DIY Vertical Post for Maine Coon Cats: Height, Base and Build

By Sebastian Frank, Founder of CozeCats · Last updated: November 8, 2026

Maine Coons are one of the largest domestic breeds, with long bodies and a habit of stretching out to their full length when they scratch. A standard pet-shop post often reaches only their shoulders, and many tip as soon as a big cat leans its weight into them.

This build is designed around that size. It covers working dimensions, a base that stays put, the right sisal and a pull test that mirrors how a large cat really scratches. For a very tall post in a home with active cats, our safety checklist for anchoring tall DIY cat furniture is worth reading alongside it.

Why Standard Posts Fail Big Cats

Most budget posts are built around an average cat. The sisal section is short, the post is thin and the base is a small square of particleboard. A Maine Coon can reach above the sisal, bend a thin post with a single pull and lift the base off the floor when it leans in.

Cats Protection notes that cats prefer to scratch objects that are sturdy and tall, and a large cat that feels a post move will often go back to the sofa arm, which never wobbles. The goal of this build is to give a big cat a post that feels as solid as furniture.

Sizing a DIY Vertical Post for Maine Coon Cats

Measure your cat at full stretch rather than guessing. Hold a treat high against a wall, let the cat reach for it and mark the height of the front paws. Add a few centimetres to that mark and you have the minimum height for the sisal section.

Ohio State's Indoor Pet Initiative advises making vertical posts tall enough so that your cat can stretch up to scratch. For a Maine Coon that usually means going well beyond the height of an off-the-shelf post.

What a Tall Post Build Needs

• One solid timber post, 10 cm square or a 9 to 10 cm round, cut to your measured height plus about 5 cm.
• Two layers of 18 mm plywood for the base, each about 55 to 60 cm square.
• Natural, untreated sisal rope of 8 to 10 mm, or heavy sisal fabric.
• Wood glue, 4 long wood screws for the post, and short screws for the base layers.
• Two steel corner brackets.
• Rubber or felt feet.
• Drill, saw, staple gun and sandpaper.

Untreated sisal matters. Oiled or dyed rope can smell strongly and may put a cat off. Buy one extra length of rope so you can rewrap the most worn section later without matching a new batch.

Building the Base First

The base does most of the work, so build it before anything else. Glue and screw the two plywood layers together with the grain running in opposite directions, which resists warping. Round the corners slightly and sand the edges.

Mark the centre carefully. A post that sits off-centre makes the base lighter on one side, and a big cat will find that side quickly. Pre-drill four holes through the base into the end of the post, and countersink the screw heads underneath so the base sits flat.

1. Glue and screw the two plywood layers together.
2. Mark the exact centre with two diagonal lines.
3. Pre-drill four holes through both layers.
4. Apply glue to the end of the post and stand it on the mark.
5. Drive four long screws up through the base into the post.
6. Fit two corner brackets on adjacent sides of the post for extra stiffness.

Winding Sisal Up the Column

Start the sisal a few centimetres above the base so the first wraps are not crushed against the board. Staple the rope end to the post, then wrap tightly, pushing each turn down against the last so there are no gaps where claws can catch.

Add a staple every few turns on the back of the post, where the cat is less likely to scratch. When you reach the top, tuck the rope end under the last two wraps and staple it. The Humane World for Animals guidance describes a good post as a post at least 32 inches tall that will not wobble, covered in sisal rope, and the build above meets both parts of that description for most large cats.

The Pull Test

Before the cat gets it, test the post the way a big cat uses it. Grip the top with one hand and pull towards you firmly, then push sideways. Lean your weight on it from the side for a few seconds.

• If the base lifts on the far side, the base is too small or too light; add a third plywood layer or widen it.
• If the post flexes at the joint, add a second pair of brackets.
• If the rope slips down, add staples and push the wraps tight again.
• If the unit slides on a hard floor, swap felt feet for rubber ones.

Repeat the test every few weeks. Screws can loosen as wood dries, especially in heated rooms in winter.

Placement for a Large Cat

Put the post where the cat already scratches, usually next to a sofa arm, a doorway or the spot where it stretches after waking. Moving the post to a quiet corner because it is large tends to fail. If space is tight, our living room placement guide for large scratchers shows how to fit a tall post without dominating the room.

Large cats often also scratch horizontally. A sisal mat or a low scratcher next to the post covers both styles, and our large cat scratcher for Maine Coons build works well as a horizontal companion.

Rewrapping and Long-Term Care

A big cat wears sisal faster than a small one, so plan the post as something you maintain. Most wear appears in a band around shoulder height, where the hardest pulls land. When that band turns fluffy and loose, unwrap only the worn section, staple a fresh length in place and leave the rest.

Our complete guide to sisal cat scratchers compares rope weights and explains why tightly wound natural fibre outlasts looser wraps. If you are unsure whether your cat prefers rope or woven fabric, sisal fabric vs sisal rope sets out the differences in grip and wear.

Keep an eye on how the cat uses the post over time. Some large cats start lying on their side to scratch the bottom section, which is a sign they also want a horizontal surface. Reading those habits is easier with our guide to vertical vs horizontal scratchers, and the DIY cat scratcher hub lists every post, pad and wrap build in this series.

Skipping the build entirely

If you would rather not cut plywood, the CozeCat Side Table gives a large cat a sisal face fixed to a heavy furniture frame, sitting right beside the sofa arm. Its weight and footprint are the same qualities this build aims for. Check the table's dimensions against your cat's stretch before ordering.

Maine Coon Scratching Post FAQ

How tall should a scratching post be for a Maine Coon?

Measure your cat at full stretch and add a few centimetres. For most Maine Coons that means a sisal-wrapped section of around 90 cm or more, which is noticeably taller than standard posts. A post that ends at the cat's shoulders encourages it to scratch taller furniture instead.

How heavy should the base be for a big cat?

Heavy and wide enough that a firm pull and a sideways lean cannot lift it. Two layers of 18 mm plywood around 55 to 60 cm square suit most large cats. If the far edge lifts during a pull test, add another layer or widen the base.

What sisal is best for a Maine Coon post?

Natural, untreated sisal rope of 8 to 10 mm, or heavy woven sisal fabric. Thicker rope survives strong claws for longer and gives a satisfying grip. Avoid oiled or dyed rope with a strong smell, and keep a spare length for rewrapping the most worn section.

Why does my Maine Coon ignore its scratching post?

The usual reasons are that the post is too short, wobbles, or sits away from where the cat likes to scratch. Large cats need a full stretch and a solid feel. Move the post next to the spot being scratched and check stability with a pull test.