Knowing how to fix a cat scratching post is vital when it comes to keeping your loveable kitty happy… especially if you don’t want them turning to your furniture as they start looking for something else to sink their sharp claws into!
When searching for the best cat scratching posts for your feline, you have to accept the inevitable that after a couple of years (or even a few months depending on how frequently it is used and by how many cute little paws) it will wear down and become less effective.
A worn down or broken cat scratching post is neither beneficial for your felines to continue using or, quite frankly, nice for you to look at.
When you notice that your cat’s scratching post is in a bit of a state, your first thought may be to throw the whole thing away since it’s broken. After all, why do cats need a scratching post? (We know, that’s a silly question… the answer is obvious!)
Once broken, you might even consider forking out for a brand new one. However, we’re pleased to tell you that that’s not at all necessary.
With some of the simplest of steps and the most basic of materials, you can easily make your cat scratching post as good as new!
Wrapped with rope
Many of the cat scratching posts that are available on the market these days use rope as the main scratching material. Once this has started to fray and the wooden block underneath starts to appear, you know that it’s time to replace it.
Firstly, you need to remove the old rope from the post. The best and safest way to do this is with a utility knife but be sure to wear protective gloves that will keep your fingers safe from sharp edges and potential rope burn.
Use the knife to cut a section of the rope – ideally towards one of the post’s ends – so that you can begin unravelling it from the wooden stand. If only the top half of the cat scratching post’s rope has been destroyed, you can stop unravelling halfway down and just replace the top half.
Of course, if the majority of it has been ravaged beyond repair, then it’ll make more sense to replace the entire thing and make it just like new.
Once all of the old rope has been removed, you can start wrapping the new rope around the wooden post ensuring that you keep it as tight as possible. Any loose rope will be pulled off by your kitty with very minimal effort.
Every few rotations or so, add a dab of hot glue to ensure that it is fastened as securely as possible. When you reach the top, cut off any excess rope and stick down the end.
And voila! One rope-wrapped cat scratching post as good as new!
But what if it’s not rope...
Covered in carpet
If your cat’s scratching post doesn’t have rope wrapped around it, then it’s more than likely covered in a piece of carpet instead. You know, the rough, perfect for scratching kind! Over time, it will start to look rather threadbare and lose its appeal, so it’s important to get it replaced sooner rather than later.
Using a utility knife (not forgetting the protective gloves!), try to cut away the carpet in one clean piece. This will come in handy when you have to measure out the new piece of carpet.
Once the carpet has been taken off completely, remove any staples that are still stuck in the wooden post using a flathead screwdriver to loosen them and a pair of pliers to easily grip and pull them out.
Place the old piece of carpet on top of the new and cut around it, making the new piece as close as possible in size. Wrap the new piece of carpet around your existing wooden post and, using a staple gun, insert a staple along the seam and the top and bottom edges a few inches apart.
Once the carpet is securely fixed to the post, and there is no visible way for your favorite felines to pull out any of the stables, pop it back in your cat’s favorite spot and watch them enjoy their brand new play thing!
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