass, purchased from Walmart. The last is listed on Walmart's site as being 20" high. Don't see the first.

Had previously done repairs by piecing sea grass, attaching cords by using jute twine and compression knots. I used a constrictor knot (technically a double constrictor knot - there's a Wikipedia article on how to tie it. Unfortunately, it wasn't always sufficient and sea grass doesn't seem all that abrasion resistant. That's why I rewrapped the entire posts with sisal, but don't know how well this type of cord will hold up.

Cat 1, who I suspect was breaking weakened strands and pulling pieced cords loose, seems to approve. The cat had to show a post to a family member who came by. Cat 2 is like "Cool. Whatever."

 

[Offline4Better.]

Can't remember the brand. Both are several years old. They're standard scratching posts: cardboard tubes wrapped with sea grass, purchased from Walmart. The last is listed on Walmart's site as being 20" high. Don't see the first.

Had previously done repairs by piecing sea grass, attaching cords by using jute twine and compression knots. I used a constrictor knot (technically a double constrictor knot - there's a Wikipedia article on how to tie it. Unfortunately, it wasn't always sufficient and sea grass doesn't seem all that abrasion resistant. That's why I rewrapped the entire posts with sisal, but don't know how well this type of cord will hold up.

Cat 1, who I suspect was breaking weakened strands and pulling pieced cords loose, seems to approve. The cat had to show a post to a family member who came by. Cat 2 is like "Cool. Whatever."

I do not have any pets myself, so I am not sure the durability of sisal. Sometimes, things break down, so it is necessary to regularly maintain the cat scratching structure.