How to Make a Cat Scratcher for FREE!!

How to make a cat scratching post using recycled materials you most likely have laying around your house. For FREE!!
I dunno about you but I just don't like the thought of spending $10-15 for some cardboard and the way MrMan goes through these, I had to start making my own. I'm 'thrifty' (read: cheap) like that.
What you'll need:
cardboard
box cutter
glue
ruler
tape
hole punch (only if you want to hang it)
twine, rope, yarn, string, etc (again, only if you want to hang it)
and of course, catnip.
I tried recording MrMan using this thing but every time I get the camera out, he stops scratching at it. Go figure. Cats...
Music is 'Gently' by Dan O'Connor (danosongs.com).

[@flett044]

To all you people that said it was mean of him to declaw the cat, maybe he adopted it like that, or it had a medical issue with its claws and it needed to be done just saying

[@Katya2U]

Exactly!!! I've seen few cats for adoption that were already declawed. Awful, awful thing to do, but that doesn't mean THIS guy did it to that poor kitty

[@sharifaa.8887]

Considering that his other cat is not declawed, I feel safe to assume he didn't have Bianca declawed, or if he did, that he learned better after that.

[@LyraPyxisVT]

True, I hate the idea of it tho cause I read it can make them depressed which is why I refuse to declaw my cat unless I have to for medical reasons

[@mikeg1433]

I’ve had two cats declawed (technically only one was my decision as the other was the family cat, growing up) and they both had happy long lives, oblivious to their missing claws as far as I could tell. The only indication that they might have known is the fact that they developed the “cling and shred” technique, bear hugging with front paws then kicking with their back claws whenever a poor human made the mistake of thinking they wanted a belly rub lol. Of course, their paws were tender and swollen for about 4 days after the procedure and I was instructed to use paper shreds instead of litter along with giving them their pain meds during that time. Both cats handled the recovery very well and their meds clearly helped manage the pain until they were fully healed and back to their normal selves again. I’m not going to be so ignorant to say that they didn’t feel pain and there’s the possibility of infection and all the other risks that go along with surgery so it’s not something to take lightly and I understand why declawing isn’t acceptable to many. I currently own a cat and, no I’ll never declaw him or any other cat again but I don’t think someone is evil for having it done, assuming they’ve exhausted all other options. A lot of cats are given up because they swiped at a child or tend to play too aggressively so, if declawing is what keeps them in a home, I think it’s totally reasonable.

[@rmora1]

@@mikeg1433 I think it's totally reasonable that you should be declawed before you do it to your cats.

[@jamierakow3590]

Great job! Now I have to go get some boxes. Your cat is beautiful! I'm sorry that people were leaving you bad comments. I am thankful for people like you that take in abused animals and give them a better life. She looked very happy and healthy to me.

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

I would worry more about the coloring and dyes on cat toys, the scent in kitty litter, the Stainmaster chemicals on the carpet, the chemicals in fabric softener and detergent you wash your bedding in that the cats sleeps on and spend so much of their time touching as being more toxic than the dry non toxic glue this is held together with that kids eat.

[@sweatytoe4057]

Crouton Crackerjacks you couldn’t be more right about this

[@sweatytoe4057]

Hassan Din 2 days ago, like my comment

[@georgiapeach7291]

Thank you so very much for taking the time to show us how to make this. This is amazing and easy to make. I would have never thought of it. Save money and make our kitty's happy. 🥰 Thank you so very much!😸😻🐾

[@realmsunreal]

Coming from someone who volunteers in a cat shelter, constantly end up with my throat and nose itching and eyes burning bc of all that damn chemically litter, can't imagine how much worse it is for the cats

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

Thanks. It looks more tedious than it actually is. I can do them start to finish in about 20 minutes which at $10 a piece, is $30/hour. I can't get a job that pays that much so for me, it's economical.

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

Everyone thinks I'm nuts for calling him that too. It suits him and his personality perfectly, he answers to that name and I like it and that's all that matters!

[@darcym1948]

Guys - he clearly didn't get the cat declawed himself - this is a how to build a cat scratcher video.....

[@terryjackson6047]

1

[@kathleenmania-casey6005]

Thank you! Every time I buy these I think, "I could make these" I have lots of cardboard. If it was just one I needed and it's $10 that would be different. However, I purchase 2 at a time on a regular basis and it seems like such a waste of money when I can make them myself for free and a little time. Okay, I'm going to give it a go thanks so much!

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

That's the unpredictability of cats! One of mine clawed at his for awhile and then decided the wood trim of the door it was hanging from was better suited to scratching.

[@bonkeybaby]

I love when he says "He is asleep right now or else he'd be here."

[@KnownDiana]

I can't believe you saved this cat... Gave her everything she wants and DESERVES. God bless you.

[@Mtda1sy]

Thank You! Every time I buy one of those at the store it bugs me because I knew there was a way to make one. I am always re/precycling cardboard. Now I know how. Our Ragamuffins will love this! p.s. I love the name Mr. Man. That is a phrase I say often when I am harassing the hubby! MR MAN! Love the kitty at the end. She is gorgeous! We have Coco and Sully.

[@MrsD7777]

+Colleen Heinsohn LOL!!!@Ragamuffins! Kitty names are so cute! I just adopted a shelter kitty & we named her Ms Pearl!

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

Thanks. Anywhere they like to scratch that you don't want them to, put up pieces of aluminum foil and they won't touch it. I've had to do that plenty of times and eventually they get the hint. Also, adding catnip to the scratchers helps to attract them to them. Unless of course your cat is a freak like mine and catnip doesn't even phase her, LOL!!

[@mikesangelonly1]

I love how Mr.Man couldn't be disturbed for filming lol, I made a cat scratcher post with a big cardboard tube and some of those carpet samples you get for like 50 cents from the carpet store, but he loves cardboard too, so think I will make him one like this too, hanging it up is a great idea!

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

MrMan can never be bothered, LOL!!

[@startapetblog7102]

Crouton Crackerjacks - A cardboard scratcher. Cool Idea. Thank you. Gets my like. Purrfect and simple alternative for those who are even thinking of declawing. Great video and much respect and kudos for rescuing Bianca. She’s cute. Readers, please don’t declaw your cat. Get yourself some cardboard and a bit of twine and boom. Happy cat.

[@kathygunderson2204]

I purchase cat scratchers frequently. At the store the cardboard units are made much looser than they used to be. I will save a lot of money throughout the years THANK YOU!!!!!!

[@annatria2130]

Bianca's wonderful! Beautifully made scratcher too!

[@journeytohealth1979]

To save yourself the work of punching holes, You could just put the string through the side of the trays and lay it behind the strips, securing it with tape so it doesn't pull tight and push strips out. You could tie string around the strips or use tape to secure like you did at the bottom. Or just hole punch at top of tray and string it up that way. It just seems like a lot of work that could be forfeited with a bit of a design shift.

[@nhgiftbaskets]

Thank you so much for this video. I have a ton of boxes and knew there had to be a way to make these things! So easy to follow. thank you.

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

I think people also fail to realize I have two cats. One who is declawed and another who is not. This was for the one who has claws and scratches at everything.

[@MaggieCrooks]

Applause! I have done a cardboard cat scratcher before, but never thought of punching holes and hanging one. One of my cats has taken to sharpening her claws on my bed. The other has given up on scratching completely (she's 13 and not feeling very well).I also used catnip. Thanks for some great suggestions.

[@JournalWatch359]

Thank you! I bought a scratcher to replace, and wondered whether I can make it. I will definitely give a go! XD

[@lenidubelinc000]

Thank you for making this video, I go through one of these cardboard cat scratchers every 2 months.

[@mikeg1433]

You’re lucky lol. I’m lucky to get a month with my mini saber-tooth.

[@mariaschafermusic]

Fantastic teacher and instruction. Thank you so much!!

[@Lillianbini]

This is such a great idea, thank you for showing how to do it! I will go and make one right now.

[@ToniGuerrero]

This is fantastic. I love that it's two sided, and ideal for large claws. Also, mounted on a door allows them to stretch to scratch - bonus! You're obviously a major cat lover, because you didn't wake MrMan for his photoshot. You da man! Approval from all the cats in my home. LOL

[@lynettepavelich7540]

What a great idea! Duh, why buy the scratching boards when they’re so easy to make! Thx so much!❤️

[@Ereshkigal234]

I have no idea why i haven't found this prior to this.. but man this is awesome. Thank you for the video how to!

[@jawashasalan56]

Smart to do it that way, i was thinking about how to do it without gluing all those cardboards onto each other, and there you have it simple but perfect thanks mate

[@desmondehoppie4758]

Nicely Done. Thank You for taking the time to make this video

[@ccsgirl12]

I had some boxes laying around and had this idea! Thanks!

[@lizziebordello]

This is really clever. Thanks for sharing! I'm going to make one today. :)

[@pattygioffre2366]

Great tutorial. Thanks for posting.

[@daynahoffman150]

I love this awsome idea, i would have never thought of it, im about to move so i can use to boxes at our new house to do this THANKS :)

[@truthhurtz2793]

Your cat is GORGEOUS !!!

[@sleepinglioness5754]

Great video. I have discovered that catnip can, for some cats, cause seizures (mine, in particular). I hesitated buying another one of these scratch posts in case they had any trace of catnip, but now I'll make one and know it is clean. Thanks for the instructions and good for you for rescuing your now little girl. I found my girl on the street with little or no hair, welts all over her and skinnnny. She's big, beautiful and safe now.

[@MrRoseblack]

thank u very much! I really needed this!! :D awesome DIY

[@SB-gi7ww]

appreciate your work

[@TheHecklectic]

Thanks! They can be a mess but better to sweep than ruin the arm of a chair! One could make one for the floor too. Just make the frame wider and large enough for a full-grown cat to stand on and weight it down. Load it the same way, just don't make the holes. :)

[@EMIWMOSWebMagic]

Genius !.I can use all my unused boxes. Thanks ! :D

[@amelialitke6785]

Thanks! This worked well!

[@cocoa261]

thank you for this! I just got my own first cat a week ago and bought a couple from the store and I was thinking they look like a bunch of cardboard boxes glued together, and I was right!!! Soon I am going to make several of these. I do not understand how one of these are like, $4 at walmart!!!

[@teejaygutierrez3922]

this is very nice, I love this

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

I'm sure a drill would work on low speed as long as it was in a vise to hold it securely. By all means though, you don't have to put holes in it. I do just cuz I like it to hang on the door. Keeps it out of the way and so I don't step on it when I walk through here in the dark, LOL!!

[@Himaniiibiebsy]

Haha was looking for cat diys and found your old video! Lol This is so cool I'm used to food videos

[@MrsN1ntndo]

Very aweaome. Thank you for the suggestion

[@karenamiger8027]

Love your idea

[@dee62383]

This is such a creative idea! =)

[@aspenriverrun]

Great idea and Bianca is a beauty!

[@ThePratikp]

Thanks. Great Idea.

[@-tunatuniz_]

Thank you for making this video!✌❤

[@dlg1776]

Thank you for the good information. I too have a declawed cat which I found wandering outside. No micro chip, no one reported lost, so I had to take her in because it is to dangerous outside. She doesnt like other cats so a tall cat playpen cage works well. Funny, she loves dogs though.

[@Nur100etc]

Great homemade scratcher. Any suggestions for weighting the box so it perhaps sits more snugly on the floor? And any suggestions for how to keep the scratcher from swinging when hung up? Or do cats like it that way? It seems to me it might be more effective if more secured when hung. Thanks! Great job, may try it myself one day.

[@ddAdmire]

i use the carpet samples from home depot . just get one with a natural weave on the back. i attach mine to the bathroom door with velcro carpet side down. they love the sisal backing, and it last for a long time. plus their free.

[@jcrefasi1]

Very clever!! I could do this but the hole punching would be hard for me to do ( no strength left in my hands) Maybe my drill would work on cardboard. I have an electric and also an "egg beater" style hand crank drill I could try. I'm with you the price is outrageous! Bianca is beautiful !

[@MeatCloud]

Great Vids mate... thanks for posting.

[@laneyjenkins2392]

This was super easy, free and BIANCA IS A STAR WITH THAT WITTLE FACE :D

[@nikeda83]

Thank you for this. Been meaning to make one with all the boxes I have but I’m worried he might cut into his carpet tho 😅

[@Tricorvus]

GREAT idea

[@gill4liife]

Thanks this is awesome!!!

[@DonaldClossonOsedax]

great video. I have 3 cats and this will save me a lot of money.

[@karenlastname1442]

Greetings Jason, and thank you for sharing your videos. You are so versatile! Glad I happened on your station. I don't want to embarrass you, but you have a very manly -- and oh... so soothing voice. Do you sing?! The clincher for me is that you are a cat man!! :-) Again, thank you for sharing and Happy Holidays!

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

Well thank you Karen! I don't sing. Can't carry a tune to save my life, LOL!! And I'm actually more partial to dogs (have a Doberman) but cats kind of find their way into my life, LOL!!

[@karenlastname1442]

Have a wonderful C'mas and thanks for your great vids! BTW, that PB Pie filling is to die for. Will slice it tonight! Thank u.

[@handcraftedbymelissa]

This is way cool! My cat Jasper would tear it up! Very clever!

[@mmeanabarbosa]

The best DIY I saw. Than

[@burplecow]

Nice job, Never thought of anything like this, My girl went months with scratching the carpet on the stairway, luckily its just a runner of carpet thats easy to replace. But still! Ended up buying an expensive cat post for her to scratch on

[@ph3657]

I love your channel. Who ARE YOU? lol it's like you can do everything!! 😁 Thanks. I have a cat that is a pain in the butt. Will try this. 🙀😸

[@julialinnettemartinezvazqu1556]

it's simply cool

[@fantasyreflection]

Exc. idea and video. I used a piece of chipboard and rubbed a little catnip into the rougher side and it works well.

[@alexdabalex]

Thanks for this tut. My two cats mauled the heck out of the sisal post they had and resorted to my poor sofa.

[@chloeandrews6285]

soooo going to make this!!! thanks so much for makeing this video, My cat samy and ollie will like this

[@yotagerlie]

I am going to try using some poster tack stickies because they are removable, instead of the extra twine on bottom :) Letcha know how it works thank you for this post :)

[@Partypoopering]

Great idea,thanks ;)

[@homson2000]

Yeah cool idea, I will try this one tonight for my little girl.

[@LoveGuruBlaire]

Love this, thank you! Any suggestions if you don't have a hole puncher? I gotta think about this one. I like the idea of it hanging on a door

[@croutoncrackerjacks]

You can use a drill after it's finished or just use a pencil or nail and shove it through each piece as you assemble.

[@LoveGuruBlaire]

croutoncrackerjacks Thanks! The drill is fantastic! I have one of those.. didn't even think of it. I made this yesterday and my little kitty LOVES it. Thanks!

[@hellokitty_lover1613]

you can use some sharp scissors and pull the tring threw it

[@silverscreamgrl]

This is BRILLIANT! Honi won't get near the cheap cardboard stuff. Oh no, she only likes the carpeted wave. She has demolished two of them.

[@orouriel]

Whee, is that a Dobermann showing up at 5:50? :D Thanks for the video, makes things very clear and looks like an easy DIY cat scratcher.

[@chrispatterson3928]

I like it thanks bud

[@NormaDailerian]

This will help to replace the scratched warned out one the tower thanks. for sharing :)

[@loveu2beatles1]

I have 2 cats which I "saved" one is Precious who has almost no tail (that's her bred) and her owner didn't want her and when I got she had worms, a tick in her head and was so skinny...my other one was a kitten and had to have one of eyes removed her name is Selina and to me is anyone needs a cat they should get the rescue ones they needs homes too..thanks for a great video I had paying for items which can be made diy

[@christopherwong1496]

First - Respect for DIY and your creativity. I do have to wonder, though. How long did it take you to make this thing? If you can get something for 10 bucks that works just well, is it really worth the time. The cutting out of the individual strips looks pretty tedious.

[@kittydragon666]

Just to let people know there are times when you get a cat a shelter or a Foster care theybmaybe declawed. I for one do not believe in declawing because they can not defend themselves but I know people who have. This guy here may have gotten this cat from somewhere who already declawed it I would not judge him on that.

[@dmand2353]

thanks i did this today with a large box and i took me around 3 hours hopefully my cats like it

[@spotek275]

i dont even have a cat -_-

[@DogPooOnYourNewShoe]

Time to adopt one! 🐈

[@Practice_Kindness-1st]

lol

[@Loveofsign]

Thanks for the video! I'm going to make a scratch board for my cat.. she was sick, and now that she's feeling better she's been attacking the carpet. Need to get glue though.. I have a 5 yr old son and no glue in the house.. I'm not sure how this happened. HA! Tomorrows project :)

[@Practice_Kindness-1st]

@ 5:57 I think your dog just asked if that was going to be for him...Great (easy) video! Thanks!

[@jokashii2156]

this is helpful thanks

[@ketigiguashvili3625]

Such kind of humans must be left without any nails on hand and feet!!!

[@swisstripz]

i think drilling instead of hole punching would save a lot off time. and run tape along the outside of the entire cardboard insert instead of gluing every strip together. these will save you much time. also use a piece of wood like 2x4 to cut along :)

[@edenbainbridge]

neat. i am too lazy to do this though your cat is so cute! xoexo

[@Briehaze]

i cant believe your cats name is Mr.Man, thats my kittens name and everyone thought i was nuts for calling him that, now im happy another person named their cat Mr.Man :)

[@MsParaLess]

Thank you!

[@ImjustKelly73]

OMG! We have a cat named Mister and we call him Mr. Man. lol Great idea and great video. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea!

[@c.d.w292]

I love this. Why did I not think of using a pre-made box as a base, omgduhhh! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

[@artx7501]

thank you. that is cool. a DIY cat scratcher.

[@harrispinkham]

You’re ambidextrous!!

[@budharvesting]

Nice job. I go thru 1 scratch box a month and Im tired of paying 10-11 bucks for them. As long as our cat has a scratch box he wont mess with the carpets or furniture.

[@zalo_tuandriverga]

genius

[@DanielLopez-qd3ut]

At 5:50, the dog :"is it ready??? I REALLY need to pee on that nice thing you did... Can't wait to "baptize it"...."

[@haroldivie1100]

This was hilarious..hahahahahaha... Ahhh... thx, I needed that. I thought I needed to watch somebody who'd built one before... but this guy... geez louise.. Okay, got it..thx :-)

[@ClassyGeek]

Weirdly fascinated since he is cutting these on CARPET!

[@amakiss3]

Oh thank you for the video I just bought one in Kroger for $12 to donate at a shelter.