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Last updated: 12 Jul 2022
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Best Cat Scratching Post

Best Overall
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Cat Post Scratching Post
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Best for Kittens
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Kingfisher Cat Scratching Post
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Fastest Assembly
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Trixie Parla scratching post
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Best Base
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DIVCHI Cat Scratching Post
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Tallest Post
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Kerbl Cat Opal Scratching Post
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author-image
By Editor
Published 12 Jul 2022
Show contents
  • 1 Cat Post Scratching Post
  • 2 Kingfisher Cat Scratching Post
  • 3 Trixie Parla scratching post
  • 4 DIVCHI Cat Scratching Post
  • 5 Kerbl Cat Opal Scratching Post

You’re relaxing, spending some quality time with your favorite cat. She silently disappears from view (like cats do). Then, you hear a sound...Scratch! Wait, was that the couch? Uh oh! You’d better get that kitty a cat scratching post!

Cats are determined to scratch, and they will scratch whatever meets their fancy if left to their own devices. In fact, scratching is a natural instinct that keeps cats’ claws in tip-top shape as well as marks territory, so you might as well go with the flow and provide a scratching post made just for cats. Further, giving your kitty an appropriate scratching post is much preferred over the harsh solution of declawing. Read below for answers to common questions about buying a scratching post, a detailed buying guide, and suggestions for specific cat scratching posts.

1

Cat Post Scratching Post

– Best Overall
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Key Features

While your cat stretches around the post, its broad foundation keeps it from swaying. Available in a neutral colour with a compact structure, you can set it in any area of your home, and it will blend into your decor.

THE SCOOP

This sturdy post comprises unpainted MDF wood and is thirty-two inches in height, allowing your cat to stretch vertically. It contains a fibrous and long-lasting woven sisal pillar encasement, naturally encouraging scratching. Because of its vertical build, you won’t have to worry about the structure toppling over, and the pillar is solid and robust.  

Pros
  • The post comprises durable sisal material.
  • It has a sturdy base.
  • It is compact and sleek. 
Cons
  • The MDF board may not be attractive to some people.  
2

Kingfisher Cat Scratching Post

– Best for Kittens
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Key Features

Because the base is light, fasten it with weights or tucked beneath furniture to maintain a solid balance. This scratching post is best compatible with kittens, adult cats have more weight, and the post may topple over.

THE SCOOP

This sturdy post comes with a comfortable plush grey base and an integrated dangling ball for more fun and interest. It has a sisal braiding that allows kittens to maintain claws while scratching and is approximately eighteen inches in height. The scratching post is simple to assemble: screw the post into the base, and your cat will have a secure area to stretch and scratch.  

Pros
  • It includes a dangling play-ball.
  • It is easy to assemble.
  • It is easy to transport. 
Cons
  • It has a lightweight base and is not ideal for heavier cats. 
3

Trixie Parla scratching post

– Fastest Assembly
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Key Features

The scratching post is suitable for all cats as the construction is sturdy. Assembly time is fast, and the process is easy: screw the scratching post onto the base.

 

THE SCOOP

This cat tree is comfortable for cats to play with and rest. It has a plush covering around the base, and the scratching post comes pre-wrapped with sisal material. The base measures twenty by twenty centimetres, and the post is sixty-two centimetres in height. It comes in two neutral colours: beige and grey, which will blend into most home theme decor. 

Pros
  • The plush base is comfy.
  • The sisal wrap can endure extensive scratching.
  • It is easy to set up. 

 

Cons
  • It does not come with a ball. 

 

4

DIVCHI Cat Scratching Post

– Best Base
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Key Features

The post’s components connect with screws for sturdiness and rigidity, and installation is simple. The package contains all the tools needed for assembly.

THE SCOOP

The design is perfect for all medium-sized cats, from kittens to adults, because the base measures thirty by thirty centimetres, and the scratching pillar extends to forty centimetres. The base tower comprises durable chipboard upholstered in comfortable plush. This scratching pillar has a strong cardboard tube encased in sisal, making it secure and stable with minimal tilting or wobbling. 

Pros
  • It has a strong base.
  • The scratching post is sturdy.
  • It comprises naturally sustainable materials. 

 

Cons
  • The plush material may collect more fur, making maintenance challenging.  
5

Kerbl Cat Opal Scratching Post

– Tallest Post
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Key Features

The post is easy to install, and the parts attach with screws for stability and firmness. As a bonus feature, it comes with a hanging play-ball. 

THE SCOOP

The base measures thirty-nine centimetres long by thirty-nine centimetres in width, and it has a height of seventy-eight centimetres. The scratching post is detachable, offering the option of a tall or short scratching post to better suit the dimensions of your cat. It uses a glued sisal base to cover both post pieces, and the base and pillar caps comprise plush fabric.   

Pros
  • The post offers a high extension range.
  • It comes with an in-built play-ball. 
  • The height adjusts to suit individual cat needs.
Cons
  • The extended height may topple easier: use a solid object to secure the base. 

Buying Guide

There’s something about buying new items for your pets that just feels so good, doesn’t it? You’re excited because you know your cat will love a new toy or scratching post that’s all their own. Choosing the best cat scratching post can be not quite as easy as you might have hoped. There are so many types and brands to choose from. To help you narrow down your choices, here are some key features to consider when selecting a new cat scratching post:

 

  • Style: Paying attention to your cat’s scratching preferences is key, because some cats prefer to keep their scratching horizontal and close to ground level, even laying on their backs to scratch, while others like to reach up to scratch. If your cat is a horizontal or low scratcher, there are a number of recyclable cardboard scratchers that are an excellent fit. One the other hand, if your cat likes to reach up and scratch vertically, then a taller scratching post is ideal. It’s best to go with the flow of what your cat naturally likes rather than try to get them to use a type of post that’s counterintuitive to their already-set ways.

 

  • Material: Cats are finicky. This is well known. Many cats enjoy scratching natural sisal or jute rope, while others prefer cardboard or something entirely different. Many scratching posts are made with durable wrapped sisal or jute rope, and others are made of a sisal fabric that has more of a vertical grain. Just in case your cat doesn’t take to the scratching post, be sure to check the seller’s return policy before you buy. Your cat may or may not agree with you about your choice of material. However, the popular sisal coverings are usually a safe bet that please most kitties.

 

  • Construction: If you have an avid scratcher or a multiple cat household, durability is important. One thing that makes a cat scratching post sturdy is the quality of the base. The base should be relatively wide and heavy so that the post doesn’t tip over from the scratching action. Also, a scratching post should be able to stand up to regular use.

FAQs

Q: How tall should a scratching post be?

A: Some cats like to scratch down at their level, and for these cats, a horizontal or low-level scratcher doesn’t need much height. However, many cats like to scratch vertically, and they reach upward, extending their front paws up into a nice, feel-good stretch. For these vertical scratchers (which most cats are), a scratching post that’s at least 30 inches tall is best. Ideally, up to 32 or 33 inches is tall enough for any cat, even the big ones.

Q: What type of material do cats like to scratch?

A: Cats like the resistance of a rough material for scratching, maybe because the friction created as they pull their claws over it is effective at removing the outer, dead parts of the claws. Top choices in materials for cat scratching posts include natural sisal or jute in either a tightly wound rope or a woven form, cardboard (which is replaceable) and the old standby of carpet. Sisal is a tough, durable natural fiber from a plant that many cats take to intuitively.

Q: Can I train my cat to use the scratching post?

A: Yes! There’s always hope! The Humane Society has a few suggestions about getting your cat accustomed to using a scratching post. First, it’s important that you place the scratching post in a good place. Somewhere that you’re both frequently in, like the main living space, is ideal. Next, you should play with your cat near and with the scratching post. You can sprinkle catnip on the post, and press it into the length of the post. You can also play with toys at the post, making the scratching post part of the play. These things will help your cat to know that the post is a safe, good place. Finally, you can even model the behavior by scratching it a little bit yourself, so your cat gets the idea. Hopefully, these techniques will get your kitty scratching where they should in no time.

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By Editor
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