1) Trixie Parla Scratching Post	2) Ancol Premo XL Scratching Post	3) Catscratcherz Cat Scratching Lounge	4) Sharples-n-Grant Cat Scratcher	5) Catit Scratching Board Lounge
Average User Rating	(4.6 / 5)	(4.3 / 5)	(5 / 5)	(4 / 5)	(4.8 / 5)
Scratching Material	Natural sisal	Natural sisal	Cardboard	Natural sisal	Cardboard
Extras	No	- Hanging ball	No	- Hanging ball	- Catnip sachet
Also Used For Lounging/Resting	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Colours	- Grey - Beige	- Chocolate	- Grey	- Brown	- Jungle stripes
Dimensions (cm)	39.4L x 62H x 39.4W	30L x 70H x 30W	82L x 27.5H x 26.4W	29L x 39H x 29W	49.5L x 3.8H x 22.9W
Weight	2.3kg	2.2kg	2.3kg	1.2kg	331g
Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

	6) Ancol Acticat Fat Boy Scratch Post	7) Trixie Scratching Board	8) Me & My Large Scratching Post	9) PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge	10) Me & My Bed & Scratching Post
Average User Rating	(4.7 / 5)	(4.4 / 5)	(4.6 / 5)	(4.9 / 5)	(4.5 / 5)
Scratching Material	Natural sisal	Natural sisal	Natural sisal	Cardboard	Natural sisal
Extras	No	No	No	No	- Hanging ball
Also Used For Lounging/Resting	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Colours	- Chocolate	- Beige	- Beige	- White	- Beige
Dimensions (cm)	50L x 70H x 50W	78L x 2.5H x 19W	40L x 69H x 40W	99L x 36H x 28W	36L x 47H x 36W
Weight	5kg	780g	2.8kg	5kg	4kg
Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

 

A Guide To The Best Cat Scratching Posts

Scratching is part of a cat’s natural behaviour, it is also essential for conditioning a cat’s claws as it helps them remove the dead outer layer of their claws.  There are other important reasons why cats scratch, it’s also a way for them to mark their territory and it also helps your feline relive stress.  

As you’ll probably agree, a cat scratching post is a very important piece of furniture for your cat.  Cat towers or trees tend to come equipped with posts wrapped in natural sisal or other cat claw friendly material.  Therefore buying alternative cat scratching furniture such as a cat tower may eliminate the need to buy a separate scratching post.

 

Choosing The Best Cat Scratching Post

With so many options to choose from with all different shapes and sizes, it can be quite difficult to know what the best cat scratching post for your feline is.  Here are several things to look out for when buying a cat scratching post:

Height – Cats usually prefer to fully stretch out so depending on the length of your cat, your cat will probably prefer it if the scratching post was tall enough for him to fully stretch whilst he’s scratching away.

Vertical or horizontal – Some cats may prefer scratching on something flat rather than a vertical post.  If this is the case then a flat scratching pad can also be used to relax or sleep on.

Scratching material – The scratching material tend to be either covered in sisal rope or cardboard, both can be replaced.  Sisal rope tends to be used for scratching posts whereas cardboard tends to be used for horizontal scratching pads. 

 

How To Get Your Cat To Use The Scratching Post

If you’ve not owned your cat since he was a kitten then you may have to train your cat to use the scratching post

rather than your furniture!  If your cat is still a kitten then best way is to start young so it’s easier for them to get use to scratching their furniture and not yours. 

If you have found a scratching post or scratching pad you want your feline to love, then here are several methods that might just do the trick:

Location – Placing the post within easy reach and not tucked away in the corner somewhere is essential if you want your cat to be using their scratching post.

Entice them – You can spray or rub catnip on the post this is a scent that is likely to appeal to them.  Another way is by luring them with a shoelace, your cat is likely to follow the shoelace and paw at it which you can eventually lead him to the scratching post. 

Reward – When your cat does start using the post then remember to reward him, this way he knows he’s done something right and can associate using the post as something positive.

 

How To Prevent Your Cat From Scratching Your Furniture

If your cat is still scratching away at your furniture rather than the scratching post you bought then there are several things you can do to try to prevent him from old habits. 

Tin foil or sticky tape – If your cat tends to scratch a particular area, try covering it in tin foil or double sided

sticky tape.  Cats don’t like the texture of tin foil or sticky tape so this could be a good solution, then if your cat eventually starts using the scratching post you can remove the tin foil or sticky tape.

Tell them off – This is what you probably should be doing anyway, just say in a fairly loud and firm voice “no!”.  It’s most effective to do this when they’re actually scratching the furniture not when they’re approaching.

You can also try spraying them with water, just once should be ok and this may stop them from scratching your furniture. 

Cat odour remover – Cats like to scratch the same area because that’s where they have marked their territory and their scent is also left on that part of the furniture.  Cat odour remover contains pro-bacteria and enzymes which removed these stains and odours so your cat is likely to revisit that spot.