Best Scratching Posts & Other Scratchers
As any cat owner can attest, my kitty friends are quite particular about their favorite scratching posts and other things to scratch on. Therefore, my favorite products are actually their favorite products!
Even though every cat is different, I wanted to share some of the best scratching posts and other scratchers that I have found in the hopes that your finicky feline friend may like one or more of these items as well!
This post focuses on scratching posts, horizontal scratchers, and other scratching items.
I do almost all of my cats’ shopping online at Chewy, and have done so for years. They have great customer service, competitive prices, and offer free shipping on orders over $49. However, my cats favorite scratching post and some other scratchers included in this post can be purchased through local Atlanta business – Fundamentally Feline.
Table of Contents
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Vertical Scratching Posts
Our first large purchase in terms of scratching posts was one of the tall sisal scratching posts from Fundamentally Feline. We wanted something extra tall so that the cats could fully stretch to scratch. This tall scratching post was an immediate success. It is now very well loved (as you can see in the photo) and probably needs to go into the dumpster, but I hate to get rid of it as they still hang out on it and scratch it. Well loved items also hold the cats scent, which helps keep them returning to use it instead of the couch. It is more of a financial investment than some other small scratching posts, but it is worth every penny.
Since they loved the tall sisal scratching post so much, when Ingrid and her husband, Jake, started making the scratching post with a scoop bed on top we snagged one of those too. They seem to scratch the one without the scoop bed the most, but that is likely due to the placement of these two posts in our condo. They definitely scratch both of them though, so if you had to choose one or the other, I would recommend the scoop bed scratching post!
Another item that the more agile cats love and use is the wall mounted sisal scratching pole. This item followed us from our large house into the new condo and helps create a vertical environment for our tree dwellers* who like to climb onto the top of our bedroom wall.
* Tree Dwellers is a term borrowed from cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy.
Post providing a more in depth look at creating a vertical environment coming soon!
We also utilize traditional cat trees with various scratching textures as well. However, the cats definitely prefer the sisal posts from Fundamentally Feline.
Looking for the best cat beds or cat trees for your cat?
Check out my post on Cat Beds & Cat Trees HERE!
Horizontal Scratchers
While all of the cats enjoy a good stretch and scratch on the vertical scratching posts, some of the cats also enjoy scratching on horizontal surfaces. We have two main textures for horizontal scratching: sisal scratchers from Fundamentally Feline and inexpensive cardboard scratchers.
One of the horizontal scratchers we have is a sisal balance beam from Fundamentally Feline. The cats enjoy lounging on the beam and also scratch it. We currently have it setup near a couple other cat trees/ scratchers. In the photo below we had not yet hung up our wall mounted scratching post, which is what made us think our cats would enjoy the beam.
Horizontal Cardboard Scratchers
We have had many horizontal cardboard scratchers over the years. Their favorite scratcher is one I also mentioned in my post about cat beds because they love to lay in it too. It is the Original Scratch Lounge. We keep at least 2 or 3 horizontal scratchers around at all times since they use them as scratchers and as a nap spot.
While the Original Scratch Lounge is a fan favorite, you can definitely find similar items for a lot less money. A less expensive option that the cats also use is the Catit Lounge Scratcher. At $6.99 it is a good deal for something a cat will just tear up anyway!
Looking for more cat scratchers that also work as cat beds? Check out this post!
Other Scratchers & Stairs
Other Cardboard Scratchers
Our cats also enjoy a variety of other scratchers as well. Max has an obsession with cardboard scratchers, so we include a variety of cardboard and sisal scratchers at our house. The cardboard ones are a little messier that the carpet/sisal covered ones, but nothing crazy. And that may be because Max chews them and pulls pieces off with his teeth. Anyone else’s cats do this? Pretty sure our cats are just weird.
We also find it important to include both vertical scratching options and horizontal scratching options. Some cats seem to have a preference to one over the other, and some cats use both techniques depending on mood.
Stairs & Ramps
For another sisal scratching option we again purchased a product from Fundamentally Feline – an incline ramp scratcher. This item functions both as a scratcher and as a ramp to help our older cat get off the bed, but the younger cats use it too!
We also have stairs that allow senior cats or less mobile cats to have access to a bed, windowsill, or other elevated space. We previously had one set of stairs that was all foam in a fabric cover, but now we have steps that are made with a plastic frame and have carpeting on the actual step part.
In putting together this post I see that Fundamentally Feline now offers some flat scratching pads and an easel as well. I have not yet tried those items, but would definitely like to do so in the future.
Final Thoughts
I know I have thrown a lot of information about scratching items out there. But to sum it all up, the two scratchers that my cats use most often are horizontal cardboard scratchers like the Original Cat Lounge and the Fundamentally Feline tall scratching posts. And I know I have said it a million times, but the same holds true for scratchers – the best products will be the ones your cats actually use, and only you can figure out what those are by getting to know your cat! Try a variety of sizes and shapes (very tall, horizontal, ramp, shorter) and textures (sisal, cardboard, carpet) until you get a feel for what your cat prefers!
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While some of the links on this page are affiliate links, All of the recommendations in this post are 100% authentic from personal use… well, my cats’ personal use. If you decide you would like to order something from Chewy.com or another online retailer mentioned, please follow the links included in this post so that I may receive a small commission for my recommendation at no additional cost to you. Thank you!