PDA

View Full Version : Re: Jungle gym out of carpet wrapped PVC tubing?


Joe
July 6th 03, 05:27 PM
(---MIKE---) wrote:

> It would be easier (and better) to wrap the PVC with sisal rope.

I will try that some time. I am going with carpet wrapped 2x4s this time.
Something is needed for the joints. Sisal rope sounds like a good idea.
Thanks. I wonder what is the risk of catching their claws the wrong way on
uneven surfaces. I guess not much. Will find out.

> It's better to encourage scratching on a surface OTHER than carpet

Carpet layers use various tools with steel spikes which dig deeply into
carpet and put great stress on it. Carpet wrapped 2x4s haven't encouraged
my cats to scratch the carpet anyway.

By the way. When I offered the new cat Kiki's old carpet wrapped 2x4s, he
stopped scratching on the furnature. Day before yesterday, I removed the
carpet from Kiki's 2x4 in order to add the wood to their new jungle gym.
For the first time in eight years, Kiki has started clawing the furniture.
Time to finish that project.

ParrotRob
July 8th 03, 04:39 PM
"---MIKE---" > wrote in message
...
> It would be easier (and better) to wrap the PVC with sisal rope. It's
> better to encourage scratching on a surface OTHER than carpet and many
> cats prefer the sisal anyway.

Easier?! Have you ever actually DONE that? We've built cat furniture with
sisal-wrapped wood and it is an ENORMOUS pain in the ass. Not to mention
you need 40-50 FEET (depending on the rope) of sisal rope to wrap a single
foot-long section of 4" PVC. We've got a 6 1/2 foot tall tree with all the
verticals wrapped in sisal - well over a THOUSAND feet of sisal-wrapping.
Plus, all that sisal can get expensive, too.

---MIKE---
July 8th 03, 05:16 PM
Yes, I have done it. I wrapped a 4 foot high scratching post with 1/4"
sisal. It wasn't really easy but it sure works well. Tiger likes to
climb right up to the platform on top.


-MIKE

ParrotRob
July 11th 03, 05:53 PM
"---MIKE---" > wrote in message
...
> Yes, I have done it. I wrapped a 4 foot high scratching post with 1/4"
> sisal. It wasn't really easy but it sure works well. Tiger likes to
> climb right up to the platform on top.

Oh I wasn't saying it doesn't work well, it works great. Just that it's a
TREMENDOUS pain in the ass.