Refresh a DIY Horizontal Scratcher: Swap Cardboard or Sisal

By Sebastian Frank, Founder of CozeCats · Last updated: November 7, 2026

A cardboard cat scratcher DIY project does not fail all at once. The middle wears down first, the edges start shedding, and one day the cat walks past it to the rug. In an apartment the shredded card also ends up under the sofa.

The good news is that the frame almost always outlasts the surface. This guide shows how to judge when it is time, then how to swap either cardboard or sisal with little mess and without building a new scratcher.

Signs the Surface Is Finished

• Cardboard ridges are crushed flat across the area the cat uses most.
• Loose shreds come away every time you lift it.
• Sisal looks bald, shiny or has gaps where the base shows.
• Rope ends have pulled loose and stick up.
• Your cat has started scratching the rug or a doormat instead.

That last sign matters most. Ohio State's Indoor Pet Initiative explains that cats which scratch rugs and carpet usually prefer a horizontal surface, so a cat returning to the rug is often telling you the pad no longer feels right.

Cardboard or Sisal: Which to Put Back

If your cat liked the old surface, put back the same material. Changing material can work, but introduce it gradually by putting the new pad next to the old one first. Our guide on horizontal cardboard scratchers covers card thickness and orientation.

Cardboard Cat Scratcher DIY Refill: Swapping the Insert

1. Lay an old sheet or a bin bag on the floor and work on top of it.
2. Lift out the old card and save any undamaged strips from the edges.
3. Measure the inner depth and width of the frame.
4. Cut corrugated card into strips the same depth, with the flutes running across the strip so the cut edges face up.
5. Pack strips tightly; loose strips shift and wear quickly.
6. Use a thin line of non-toxic, water-based glue between some strips if they still move.
7. Let any glue dry fully before the cat uses it.

Flip reversible inserts before replacing them. Many homemade pads have a usable second side that doubles their life.

Refreshing a Sisal Face

1. Pull out old staples or tacks with pliers and remove the worn mat or rope.
2. Sand any splinters on the base.
3. Cut a new sisal mat slightly larger than the base and fold the edges underneath, or wrap sisal rope tightly in rows.
4. Staple underneath or on the sides so no metal is on the scratching face.
5. Run your hand over the surface to check for loose loops or sharp points.

Use natural, untreated sisal. If the frame is a board fixed to furniture, our article on replacing the scratch mat on a corner scratcher shows a similar method on a vertical piece.

Keeping the Mess Small in an Apartment

• Do the swap on a balcony or in the bathroom where fibres are easy to sweep.
• Vacuum the frame before fitting new material; old shreds stop strips from packing tightly.
• Put a washable mat under a cardboard scratcher so shreds collect in one place.
• Bag old card for recycling straight away, before the cat plays in it.

In a small home, placement matters as much as the surface. Our guide to vertical versus horizontal scratchers helps you check which direction your cat prefers.

Getting the Cat Back on It

A freshly refilled scratcher can smell and feel different. Put it back in exactly the same place, rub a little of the old card or a cloth the cat sleeps on across it, and drag a toy over the surface. International Cat Care suggests placing scratching posts near where the cat already scratches, such as by a sleeping area, and the same logic applies to a horizontal pad.

If the cat goes back to the rug, place the pad directly on the rug spot for a week. The DIY scratcher hub collects our other cardboard, sisal and wood builds.

Adding a Vertical Option

Many cats like both directions. A horizontal pad for digging and a firm vertical face for a full-body pull cover more needs than either one alone, especially near the sofa. The CozeCat Side Table adds a vertical sisal surface at sofa height without extra floor space, and works alongside a homemade floor pad.

Planning the Next Refill

Write the date inside the frame each time you change the material. After two or three refills you will know roughly how long a surface lasts with your cat, and you can cut the next set of strips or a spare sisal mat in advance. Keep spares flat in a dry cupboard; damp cardboard loses its shape and sisal can smell musty.

Our article on why replaceable refill pads beat disposable scratchers explains why a frame you refill is usually better value than buying a new pad each time.

If the frame itself is starting to fail, with cracked corners, a warped base or edges that catch claws, it is time to rebuild rather than refill. Keep the measurements of the old one, because your cat has already shown you the size it likes. A frame a little wider than the cat's body when stretched gives room to dig without stepping off the edge.

Choosing Card for the Refill

Not every box makes a good scratcher. Double-wall corrugated card from appliance or furniture packaging holds its shape far better than thin single-wall card from food deliveries. Look for boxes that are clean, dry and unprinted on at least one face, and strip off tape and labels before cutting.

Cut with a sharp utility knife against a metal ruler, on a cutting board or an old piece of plywood. A dull blade crushes the flutes, and crushed flutes wear out faster. Cut all strips to the same depth so the top surface is flat. A surface with high and low strips feels uneven to the cat and tends to shed from the high ones first.

Strip width matters less than packing. Strips about 5 to 7 cm deep are easy to handle and fit most frames. If the frame is deeper, two layers of strips can be stacked, with glue only between the layers.

Fitting the Pad Into a Small Home

A refilled pad is also a chance to rethink where it lives. If it was tucked under a bed, try it beside the sofa or at the end of the hallway the cat walks every morning. A horizontal pad slid under a coffee table or a console can stay out of the way and still be on the cat's route. Our small-space scratcher guide has more layout ideas for tight rooms.

Safety Notes for the Refill

• Keep glue, staples and offcuts away from the cat until the job is finished.
• Avoid printed or glossy card, which can carry inks and coatings.
• Check for loose sisal threads after the first week of use and trim them.
• Throw away any scratcher that has splintered wood or exposed staples.

DIY Scratcher Refill Questions

How often should I replace cardboard in a DIY scratcher?

Replace it when the ridges in the area your cat uses most are flat or shredded, or when the cat starts using the rug instead. Flip a reversible insert first. Writing the date inside the frame at each refill shows how long a surface lasts with your cat.

Can I put sisal on a horizontal cardboard scratcher frame?

Yes. Remove the card, sand the base and staple or glue a natural sisal mat over it, folding the edges underneath so no staples are on top. Introduce it beside the old surface first, because some cats that love shredding card take time to accept a firmer sisal face.

What glue is safe for a DIY cardboard cat scratcher?

Use a non-toxic, water-based glue in thin lines between strips, only where strips still move after tight packing. Let it dry fully before the cat uses the scratcher. Many builders skip glue altogether by packing strips tightly into a snug frame.

How do I stop cardboard scratcher mess in a small apartment?

Put a washable mat under the scratcher, vacuum it weekly and swap the insert on a sheet or in the bathroom. Recycle old card straight away. Sisal sheds less than cardboard, so it can suit a small space if your cat accepts the firmer feel.