Cat Scratcher Fever
December 19, 2010 5:55 PM Subscribe
Help me hack a cat scratcher?
I have a very well-used corrugated cardboard cat scratcher/lounger. The cats love it, and have scratched it almost to death; i.e., it no longer has the "scratchability" factor they like. I spent a ton of money on it, and it looks really cool. I'd like to repurpose it by covering it with sisal. The basic idea is to use some sort of glue to adhere the sisal to the worn cardboard. Given that the cats can be quite aggressive with their scratching, it needs to be a really strong bond. So ... what kind of adhesive should I use so I don't totally ruin what could be a cool diy? If you have any experience with something like this, I'd love to hear it.
sorry, no kitty pics, but don't let that stop you from linking to pics of your own.
I have a very well-used corrugated cardboard cat scratcher/lounger. The cats love it, and have scratched it almost to death; i.e., it no longer has the "scratchability" factor they like. I spent a ton of money on it, and it looks really cool. I'd like to repurpose it by covering it with sisal. The basic idea is to use some sort of glue to adhere the sisal to the worn cardboard. Given that the cats can be quite aggressive with their scratching, it needs to be a really strong bond. So ... what kind of adhesive should I use so I don't totally ruin what could be a cool diy? If you have any experience with something like this, I'd love to hear it.
sorry, no kitty pics, but don't let that stop you from linking to pics of your own.
Sisal matting? Contact cement, although anything really will pretty much be strong enough as the underlying cardboard will be the weak point. Follow the instructions (i.e. coat both surfaces, wait until tack-dry, then stick them together). Though it'll be best if you can a) remove the old cardboard, and b) staple it down as unobtrusively as possible at the ends of the matting and in the concavities.
posted by Pinback at 6:47 PM on December 19, 2010
posted by Pinback at 6:47 PM on December 19, 2010
My current favorite general-purpose-fix-everything glue is deck adhesive. Something like Loctite PL400 or equivalent. It sets in the cold and wet, maintains a bit of flexibility after it hardens, and should be stronger than either the sisal or cardboard.
In my experience, it bonds much better than "shoe glue" type waterproof adhesives, and is much more weather/water-resistant (and easier to work with) than 2-stage epoxy. You can get a tube at your local home improvement store for less than $5 that will be enough for your whole project.
The tricky part is securing the sisal to the cardboard while the glue sets. You didn't specify if you are using sisal rope or re-purposing a woven sisal mat, or something else. If it's rope, then you just need to wrap the rope perpendicular to the grain of the cardboard, and tie it tightly until the glue sets. If it is a weave then you'll need to secure it with rope, string or (duct/gaffer's) tape - wrapped perpendicular to the cardboard - until it sets.
posted by Anoplura at 12:04 AM on December 20, 2010
In my experience, it bonds much better than "shoe glue" type waterproof adhesives, and is much more weather/water-resistant (and easier to work with) than 2-stage epoxy. You can get a tube at your local home improvement store for less than $5 that will be enough for your whole project.
The tricky part is securing the sisal to the cardboard while the glue sets. You didn't specify if you are using sisal rope or re-purposing a woven sisal mat, or something else. If it's rope, then you just need to wrap the rope perpendicular to the grain of the cardboard, and tie it tightly until the glue sets. If it is a weave then you'll need to secure it with rope, string or (duct/gaffer's) tape - wrapped perpendicular to the cardboard - until it sets.
posted by Anoplura at 12:04 AM on December 20, 2010
I have an alternative idea, if you want to try to restore the original look. Assuming that only the outer surface of the cardboard is scratched, you may be able to trim about 1/2 inch or so off in order to refresh it and have that nice corrugated grain again. You could cut the entire thing lengthwise into four slices, making it possible to trim off the 1/2 inch around the edge of each slice (either with a jigsaw or serrated kitchen knife), then just glue the slices back into one piece again. I think it would work!
posted by orme at 1:00 AM on December 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by orme at 1:00 AM on December 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions, most of which I'd not thought about.
I have 1/4" sisal rope that I plan to use for the wrapping/gluing, and it never even occurred to me to try to do it ... crossgrain? (perpendicular) ... which would almost certainly be easier and perhaps much stronger. I also hadn't seriously considered trying to "refresh" the cardboard, but I might take (1) an old rectangular scratcher that's on its way out & (2) my trusty ginsu knife, and try slicing off the scratched part to see if i can get down to the good stuff. I suppose I can also try the glue/wrap with some of those smaller pieces, too.
Thanks for the ideas!
posted by msconduct at 3:27 AM on December 20, 2010
I have 1/4" sisal rope that I plan to use for the wrapping/gluing, and it never even occurred to me to try to do it ... crossgrain? (perpendicular) ... which would almost certainly be easier and perhaps much stronger. I also hadn't seriously considered trying to "refresh" the cardboard, but I might take (1) an old rectangular scratcher that's on its way out & (2) my trusty ginsu knife, and try slicing off the scratched part to see if i can get down to the good stuff. I suppose I can also try the glue/wrap with some of those smaller pieces, too.
Thanks for the ideas!
posted by msconduct at 3:27 AM on December 20, 2010
You can also make a new scratchy thing yourself- it's pretty easy. I made one for my cats a while back (mine was simple, but you could make a cool one!
Just get boxes from the grocery store, cut the same shape a bunch of times, and stack them, with the nicest pieces of cardboard on the outside edges where they'll be visible.
Glue the layers together with nontoxic glue, making sure to keep the glue away from the edges so even as the cats scratch away some of the depth from the edges, they're not encountering the glue. Or drill matching holes through your shapes and tie or screw them all together to avoid glue completely.
Or cut long strips and roll them into a big disc.
Photos of various DiYs here.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 3:54 PM on December 20, 2010
Just get boxes from the grocery store, cut the same shape a bunch of times, and stack them, with the nicest pieces of cardboard on the outside edges where they'll be visible.
Glue the layers together with nontoxic glue, making sure to keep the glue away from the edges so even as the cats scratch away some of the depth from the edges, they're not encountering the glue. Or drill matching holes through your shapes and tie or screw them all together to avoid glue completely.
Or cut long strips and roll them into a big disc.
Photos of various DiYs here.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 3:54 PM on December 20, 2010
My cat has been using - for about ten years - a structure I made from a six-foot 2x4, a few pieces of 1x6 plank, and 200 feet of 3/8" hemp rope. Just wrap the rope - yes, all of it - around the 2x4, secure it by means of knots, and attach the 2x4 to a base made of the plank. It takes a cat about ten years to seriously fur out the rope, in which case you invert the lot or replace the rope.
Remember, cats are weird, and something you make for their pleasure may be ignored. I was lucky.
posted by jet_silver at 8:49 PM on December 20, 2010
Remember, cats are weird, and something you make for their pleasure may be ignored. I was lucky.
posted by jet_silver at 8:49 PM on December 20, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by drdanger at 6:39 PM on December 19, 2010