In the store for animals you can find a large assortment of so-called kogtedralki and scratching. They are presented in the form of pillars or plaques covered with fabric or carpeting, rewound with a rope. Variety, of course, is amazing, but it is better to do a scratching with your own hands. So you will get money saving, yes, besides, you will have a unique thing that will appeal not only to you, but also to your pet, and also will successfully fit into your interior.
Master the scratching.
It's quite easy to make a scratch with your own hands. Do not even have to buy the necessary materials in the store. It will be enough and what is stale in your dacha, balcony or garage. And believe me, the scribe you made will be much cheaper than the purchase.
Materials you will need.
The main detail here will be a bar, a board or a piece of a pipe made of plastic, as well as plywood for deckchairs and shelves. Upholstery can be made of a material such as, for example, carpet.
If you decide to do a scratching, wrapping it with a rope, and not upholstering the material, then you have to go to the building materials store. It is better if you buy a so-called hemp rope, since synthetic will slip, and cotton will quickly become worthless. Hemp is much stronger, yes, besides, the fiber is made from linen, which will be torn out thinner than cotton, and not so noticeable at first glance. So, the thread behind the spool wraps the entire surface of the plastic tube.
If you want to cover the board with a whole cloth, then choose a carpet with a wicker base, not a glue, as on modern floor coverings. Such weaving at the carpets is very comfortable and durable for abrasion and climbing. To hurt such a scratching stick is better from the wrong side of the carpet! Be sure to make sure that the weaving is in the transverse direction of the nails!
Perhaps this is also the case when a simple bar of uncoated wood is placed. You can even decorate your interior in this style, for example, make a tree trunk with your hands, which will be a decor and a lazalka - a scratching pad.
Now determine the size.
The length and diameter will depend on the type of scribe, for example, it will be stationary and attached to the wall or mobile. The mobile scribble will be lower, but the stationary one can be of any height. For a cat it will be more convenient if the scratch is high, as they like to "scratch" the claws, stretching at the same time to the fullest.
So, let's get to work.
First you need to trim our column coated. It is more convenient to cover a board of wood with carpet material, but you should not forget that it should be well stretched. The processed edge should be placed from above, and the cut off - under it.
When wrapping the hemp bar, it is necessary to monitor the quality of the tension. Fasten the turns in 10 or 15 centimeters, using nails or staples. The received column of our mobile scratch should be attached to the base. The base must be heavy to give it stability. A stationary scraping-climbing lap can be attached at a distance from the wall by at least 20 centimeters. At its top we will install a shelf, which can be finished with the same carpet, but with the nap outside.
There is another version of the scratching machine, it is called wall-mounted, because it is fixed on the wall, while using materials such as carpet, tapestry, etc., you can use it. Just do not forget to fix the edges of our scratching posts with racks so that they do not dissolve.
Now we are facing an equally important question.
How to accustom a pet to scratching?
First you need to let the cat know that you can not do this. If you still have a small kitten, it will be easier to teach new rules. But if the cat is an adult, then the situation with re-training will be more difficult, as it will be difficult for her to understand that the conditions have changed.
So, if you find a cat claws in the wrong place, then immediately tell her with a loud voice, but without shouting "You can not!"! And then bring her to the claw. Take the pet by the paws, click on the cushions, in order for the cat to release its claws.
You can also sprinkle a scribble with a tincture of valerian or a special mint for cats, which you can buy at a pet store. But do not forget that in every case, when your pet is coming to a scratching-stone, it should be praised at the same time. It will be easier if you put a scratching stick in those places where the wallpaper is most scratched, and when your cat gets used to it, move to the place that will be suitable for you.
Very like your cat, if you hang a toy to a high claw, so she can enjoy climbing it with pleasure. But here it should be remembered that it is impossible to hang toys on synthetics or fishing line, since a smooth texture is very easily entangled, which can be dangerous for an animal!
It will be good if you house more than one kogtedralka in your house or apartment, and place them in the places where your pet is usually used to tear claws. In this case, she will not have to run anywhere when all the amenities are nearby.
It also happens that cats, using their own scratching, do not forget about other places they know. In this case it is necessary either to block access to this place, or to spoil to it any pleasure from the process of scratching. In the shops for animals you can find so-called scarers, that is special means with a specific flavor. Their action is uninterrupted, but there is also a disadvantage - rapid weathering, so you have to use them often enough. This effect is also available cheap colognes. Also, you can lubricate the surface with lemon juice or essential oil. But it will be more difficult here, since you do not know which means will scare your pet more severely.