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We have added long-term testing instructions to this guide and updated the purchase link.
Cats scratch when playing to sharpen their claws, relieve stress and mark their territory. If you don't have a scratcher, your cat may direct this behavior to your furniture. In order to find the best scratching board, we asked 74 cats and kittens from the New York Little Homeless Rescue Team for help. Our cat taste experts like Pioneer Pet's SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post because it is sturdy, time-tested and tall enough for even big cats to enjoy easily.
The sisal surface and tall, boxy design of Ultimate Scratching Post should meet the needs of most kittens, but if your cat doesn’t like it, we also provide carpeted posts, cardboard recliners and installations. Grab a board on the wall or lie on the floor.
Its durable woven sisal is more durable than carpet and more suitable for your pet than rope. It is also one of the highest scratchers we have tested, so your cat can stretch.
Why we like it: Pioneer Pet’s SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post is the best-looking and most durable post-shooter among the 16 post-models we researched and the 5 models we tested. It’s 32 inches high enough for your cat to stretch out. Its solid wood base is sturdy, so it can stand upright even when scratching or jumping vigorously, and its woven sisal scratching surface is a natural fiber that can be chopped cleanly (unlike carpet) and will not change over time Becomes barbed (unlike sisal rope, which is also common among scratchers).
Most importantly, woven sisal is very durable: we let 20 cats abuse it for a week and a half without any obvious traces. Over the years, several Wirecutter employees have had this grip model, including senior staff writer Kimber Streams, who has had the same grip since 2017. "It must have been a long time," they said. Feline welfare and behavior expert Elizabeth Llewellyn wrote that she has owned her cat for more than five years. The newer Ultimate Scratching Post converter also reported minimal wear and tear: “One year later, it’s still strong, with a small and determined cat,” said Sasha VanHoven, Wirecutter’s social strategy manager. On Amazon, it currently has 4.7 stars out of 5 stars out of more than 16,000 ratings, and critics praised its durability: “It’s still going strong after five years,” one owner wrote that he might actually Already have 10 stars.
Unlike most rear scrapers, the wooden base of the ultimate scraping column is not covered with scratchable material, but its rectangular column has a woven sisal scratching surface of nearly 900 square inches, which is better than most other models we tested many. The pillar weighs 16 pounds, enough to stay still during strenuous exercise, but can still be moved easily when needed, and there is a wooden platform at the top for your cat to perch. It’s also the least ugly scratcher we’ve tested — a huge improvement — and it doesn’t seem to be incompatible with mid-century decorations.
Defects but not spoilers: We found some places in the sisal weaving, where one or two loops were missing from the weaving, and the determined cat might loosen or even grab their paws. (We recommend spot-checking your posts and fixing loose threads during the installation process.)
This is the only scraper with rectangular posts we have tested, so you need to rotate the scraper regularly when worn; traditional posts are tubular, so cats can comfortably scratch them from any angle. Finally, our The Ultimate Scratching Post test device is equipped with hexagonal screws to fix the column to the base, but there is no Allen wrench, so you need to keep the toolbox at hand.
Although woven sisal is an ideal scratching material, not all cats will like it right away. It may look unfamiliar and rougher than other surfaces (such as sofa cushions). Nicole Kay of the Just Cats store in the Denver area told us that you can attract cats to the scratcher by dusting catnip or scratching the surface of the cat with your fingernails, so your pet knows it's time to get close. (Just don't press the cat's paw pad on the scratcher; this will scare some cats.)
Dimensions: 16 x 16 inches (base), 7 x 7 x 32 inches (post); 16 pounds
This model is the highest carpet scraper we have studied, and it can prevent abuse very well.
*At the time of publication, the price was $37.
The reason we like it: If your cat can't scratch sisal, the North American Pet Classy Kitty cat rug scratching post is the best rug model we have found. It is tall, strong and inexpensive, and its carpet is a soft material that most cats are familiar with. Although cat owners may prefer the appearance of a carpet scraper, a thinner carpet is better for cats because it shreds and pilling less-our Classy Kitty pillars are maintained in the habitat of 10 cats For 10 days.
The 32-inch scraper is very light (less than 6 pounds), so it can be easily taken from room to room or repositioned in front of a new sofa. But most of its weight is on the bottom, so it won't shake when scratched. A Little Wanderers volunteer pointed out: “This is the perfect height and very strong. My cat tends to jump on the scratcher during zooming, and this one has never tipped over.” It is also in our own home. Suffered a year of abuse: carpet pilling is very rare, only occasional cleaning, the scraper is durable enough, you only need to rotate once every few months to ensure even wear and tear. And larger cats, such as my own 15-pound Maine Coon mix, haven't turned it over yet.
Defects but not vandals: Because this is a carpeted scraper, it will eventually pilling and shredding, and fragments of the carpet will fall into your house. It will not last our main choice. (I personally need to replace it for my cat once a year.) One of the main complaints about carpeted scratchers is that cats can easily clip their nails to the carpet mat, which is a grid of small holes. Our choice is the same, but our volunteers told us that their cats are easier to get rid of this kind of scratching than other cats they have used.
Dimensions: 16½ x 16½ inches (base), 4 x 32 inches (rod); 6 pounds
Made of the same wear-resistant sisal as our main choice, this model is flat, so it takes up less space and can work in many directions.
May be out of stock
*At the time of publication, the price was $25.
Why we like it: Pioneer Pet SmartCat Bootsie's combined scraper is made of the same strong woven sisal material as our main choice, so it is more durable and less soiled than carpet or cardboard. In our test, 10 cats scratched it for a week without leaving any traces. The length of 24 inches is enough for cats to scratch comfortably when level, and you can install it at any height to accommodate their vertical reach. It is less than 3 inches thick and can even be installed in corridors to work without blocking the path.
Bootsie's scratcher has rubber feet (boots?). When the cat scratches it violently, it can eliminate the impact of the wall; the feet can also prevent it from sliding across the floor during the fierce swoop. It is big enough for the cat to use comfortably, but thin enough to work in a small space, and weighs only 5 pounds, so you can move it easily. Senior editor Christine Ryan has owned Bootsie's Scratcher for a year and loves its portability: "It can be placed under my sofa, which is perfect when I have to clean the room for the company."
Defects but not spoilers: In our test, some cats have difficulty sticking their paws in when they are new, and those cats that do get caught often. (This is not the case with the larger Pioneer Pet model, because it is high enough for cats to place their paws where they like.) However, this did not stop them: "They like it," said a small wanderer volunteer. "The height is good, the texture is great, and the width is perfect."
Dimensions: 7 x 2½ x 24 inches; 5 pounds
Cats like to swoop on this cheap scratcher because it is slightly elevated.
*At the time of publication, the price was $14.
Why we like it: Catit Style Scratcher with Catnip (Urban Bench) is easier to abuse than most cardboard scrapers we have tried. In our test, it will not shake or fall when the cat sits on it, and it is large enough that most cats can use it. At the usual price of $9, it is cheap enough that you can buy a few and spoil your pet.
This Catit model is made of 57 layers of 4mm corrugated cardboard. After we tested eight cats for a week and a half, they "hardly left dents on the top of the cardboard," a small vagrant volunteer Writes that they often use tape to repair flat cardboard scrapers because they are too fragile.
The legs are very stubby, so when a catnip crazy cat jumps on the leg, it is unlikely to shake or tilt. Little Wanderers volunteers told us that cat group members prefer this kind of scratcher to the more interactive scratcher (such as K&H Kitty Tippy Scratch n'Track Cardboard Toy) because Catit is more stable: "The cat stops scratching [K&H] Until he regains his balance and then enters a reliable and stable bench gripper for an enthusiastic grip."
We are happy to report that after a year of use, this small scraper is still very strong. As the volunteers told us: “The thick material used to make the scraper is quite durable after a year, although the elevated bench-like design cannot support it in a short period of time. (I may have accidentally stepped on it, Or it is overwhelmed by the weight of a big cat.) Another advantage of this firmly bonded scraper is that I don’t have to clean up so much mess after the cat uses it, and my flat scraper inevitably increases my daily The need for cleaning."
Flaws but not vandals: The Catit bench is still cardboard, and it still shreds. Our volunteer tester estimated that it would take several weeks for her eight cats to destroy it. In households with fewer pets, it should last longer.
A Catit sample of catnip was placed on the recliner, but the catnip was cream colored and covered with stems instead of the dark green leaves of fresh'nip. If you really need catnip, please consider our choice Yeowww Catnip. No matter what kind of catnip you use, be prepared to clean up the mess. Wirecutter senior photo editor Sarah Kobos (Sarah Kobos) pointed out that catnip flakes can easily fall through the cardboard to the floor.
Dimensions: 20 x 9 x 2 inches; 2 pounds
Scrapers can be vertical or horizontal, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. The most popular scraping materials are cardboard, carpet, sisal and wood. (Cardboard and carpet are cheaper than sisal and wood, and the price will vary depending on the quality of the material.) The most common shapes are small horizontal boards, slightly raised boards called recliners, and vertical scrapers with long posts. Square base. Some scratchers have interactive elements, such as additional feathers and wrinkled balls, while others have poles of different heights and materials on the same base. As the quality of the squeegee increases, so does the price: in our research, a good squeegee may cost $80, although we found that the cheapest one is only $8.
The height of the vertical scratcher should be 30 to 32 inches so that the cat can stand and stretch on its hind legs.
Before buying an expensive scratcher, please observe the cat's behavior. If your cat scratches the wooden legs of a bar stool or the fabric of a sofa cushion, consider similar materials when choosing a scratcher. "Due to the texture and height, they are likely to prefer scratch posts [rather than your furniture]," said Russell Hartstein, a certified pet behaviorist.
The scratcher should also be large enough so that your cat can fully extend during use. Our experts agree that a bigger scraper is a better scraper. For the horizontal scratcher, we recommend that it be at least as long as the cat's body minus the tail (18 inches on average). The height of the vertical scratcher should be 30 to 32 inches so that the cat can stand and stretch on its hind legs. However, this height is difficult to find, so look for a scraper that is at least 25 inches high.
When scratching is beaten, or if this is the only scratching opportunity in your home, the cat may quickly lose interest. Fara Erspamer, director of product development and design at K&H Pet Products, said that you can make the cat scratch it by moving it. "Cats love diversity. If you walk around, they tend to keep their interest longer."
Finally, don't be afraid to try different styles and shapes, or place their favorite copies in different rooms in the home. In this way, they will scratch directly instead of your things.
We found 34 scratchers, divided into three categories: pillars, recliners, and wall scratchers. We then condensed the list into scratchers with strong online reviews, available from multiple retailers, and large enough to hold the cat’s long reach—horizontal scratchers at least 18 inches and vertical scratchers at least 25 inches. We listed a total of 13 scratching boards for testing.
Our experts agree that durability, stability and size are all important for selecting a scratcher. We conducted comparative tests for these categories, and then asked volunteers from the Little Wanderers rescue team in New York to evaluate the performance of each cat scratcher. This process helps keep our internal testing protocol strict so that we can prioritize actual testing with our 74 cat group members.
The pipe of Max & Marlow Sisal Scratch Post is divided into two parts with a gasket in the middle, so in our tests, it is not as stable as a scratch post with a solid rod. It is 26 inches tall and is one of the shortest rear scrapers we have tested.
MidWest Feline Nuvo Grand Forte Scratching Post is the largest capturer we have tested. It weighs 20 pounds and measures 19 x 19 x 41 inches, which is too large for most households. Due to its quality, it is more difficult to assemble, and you will need to re-tighten the column several times to ensure proper sealing. Because the pole is separated by a partition, its stability is not as good as half of what we tested; stability issues are also common complaints of online reviewers.
The Trixie Pet Products Parla Scratching Post is 24 inches tall, making it the shortest snapper we’ve tested. Next to the competitor, it is not so firmly fixed to the base because it is not equipped with washers. The washers are designed to evenly distribute the pressure and allow the nut to have a flat surface to lean on, so that it will not loose time.
Catit Scratcher with Catnip (Wide) is the flat version of our budget choice Catit Style Scratcher with Catnip (Urban Bench). Although the cardboard density of the two is the same (4 mm), our testers prefer the desktop scratcher because it is elevated, which gives some cats the confidence to wander for longer in areas with heavy traffic.
The K&H Kitty Tippy Scratch n'Track cardboard toy is equipped with connectable feet that allow the scratcher to swing from side to side. Although kittens like this interactive element, adult cats don't. They chose a stable cardboard scraper.
The Kong Naturals scratcher (tilted) was the only scratcher that our cat expert team members did not catch-we suspect this was because they were busy hitting the wrinkle ball hanging on it.
The PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge and PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge are the largest cardboard scrapers we have tested, and they are also the most expensive, at approximately US$50 and US$80, respectively. The cardboard is denser than competitors' cardboard, with a layer thickness of only 2 mm and a thickness of 4 mm, which makes it very durable-but as a result, the layers are too dense for most cats to scratch comfortably. In our tests on the habitats of 30 cats, more cats prefer to lie on these models, so they are very suitable as shared beds in multi-cat households.
You want to buy a scratcher that is big enough for your cat to reach. The length of the horizontal scratch board should be at least 18 inches. Ideally, the height of the vertical scratcher should be 30 to 32 inches so that your cat can stand and stretch on its hind legs (all our grabs are this high). If you cannot find a tool that meets this requirement, look for a vertical scratcher that is at least 25 inches tall and stable enough to not tip over during use.
Before buying a scratcher board, be sure to observe your cat's behavior, because the best scratcher board is the one that your cat will actually use. For example, if your cat scratches the carpet in the living room, consider buying a carpeted cat scratching post instead of a cat scratching post with sisal rope. And make sure that the scratcher is large enough to allow your cat to fully extend—the horizontal scratcher is at least 18 inches long and the vertical scratcher is at least 25 inches high.
The best material for cat scratching board is natural material, such as sisal rope, and it is not dyed, so it will not harm the cat's smell-sensitive nose. However, if you find that your cat can't scratch scratching boards made of sisal rope, please choose a material that you already know they like. After all, the best material for the scratching board ultimately depends on whatever material your cat actually uses.
Yes, most cats are attracted to cardboard scratchers because the material is flexible and feels good under their paws. It is also less dense than other scratching materials, including sisal rope, so your cat’s paws are less likely to be caught by the material.
To prevent cats from scratching furniture, please deploy Pioneer Pet Sticky Paws furniture strips. Long strips of double-sided tape are more durable and wider than the kind you buy from an office supply store. They stick firmly to the surface and leave no residue when torn off. Glue them to the side of the sofa, the edge of the curtain, or the skirting board to prevent bad scratching habits-cats don't like sticky things. Then direct your cat's scratching impulse to the scratching board placed near their favorite scratching site. You can read more about preventive measures in our "What to buy to prevent pets from destroying your belongings" blog post.
If you use a scratcher or the only scratcher in your home, your cat may quickly lose interest. Keep your cat engaged by moving the scratcher around the house. Even better, cats like variety, so invest in a variety of different styles and shapes of scratchers (using their favorite materials) and place them in different rooms.
Destructive scratching, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Fara Erspamer, Director of Product Development and Design, K&H Pet Products, telephone interview, February 12, 2018
Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Canine Executive, Fun Paw Care, telephone interview, March 16, 2018
How to choose the best scratching post, Purrfect post
Pam Johnson-Bennett, Scratching Post: How to Choose the Best, Cat Behavior Association
Nicole Kay, owner, Just Cats, email interview, March 11, 2018
Volunteers (and cats), little stray cat rescue team, phone and email interview, March 5, 2018
Shelley Wester, how to choose a scratch post for your cat, Petfinder
Kaitlyn Wells is a full-time writer covering all pets and styles. She had never met a pet she didn't like, although she couldn't say the same to the shoes. Her first picture book "A Family Looks Like Love" tells the story of a puppy who learned that love, not your appearance, is part of a family.
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