Best cat scratching posts and towers for your feline friend
Cat scratching poles are a must-have if you have a cat and value your furniture.
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Ask any cat owner and they will tell you about the enormous joy their pet brings and the horrendous damage that has been inflicted on their furniture.
My family and I adopted Koji – which I thought was Japanese for ‘tiger’, but turns out, means ‘fungus’ – when he was just a little kitten, and the darling thing is beloved by all, especially me.
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However, I’m not such a fan of the ripped up corners of my bed base, leather couch, and expensive, bouclé sectional.
If you’d rather spare yourself the heartache that comes from your furniture getting torn up by your resident cat, you’ve come to the right place.
BEST CAT SCRATCHING POSTS GUIDE
Whether you’re looking for a streamlined model designed for the singular purpose of being scratched, or want a multipurpose tower by which your cat can be also entertained, we’re round up the top-rated models on the market for you here.
MOST POPULAR CAT SCRATCHING POST
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post, Amazon Australia, $130.04 (RRP$219.99)
With more than 3,000 five-star ratings on Amazon Australia, this is a great cat scratching post option. This simple yet effective scratching post is 81 centimetres tall and is set on a 40 centimetre square base, which ensures the post’s stability. Clad in a fibrous and durable sisal, it is irresistible to cats.
One five-star reviewer was so pleased with their purchase that they returned to the product listing to update their review after a year – “The post is still holding up great, with little fraying despite being attacked by my cats daily.”
BEST MULTI-STOREY CAT SCRATCHING POST
i. Pet Cat Tree Tower, $133.26, Amazon Australia
This cat tower has more space than my first apartment. At just over two metres high, it gives your cat the perfect place to sit and watch the world go and sisal-clad scratching poles for when they feel like getting their claws out.
One five star reviewer said: “I got it so they’d stop destroying my sofa and leather armchair with their deadly claws, and as an assist to reach the top of our linen press, from which perch they can survey their kingdom. Mission accomplished on both counts.”
One reviewer said they had to attach a bracket to the base to keep it stable when their cat used the upper areas.
BUDGET CAT SCRATCHING POST
The Catsential Scratch Post With Ramp, $34.90, Pet Circle
This multi-function scratching post is 52cm high and has a scratching surface ramp and a scratching pole that has sisal and carpet covering. The ramp is covered in cardboard, which shoppers said their cat enjoyed but it did make a mess.
“Since I got this product my cat no longer scratches my couch – we are both happy!”, wrote one reviewer on the Pet Circle website.
BEST CAT SCRATCHING POST FOR KITTENS
i. Pet 70cm Cat Scratching Post, Myer, $93.95
“Great sturdy scratching post. Our cat took to it straight away!” is just what you want to read when looking for a reliable scratching post for your pet. This sturdy, cylindrical scratching post is clad entirely from sisal, save for its plush, carpet top and interior. Constructed with three connective levels, your cat can rest within or above, with a hanging ball on one level providing entertainment.
WHAT SCRATCHING POST DO CATS LIKE BEST?
Some owners will swear by the heavily-textured sisal scratching post, while others will insist the affordable cardboard alternative will do the job just as well. Though one-size-fits-all is not an option when it comes to cat scratching posts, there are a few points to take into consideration before making a purchase?
• Sturdiness: Ensure that the base of your scratching post is wide enough that it won’t topple when in use. As your cat gets bigger, it’s a good idea to switch a narrow or top-heavy post with something sturdier.
• Material: It need be clad in something tactile, but not likely to get your cat’s claws caught.
DO SCRATCHING POSTS REALLY WORK FOR CATS?
Yes, scratching posts really work for cats, and provide them with several health benefits. The most observable benefit is relief from the desire to scratch – saving your precious furniture in the process! – but also provides a structure on which to stretch and rest.
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