Cats are meticulous groomers. However, that does not mean that your cat does not experience things like itching. The main culprits are the fleas and ticks. While some are seen, there are those that are unseen but cause itching nonetheless. Being the meticulous groomer that they are, cats will most often take every last one of those pests simply by scratching and licking.
As cat owners you have probably seen you cat scratching against various surfaces. What you really need to do is create some good areas for them to scratch so that the fur is not spread all across the place. Making a self-scratcher for your dear feline friend is the perfect thing to do. And, it is easy to create one. Here’s what you need and how to make a self-scratcher for your cat.
Items needed:
- 2 Brushes
- 2 Hinges
- Screws
- Screw driver
- Hammer
- Double sided tape
How to make a self-scratcher for your cat at home
- Step 1 – Take the two brushes and mark the position of the screws on the brushes using the marker. The hinges will be attached such that the back side of the brushes (the plain surface side) close on top of each other just like the insides of a book. (Check the video below for better clarification).
- Step 2 – Gently hammer the screws into the brushes with the hinges in place and then use the screw driver to drive the screws in. The hinges should be tightly attached to the brushes.
- Step 3 – Now cut small pieces of the double sided tape such that the pieces fit the width of the brushes.
- Step 4 – Paste the double sided tape on the smooth surface of the brushes.
- Step 5 – Locate the best and most favorite places where your cat loves to scratch (it is generally the legs of some furniture like the table).
- Step 6 – Now peel off the protection from the other side of the tape attached to the brushes and use the sticky side to attach the brushes to the furniture. Make sure that the brushes are firmly attached to the furniture and will not come off.
- Step 7 – Let your cat locate the new scratching area and try it out. Your cat is going to love it. Once familiar, you will not have to worry about your beloved cat scratching and leaving fur bits all over the place.
Things you need to consider:
While having a designated place for your cat is a good idea, there are some important things that you need to keep in mind.
First of all, while preparing the self-scratcher for your cat, choose a brush that is moderately hard. If you select something too rough, your cat will get injuries and there might be rash or worse type of skin infection. Also, do not choose something extremely soft as that will beat the purpose of making the scratcher in the first place. Just choose something that is not too harsh on the skin and is neither having any negative effect (such as using plastic material that may cause infection).
You also need to keep in mind that scratching is probably sign of tick or flea infestation. It is better to get your cat checked from the vet if there is excessive scratching. You will also find many flea and tick collars available for cats.
We all love our pets. It is important that we look at these fine things that might suggest that they are in some discomfort. After all, getting a check up on time can save a lot of trouble.