If your cat scratches the sofa, the curtains, or the door, they aren't doing it to annoy you. Scratching is a necessity: it's how they groom their nails, stretch, and mark their territory using the glands in their paw pads. The solution isn't to forbid it, but to give them a better place to do it.
1. Taller than your cat when stretched
A scratching cat stretches from their hind legs to their front paws. If the post is low, they cannot stretch fully and will return to the sofa. As a rule, the post should be at least 70–80 cm tall for an adult cat. For small apartments, compact scratchers with a good sisal post work well.
2. Make sure it doesn't wobble
This is the most common mistake. If the scratching post wobbles the first time, the cat won't use it again. Look for a wide and heavy base or fix it to the wall. In multi-level cat trees, the higher they are, the more important the base becomes.
3. The material
- Sisal: the most durable and the favorite of most cats.
- Cardboard: cheap and very popular, but it doesn't last long.
- Jute and carpet: pleasant, although they wear out sooner.
4. Vertical, horizontal, or tree
Some cats scratch standing up and others while lying down. Pay attention to what they scratch now: if it's the back of the sofa, they need a vertical post; if it's the carpet, a horizontal one. If you have the space, a scratching tree with platforms and a cubby also gives them height to survey their surroundings and a nook to sleep in, and it's the best option if you have multiple cats.
5. Where to place it
Place the scratching post next to what they already scratch, near where they sleep, or at the entrance of the house: cats mark their territory when they wake up and in high-traffic areas. Hiding it in a corner is the quickest way to ensure they won't use it.
6. How to get them to use it
- Rub a little catnip on the sisal.
- Play with a wand toy or a feather toy around the post.
- Reward them when they use it, and never punish them for scratching something else: simply guide them to the scratching post.
- Temporarily cover the area of the sofa they scratch with a blanket.
With the right scratching post, most cats will change their habits in two to three weeks. Take a look at our cat scratchers and trees and, to complete their corner, our beds and toys. Free shipping throughout Spain.