Quick answer: A scratch and hide combo from moving boxes is two sturdy boxes joined into a hideout, with layers of corrugated cardboard glued edge-up on one outside wall as a scratch surface. It takes under an hour, costs nothing if you have glue, and gives a cat both a safe place to disappear and somewhere to mark a new home.
Moving day leaves two things in abundance: empty boxes and an unsettled cat. The cat has lost every familiar smell and hiding spot at once, and the new place has furniture you would rather it did not scratch.
A moving box combo solves both for nothing. It is not meant to last forever. It is meant to cover the first few weeks, until the home smells like home and the permanent furniture is in place.
Why a Scratch and Hide Combo Helps After a Move
International Cat Care describes a cat-friendly home as one with plenty of places to disappear from view as well as high places to sit. A newly unpacked home often has neither, with furniture against walls and boxes everywhere else. A hideout gives the cat a fixed safe spot.
Scratching matters too. International Cat Care explains that scratching leaves a scent and visual mark, which helps a cat feel the space belongs to it. Pairing the hide with a scratch wall puts both needs in one place.
Boxes, Glue and Tools for the Combo
- Two strong double-wall moving boxes of similar size.
- Extra flat cardboard for the scratch layers.
- Non-toxic, water-based PVA glue.
- A box cutter, a steel ruler and a cutting mat.
- An old towel or jumper.
Skip packing tape where the cat can reach it. Our guide to tape, ink and staples to avoid in cardboard DIY explains which parts of a delivery box to cut away.
Step 1: Prepare the Boxes
- Remove all tape, labels and staples.
- Close the bottom flaps and glue them flat.
- Cut the top flaps off both boxes.
- Turn each box on its side so the open top becomes the front.
Check the cardboard for oil, damp or strong smells from what was packed. Discard any box that held cleaning products.
Step 2: Join Two Rooms
Place the boxes side by side. Cut a matching doorway about 18 cm wide and 20 cm tall in the touching walls, then glue the walls together. Cut a second exit on the back or side of the far box. Two ways out means the cat never feels trapped inside.
Glue a flat sheet across both tops to make a roof, overlapping the edges by 3 cm. Weigh it with books while the glue dries.
Step 3: Build the Scratch Wall
Cut flat cardboard into strips the same depth as the box side, about 5 cm wide. Stack them on edge, gluing each to the next, until the stack covers one outside wall. Glue the whole stack to the wall. The exposed corrugated edges give claws a grip much like a shop-bought cardboard scratcher.
Make the scratch wall on the side facing the room, not the wall. Our large corrugated cardboard scratcher guide explains which way the flutes should face.
Step 4: Furnish and Place It
Line one room with a worn towel or jumper so it smells of the family. Leave the other bare so the cat can choose. Put the combo against a wall in a quiet room, ideally the one where the cat is first settling, away from the busiest doorway.
- Not beside the litter tray.
- Not in a corridor where people pass constantly.
- Near where the cat already sleeps or hides.
- With the scratch wall facing open floor.
Our guide to the first week with a new cat covers the wider setup, and much of it applies to a move too.
Make It More Fun With Toys
Ohio State's Indoor Pet Initiative suggests rotating toys to keep cats interested and notes that cats enjoy simple things like crumpled up paper balls and toilet paper roll centres. Drop a paper ball or a ping pong ball through the front door of the combo and let the cat chase it through the rooms.
Avoid string, ribbon or rubber bands anywhere on the build. If your cat chews cardboard, supervise the first sessions and remove chewed pieces.
Variations for Different Cats
A kitten will treat the combo as a playground more than a refuge. Cut a few extra round holes, about the size of a fist, in the roof and side walls so it can poke a paw through at a toy. Keep the holes away from the scratch wall so the strips stay well supported.
A large or heavy cat needs bigger doorways and a stronger roof. Widen each doorway to about 22 cm and glue a second layer of cardboard under the roof, with the flutes running the opposite way to the first. Cross-layered cardboard is noticeably stiffer, and the cat can then sit on top without the roof sagging.
A shy cat may prefer a darker inside. Drape a light cotton cloth over one room, leaving the doorways clear, so it feels more like a den. Do not close the second exit; the point is a dim space, not a sealed one.
Helping the Cat Find and Use It
Some cats move in straight away; others ignore a new box for a day or two. Avoid carrying the cat inside, which can make the hideout feel like a trap. Instead, scatter a few treats near the doorways and one just inside, and leave the room so the cat can explore alone.
To encourage scratching, run a wand toy across the corrugated wall so the cat's claws catch on it during play. If it scratches the strips, praise it quietly or offer a treat. If it heads for a door frame or sofa instead, move the combo nearer to that spot for a while; cats often scratch where they first feel the need, and a scratch surface right there is far more likely to be used.
Leave the combo in one place for the first fortnight. Moving it every day takes away the predictability that makes it feel safe.
Checking the Combo Before Use
- Press on the roof; it should not cave in.
- Check doorway edges for sharp cuts and fold them over.
- Make sure glue is fully dry before the cat uses it.
- Inspect weekly for soggy or crumbling cardboard.
If the cat has an accident inside, replace that box; cardboard holds odours.
Cleaning Up Without Fuss
Cardboard scratching makes a little mess. Put the combo on a washable mat or an old rug offcut so shreds collect in one place, and vacuum around it every couple of days. Do not spray the cardboard with cleaners or air freshener; a strong smell can put a cat off a hideout it was starting to trust, and it also removes the scent marks the cat has been building up on the scratch wall.
When to Replace It
Cardboard scratch walls wear down within weeks. When the edges are flattened or shredded, glue a fresh stack over the old one or rebuild. Once the home is unpacked, plan a permanent scratcher where the cat scratches most and a lasting hideout such as a lidded bed.
Our cardboard castle from moving boxes is a bigger build if your cat loves the combo, and the castle safety checklist covers multi-level versions. For permanent options, see the cardboard castle and box enrichment hub.
Moving Box Combo FAQ
Is cardboard from moving boxes safe for cats?
Usually, once you remove tape, labels and staples and discard any box that held chemicals or smells strongly. Use water-based PVA glue and let it dry fully. Supervise a cat that chews cardboard, and remove soggy or shredded pieces so it does not swallow large amounts.
How long does a cardboard scratch wall last?
Typically a few weeks, depending on how often the cat uses it. When the corrugated edges are flat or torn, glue a new stack of strips over the old one or rebuild the wall. Plan a permanent sisal or wooden scratcher for the long term once you have settled in.
Why does a hideout need two exits?
A cat in a box with one way out can feel trapped, especially in an unfamiliar home or with other pets around. A second exit lets it leave without passing whatever it wants to avoid. International Cat Care stresses the value of places to hide, and two exits make them feel safer.
Where should I put the combo in a new home?
Against a wall in a quiet room where the cat is settling, close to where it already sleeps or hides. Keep it away from the litter tray and busy doorways, and face the scratch wall toward open floor so the cat can stretch fully while scratching.
