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Cat scratching post (cottonwood) -- sanded top smooth to remove chainsaw marks -- what to seal with?
(lemmy.ca)
this post was submitted on 03 Dec 2024
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Woodworking
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If you could also top it with glass, it would be less likely that the cat could eat a part of the finish. Also it might give you more options as you would not need to be as concerned about water.
However I'd say leave it unfinished for now just to see if the cat actually uses it.
Based on the bark debris around it this morning, she is definitely using it immediately.
Glass has a side effect of requiring the top to be actually flat. I used the rotary sander to chew down enough of the surface to get rid of the chainsaw marks (60 grit, then 220), but it certainly isn't level or flat.
Good suggestion though. If we end up doing a version two. Probably could go with a narrower log and centre mount a wider flat glass surface. Make it removable so we could replace the log after the cat shreds it up too much...
You can buy self-adhesive, transparent rubber dots for the glass. 3 or 4 around the edge for the glass to sit on and it won't need to be perfectly level.
I would have concerns that either someone resting something on the edge of the table would tip it off the log, or small objects placed on the table would slide or roll downhill off the table, or humans or cats bumping into it would throw the tabletop off. I would suggest anchoring the tabletop somehow.
You are clever. I like you.
If you make a smaller one, I'd wrap it in sisal rope for her to scratch on. Sisal lasts for years of scratching, and you can replace it or just put another layer over it when it gets worn.
My girls love trees to scratch at. Any wood, really.
But a big ole piece of wood with bark is always a favorite.
If you want to completely stop scratching on certain surfaces - use plastic. Packing tape, plastic wrap, cling wrap, poly wrap, whatever. They hate plastic.
The back of a couple of my couches I've cut out poly(6mil) wrap to shape and they do not go near it. Same for the sides temporarily.
Door frames have clear packing tape smoothly covering the places they went for.