If your cat loves scratching cardboard boxes, you can turn that obsession into something useful.

A DIY cardboard cat scratcher is a simple way to reuse corrugated cardboard while giving your cat an appropriate place to scratch, stretch, and dig their claws in. You don't need complicated woodworking or expensive supplies, either.

In this guide, we'll make a basic cardboard scratching pad using strips of corrugated cardboard packed tightly inside a shallow box or cardboard frame.

And yes—your cat may still choose the shipping box it came in. Cats like to keep us humble

Why Do Cats Need to Scratch?

Scratching isn't simply something cats do to your furniture when you're not looking.

It's a normal part of feline behavior. Cats scratch for several reasons, including:

• maintaining their claws
• stretching their bodies
• leaving visual and scent signals
• expressing normal instinctive behavior

That's why providing appropriate scratching surfaces around your home can be helpful.

Different cats also have different preferences. Some enjoy scratching vertically on tall posts, while others prefer horizontal surfaces such as cardboard scratching pads.

If your cat already attacks every cardboard box that enters your house, this DIY may be especially appealing.

What You'll Need to Make a Cardboard Cat Scratcher

You don't need much for this project.

Supplies

• Corrugated cardboard boxes
• A shallow cardboard box, tray, or sturdy cardboard base
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Pencil or marker
• Scissors or a utility knife
• Cat-safe adhesive, if needed

Safety note: Cutting cardboard should be done by an adult. Keep blades, scissors, loose cardboard pieces, and adhesive away from your cat while you're building the scratcher.

You can often make the entire project using cardboard you already have at home.

How to Make a DIY Cardboard Cat Scratcher

 

Step 1: Choose Your Base

Start with a shallow cardboard box or tray.

This will hold all of your cardboard strips together and create the outside shape of the scratching pad.

Choose something large enough for your cat to comfortably place their front paws on while scratching.

Don't worry about making it perfect. Cats are generally less concerned about interior design than we are.

 

Step 2: Measure the Height of the Box

Measure the inside height of your shallow box.

This measurement determines how wide each cardboard strip

 should be.

For example, if the inside of your box is about 2 inches high, you'll want your cardboard strips to be approximately 2 inches wide so they sit neatly inside the base.

 

 

Step 3: Cut the Cardboard Into Strips

Flatten your corrugated cardboard boxes and mark strips using the measurement you just took.

Cut enough strips to fill your entire base.

Try to keep the strips roughly the same width.

You don't need millimeter-level precision. The important part is creating enough similarly sized pieces to pack tightly together.

 

 

Step 4: Pack the Cardboard Into the Base

Now comes the satisfying part.

Place the cardboard strips upright next to each other inside the shallow box so the corrugated edges face upward.

Continue adding strips until the box is completely filled.

Pack them together snugly.

The exposed corrugated edges create the textured scratching surface your cat will use.

If the strips stay securely in place on their own, you may not need adhesive. If your design requires adhesive for stability, use an appropriate cat-safe option and allow it to dry completely before giving the scratcher to your cat.

 

Step 5: Check the Scratcher Before Your Cat Uses It

Before presenting your masterpiece, inspect it carefully.

Make sure:

• the cardboard pieces are secure
• there are no staples or pieces of tape
• there are no sharp edges
• no adhesive is exposed or still wet
• the base doesn't easily tip or collapse

Remove any loose pieces your cat could chew or swallow.

Once everything is secure, it's time for the official feline inspection.

 

How to Encourage Your Cat to Use the New Scratcher

Place the cardboard scratcher somewhere your cat already likes spending time.

Location can make a big difference.

You might try placing it:

• near your cat's favorite sleeping area
• beside a piece of furniture they frequently scratch
• near another favorite play area
• somewhere along a route they regularly walk through the house

You can also place a favorite toy nearby or sprinkle a small amount of catnip on the scratcher if your cat responds to catnip.

Never force your cat's paws onto the scratcher. Let them investigate it at their own pace.

And don't be offended if they inspect your handiwork for three seconds and walk away.

They may return when you're no longer watching.

How Long Will a DIY Cardboard Cat Scratcher Last?

That depends largely on your cat.

An enthusiastic cardboard destroyer may work through it fairly quickly, while another cat may use the same scratcher for much longer.

Check it regularly for excessive wear, loose cardboard, or damaged pieces.

Once it becomes heavily shredded or unstable, replace it.

The good news is that the basic design is inexpensive to recreate—especially if you're already receiving cardboard boxes at home.

Can Kittens Use a Cardboard Scratcher?

A simple cardboard scratching surface can also provide kittens with an appropriate place to practice normal scratching behavior.

However, kittens are curious and may chew or investigate materials differently from adult cats.

Supervise your kitten around homemade toys and enrichment items, especially during their first few interactions with them, and remove the scratcher if pieces become loose or unsafe.

What If My Cat Doesn't Like Cardboard Scratchers?

That's okay.

Cats can have surprisingly strong opinions about scratching surfaces.

Your cat may prefer:

• sisal
• carpet
• wood
• a vertical scratching post
• a horizontal scratching pad
• an angled scratcher

You may need to experiment with different materials, orientations, and locations to discover what your cat prefers.

The goal isn't necessarily to find the scratcher you like best.

It's to find the one your cat actually uses.

Make It Part of Your Cat's Enrichment Routine

A cardboard scratcher doesn't need to be complicated to be useful.

Simple DIY projects can give you another way to make your cat's environment more interesting while reusing materials you might otherwise throw away.

And this project is only the beginning.

At Cats Ace™, we love finding creative ways to make life with cats more fun—from DIY projects and enrichment ideas to understanding the wonderfully strange things our cats do every day.

So save those cardboard boxes.

Ace has plans for them. 🐱📦

Prefer a Ready-Made Cat Scratcher?

Not everyone has the time—or enough cardboard—to make one from scratch.

If you'd rather buy one, check our  recommendation from Our Amazon storefront.

Best scratchers: CHECK ON AMAZON HERE

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Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cats Ace earns from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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