If you prefer something a little bit simpler, or if your cat is a cardboard scratcher enthusiast, you can also make a basic design using a pizza box. In this article, we’ll take a look at the qualities of the best scratching posts and get to know the top 10 best cat scratching posts on the market. Qualities of the Best Cat Scratching Posts The post is 32-inches tall, so cats can stretch themselves out and claw away at the fibrous, durable sisal covering. It's also stable, with a base 16-inch square base that keeps the post steady and prevents it from sliding across the floor or toppling. You’ll have to do a little assembly when it first arrives—inserting dowels into holes and attaching the base to the scratch post—but no power tools are required. At the same time, however, a good scratching post needs to hold up to years of vigorous use. A few months of use shouldn’t leave your cat’s scratching post a shredded mess. Remember that scratching isn’t all about claws and paws – your cat uses scratching as an opportunity to stretch out the muscles and tendons in their entire body. That’s why it’s important to choose a scratching post that’s long enough to allow your cat to achieve a complete vertical or horizontal stretch.

Every cat scratches. Having a cat scratcher in your home will protect your furniture and promote health and happiness in your kitty. It’s critical to buy a high-quality cat scratcher that accommodates your cat’s preferred scratching method, is made from non-toxic materials and is larger than your pet. Though the design is basic and simple, this set of three provides plenty of area for cats to dig in their claws. They can easily be placed anywhere in the home without drawing attention, except for your cat’s, of course. You can’t really know until you’ve bought and tried a cat scratcher, but your cat can give you a few clues before you’ve invested too much money. Take a look at the surfaces he’s already scratching and try to find something that’s similar. If he’s digging at your carpet, a carpet covered scratcher might be perfect. A cat who scratches the side of your couch may prefer a sisal covered post that more closely matches the fabric of the couch. Usually, you’ll have more success if you follow your cat’s lead. Cats can easily lose interest in worn-out cat scratchers. Regain her interest by dusting the scratcher with catnip or moving it to a different location of the house.Dense, recycled cardboard covers every surface and provides hours of scratch time. It holds up to heavy use, which means you won’t be replacing it anytime soon. And, it’s reversible. Once one side starts to wear out, you can flip it over and use the other side. Many people like to spread a little catnip over their cat’s toys but that can lead to catnip on the carpet or furniture. The dense cardboard structure of this scratcher prevents catnip from falling through, preserving your flooring and giving your cat the best chance to adjust to his new scratcher.

A cat scratcher not only needs to be functional for your cat but it needs to seamlessly fit into your home. Here are some of the features you’ll need to think about before making your selection: A solid pinewood base keeps the whole cat tree strong, stable, and pet friendly, creating a healthy and safe space for your furry friend Though it’s simple in shape and function, cats love the Catit Style Scratcher. The rounded ends provide enough resistance for comfortable lounging. Add to that the durable cardboard and you’ve got a cat scratcher that can fit in the corner, next to the couch, or in a bedroom without taking up too much space. This cat scratcher comes in three different configurations, though each has the same corrugated surface, you may find that your cat prefers one shape over the other. The S-chaise tends to appeal to the playful can that likes to hide while the urban bench is meant for those cats with a superior bearing that prefer to look down on their subjects and, of course, scratch when the urge hits them. Your cat may need time to adjust to a new scratcher, which is why the manufacturer also includes a bonus bag of catnip that can be spread over its surface. The catnip draws the cat in and before you know it, it becomes one of their favorite locations in the house. If you only own one cat, one cat scratcher is fine. Buy multiple cat scratchers if you live in a multi-cat household. If your pet loses interest in the cat scratcher, try moving it to a different area of your home to encourage her to use it again.

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Our selection for best overall is the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post. It's well made and has a classic design that comes in two neutral colors to coordinate with most home decor styles. Most importantly, the majority of cats find the shape and the sisal carpet covering will appeal to your cat and their clawing habit. If you'd prefer a cat scratching post that's more streamlined, consider the 7 Ruby Road Wall Mounted Scratcher, which can be mounted to the wall or secured to the floor. What to Look for in a Cat Scratching Post Size Size. You’ll have to think about the height, width, and depth as cat scratchers vary in size by type and model. Take a good look at your available floor or wall space and remember that your cat will spend time lounging near the scratcher too. For stand-alone models, which most cat scratchers are, the base needs to be wide enough that it won’t tip over. Once a cat has been toppled over enough times, he’s not likely to use the scratcher very often. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular scratching post materials and evaluate how well they work. Carpet Scratching is very much part of a cat’s natural routine. It’s pretty much the only way that a cat can wear down their claws and make sure that they remain sharp (although we do sometimes trim our domestic cats’ claws). In addition to this, it also gives them the chance to stretch their muscles and spread their scent. Scent marking is vital for cats – it helps them mark an area as safe, as well as advertising their presence to any visiting mogs. If you don’t give your cat a suitable post to scratch, the chances are that they’ll look for something else to scratch – and that’s how furniture and carpets get ruined. What materials should my cat scratcher be made from?

The SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post is designed to last for year, and with several months of daily use from two cats, the scratcher shows no signs of losing its appeal. It's large enough to stay permanently in one place like a small piece of furniture, but light enough so that it can be moved around. We found it to be incredibly effective as a barricade between a couch leg and a cat's desire to claw. Jute – Jute is a long, shiny vegetable fibre that’s mostly grown in tropical countries such as India and Bangladesh. It’s easy to produce, sturdy and biodegradable, and is the second most versatile fabric after cotton. Jute is spun into coarse, strong threads that are ideal for use in cat scratchers as they’re so tough. If you’ve got a carpet scratcher, this is the scratching mat for you. It almost looks like a rug so it can blend seamlessly into your home, but the sisal is perfect for your cat to claw and scratch without damaging your carpet. They Save Your Furniture: Buying a cat scratcher will dissuade your pet from scratching your furniture and destroying it. A cat scratcher gives her a great place to scratch her nails without being destructive. Spray the scratching post with catnip spray. This will encourage your cat to spend time around the scratching post and, eventually, it will entice it to dig in their claws for the first time.

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Replaceable cardboard. Eventually, your cat will wear through the cardboard on the cat scratcher. Models with replaceable scratchpads will prevent you from needing to buy an entirely new cat scratcher every time your cat makes his way through another pad.