Best Cat Scratching Post Types for Happy Felines

Cats, much like humans with their varied lifestyles, can also become bored and resort to scratching things. To enrich their lives and relieve stress, felines need to engage in activities that cater to their needs. If their owners don't provide appropriate scratching surfaces, items like bed sheets and sofas can become their unintended scratching posts, leading to a chaotic household. Therefore, investing in a cat scratching post is essential for maintaining order and ensuring your cat's wellbeing.

Given the diverse needs of cats, the market offers a wide array of scratching posts, ranging from flat to vertical, round to square, cylindrical to treelike, and made from wood to sisal, among others.

With so many options available, how do we choose the one that's most suitable for our little feline friends?

Common Types of Cat Scratching Posts:

01. Corrugated Paper

 Corrugated paper boards are often the goto choice for new cat owners. They are easy to install, costeffective, and budgetfriendly. They take up minimal space and are convenient to use. Despite their simple shape, they can be quite appealing to some cats. However, some cats may initially ignore them. You can try using catnip or other toys to draw their attention. The downside is that they can produce a lot of paper屑, requiring frequent cleaning, and the material is prone to damage, so their lifespan is relatively short.

02. Sisal

Sisal scratching posts are also quite popular. They are typically made from natural sisal rope and offer an excellent scratching experience for cats, providing them with a great sense of satisfaction. These posts are often treated with plant scents similar to cat grass, which naturally attracts cats, making them easy to use without much guidance. Compared to corrugated paper scratching posts, sisal posts have a longer lifespan. While the paper may end up scattered all over the place, sisal posts may just become slightly rougher, making them more durable.

03. Natural Jute

Jute scratching posts are made from natural jute, which is more resistant to scratching than sisal. They are versatile and come in various forms, such as flat scratching boards that can be placed on the ground, or cylindrical posts wrapped in sisal or fabric, providing a convenient scratching surface. There are also more affordable paperboardmade columns. The choice of material is important, but so is the experience and safety for the cat. By thinking from the cat's perspective, we can better understand which scratching post is the best fit.

01. Sufficient Stability

Flat corrugated paper scratching posts may be more affordable, but they often lack stability, making it difficult for cats to scratch comfortably. When choosing a scratching post, opt for those with secure attachments or consider anchoring them to a fixed location to ensure stability, providing a more comfortable experience for your cat.

02. Adequate Height

Cats naturally stretch upwards while scratching, so vertical scratching posts are more in line with their instincts. They allow cats to stand and stretch while engaging in their scratching behavior.

Ultimately, whatever shape or material the scratching post is made of, its purpose is to provide a comfortable scratching experience for the cat. Each cat has its preferences, and it may take some trial and error to find the perfect scratching post. After all, a happy cat is a wellbehaved cat!