The 11 Best Cat Scratching Posts for Every Type of Kitty and Home

Cat got your couch? High quality cat scratching posts can deter cats from scratching furniture, walls—even toilet paper. It also makes them happier. Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant with Rover, tells us scratching makes cats feel good physically and mentally. “[Scratching] allows them to stretch their back muscles, condition their claws and also mark their territory,” she says. Having well-placed cat scratching posts throughout your home is a must. We looked at tried and true brands like Frisco and SmartyCat, plus some fresh faces like Mau Pets (whose Cento Tree we love). Overall, we think the best cat scratching post is the Frisco Heavy Duty Sisal Cat Scratching Post for its stability, height and material.

• Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant with Rover. She has two decade’s worth of experience with cats. You can even book a session with her through Feline Minds. If you read Jackson Galaxy’s 2017 book, Total Cat Mojo, like we did, you got a taste of Dr. Delgado’s expertise. She co-authored it!
• Dr. Janet Cutler is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Certified Cat Behaviorist at Cat World. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Guelph in Canada and teaches students at Ontario Veterinary College all about companion animal behavior. She also trains dogs and cats through her company, Landmark Behavior.

Taking into account all the advice from our experts below, we looked at the height and length of cat scratching posts, the materials used and how sturdy the product is when choosing the best options. We then considered price and how much space each took up. User reviews definitely came into play, as did our own experiences with cats at home.

Our experts agree on two big things to look for when shopping for a cat scratching post: it must be stable enough that it won’t sway or move when your cat uses it and it should be made of material your cat likes to scratch.

“Most cats prefer a sisal-rope type scratcher,” says Dr. Delgado. “Other cats like carpet or cardboard, or just bare wood. The best thing to do is to give your cats options because they might like more than one type of material to scratch!”

• Height: Dr. Cutler says a scratching post should be tall enough so your cat can fully stand and stretch their muscles. Look in the 32 to 36 inch range (smaller for kittens). If you have a large cat breed, you may need to go bigger. 
• Material: Take Dr. Delgado’s advice and provide your cat with the material they like best. If you aren’t sure, try a few different options (maybe starting with budget-friendly scratching posts) to test their preferences.
• Sturdiness: Cats like to scratch sturdy objects (which is why they love couches). “If the scratching post is wobbly or unsteady, many cats won’t use it,” says Dr. Cutler. Any scratching post you purchase should be sturdy enough to stay standing as your cat scratches it. If your cat is super aggressive, a wall-mounted option may make the most sense.
• Space: Depending on how much room you have in your home, it might be a good idea to save space with a wall-mounted option or a cat condo that doubles as a scratching post.

“A well-made scratching post should last years,” Dr. Delgao says. “Cardboard scratchers may not last as long, depending on how often your cat uses them and how many cats you have.”

If you have a cat, you know scratching can be a daily occurrence. Dr. Cutler says excitement, frustration or uneasiness can inspire scratching. Plus, scratching keeps claws in tip top shape and lets cats mark territory through scent glands in their paw pads. To do this, felines need material they can really sink their claws into. Once a scratching post or scratch pad becomes frayed, worn or completely destroyed, it’s time to replace it.

Cats returning to bad habits like scratching furniture or carpet could mean their scratching posts are no longer getting the job done.

“You should also check the post every once in a while to make sure it isn't becoming unstable or doesn’t need repair,” Dr. Cutler says. “Some surfaces like carpet become damaged, so it’s also important to check them to make sure that there aren’t any pieces coming loose that your cat might eat.”

It’s also worth noting that International Cat Care advises at least one scratching post per cat, plus one extra. Place them around your home in areas your cat likes to be. From personal experience, I can tell you having one positioned directly in front of the arm of the couch is a great way to deter cats from hacking away at a nice piece of furniture.

This is a question for your cat. You can buy 100 horizontal scratching posts, but if your cat doesn’t use them, they’re useless. Look at where your cat likes to scratch and place posts (or wall-mounts) accordingly. A vertical post can prevent couch damage and a horizontal post can prevent carpet damage.

Dr. Delgado adds, “Many cats like both. So why not offer them some of each?” This could mean a variety of styles and textures.

Dr. Cutler agrees: “You may even find they’ll use both under different circumstances.”

Your cat should be able to stand up and stretch out completely with a scratching post. The Humane Society and Dr. Cutler advise posts 32 inches or taller. Dr. Delgado thinks you could go even larger, recommending scratching posts at least three feet tall, which is 36 inches.

“For a horizontal post, it should be long enough that your cat can fully stand on it and stretch and scratch horizontally,” Dr. Delgado adds.

Super tall posts could be a problem for kittens, who like to climb with their kitty claws. Falling from high heights could cause leg fractures, so wait to buy a very tall scratching post until your kitten becomes an adult.