DIY toy guide
Sisal-Wrapped PVC Pipe Scratching Post
A length of plastic drainpipe wrapped in sisal into a sturdy free-standing post
A section of wide PVC pipe stood upright on a weighted base and wrapped tightly in sisal rope becomes a tall, tough scratching post that stands up to years of clawing for a fraction of shop prices.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- £10–£20
🧺 You will need
- A length of wide PVC pipe (around 60–75 cm long, 10 cm+ diameter)
- A square of plywood or MDF for the base (about 40 x 40 cm)
- 10–15 m of natural sisal rope
- Strong non-toxic glue (PVA wood glue or a hot-glue gun)
- Screws and a screwdriver or drill, plus a pipe bracket or flange
- Scissors or a craft knife
🔧 How to make it
- Fix the pipe upright and central on the plywood base using a pipe flange or an internal bracket screwed from underneath, so it stands rock-solid.
- Run a bead of glue near the bottom of the pipe and start winding the sisal tightly around it, right at the base.
- Keep wrapping upward in tight, touching coils, adding glue as you go and pushing each turn down snug against the last with no gaps.
- Continue to the top of the pipe, cut the rope and glue the loose end down firmly so it cannot unravel.
- Let the glue cure fully — usually overnight — before letting your cat near it.
- Stand it in a spot your cat already likes to scratch and rub a little catnip into the rope to introduce it.
💡 Tips
Make the base wide and heavy enough that the post cannot tip when a big cat leans in — a second layer of board or a slab underneath helps. Position it near where your cat sleeps, since cats love a good stretch-and-scratch on waking.
📝 Notes
A tall, stable post lets a cat scratch at full vertical stretch — exactly what they want and what flimsy shop posts often fail to provide. Building it around cheap drainpipe gives you a heavy-duty post that saves your furniture and lasts for years.