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Cats, Pets, Handmade Items, Recycling, and Frugal Living
How to Make a Scratch Pad for Your Cat for Pennies
This article provides instructions to make a scratch pad with about an hour of labor and with basic supplies and tools

My wife and I recently adopted a kitten named Little Miss Muffin. Or she might have adopted us.
As with all family members, human or pet, Muffin needs and deserves certain items. In Muffin’s case, this includes nutritious food, fresh water, veterinary care, a place to sleep, a clean litter box, a hiding place, toys, a cat tower, and scratching posts or scratch pads. That might seem like an extensive list, but these are essential items.
Cats need and deserve love and attention from their non-feline family members, too. When well cared for, they will show unconditional love and produce joy within the household.
Scratching posts and pads are must-have cat accessories. They provide these benefits:
- Scratching keeps a cat’s paws and claws in nice shape
- They keep cats from destroying furniture with their claws
- Scratching helps cats release energy and tension
- Scratching and the accompanying stretching are good exercise
We purchased a scratch pad for Muffin when we adopted her. At first, we kept her on the main floor of our home, but now she runs free on both floors. So, instead of buying a second scratch pad for the basement level, I made one with supplies and tools I had on hand. You can make one, too.

This article will describe how to make your own scratch pad with about an hour of work. You might already have everything you need, including cardboard, glue, and a few tools.
Supplies and Tools
A basic scratch pad is a simple item. In its simplest form, it’s made of strips of corrugated cardboard held together with glue.