Scratching post for cats: types and how to make it yourself

Author of the article: Astafieva Ekaterina Alekseevna

Cat owners know firsthand how difficult it is to wean a pet from bad habits. One of them is sharpening claws on interior items. Animals, by their nature, regularly need this, but on the street, overgrown claws can easily be sharpened on wood, benches, and so on; in an apartment, this role is often played by furniture, walls, carpets, etc.

Many owners regularly trim their cats’ nails, and some put special covers on them to avoid property damage - all these methods bring discomfort to their pets, and are contraindicated for some. Installing a scratching post is considered the most natural, safe and effective. There are many options for such devices in stores; choosing the right one is quite difficult, so our experts have identified criteria that you should pay special attention to when purchasing a product.

Choosing a scratching post for your pet

Every member of the cat family - be it a huge Bengal tiger or a small rare domestic cat - sharpens its claws. This most important tool of a predator must always be in combat readiness in order to both hold the prey and fight off enemies. By sharpening its claws, the cat marks its territory - under its paw pads it has special glands that secrete a secretion. The higher and deeper the scratches, the larger and stronger the animal that lives in a given area. Well, you also need to do a manicure - remove the dead stratum corneum. Stopping a cat from sharpening its claws is a futile exercise. It is much easier and more correct to make sure that this activity does not cause inconvenience to the owners. That's what scratching posts were invented for!

Go to any pet store. There are so many offers – it’s dizzying! From inexpensive carpet runners on a wooden base to huge (up to 260 cm in height) complexes of houses, posts, hammocks and beds. Scratching posts can be made of different materials, different shapes and sizes, and have different capabilities. To figure out what exactly your pet needs, you first need to understand what you will have to choose from.

The size of the scratching post matters

The most inexpensive and most compact scratching post is a board or rug. It is indispensable in small apartments where space is sorely lacking. The board can be placed on the floor and you will get a comfortable rug. Screwed to a wall or door, it will appeal to cats who prefer to sharpen their claws vertically. Posts are also suitable for these cats. They take up a little more space than a board on the wall. But many cats choose just this option - besides, you can climb on it and look at what is happening around from an elevated position. The posts can be equipped with a couch on top - just for those who prefer to sit higher, or with a “teaser” - a toy that can be tossed, tugged, chewed on or torn off. The post should be as stable as possible; it would be a good idea to secure it to the floor so that the structure does not tip over and scare the cat.

Many cats love to hide. They are the ones who need houses, which are often combined with scratching posts . Another interesting and convenient option is a bed with a post and “fishing rods” - dangling toys. The cat can lie on a soft pillow and lazily play with a mouse on a string.

This type of scratching post , like a wave, is also convenient - you can sharpen your claws, lie down in comfort, and even hide under it.

And, of course, the largest and most expensive option is a whole sports complex for cats. It combines different types of beds - from a small area to houses and hammocks, posts, rugs, ladders, and tunnels... Everything at once to satisfy the needs of the most demanding and active cats. Complexes can be quite compact, corner, or occupy up to half the room. The imagination of manufacturers is limitless, and choosing a complex is not an easy task. If only you knew what your cat would like...

From form to content

Scratching posts also differ in the material from which they are made. Usually they use carpet, sesal, hemp rope and even cardboard. Beds are most often made of faux fur or plush. To make it easier for a cat to get accustomed to a scratching post , some manufacturers impregnate their products with a special composition that attracts cats (valerian or catnip). The service life of a scratching post, of course, depends entirely on how eagerly the cat uses it. However, it is not difficult to guess that cardboard will last much less than hemp rope or carpet. But if your pet sharpens its claws exclusively on cardboard, you will only have to arrange regular supplies of this wonderful material.

Problem of choice

Now we know what we have to choose from. The most important question remains: what to choose? And how many scratching posts does a cat need?

As strange as it may sound, ask your cat! Of course, she will not be able to tell you in detail and in detail about what color and style of scratching post she wants. But its habits can tell an attentive owner a lot. For example, if a cat sharpens its claws on all carpets - from the doormat in the hallway to the Persian carpet by the piano - choose carpet scratching posts with horizontal surfaces (for sports complexes) or place a simple scratching board on the floor (secured accordingly). If wallpaper and door jambs are suffering, your cat will benefit from all types of posts or corner boards that are attached to walls and doors. Well, if your cat dreams of climbing onto the highest cabinet, from there jumping onto the ledge, hanging on the curtain, then running along the wall and hiding under the mattress on your bed, choose a large sports complex with a maximum of various attractive posts, tunnels, hammocks and bed Its size may depend only on your capabilities.

For particularly picky cats - or for a new kitten in your home - purchase several scratching posts made of different materials and different shapes. The cat will make the choice itself. In any case, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just one simulator. Place scratching posts in different rooms, because the cat may want to sharpen its claws in the most inopportune place and at the most inopportune moment.

User manual

Whatever complex you choose, you should not be under the illusion that the cat will instantly switch to it, forgetting about your favorite sofa or new wallpaper in the hallway. You will have to spend some time training and accustoming your cat. The idea is simple - every time you see that the cat begins to sharpen its claws, take it to the designated place and run its paws along a post or board. As a rule, cats quickly understand that this is their rightful place, and besides, their claws wear down on hemp rope or carpet much better than on wallpaper. The main thing when training is the sequence of your actions. It is also important to install the scratching post at a sufficient height - the cat should be able to stretch out to its full height and arch its back.

DIY scratching post

Some owners prefer to make their own scratching posts for their cats. The choice of materials and shapes for them is unlimited. For cats who are especially persistent in peeling off walls, you can line the corridor - or the entire apartment - with clapboard (to a height where the cat can reach with its claws) and replace the boards as they become unusable. You can bring a picturesque log from the forest (just don’t cut down living trees, you can always find an already fallen tree). You can make a scratching post from an old carpet or upholstery of a chair that you were just about to throw away. And if you hang a rope between the cabinets or in the doorway, the cat will be able to climb on it... Fantasize for your own pleasure! The main thing is convenience and safety. In addition, you can “fit” homemade scratching posts into even the smallest apartment, using your living space to the maximum benefit.

If you are unable to train your cat to use only a scratching post , you can try special silicone caps that remain on the claws for up to 8 weeks, after which they are removed, the cat’s claws are trimmed (after all, their growth does not slow down) and new ones are glued on. The main thing is to accustom the cat to both procedures - cutting the claws and gluing the “claws”. But you can give your furry fashionista any manicure!

DIY scratching post made of cardboard

It happens that scratching posts made of material attractive to your cat are purchased, placed in all convenient places, and the animal is drawn to tear up the owner’s new sofa. And no educational measures, including unexpectedly jumping out of an ambush and spraying the cat with water from a spray bottle, help!

Experienced owners have long understood: in order to force a cat to sharpen its claws only in the prescribed place, they need to make this place “like honey smeared” for it. Honey will probably only attract bears, but the smell of catnip or valerian will suit cats.

Manufacturers immediately picked up this “discovery” and made life easier for owners by creating special products . Once you spray your scratching posts with them, you won’t be able to pull cats away by the ears, they say. Of course, there is no miracle here. Such products contain the same substances whose aroma is attractive to cats. Usually these are extracts of various plants.

To enhance the effect of the attractant, you can also use a repellent . Its smell is unpleasant to the cat, and there is hope that it will avoid the owner's sofa.

Both of these magical “elixirs” do not leave stains on the surface and are safe for pets. True, they say that not all cats react to them in the way promised by the manufacturer. But furniture and repairs are more expensive, so it’s worth a try.

Bengal cats from a very early age, without much effort on the part of their owners, begin to intensively use a scratching post and do not change this habit throughout their lives.
But if your pet does not immediately accept the scratching post properly, try to accustom him to it using the above rules. I am sure that your efforts will not be in vain, and you will forget about scratches on your furniture forever!

Review of popular models

House for a cat: options for how to make it yourself

Cat owners are offered a wide selection of scratching posts in pet stores. The most popular models are scratching posts from Yami-Yami, Kitty City, Dezzie, Major and some others.

Yami-Yami

Yami-Yami scratching posts are distinguished by their quality and durability. Comfortable and beautiful scratching posts-houses and posts are very popular among cat owners. This company makes voluminous cardboard scratching posts in the shape of a figure eight. There is a recess inside where the cat can lie down. In addition, Yami-Yami has flat wall-mounted and floor-mounted scratching posts covered in jute. Environmentally friendly materials and cute design of these scratchers make them indispensable in the home of cat owners.

Yami-Yami

Kitty City

Kitty City produces furniture and accessories for pets. You can find scratching posts-houses and play complexes. Among the Kitty City scratching posts, there are two varieties: posts with toys and flat scratching posts made of several thick layers of cardboard. There are narrow and wide models.

Important! Kitty City play sets are quite compact and include a scratching post, several hanging toys and a shelter house.

Kitty City

Dezzie

The Dezzie company offers original designer scratching posts and accessories. The range includes compact scratching posts in the form of a column with a house and a slide, “three-story” play scratchers, houses with two hanging toys on the sides and other models. All products are decorated with images of a cat's face or paw print and are made from natural materials (wood and sisal).

Dezzie

Major

The Major company presents a variety of options for scratching posts. There are corner, wall and wide floor scratching posts made of cardboard, scratching posts with a brush, and posts made of jute. You can find multi-tiered play complexes with several scratching posts, toys and a house. The Major company produces scratching posts-toys in the form of a plate with a ball inside that can be chased in a circle.

Important! All Major products are made from reliable environmentally friendly materials: wood, plush, sisal, jute, cardboard.

Major

Other

You can find pet products from different manufacturers on sale. Excellent scratching posts are made by Red Plastic, Pushok, Meridian, Khvostovich and many others. “Pushok” is rightfully considered one of the best domestic brands. It has long established itself as a manufacturer of useful and high-quality products for pets.

On the official website of the manufacturer you can find posts, corner and flat scratching posts, complexes for cats, soft beds. She has been making custom-made cat houses for many years. Masters create real masterpieces using ready-made diagrams and drawings. The customer will require individual measurements and additional wishes for size and materials. famous for its excellent quality and stylish design.

Fluff

Which is the best scratching post for a cat?

To prevent your cat from getting bored alone at home and from damaging the furniture with its claws, you can do two things: wean your cat off letting out its claws by trimming them or through long-term training, or buy a scratching post.

The second option is not only simpler and faster in effect, but also much more useful for the cat, since it does not suppress its natural instincts to climb on surfaces with the help of its claws. The cat is already locked in an apartment, in an unnatural environment for itself, where it cannot move to its heart’s content.

But to choose a scratching post, you need to know a few rules and study what types of scratching posts there are.

Is it easy to train a cat to sharpen its claws using a special device?

The kitten will be attracted to the scratching post by the presence of a hanging toy. It is recommended to get used to sharpening claws from a young age, so that for your pet it will be as natural and familiar as feeding from a bowl or using a tray. By periodically indicating a place where it is comfortable to scratch your claws, you can maintain order in the house.

An adult can be lured to the product by a pleasant surface, the ability to climb, hide in a cozy house, as well as a hanging toy or a laser pointer. Additionally, mint herb is used. It attracts animals with its scent.

Scratching post-post

The most common option in Russia, and in the world. Allows you to imitate a tree trunk for an animal and supports its back and paw muscles, promotes the renewal of bone tissue in its claws.

Buying a scratching post below 50 cm in height does not make much sense, unless for a small kitten. The optimal height is a scratching post 50-70 centimeters high.

The surface material of the scratching post can be:

Jute is a dark and short-lived material of natural origin; ropes made from it are used in cheap types of scratching posts.

Sisal is also a natural rope, but it is stronger and more durable than jute, its service life is much longer, and its color is much lighter.

Corrugated cardboard is economy class, even less durable than jute, but completely environmentally safe and made from recycled materials.

Natural wood is an expensive segment; essentially it is a tree trunk, decorated in the style of the interior of the room.

There are more exotic options: furniture fabric, carpet, plastic, fur...

Rating of the best scratchers