Posts tagged "cat scratcher"

Cats might be a little mysterious from time to time, but there's one thing we know they love -- a place of their own to scratch and stretch and sleep. And we love when that special place also looks cool, since it's generally somewhere in the middle of our space.

Imperial Cat Scratch 'n Shapes scratchers are interesting to look at, coming in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Composed entirely of recycled materials, they're ecofriendly and they even come with a baggie of organic catnip.

And this week, one lucky Paw Nation reader will win the Vogue Imperial Cat Scratcher for his or her feline friend -- as you can see in the picture, this is a fun 2-in-1 nesting scratcher!

To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us about the strangest place your cat likes to curl up.

The comment must be left before 5 p.m. ET on Friday, December 17, 2010.

You may enter only once.

One winner will be selected in a random drawing.

One winner will receive an Imperial Cat Vogue Scratcher (valued at $48.95).

Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete official rules. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so be sure to provide a valid address.

While you might want to make something like a cat tree when you've got an afternoon to kill and an overactive kitty at home, constructing a cat scratcher -- just a simple, upholstered post, instead of a whole series of steps and levels -- can quickly solve the problem of clawed-up furniture. Here's the simplest way to build your own cat scratcher.

- Your post should be tall enough so that the cat has to reach the length of its body to touch the top (depending on the cat, maybe three to four feet).

- Use a square-shaped post instead of a round one -- it'll be much easier to attach the carpet. You can have wood cut at a home-improvement store or perhaps find some at a furniture recycling location.

- Use hammer and nails to affix a properly sized carpet sample to your square post, but for now, leave a few inches of wood bare at the top of the post.

- Do the same for your flat, rectangular wooden base, which can even be made out of an old cabinet door, if you don't want to purchase the wood.

- Now upholster that bare section at the top of the post in a colorful, contrasting fabric. It doesn't have to be carpet; any old cloth will do. This will help attract your cat to the post. Some people also glue or nail a little cat toy on top.

- To secure the post to the base, first cut a small hole, an inch or two wide, into the base's carpet covering. Inside that now bare section of wood, use a power drill to make four holes. Center the bottom of the post to this hole and use those four holes to screw the post to the base.