Looking for a great cat scratching post?
If you keep cats as pets (or they keep you), you're probably all too familiar with the problem of cats scratching furniture, carpeting, draperies, wallpaper, rugs and just about anything else they can get their claws into. (In another article, we cover tips on how to keep cats from scratching up your home.)
As you probably know, one of the best ways to keep cats from scratching up your home is to provide them something better to scratch on. So what is better? A really great scratching post or pad specifically designed to entice and entertain your cat.
I looked for cat scratching posts that offer function, fun, and style. Most combine all three, but cat claws say they all do the trick! Here are my picks for the best 15 Fun And Fabulous Cat Scratching Posts and Pads with luxurious Bonus Cat Scratchers too!
Best Cat Scratch Posts and Pads
1. SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post:
The SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post gets customer raves for functionality. It's made of fibrous, durable sisal that naturally inspires cats to scratch. It is easy to assemble; the post attaches to the wood base easily with just two screws (included). The base is sturdy, eliminating the tipping and wobbling found in some standing cat scratchers. It may not match your decor, but it makes up for that in having almost everything else you may want in a cat scratcher.
The Post is a well-designed and well-made product, and it's on our list of top 10 products we recommend for your cat. What it may lack in style it makes up for in having almost everything else you may want in a cat scratcher. The SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post is one of the best scratching posts on the market.
(Hint: The sisal will wear after awhile, particularly in areas your cat likes to scratch. But you can keep your post scratchable by wrapping sisal rope around your post and using a strong glue beneath the rope to keep it attached.)
2. SmartCat Bootsie's Three-in-One Cat Scratcher
Looking somewhat like a squished version of the SmartCat Ultimate model (above), the SmartCat Bootsie's Three-in-One Cat Scratcher can be scratched in vertical, horizontal, or inclined positions and it can be mounted on a wall or post if that is preferred. I haven't seen this in use, but the reviews are plentiful and outstanding. You can also use sisal rope and glue (see SmartCat Ultimate above) to refresh the Three-In-One when it is worn.
3. SmartCat Cat Climber
Yes, it's another SmartCat product. This one combines kitty's love for climbing, being above his master, and a good scratch while he's lying down or trying to catch his bird toy. My cat never tires of climbing up the SmartCat Cat Climber and tapping me with his paw, scaring the daylights out of me, when I don't know he's there. Your little devil will find something equally surprising to do on his Climber.
4. Petfusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge
PetFusion makes great looking cat scratchers. The PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is an attractive combination scratcher and lounge that gets lots of high marks by reviewers. Unlike many cat scratchers that work well but don't look great in the house, this curvy piece is really sleek and modern looking and attractive enough (when not worn out) that you don't have to hide it away when guests visit. It is made of high-quality corrugated cardboard (second only to sisal as a cat-scratching surface) and should typically last about a year with normal use.
The Pet Fusion JumboCat Scratcher Lounge (above) is great if you want something larger or if you have more than one cat. It's also a handsome piece to add to your own living space. You can see more of PetFusion's scratchers here.
5. Catit Style Scratcher With Catnip
Catit Style Urban Bench Scratcher
The Catit Style Urban Bench Cat Scratcher is bright and happy looking. With a bold red color and elegant lines, this cat scratcher and lounger will add a touch of sass and class to your home. In addition to it's colorful design, the Urban Bench also gets terrific reviews and is less expensive than some of the other raised cat scratching lounges. At 20 inches long, the Urban Bench is great for small to medium cats.
Catit Style Scratcher with Catnip
Catit makes several different cardboard designs including the Animal Print Style shown above. You know cats love the curvy swoops to sleep on as well as scratch. This style, at 22 inches long, is suitable for larger cats. It features a corrugated scratching surface that's reversible and also comes with its own catnip.
6. KONG Naturals Incline Cat Scratcher
Kong Naturals Incline Cat Scratcher: Cardboard cat scratcher with replaceable pads
A best seller in cat scratching pads on Amazon, this product is also made of corrugated cardboard, but it offers an incline for stretching and scratching, so it is ergonomic. KONG Naturals Incline Scratcher is made from natural and renewable sources, so it's eco-friendly too. The units come with a free toy with catnip inside. The scratch pads are reversible, giving you more bang for your buck.
7. PetStages Soothing Cat Easy Life Hammock and Scratcher
PetStages Cat Hammock and Scratcher
This cheerful-looking Cat Hammock and Scratcher from PetStages will add a boost of color to your house. It's great looking and folds up so that you can pack it away when you need to make your house look tidy. Reviewers who have used this cat scratcher say that their cats love it and that it is a great design for cat naps.
8. MushroomCat Cat Face Ultimate Scratcher Lounge Bed
There are lots of surfaces to scratch on this reinforced corrugated cardboard MushroomCat Cat Face Ultimate Scratcher Lounge Bed. Inside and out, top and bottom, this scratcher lounge offers plenty of entertainment and resting places for your cat. It is scented with cat mint (catnip). The measurements are 18.9" x 9.0" x 12.9" and it weighs a hefty 3 pounds. Note that it may look larger in the photo because there's a kitten on top!
9. Bergan Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy
Another extremely popular cat scratcher is the Bergan Turbo Scratcher. Yes it's a cat toy, but it combines a challenging game of chase with the cat stimulator of all time - scratching. The Bergan Turbo Scratcher has a sturdy base and ball and the cardboard can be replaced ad infinitum. My cat has had his Turbo Scratcher for 13 years!
10. DJ Cat Scratching Pad
This DJ Cat Scratching Pad is made by Suck UK, designer of all kinds of purposeful novelties. It looks fun and the perfect gift for a music loving cat. This particular design comes with a spinnable deck and pose-able arm. You'll find other scratcher designs on the same link that are equally adorable: a teepee, tank, airplane, 'catillac,' fire engine, and even a laptop with a scratching surface for a keyboard!
11. Cat Trees or Stands
From Designer Pet Products comes this stunning multi-purpose The Sebastian 67" Modern Cat Tree, available in black and white. It comes with five levels of sisal and carpet coverings for sleep or scratching and a cubby hole for hiding.
DIY Cat Treehouse & Scratching Post
If you are clever, you can create a multi-level cat scratching condo yourself. Cat scratching condos are perfect for multiple cats and can be inexpensively constructed at home. They serve double duty by providing several perches for napping and playing while allowing your feline an opportunity to flex his or her claws. If you're going to build your own, make sure to use sturdy support posts covered in sisal (carpet is okay, but not as strong as 3/8" sisal). There are some great tutorials for projects like this.
DIY Cat Scratching LadderFound on askville.amazon.com
Wooden stepladders make excellent cat stands and scratching posts. The above ladder's rungs and sides are covered in sisal rope. Most ladders come with their own fold-down shelf, which you can also cover with sisal, jute or hemp, and you can easily add more shelves by attaching pieces of plywood or other sturdy material to the rungs from beneath the center of the ladder. You can even string a snug hammock between the rungs, if you prefer. This is a relatively easy and inexpensive DIY cat scratching post project almost anyone can do.
12. The Refined Feline Cat Bed & Scratcher
You can use this handsome furniture piece as a night stand or living room side table or.... But be sure that your kitty will use it to sharpen those claws. One rub against the sisal side panel will let her know what it's for. And when it comes to cat napping, there's a cushioned lower level to curl up and warm up. If you have floor heating, place the table over a vent - the holes in the bottom of the furniture will keep the cushion and your kitty nice and warm.
The sisal pad is replaceable or you can use carpet samples or squares instead. All are available from The Refined Feline.
13. ModernistCat Cat Scratching Console
Home Decor & Feline Functionality: Cat Scratching Console by Modernist Cat on Etsy
Here's another cat scratching device with interior design in mind. It's the Cat Scratching Console by Modernist Cat that acts as a functional piece of home decor for you and your pet. The wood frame is mounted to the wall and is supported by just two legs. It offers a small display space for knickknacks and a large surface area below for your cat to scratch. The unit is constructed of solid walnut and features different colored scratch panels that can be replaced. You'll find it on Etsy.
14. Jumbl Cat Scratcher Pad
Versatile Cat Scratching Post: Jumbl Cat Scratcher Pad with Toy Mouse
Now here's a nifty idea: a cat scratching pad that lies flat but can also wrap around the leg of a table for your climber cat. You just secure it to your preexisting furniture, banister, or balustrade and move it from room to room if the need arises. This extremely clever and versatile design even comes with an attached mouse-head toy to entice kitty into reaching for it. The material on the Jumble Cat Scratcher Pad covers a three-to four-inch-diameter table leg and fastens with Velcro.
15. Modular Adjustable Katris Cat Scratcher
This Katris Cat Scratcher Modular Cat Furniture is one of my favorite cat scratchers. It comes with several pieces that you can play around with as you please to create a wide range of designs and variations. It keeps cats from getting bored and it can be used to fit a wide variety of spaces and situations. It even comes in a variety of colors. If you love Tetris, you're going to like playing around with Katris.
Bonus Cat Scratcher Designs
I wanted to share more of the artful, and perhaps, outrageous cat scratchers. They show that imagination and creativity are never lost when it comes to cat claws. Like Eric Stehmann's Mona Lisa scratcher below, these fabulous designs invite your cat to tear in, but dare you let your cat at them?
Copycat Art Scratcher
If you have the sense of humor and money to purchase the Copycat Art Scratcher, then designer Erik Stehmann has the perfect solution to your cat's scratching needs. Stehmann's cats gave him the idea when they started scratching one of his embroidered paintings. So Stehmann learned how to print on a sisal, and voila! Now he can get a good chuckle, watching his feline babies scratch the likes of the Mona Lisa to their heart's desire.
Cat In The Box Creations
Tabbi Human Cat Scratcher
Head Cat Scratchers
Cat In The Box Creations made a variety of human creatures for feline creatures to scratch. These sold on Etsy, but the shop is currently (March 2017) not posting any items for sale.
Politikats Cat Scratchers
What better way to amuse your cats and your friends than by letting your cats scratch at people you wish would get scratched up daily? No matter what side of U.S. politics you are on, Politikats has your cat's victim. From the U.S., there's Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Barack Obama. If your cat wants to scratch foreign politicians, there's Putin and Netanyahu. PolitiKats will even make special-order characters, for example, your ex-husband or your mother-in-law. You have to love this stuff (even if you don't have a cat)!
Politikats has a special page with scratching tips for your cat. Make sure you scroll down the page to see the hilarious videos of cats scratching these political dolls.
Neo-Pop Canine Cat Scratcher
The Company of Pets created this beautiful bulldog in the style of 90's pop art and, unfortunately, it is no longer selling. A company after my own heart, The Company of Pets creates items for dogs and cats that blend into modern interior design. With that in mind, this company also designed the Cat Climber, above, now being sold by SmartCat.
So this is my collection of fun and fabulous cat scratch pads and posts. Which cat scratching pad or post do you think will work best for you home?
SEE ALSO:
3 Easy Ways To Keep Cats From Scratching Up Your Furniture
Originally published February 2016 and last updated March 2017.
