Conference misery::feline_v1

    This may not apply to E.T. because she likes to stretch but I 
    found it has stopped my cats from using my couch and I wish I
    had stumbled upon it sooner. I had purchased a carpet square
    from Woolworth's and had tacked it onto a wall. This had worked 
    for my previous cats who had since died. They loved
    using it more so than the scratching post and they NEVER touched
    the furniture. 
    
    But my new cats started using my couch and one end was a mess. One 
    started on the couch and the rest followed suit.
    
    Then I decided to re-arrange my room and pulled off the carpet square, 
    throwing it on the floor upside down so that the backside - which 
    is that woven twine [broadloom ?] backing, not foam backing - and they 
    all started using that. So I just left it in a corner of my bedroom
    and they seem to prefer that to my couch. Such a simple solution
    - maybe it will help someone else so I thought I'd pass it along.  
    
                             
    
    

    I made our scratching post.  I bought a wooden fence post at the
    hardware store, a 2 foot square of wood for the base, a small piece
    of carpet at Rich's Department store, and with some glue and nails
    made a larger, sturdier post than I've ever seen in a store.  We
    bought one in the store, and not only was it too short, it broke
    after only a few months.  The only problem was I had to replace
    the carpet occasionally as it wore out.  I've since covered it it
    sissle rope, which they like better.  Mine doesn't look as finished
    as a store bought one, but it works better, and I know they can't
    tip it over.  If you try this, make sure you don't use staples,
    because they can come out and the cats can get hurt.  Use good
    sturdy, long nails, that have no chance of being pulled out.
    
    If anyone wants to make their own, I'd be happy to give more hints
    on how to do it.
    
    Another possibility, which I've occasionally seen, is a ceiling
    high post.  I've considered buying one, but haven't figured out
    where I'd put it.
    
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    re:0
    
    If you live anywhere near the Derry NH area, Blue Seal has
    some excellent posts - tall enough for my long drinks of
    water !!  and they have very broad bases.  The run about
    $18.00 - I have 3 of them and the cats use them all the
    time.
    
    I'm not sure if all Blue Seal Feed & Needs stores carry
    them - my friend works at the store in Derry and she is
    in charge of the Pet Dept and does the ordering for their
    store - of course, she has 15 cats, so she makes sure that
    that store has all one would ever need for cats & dogs!!
    
    E.T.

    When I first got Gus and Pip, I considered getting on of those floor
    to ceiling poles I saw in the pet stores. Instead, I opted to send
    away to Abeta Pet Supply for a Deluxe Kitty Playground II. It set
    me back a few more dollars than the one in the pet store, but this
    one has really held up (6 years, and 2 to 7 cats, and the carpet
    is just now showing signs of wear.) It is big, heavy and sturdy and
    my monkeys just love it.
    
    Deb

    re. 2    My guy loves the sisel rope that happens to be on a plant
    stand I have.  Needless to say, I can't keep a plant in the stand.
    I have looked at sisel rope scratching posts in the store and REFUSE
    to pay the price.  Do you know where I would purchase this kind
    of rope?  I would like to make him a scratching post with this rope
    on it, since I know it would make him sooooo happy.  He uses his
    carpeted post and my fake wicker hamper.  Fortunately, he hasn't
    thought of the furniture.  But one never knows when the light will
    dawn!!  Also, what hardware store did you get the fence post at
    and how big is it?
    
    thanks for the info.
    
    karen
    

    re: .5
    
    Any hardware store or lumber yard should be able to sell you a 
    wooden fence post.  I think it was 6 or 8 feet long.  It's about
    5 or 6 inches around, maybe.  It's the standard fence post you'd
    see for a stockade type fence.  I believe I got mine at Maki's
    in Fitchburg.  I took it home and cut it in 2 or 3 pieces.  Then 
    I had enough posts for several of them.  
    
    Sissle rope should be available in any hardware store at all.  It's
    very common rope.  It takes a lot though, to cover a scratching
    post.  We bought 50 feet of rope, and it only covered about a foot
    of the post.  So buy lots.  We settled for leaving the carpet on
    it and just wrapping the rope around the top foot.

    If you can't find this stuff, and you live in the New England area,
    I'll try to remember the exact stores I found them in.
    
    Hope this helps,
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    I really appreciate all your notes.  I have a question as to how
    to keep the sisal rope on the post.  What kind of adhesive do you
    use?
    
    

    re: .7
    
    >>  I have a question as to how to keep the sisal rope on the 
    >>  post.  What kind of adhesive do you use?                  
     
    We didn't use any adhesive at all.  You can either use a long 
    nail (one that won't come out) on either end, or you can start
    with the rope vertically, so you're wrapping over it, does that
    make any sense?  Then tuck the bottom end in under the bottom
    row.  The nails are probably easiest.
    
    Also, if you have trouble finding a fence post, and don't mind
    square edges, you could just use a 4" by 4" piece of lumber, or
    even two 2" by 4" pieces, nailed together for the post.
    
    Good luck,
    Karen.

    If you happen to get Cat Fancy magazine, they had an article in
    there about a year ago called "how to make a sisal scratching post"
    and it told everything you would ever want to know.  Cat Fancy puts
    out a directory issue every year in June or July.  If I can find
    it, I will point you to the right issue.
    
    I have one sisal post and three carpet ones.  The cats really like
    the sisal one for scratching.  They use the other three for climbing
    on a sleeping on.
    
    JO