Scratch Station
Overview
Cats have an instinctual need to scratch—it is necessary to maintain the health of their claws, plus scratching relieves anxiety and boredom.
A scratch station is a small, sheltered area dedicated to allowing cats to scratch, giving them a consistent, safe place they can rely on to take care of this need whenever the urge arises.
A scratch station includes a permanently mounted device that works with all sizes of scratch pads, securely holding them with sufficient resistance and at an ideal height to provide optimal scratching. The ideal scratch station space also includes enough horizontal room to allow cats to comfortably approach the scratch pad as well as enough vertical room to stretch their legs completely upward to scratch.
Please note: It is hardly a new concept to mount a scratch pad on a wall. The only new part of this approach is recognizing a cat’s need to scratch as a fundamental necessity, to the point that a space dedicated to fulfilling that need should be planned on an architectural level.
The development of a universal scratch pad holder is novel; however, this is a device, not an architectural concept, designed out of necessity to make the concept of the scratch station possible. The scratch station concept does not rely on this specific device design—dozens of other designs that fulfill the same function would work, just as a laundry room would work with many different washers and dryers.
Benefits of a Scratch Station
For cats
Cats thrive on routine, especially with hygiene. Having a scratch station allows cats to form regular scratching habits, which improves health and reduces anxiety. A scratch pad that is always available in a consistent location increases the chances that cats will use it instead of another surface, which could potentially harm them.
A station with a good scratch pad holder also improves the scratching experience, because it holds them at a height that lets cats stand on their hind legs and stretch while using them, which is the ideal position for scratching. Furthermore, the holder can tightly secure the scratch pads, giving the much-needed resistance necessary to scratching that is lacking when the pads are not mounted firmly.
For people with cats
Cardboard scratch pads are cheap and plentiful, but there is no standard size or mounting method for them.
Universal scratch pad holders help save money, since they work with any size scratch pad and don’t lock you into using any particular brand, plus they make it quick and easy to rotate and flip a scratch pad to get the most out of both sides of it. They reduce waste too, since they require no additional mounting materials, like Velcro. Most importantly, a scratch station in the right spot increases the likelihood your cats will use it instead of destroying your furniture or damaging your home when they need to scratch.
Finally, a scratch station can help keep your home clean. When placed inside a litter cabinet, it lets cats clean their claws immediately after using the litter box instead of walking around with dirty paws. This location hides ugly scratch pads out-of-sight, plus it contains the shredded cardboard and catnip flakes to help keep your home tidy.
For people without cats
No other common use for a scratch station has been identified yet. However, it is mostly empty space, and the universal scratch pad holder is very small—when installed in a litter closet, it will rarely be seen, if ever at all.
For rental property owners
Cats don’t just like to scratch; they need to scratch. If nobody gives them something that’s designed to be scratched, they’ll destroy something else instead—like the corners of your cabinets, for instance. Furthermore, cats who are not able to regularly scratch have increased anxiety, which can lead to other destructive behaviors as well.
This can be prevented by proper care, but not all pet owners are particularly responsible or knowledgeable about animals. Many cat owners don’t know that scratching is necessary to cat health and think of scratch pads and posts as optional toys for entertainment only. (The fact that these are commonly referred to as “scratch toys” doesn’t help.)
To prevent damage, you want to make it as easy as possible for tenants to take proper care of their pets, and a scratch station may be the cheapest and easiest way to do just that.
You can add a clause your lease’s pet addendum that states that, as a condition of being allowed cats, tenants agree to provide them with scratching materials. Adding this clause and showing tenants where the scratch station is can avoid a costly cabinet replacement down the road.
How to Build a Scratch Station
- A scratch station is exceptionally easy and inexpensive to build, and consists of two elements: A universal scratch pad holder, and the space in front of it required to use it.
Finding the right space
A scratch station needs to be in a secure location, where a cat can reliably use it undisturbed. Furthermore, the station needs to have enough space in front of it for a cat to comfortably approach. Finally, the station must have enough vertical space to allow cats to stretch their legs fully upward before scratching down, which is around 32” for most housecats.
Fortunately, if you have a litter closet, you probably already have the perfect space for a scratch station.
Why scratch stations belong in litter closets
- Litter closets are already safe, secure spaces where cats know they will not be disturbed, which increases the chances they’ll use it when they have the urge to scratch.
- Cats are fastidious and will seek to clean their paws whenever they are dirty. Placing a scratch station inside the litter closet lets them scratch immediately after using the litter box, keeping any mess contained rather than tracking it through the home. This is also why it is ideal to use cardboard scratchers here, as they are inexpensive and disposable, leaving more expensive and durable sisal-style scratchers for elsewhere in the home.
- Any litter, shredded cardboard, and catnip flakes that come off during scratching will be contained in the litter closet for easy cleanup.
- Cardboard scratch pads are ugly, especially after they’ve been used. This keeps them out of sight.
- This placement makes use of the height of the litter cabinet, which, if built at the recommended standard cabinet height, has a roof that is the perfect height cats need to stretch to scratch.
- This placement makes another use of the space in front of the litter box rather than taking up space elsewhere.
Additional considerations
Most cats want to scratch immediately after using the litter box, but some just want to get away and won’t scratch anywhere near the litter box, in which case you may want to install a scratch pad holder elsewhere.
In all cases, it’s advisable to give your cats at least one other location to scratch, such as a scratching post covered with sisal rope, which does not need to be hidden since it looks better and doesn’t cause as much of a mess as cardboard scratch pads.
Choosing a scratch pad holder
If you are building this scratch station for your own use and you know the exact size of the scratch pads you want to use, then this step is easy. Because the height is fixed, you can make a simple holder using practically any method that holds the pad in place, such as:
- Fixed easel-style shelf with a clamp or clip
- Box frame with a slot on the side (like a tissue box holder)
- Tall ramp with a retaining strap
However, if you are building a scratch station for general use, or if you want the flexibility to use any size of pad in the future, you’ll need a universal scratch pad holder.
As it appears there are no such devices on the market, please see How to Build a Universal Scratch Pad Holder for further instructions. Hopefully, devices of this type will soon become commercially available for purchase to simplify this step.
Mounting the scratch pad holder
Attach your scratch pad holder to a vertical surface with the top of the pad at the height your cats can reach with their front paws when fully stretching—for most housecats, this is 30-32” from the floor.
Tips:
- It’s better to mount the holder a little too high than too low.
- If mounting inside a litter closet, there should be sufficient wall space alongside the area the cats use to enter and exit the litter box. Locate the holder away from the litter closet door if you can, but this is not imperative.
- If possible, mounting the holder at a slight angle will help catnip flakes remain in the scratch pad longer and may increase usage, as many cats prefer this position.
How to Build a Universal Scratch Pad Holder
Design requirements
There are countless ways to affix a scratch pad to a surface; however, for this purpose, an acceptably designed holder must…
- …be inexpensive.
- …be durable.
- …be easy to build from readily available materials.
- …be easy to use.
- …be operable with one hand.
- …be operable by touch alone (since these are often installed around blind corners or other awkward places).
- …fit all common sizes of scratch pads.
- …hold the pads at a fixed height regardless of pad size.
- …not have parts that could harm cats.
- …not take up much space.
- …be able to be installed at an angle.
For this project, the important part of this concept is contemplating a space for a scratch station and providing a universal holder, not any specific design. However, for purposes of illustration, here is one design that meets all the criteria listed above.
Required materials
- A 36” F-style steel bar clamp with a ball-joint clamp pad
- A metal plate, approximately 1” x 4”, ideally with rounded teeth on one side to grip scratcher pad
- Adhesive capable of bonding plastic to metal, such as two-part epoxy glue
- 1/4" wood or plastic shims (exact size depends on bar clamp)
- 2 wood screws, bolts, or drywall anchors, depending on your installation
Photo: F-style bar clamp
Photo: Metal grip plate
Photo: Adhesive
Photo: Shims
Required tools
- A drill press (or a power drill and a very steady hand)
- Saw capable of cutting steel, such as a hacksaw or table saw
Assembly instructions
- Cut the clamp bar to fit the height of the mounting area.
- Using the adhesive, attach the grip plate to the ball-joint clamp pad on the moveable jaw.
- Drill two mounting holes through the clamp bar: one near the top and one near the bottom.
Illustration: Cutting the clamp bar
Illustration: Attaching the grip plate
Illustration: Drilling the mounting holes
Installation instructions
- Mount the clamp bar to the wall through the drilled holes, using shims to provide enough clearance for the sliding arm to move.
- Note: To install the clamp bar at an angle, which many cats prefer and will help retain catnip flakes, simply use thicker, angled shims. However, be advised that loading pads will then require two hands, since pads will no longer be able to be rested flat against the wall while loading.
Illustration: Installation: Front view
Illustration: Installation: Side view
Operating instructions
To load a new pad:
- Place the pad on the mounting plate
- Pull the sliding arm up until the pad is held firmly between the mounting plate below and the fixed jaw above.
- Turn the handle clockwise to provide a stronger hold.
Illustration: Placing the pad
Illustration: Pulling sliding arm up
Illustration: Turning the handle
To remove the pad:
- Press the quick-release lever and move the sliding arm down.
Illustration: Pressing the lever
Illustration: Moving the sliding arm