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Cat with scratching post
Courtesy Chewy
Best overall result
daily paws – $ 145 Available on Amazon
Best money
daily paws – $ 250 Available from Tuft & Paw
Best budget
daily paws – $ 20 Available from Target
Best design
daily paws – $ 89 Available from Petco
Best interactive
daily paws – $ 15 Available on Etsy
Best wall mounting
daily paws – $ 72 Available from Chewy
Best for multiple cats
daily paws – $ 50 Available from Wayfair
Best for small spaces
daily paws – $ 119 Available on Etsy
Best multi-surface
daily paws – $ 14 Available from Petco
Best dual purpose
daily paws – $ 40 Available from PetSmart
Don’t wait for your cat to shred your sofa to invest in a scratching post.
“Domestic cats share many behaviors with their wild counterparts, and that includes scratching,” says Bruce Kornreich, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, and director of the Cornell Feline Health Center.
Cats scratch to mark their territory, remove dead nails and express emotions. While it’s a natural behavior, it can also be destructive and is one of the main reasons cats are dumped in shelters, according to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Angell Animal Medical Center. It is important to provide your cat with a scratching post so that they have an acceptable place to scratch their urges and stimulate their minds.
CONNECTED: 11 scratching posts for residents and small living spaces
Kornreich says it can take some trial and error to find the right match: some cats prefer scratching on a horizontal surface while others prefer a vertical option. Material is also important! Cats may prefer a carpet, sisal, wood, or even cardboard scratching post.
Fortunately, there are tons of options out there, and we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorites to please your kitten.
The best scratching posts for cats
Best overall result: MidWest cat furniture
The story goes on
The ultimate cat scratching post from MidWest Cat Furniture offers vertical and horizontal scratching surfaces in a mixture of carpet and sisal as well as hiding, sitting, sleeping and playing options. It’s ideal for households with multiple cats, and it gives picky cats multiple ways to ensure their scratching preferences are met.
Shop Now: MidWest Cat Furniture, $ 145; amazon.com
MidWest cat furniture
Best Splurge: Happy Camper scratching post
The “Happy Camper” is more than a scratching post. The tent-shaped design consists of reversible plates; one side is covered with scratch-resistant felt and the other side with wood veneer. When your cat is fed up with scratching, it can curl up for a nap on the faux fur pillow inside the structure.
Shop Now: Happy Camper Scratching Post, $ 249; tuftandpaw.com
Happy camper scratching post
Best Budget: Boots & Barkley Tunnel Cat Scraper
This lightweight tunnel scraper is made of durable, corrugated material that is covered with sisal and can withstand severe scratching. The tunnel-shaped design gives your cat a place to hide (as well as an extra horizontal space to keep their nails in tip-top shape).
Shop Now: Boots & Barkley Tunnel Cat Scratcher, $ 20; target.com
Boots & Barkley Tunnel Cat Scraper
Best design: sophisticated Calypso cat scratcher
Are you looking for a scratching post that fits your contemporary style? The wire frame of this cat scratching post is covered with a robust poly rattan fabric that can withstand even the most stubborn claws. It has a tilt-proof design and is 30 inches tall to appeal to cats who like to stretch and scratch.
Shop Now: Nifty Cat Scraper for Cats Calypso, $ 89; petco.com
Refined Feline Calypso cat scratcher
Best interactive: Ultimate cat foosball toy
With this combination of scratching post and interactive toy, your cat can scratch, rattle and roll. The tubular toy is covered in natural sisal and filled with a combination of catnip, valerian root, and bells to encourage your cat to chase them around the room. It is available in three sizes (small, medium and large) and four colors.
Shop Now: Ultimate Cat Foosball Toy, $ 15; etsy.com
Ultimate cat foosball toy
Best mounted on the wall: MyZoo cylinder sisal cat scraper
This 60 cm high sisal scratching post was developed for wall mounting and offers a stable surface for scratching. It can be mounted vertically or horizontally and combined with wall-mounted shelves to create the ultimate cat paradise.
Shop Now: MyZoo Cylinder Sisal Cat Scratcher, $ 72; chewy.com
MyZoo cylinder sisal cat scraper
Best for multiple cats: Borrego scratching board
This spherical design ensures that there is a lot of scratching surface. Equipped with a sturdy, non-slip base, the Borrego allows cats to pounce on the sisal-covered surface or scratch around the ball to maintain their nails – a feather tassel also encourages interactive play.
Shop Now: Borrego Scratching Board, $ 40; wayfair.com
Borrego scratching board
Best for Small Spaces: EveryYay Scratchin ‘Cardboard Scratcher
No space, no problem. The double-width cardboard cat scraper is small but large enough for cats to satisfy their urge to scratch. Made from recycled paper and cardboard, it’s filled with catnip to encourage cats to bury.
Shop Now: EveryYay Scratchin ‘Cardboard Scraper, $ 14; petco.com
EveryYay scratchin ‘cardboard scratches
Best multi-surface: ScratchLadder Ultimate Cat Scratcher
Not sure which scratching surface your cat likes best? This scratching ladder offers you many possibilities! Handcrafted from cedar wood, each section of the “ladder” is covered in a different material: fabric, carpet, sisal, and wood. Your cat can choose their favorite or use all of them.
Shopping now: ScratchLadder Ultimate Cat Scraper, $ 119; etsy.com
ScratchLadder Ultimate cat scratcher
Best dual purpose: Whisker City Scratch and Play
For a cat who needs to scratch and sleep, choose a product that offers both. The posts that hold the raised cat bed are covered with carpet and sisal and provide two surfaces for cats to test the strength of their claws, and the carpeted bed is a perfect place to sleep.
Shop Now: Whisker City Scratch and Play, $ 40; petsmart.com
Whisker City Scratch and Play
