The Best Scratching Posts For Indoor Cats
Cats are notorious scratchers, and that habit doesn’t stop even if they move indoors. This often leads cats to scratch couches, carpets, curtains, and all kinds of household objects. If you’re looking to cut down on furniture damage, getting the right scratching post can help give your kitty an outlet for all their scratching needs. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best cat-scratching posts on the market today to help make your shopping process a little easier.
What to Look For
When narrowing down the best cat scratching posts for indoor cats, we considered size, material, construction, and price. For example, if you want a durable scratching post with solid construction that’s tall enough for your cat to stretch vertically, the SmartCat Pioneer Pet Ultimate scratching post is your best bet. If you’re working with a tight budget and want something a little more affordable, the Qucey cat scratching post has plenty to offer at a great price. Read on to see all our top picks and find the scratching post that’s right for your indoor cat.
SmartCat Pioneer Pet Ultimate Scratching Post
Built tough
If you’re not sure where to start looking for your scratching post, this heavy-duty option is a great place to begin. With a square pillar that stretches 32 inches tall, this sturdy design gives your cat more surface area to scratch than standard round posts. Assembly is easy, with only two screws to install, making this one of the simplest scratching posts to put together on the market. With all its practical perks, this scratching post is hard to beat.
Pros:
- Easy assembly
- Square pillar provides more scratching surface area
- Sturdy design
- Classy neutral-tone aesthetic
Cons:
- No available color options
Dimaka Tall Ultimate Cat Scratching Post
Reach the sky
In addition to scratching on the posts, cats love to spread out and get a good stretch in. At 34 inches tall, this scratching post is fit for kitties of all sizes to reach up and stretch out. Though the design is hardly unique, it’s still tried and true, making for a scratching post that’s intuitive for cats to use. It features an extra-long pillar for stretching, a hanging ball toy, and a plush base that’s perfectly soft for cats to lay on. We especially like all the different color options so that you can match this scratching post to your home decor.
Pros:
- Comes in five color options
- A plush base that’s comfortable for lounging
- Lightweight design
Cons:
- Though its light weight is great for assembling and repositioning, it lends itself to wobbling
PAWZ Road Cat Scratching Post
Goodbye boredom
For cats that are easily bored, the basic run-of-the-mill scratching post may prove to be a little underwhelming. If you’re looking for something more intense, this scratching post from PAWZ Road has a bit more to offer. It has a wider, thicker base than most competitors, as well as a hanging ball toy, spring ball toy, top platform, and a circular cutout in the pillar for cats to look through in a game of peekaboo. This is closer to a cat playground than it is to a scratching post, but that’s all the more reason they’ll enjoy wreaking havoc on its many obstacles.
Pros:
- Has a spring ball as well as a hanging ball
- Anti-slip pads prevent sliding or wobbling
- Thick wooden base
- Has a top platform for lounging or playing
Cons:
- Bolts on the bottom may scratch wooden floors
Amazon Basics Cat Triple Scratching Posts
The more the merrier
If you have a household with multiple cats and you want one scratching post for each, the space can add up quickly. To cut down on floor space and keep your cats entertained, we recommend this triple scratching post from Amazon Basics that does the job of three posts in one. It has three pillars connected to one sturdy base, making it just as durable as it is convenient. The posts are all different heights, so cats, small and large, can enjoy scratching the post that’s the right size for them. All in all, this bare-bones scratching post may just save you space and money all while keeping your cats as playful as ever.
Pros:
- More affordable than buying three different posts
- Different pillar heights to suit different sizes of cats
- Jute and coconut rope
Cons:
- Rope may shred and untangle faster than competitors
Qucey Cat Scratching Post
Affordable fun
If you’re tight on cash but you still want to treat your furry friend, Qucey’s scratching post may be right up your alley. Its straightforward design includes a plush base, a tall sisal rope post, and a hanging ball toy at the top to keep your kitty preoccupied. The neutral tones fit well in almost any home, and the base is made of MDF material for a more sturdy construction. Best of all, the price is totally reasonable. For hours of feline fun on a slim budget, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bargain.
Pros:
- Great price
- MDF base instead of partial board
- Includes a hanging ball toy
- Comes in different size options
Cons:
- Even with the MDF base, it may be a bit wobbly for bigger cats
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are cat scratching posts normally made with sisal?
Sisal material is great for cat scratching because it’s firm enough to provide some rigid texture and resistance to your cat’s claws but also soft enough for them to shred through. Sisal softens as it’s being scratched, so it gets easier and more satisfying for your cat to scratch as time goes on.
Do I need more than one cat scratching post for my cat?
This depends on the cat. If one scratching post is enough to distract your cat from clawing up your couch, then one post is enough. However, sometimes if cats get bored with one scratching post they can gravitate toward your furniture. Owning more than one scratching post helps guarantee that your cat will have more to preoccupy their scratching urges.
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