Are you looking for ways to prevent your cat from scratching your furniture? You know that declawing is not an option, don’t you?
Scratching is natural for cats. They do it for the following reasons:
– to exercise and fully stretch all the muscles and tendons in their body
– to remove an outer layer of claws and keep them healthy
– to mark their territory
– to relieve stress and boredom
Choosing the right cat scratching post for your furry friend is the best thing you can do to stop your cat from destroying your valuable belongings.
The number of different scratching posts on the market can be overwhelming. That’s why we have chosen and reviewed the 15 best cat scratching posts for you.
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
The top 5 best cat scratching posts
Before we start reviewing the best cat scratching posts, have a look at the table below. It shows the most important features of a cat scratching post at a glance:
The best cat scratching post – Comparison table
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The best cat scratching post – Reviews
1. Pioneer Pet SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post – Best Tall Cat Scratching Post
Pioneer Pet SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post is a vertical cat scratching post. It is 32 inches high and the size of the base is 16 x 16 inches. It comes in one color only – neutrally toned beige, which should fit well any decor.
The scratching surface is made of sisal fabric, which gives a cat an enjoyable and satisfying experience. Combined with superior stability, it’s a great cat scratching post to file nails.
The height of this cat scratching pole is tall enough for a cat to stretch her body fully and to comfortably flex her muscles. This cat post is suitable even for large cats like Maine Coons and ragdolls allowing them to extend their bodies maximally.
A the same time, the base of this cat scratch post is large and solid which prevents the post from tipping over. People who bought this product reported that even though their large and active cats jump on and climb over the post, it has very rarely if ever, fallen over.
The cat owners who bought this product said that the assembly was easy and quick. The post comes with two screws, and you will simply need to attach the post to the base using these two screws.
Many customers were praising this cat scratching post for being extremely durable. Despite very heavy use, even by multiple cats, the post would not shred and would last for even 5 years or more.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Length of the Post: 32 inches
Size of the Base: 16 x 16 inches
Material: Fibrous sisal fabric
Color: Beige
Assembly: Comes with two screws
- Tall (allows for a full extension of the cat’s body while scratching)
- Sturdy and stable (won’t tip over even when cats jump at it and climb over it)
- Durable (doesn’t shred, can last even for more than 5 years)
- Easy to assemble (you will have to screw the post to the base with two screws which are included)
- Sometimes can have a chemical odor
2. MidWest Cat Scratching Post – Best Scratching Post for Large Cats
MidWest Cat Scratching Post is a vertical cat scratching post. It has the tallest tower of all of the reviewed products. It’s an extra tall cat scratching post. The height of the pole is 41 inches which makes this cat scratching pole the tallest on the market, perfect for large cats to stretch their body to the fullest and still have some spare room.
Although the tower is very tall, the product is heavy and sturdy. None of the customers who bought this extra tall cat scratching post observed the post to be wobbly. The base of the post is heavy and has 19 x 19 inches which guarantees that the post won’t move while cats use it for jumping, playing and scratching.
The post comes only in one, dark-brown color and the scratching surface is made of a natural sisal rope. It’s said that the fabric offers a better scratching experience for cats than the rope. When scratching the fabric, the cat’s paws and claws can move seamlessly. Whereas when scratching the rope, paws’ movements are constantly interrupted due to the wrapping of the rope. Nevertheless, the cat owners who bought this cat scratcher didn’t complain that their cats wouldn’t like to use it.
People who bought this large cat scratching post reported that they are happy with its quality and durability. They said that the assembly was easy and quick.
A few customers who bought this product complained that it had a chemical odor.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Length of the Post: 41 inches
Size of the Base: 19 x 19 inches
Material: Natural sisal rope
Color: Dark brown
Assembly: All elements provided
- Extra tall (even the largest cats will get a full stretch)
- Heavy, sturdy and stable
- Durable
- Easy to put together
- Sometimes can have a chemical odor
3. PetFusion 3-Sided Vertical Cat Scratching Post – Best 3 Sided Cat Scratcher
PetFusion 3-Sided Vertical Cat Scratching Post consists of three scratching walls that form a triangle. The scratching surfaces lean at an angle, but we can still categorize this post to the vertical type of cat scratching posts. The product is designed in a way to serve as both a scratcher and an area for playing. A cat can scratch on the sides, hide and run through a cubby hole and perch on the top edge.
This 3 sided cat scratcher comes in two sizes. Large size is 24 inches wide, 10.5 inches deep and 21.1 inches high. The standard size is 18 inches wide, 10.5 inches deep and 16 inches high.
This scratching post is made of corrugated cardboard, a material that provides cats with a satisfying scratching experience. Unfortunately, the downside of this material is that it shreds easily and leaves small pieces of cardboard scattered on the floor.
Several customers who bought this product complained that their cats would not be attracted to this scratching post. They said that their cats would rub their head on it, due to the catnip which comes with the post, but they would not actually use the post for scratching. Some people said that it was because the scratcher was too short for the cat to extend her body fully while scratching. Others observed that the post was not stable while cats were scratching it. Even despite the rubber stickers, which are provided with the purchase, the post would slide on the floor. Cats don’t like to scratch objects that are moving. That’s why they like so much scratching the sofas, which would stand still.
A great thing about this 3 sided cat scratcher is that it comes in one piece. Assembly is not required.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical/Angled/Curved
Size of the Post: Large – 24 inches wide x 10.5 inches deep x 21.1 inches high; Standard – 18 inches wide x 10.5 inches deep x 16 inches high
Material: Corrugated cardboard
Color: Neutral color
Assembly: No assembly required
Additional Features: A packet of catnip included
- Different scratching surfaces
- Assembly-free
- Short length
- Wobbly and slides on the floor even despite the rubber stickers
- Shreds easily and pieces of cardboard come off
4. PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge – Best Cat Scratching Post to File Nails
PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is a horizontal cat scratching post. It comes in one piece and does not require assembly. The product serves as both a scratcher and a lounge in one.
The dimensions of this cat scratch lounge are 34 inches in length, 10.5 inches in height and 10.5 inches in width. Some customers who bought this item wished it was larger. Some cats would not fit on the lounging area and slip from it. A few people also noted that their large cats could easily slide the scratcher on the floor, which is not ideal as the scratching post for cats should not move. Therefore, if you have a larger cat, this scratch lounge probably would not suit her well.
This cat scratch lounge is made of corrugated cardboard, which is a great scratching material for cats, because it gives them a satisfying experience. Cats love corrugated cardboard and this product proves it. The majority of cat owners who bought this cat scratcher said that their cats loved it. It’s one of the best cat scratching posts to file nails.
On the downside though, the corrugated cardboard is wearing off very quickly. Depending on the intensity of the cat clawing, this scratch lounge would last between 5 months and a year in most cases. Quite a lot of customers were annoyed with the fact that the product was a bit too pricey for such short longevity.
On the bright side, the scratcher has 2 sides. Once you feel it’s not presentable on one side you can always turn it onto the other side and it will look again like a new item.
A bonus about this cat scratch lounge is an elegant, sleek and modern design. The lounge looks like a miniature piece of real furniture for a cat. It will look great in any space.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Horizontal/Curved
Size of the Panel: 34 inches long x 10.5 inches high x 10.5 inches wide
Material: Corrugated cardboard
Color: Natural color with sides in white, grey or brown
Assembly: No assembly required
Additional Features: A packet of catnip included
- Cats love using it (to the bits)
- No assembly required
- Sleek and modern design, will look great in any space
- Not large enough for larger cats
- Not stable for larger cats
- Shreds fast and pieces of cardboard fall off on the ground (but cats adore it)
5. Trixie Pet Products Miguel Fold and Store Cat Tower – Best Cat Scratching Post for Playing
Trixie Pet Products Miguel Fold and Store Cat Tower is a versatile scratching post, consisting of a scratching surface for scratching and stretching, a hammock for lounging, a hiding place for sleeping and two hanging toys for playing.
The product dimensions are 20.2 x 13.8 x 25.5 inches. The scratching surface may be too short for a fully grown, large cat to maximally stretch its body, but it’s a perfect size for kittens.
The scratching surface is made of sisal fabric, and the rest of the product, the hammock, the hiding place and other elements are wrapped up in plush material. Unfortunately, some customers who bought this product said that the condo was cheaply made, with the plush material being attached with staples that would easily come out of the wood and release the plush fabric.
A great thing about this cat scratching post is that it doesn’t require assembly and you can easily fold it down for easy storage. It doesn’t take a lot of footprint. On the disadvantage, people who bought this product complained that the post is not stable, moves around and is easy to tip over.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical/Angled
Size of the Post: 20.2 x 13.8 x 25.5 inches
Material: Sisal fabric on the scratcher, plush fabric on the hammock and the hiding place
Color: Grey or brown
Assembly: No assembly required
Additional Features: 2 hanging toys attached for playing, hammock, hiding place
- A scratcher, a hammock and a hiding/sleeping place in one product
- Folds quickly and easily for convenient storage
- Hanging toys attached for playing
- No assembly required
- Too short for adult cats (but great for kittens)
- Not stable, easily tips over
- The plush material attached with staples, easily falls apart
6. 4CLAWS Wall Mounted Scratching Post – Best Cat Scratching Post with Small Footprint
4CLAWS Wall Mounted Scratching Post is a vertical cat scratching post which is wall mountable. It has 18 inches of length and 2.8 inches of diameter. Since it’s wall-mountable, you can be 100% sure it will never move.
What’s great about this cat scratcher is that it has a small footprint and you can attach it to the wall at any length that you find suitable for your cat. If you have a small cat you can attach it lower on the wall, and if your cat is large you can attach it higher, so that she can benefit from the full stretch of the body while scratching.
The scratching material of this post is the sisal rope. Customers reported that it doesn’t shred. A few cat owners complained that the rope on their post would slide up and down the post, due to not enough stapling or too little rope used on the post. That would leave gaps in the coiling of the rope and look as if the post was defective. Other than that, the cat owners who bought this cat scratch post said that the post is durable.
The product comes with mounting screws and customers reported that it was easy and quick to install.
Some people reported that their post had a chemical odor.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Length of the Post: 18 inches
Size of the Scratching Surface: 2.8 inches diameter
Material: Sisal rope
Color: Light beige
Assembly: Includes mounting screws
- 100% stable
- Easy to install
- Small footprint (doesn’t take up floor room)
- You can mount it at any height you want
- Sometimes sisal rope slides up and down the pole (there are gaps between the rope)
- Short length (although you can attach it at an height you want)
- Can have a chemical odor
7. SmartCat Bootsie’s Three-in-One Cat Scratcher – Best Cat Scratching Post for Horizontal & Vertical Scratching
SmartCat Bootsie’s Three-in-One Cat Scratcher is 24 inches long, 7 inches wide and 2 inches thick. You can either put it on the floor so that your cat scratch horizontally or you can mount it to the wall, so that your cat can scratch vertically.
The scratcher is made of woven sisal, which is meant to be one of the strongest scratching materials, which indeed was affirmed by the customers who bought this product.
The post does not require assembly, other than mounting to the wall if you choose it to be a vertical scratcher. People who tried to mount the post to the wall oftentimes complained that it only has one hole at one end of the unit for mounting. As a result, the post slides on the wall when the cat scratches it. The proper design would require this post to have two holes at each of the ends to sturdily attach it to the wall.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical & Horizontal
Size of the Panel: 24 inches long, 7 inches wide and 2 inches thick
Material: Woven sisal
Color: Natural, beige color
Assembly: No assembly required, other than mounting on the wall
Additional Features: Features rubber feet; comes with an easy to set up wall mounting system
- You can put it on the floor or mount it to the wall
- Small footprint
- Durable fabric
- May be too short for large cats
- Because of onlyone hole, does not mount to the wall properly
8. 4CLAWS Curve Scratching Pad – Best Cat Scratching Post with Curved Surface
4CLAWS Curve Scratching Pad is 17.7 inches long, 10 inches wide and 1.6 inches thick. It’s a horizontal type of scratcher with an arched surface for a better scratching and stretching posture. The scratcher is reversible, so that once one surface has been used you can revert it on to the other side.
The scratching pad is made of a premium pressed cardboard, therefore it’s denser than the normal cardboard. Many customers who bought this product praised this scratching pad for being more durable than the other cardboard scratchers they used to have before. Having said that, you need to be aware that the cardboard will still shred and leave debris on the floor, just perhaps a bit less than the other cardboard scratchers on the market.
The scratching pad does not require assembly. It has a sleek and modern design, as well as a small footprint. Some cat owners who bought this cat scratcher complained that the item would slide around hard floors, therefore you should put it on the carpeted surface to make sure it stays in one place.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical/Curved
Size of the Panel: 17.7 inches long, 10 inches wide and 1.6 inches thick
Material: Premium pressed cardboard
Color: Natural, beige color
Assembly: No assembly required
Additional Features: Curved surface, reversible, you can buy a 2 pack for better value
- More durable than other cartboard scratchers
- Curved surface for better scratching and stretching experience
- Reversible
- No assembly required
- Slides on hard floors
- Leaves debris
9. AmazonBasics Premium Cat Scratching Post – Best Value for Money Cat Scratching Post
AmazonBasics Cat Scratching Post is a vertical cat scratching post, very similar to the Pioneer Pet SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post, but cheaper. It’s a tall cat scratching post. It has 35 inches of length and the size of the base is 15.4 x 15.4 inches. You can choose between a wooden and brown version of the post. The ‘brown’ option has a carpeted top and a carpeted base.
The material of a scratching surface is made of natural jute fiber. Sisal and jute fibers are similar in appearance, but they differ in terms of texture and durability. Jute fabric is softer and therefore less durable than sisal fabric. Nonetheless, the cat owners who bought this product didn’t complain about the quality or the durability of this cat scratcher. They didn’t experience shredding or wearing of the scratching fabric. Made with jute fabric, this is also a good scratching post to file nails.
Although this cat scratch post is very tall, people who bought it reported that the post is heavy, sturdy and stable. They didn’t observe this post to be wobbly and dangerous to their cats despite heavy use by their cats.
The assembly of this product was reported to be easy and quick, all the screws and a tightening tool are provided with the purchase.
A great extra feature that comes with this cat scratching pole is an attached pom-pom toy, which will catch your cat’s attention to play with. On the other side, however, a few customers complained that the toy would easily pull off from the post.
A few people noted that the screws at the bottom of the lower base tend to stick out a little bit which can cause scratching the floor.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Length of the Post: 35.4 inches
Size of the Base: 15.4 x 15.4 inches
Material: Natural jute fiber
Color: Wood (uncarpeted), brown (carpeted)
Assembly: 5 screws and the tightening tool provided
Additional Features: Replaceable dangle toy
- Tall
- Heavy, sturdy and stable
- Durable
- Easy to put together
- Has a pom-pom toy attached to it for cats to play
- Sometimes can have a chemical odor
- The screws at the bottom are a little too long and may scratch a floor
10. 4CLAWS Wall Mounted Scratching Post – Best Cat Scratching Post for Small Cats
4CLAWS Wall Mounted Scratching Post is a vertical cat scratching post that is wall mountable. It gives a guarantee that this post is 100% stable, as being attached to the wall, it can’t move.
This cat scratch post is 26 inches tall and the size of the scratching surface is 5.7 inches wide and 1.6 inches thick. 26 inches is not enough length to be suitable for large cats. They won’t be able to extend their bodies on this scratcher fully. For kittens, however, this post would be great.
This mountable cat post is made of hard corrugated cardboard. This type of material gives cats a very pleasurable scratching experience, therefore it’s a great choice for scratching surface material. Nevertheless, in the case of this product, customers reported that the post would shred too quickly, leaving small pieces of cardboard lying around the floor. Some cat owners reported the signs of wear even after a week of usage.
On one hand, this post can create a bit of a mess, but on the other hand, it is a good thing that the cats want to use it so much. Cats become hooked on using this cardboard cat post and forget about the furniture. Some people actually said that they didn’t mind the shredding and quick wear of a post as their cats have never scratched their furniture since they got this cardboard scratcher.
The product comes with four adhesive stainless steel mounting hooks. People who bought this cat scratcher were happy at how easy it was to install the post to the wall.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Length of the Post: 26 inches
Size of the Scratching Surface: 5.7 inches wide and 1.6 inches thick
Material: Premium pressed cardboard
Color: A cardboard color with white edges
Assembly: Includes adhesive stainless steel mounting hooks
- 100% stable
- Easy to install
- Cats get hooked on it (a cardboard gives a pleasurable scratching experience)
- Wears off quickly
- Short length
- Can be messy (bits of a cardboard scatter around the floor)
11. Petmaker Cat Scratching Post – Best Scratching Post for Kittens
Petmaker Cat Scratching Post consists of three scratching posts made of sisal rope. The height of each of the posts is 19.25 inches and the size of the base is 15.75 inches x 15.75 inches.
Because the height of this cat scratch post is only 19.25 inches it’s not the best fit for adult cats, as they would not be able to fully stretch their bodies. However, the construction of this product makes it a very stable and sturdy cat scratching post, ideal for lively kittens.
This cat scratcher has three hanging toys attached to the top base, a great way to engage the kittens and teach them how to use the post. Unfortunately, customers who bought this product reported that the toys didn’t last long, so you need to be prepared they will be quickly ripped off if you have very energetic kittens.
The cat owners who bought this cat scratch post reported that the assembly was very quick and easy. They were also happy with the durability of this product.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Length of the Post: 19.25 inches
Size of the Base: 15.75 inches x 15.75 inches
Material: Sisal rope, carpeted base
Color: Natural brown, tan, and cream
Assembly: Easy to assemble
Additional Features: 3 toys attached to the scratcher for playing
- Three cat scratching posts in one product
- Sturdy and stable
- Easy and quick assembly
- 3 hanging toys attached for playing
- Too short for adult cats (but great for kittens)
- Hanging toys get easily ripped off
12. PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge – Best Cat Scratching Post for Multiple Cats
PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge is a horizontal cat scratching post made of recycled, corrugated cardboard. It has two floors, so that more than one cat can use the scratcher at the same time. The scratch lounge comes in one piece and does not require assembly.
This large cardboard cat scratcher has a modern design and a sleek look. Its design allows cats for horizontal scratching, stretching, lounging and playing. However, being a horizontal scratcher, it is not suitable for vertical scratching and stretching. If your cat prefers scratching vertically, then this scratcher may not be suitable for her.
The dimensions of this cat scratcher are 39 inches in length, 11 inches in height and 14.3 inches in width. The size of the product is large enough to accommodate even 4 adult cats. However, if your cat is very large it may be too narrow for her, one customer reported.
People who bought this product reported that it’s sturdy, but at the same time light. Because the scratcher is light you can mount it onto the wall using bookshelf mounts.
As mentioned earlier, the scratcher is made of corrugated cardboard, a scratching material loved by cats thanks to the satisfying scratching experience it provides. The downside of the corrugated cardboard is that it wears down very quickly and leaves shredded pieces of cardboard around the floor. However, the cat owners who bought this large cardboard cat scratcher reported that it does not shred as much as other cardboard scratchers they used to have.
On the positive side, you can always flip the scratcher on the other side if you think the first side has been worn down to the fullest. Customers reported that the scratcher lasts for 6-9 months on average (depending on how much your cats are using it).
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Horizontal/Curved
Size of the Panel: 39 inches long x 11 inches high x 14.3 inches wide
Material: Recycled cardboard & non-toxic corn starch glue
Color: Natural color with sides in white
Assembly: No assembly required
Additional Features: A packet of catnip included
- Cats love using it
- Large size – suitable for multiple large cats (i.e. can accommodate 4 adult cats)
- No assembly required
- Good for scratching, stretching, lounging and playing
- Doesn’t shred as much as other cardboard scratchers
- Sturdy and light
- You can put it on the floor or attach to the wall (like a bookshelf)
- Modern design and sleek look
- Pricey
- May be too narrow for very large cats
13. Friends Forever Jumbo Cat Scratcher Cardboard Lounge – Best Cat Scratching Post for Adult Cats
Friends Forever Jumbo Cat Scratcher Cardboard Lounge consists of two scratching elements. An outer element, a lounge, has 34 inches x 12 inches x 11 inches. An inner element has 27 inches x 8 inches x 10.5 inches. The scratching surface is made of recycled cardboard.
In essence, with this cat scratch lounge, you get two scratching posts in one. Both elements are also reversible, so you can just reverse the scratcher onto the other side once the first side has been worn out.
Customers who bought this product said it was durable. They also said that the item is quite heavy which makes it stable and prevents from moving around or tipping over. Many people who bought this cat scratch lounge praised the scratcher for being long enough to accommodate large cats like Maine Coons or Ragdolls.
This scratch lounge comes as it is, with no assembly required. A packet of catnip is included with this scratcher.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Horizontal/Curved
Size of the Panel: External piece – 34 inches x 12 inches x 11 inches, Internal piece – 27 inches x 8 inches x 10.5 inches
Material: Recycled cardboard
Color: Willow brown
Assembly: No assembly required
Additional Features: A packet of catnip included
- Two scrtchers in one product
- Reversible
- Large size will accommodate large cats or multiple cats
- Stable
- No assembly required
- Pricey
- May be too narrow for very large cats
14. Sofa-Scratcher’ Couch-Corner Protector – Best Corner Cat Scratcher
Sofa-Scratcher’ Couch-Corner Protector is a vertical contoured panel designed to protect the corners of sofas and coaches. The length of this corner cat scratcher is 24 inches and its width is 10 inches. The base has 8 x 10 inches.
The scratching surface of this couch corner cat scratcher is made with a contoured sisal fabric, whereas the base is made of polycarbonate. The backside of the scratcher is padded with felt in order to protect the furniture.
The installation of this corner scratching post is simple and quick. You need to screw the plastic base with the scratching panel with 3 screws provided. Then you need to slide the plastic base under the sofa leg to anchor the scratcher in place.
The most common complaint among customers who bought this couch corner cat scratcher was that the panel would lean away from the couch when the cat scratches on it. That happens because the panel requires a leg of a couch sitting on the base to anchor it down. Without the leg, the protector has no stability and easily tips over.
Apart from the rounded version which is great for wide or rounded couch corners, there is also a squared version of this product. The ‘Sofa-Scratcher Squared‘ is ideal for the 90-degree or rear couch corners.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Size of the Panel: 24 inches long x 10 inches wide
Size of the Base: 8 x 10 inches
Material: Contoured sisal fabric, felt backing, polycarbonate base
Color: Beige, black, brown, gold, moss, olive
Assembly: 3 screws included, a Phillips Head Screwdriver required
- Small footprint (doesn’t take up floor room)
- Easy to install
- Short length
- Wobbly when used on certain sofas (when cat scratches, the board is pulled away from the base)
15. Art of Paws Ultimate Cat Scratching Post – Best Cat Scratching Post for Bored Cats
Art of Paws Ultimate Cat Scratching Post is a vertical cat scratching post. It’s a tall cat scratching post. The pole has 35.5 inches of length and the base has 15.8 x 15.8 inches. The product comes in dark wood color and is made of a sisal fabric. The top perch of the post measures 11.8 x 11.8 inches and it features a removable cushion you can clean easily.
This cat scratcher is tall enough for cats to be able to extend their body fully. Unfortunately, many customers who bought this product reported that the post is quite wobbly.
Some people who bought this product also reported that the quality and durability of this post is are rather poor. A few cat owners reported that the sisal fabric was not glued properly and it was coming off of the post.
People who bought this cat scratching pole were happy with how easy and quick it was to assemble this item. All the necessary tools (an Allen wrench) were included with the product.
Key Features:
Type of Scratching: Vertical
Length of the Post: 35.5 inches
Size of the Base: 15.8 x 15.8 inches
Material: Sisal fabric
Color: Dark wood
Assembly: All elements provided
Additional Features: Includes a removable cushion for a top perch
- Tall
- Easy to assemble
- Not durable
- Wobbly
- Poor quality (the sisal fabric comes off the pole)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Cats – Update
Currently, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be passed from cats to people (source). Therefore, cat owners are strongly encouraged not to abandon their cats in fear of catching coronavirus from them.
Cats seem to be only moderately susceptible to infection by coronavirus. A few cats that were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (a virus that causes COVID-19), had mild respiratory problems as a consequence of infection.
COVID -19 can be transmitted to cats by either people or other cats (the second scenario was proved in an experiment).
If a cat owner becomes infected with coronavirus, it’s advised that they self-isolate and don’t have direct contact with other people or their cats. If a feline caretaker is living alone, they should minimize contact with a cat to as little as possible and wash their hands regularly and carefully.
Buyer’s guide to scratching posts
Watching your cat notoriously scratching your couch or a set of old wooden pieces of furniture can be annoying. On one hand, you love your cat, on another one, you know she should not be destroying your valuable belongings.
But don’t worry. There is a way to stop your cat from scratching your furniture by providing her with the right cat scratching post. It’s important that the scratching post you choose ticks all the boxes for your furry friend so that your cat likes it and prefers using it over your poor coach.
This guide will go through all the qualities of a perfect cat scratching post that you should be looking for when choosing one for your cat.
Before buying a cat scratching post you need to understand what you should be looking for. You don’t want to end up with a product that your cat won’t like to use. The whole mystery in choosing a cat scratcher that your cat would like to use is to put yourself in the paws of your cat and understand the motives behind her behavior.
Why do cats scratch?
To understand your cat’s behavioral motives you need to understand first why do cats scratch.
Scratching is a perfectly natural behavior for cats and it should be actually encouraged than depressed. In a nutshell, scratching keeps a cat’s body and mentality in healthy shape.
Cats scratch because of the following main reasons:
- To exercise. While scratching, cats can stretch and flex their muscles and tendons to the fullest.
- To remove old, outer layers of their claws. It can maintain their claws healthy.
- To relieve stress and boredom.
- To mark their territory.
Declawing (onychectomy) is a surgical procedure of removing a cat’s claws permanently (amputation of the third joint and claw of each toe).
If you declaw your cat you will disrupt many of your cat’s basic physiological functions, such as walking, jumping, climbing, grooming, self-defense. Your cat will most likely develop an unnatural posture.
On top of that, your cat will feel constant pain and she is very likely to develop behavioral problems, such as stress, aggression, inappropriate urination or defecation, overgrooming, increased biting.
Declawing is illegal in many European countries, as well as in a few US cities, including Denver, San Francisco and New York state.
What to look for when choosing the best cat scratching post for your cat?
Once we know the reasons behind our cats’ scratching behaviors, we can now enlist a number of qualities you should be looking for while choosing the best cat scratching post for your furry friend.
When looking for the best cat scratcher you should be looking at the following qualities:
- Height
- Stability
- Scratching material
- Vertical, horizontal or angled surface
1. Height
The height of the cat scratching post is of utter importance. As mentioned before, one of the reasons cats scratch is that it enables them to extend their muscles and tendons fully. It is a form of exercise and keeps their muscular bodies healthy.
You need to choose a cat scratching post that will be tall enough so that it allows your cat for a full, good stretch.
If a scratching post is too short for your cat to extend fully, it’s quite likely she won’t be using it.
Below are the best tall cat scratching posts:
Pioneer Pet SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post – 32 inches tall
MidWest Cat Scratching Post – 35.4 inches tall
AmazonBasics Premium Cat Scratching Post – 41 inches tall
2. Stability
Another very important quality of the cat scratching post is stability. The taller the post is (which is good) the harder it is for the post to be stable.
The product you want to choose has to be stable and sturdy. It should not be moving. If the post is wobbly your cat won’t be using it. Your feline will be afraid that the post will tip over her.
The reason why cats choose couches and sofas for scratching is that they know these objects are sturdy and they will never tip over them.
If you want to persuade your cat to use a scratching post over your coach, you need to provide her with a sturdy and stable scratching post. Make sure that the post you want to choose has a wide, thick and heavy base.
Below are the most sturdy cat scratching posts:
Pioneer Pet SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post
AmazonBasics Premium Cat Scratching Post
PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge
3. Scratching material
Scratching material is another factor of utter importance. The scratching material needs to provide your cat with a pleasant and satisfying scratching experience.
It needs to have proper texture. A perfect texture should enable your cat to shred it nicely so that she feels it works well under her claws and paws, as well as it makes a proper, satisfying noise.
A mistake that many cat owners do is that they choose scratching posts which materials look nice to their eyes, that would suit their living spaces. Unfortunately, the nice, sleek material that suits your living room, will most probably not work for your cat.
The most satisfying scratching experience provide sisal fabric and heavy corrugated cardboard. These materials are heavy-duty, provide satisfying noise while scratched and cats are able to shred them well.
Below are the best cat scratching posts with the satisfying scratching materials:
Pioneer Pet SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post
PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge
PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge
SmartCat Bootsie’s Three-in-One Cat Scratcher
4. Fabric vs. rope
You will find that some cat scratching posts are made of a fabric (i.e. sisal fabric) and some are made of a rope (i.e. sisal rope).
The fabric offers better scratching and shredding experience for cats.
When scratching fabric, a cat can move her paws and claws seamlessly, with no interruptions.
When scratching rope, however, the cat’s moves are repeatedly interrupted due to the wrapping of the rope and her experience may be unsatisfying.
Below are the best cat scratching posts made with sisal fabric:
Pioneer Pet SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post
SmartCat Bootsie’s Three-in-One Cat Scratcher
Trixie Pet Products Miguel Fold and Store Cat Tower
The best cat scratching pots made with sisal rope are:
4CLAWS Wall Mounted Scratching Post
5. Scratching angle
Although cats predominantly scratch vertically, they also like scratching horizontally and even diagonally. Therefore, if you would like your cat to spare shredding your carpet you can also provide them with a horizontal cat scratcher.
A good idea is to provide your cat with as many scratching surfaces as possible, so that she never gets bored.
Types of cat scratching posts
There are three main types of cat scratching posts:
1. Vertical cat scratching posts – where your cat can extend her body vertically
2. Horizontal cat scratching posts – where your cat can stretch her body horizontally
3. Angled cat scratching posts – where your cat can stretch her body under an angle
Best Cat Scratching Post – Frequently Asked Questions
How to get a cat to use a scratching post?
Use the following tips to teach your cat using her new cat scratching post:
– Put the cat scratching post in your cat’s favorite room. For the time being, you can also put it directly in front of the piece of furniture your cat used to scratch. For a quicker effect, you can cover your coach with special vinyl protectors which will give your cat an unpleasant feeling in case they want to scratch your sofa again.
– Take your cat paws and rub them against the post, showing her how to use the post. Scratch the post with your own nails to show your cat what she should do with it.
– Rub the scratching surface with the catnip.
– Initially, each time your cat scratches the post give her a special treat. That will reinforce good behavior, strengthen good connotations of scratching the post and create a new habit.
Where do you put a scratching post?
If you bought a cat scratching post to stop your cat scratching some pieces of your furniture, you should place the scratching post close to that piece or pieces of furniture. You can put the cat scratcher right next to the furniture, in front of it or on top of it.
Do kittens need scratching post?
It’s a very wise thing to start familiarizing your kitten with a scratching post as soon as possible. That way you can teach your kitten to scratch the post before a kitten starts scratching your furniture. If you instill in your kitten a habit of scratching the post, a kitten will be less likely to start scratching your furniture.
What makes a good cat scratching post?
The most important aspects of a cat scratching post are the scratching material, the base, and how long the post is. The best scratching material is deemed to be a sisal fabric. Sisal fabric gives a satisfying experience while a cat is scratching on it. The base of the post should be large enough to keep the post stable. The scratching post should be long enough so that a cat can stretch the whole length of her body.
Why won’t my cat use her scratching post?
Your cat may not like to use a scratching post for a number of reasons. Most often, your cat may not be attracted to a scratching post because the post’s scratching angle is not the same as the favorite scratching angle of your cat. That’s why it’s a good idea to observe what is the best scratching position of your cat before making a buying decision. If you see your cat tends to scratch a lot vertically, i.e. the sofas and the chairs, buy her a vertical scratching post. If you see she likes to scratch the carpet, buy her a horizontal scratching post.
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