The 11 Best Modern Cat Scratching Posts

Reviews

Best Value Catit Lounge Scratcher With Catnip
 

The Catit Lounge Scratcher With Catnip is a horizontal lounger style scratcher that is inexpensive and basic, but it provides everything a small to medium-sized adult cat requires from a scratcher.

It’s also one of the most affordable scratchers on the market, making it the greatest modern cat scratching post for the money.

The horizontal lounge features raised ends and a corrugated cardboard surface, while the sides have a jungle stripe design.

It is relatively little, which is advantageous because it does not take up too much space, but it is not suited for huge cats who prefer to sprawl out.

Catnip is included in the Catit to further spark your cat’s curiosity.

The Catit is inexpensive to repair because of its low cost, however the cardboard is easily damaged after regular scratching and there is no base, thus spraying catnip over the lounge will result in it being left on the floor underneath, along with shredded cardboard, so some cleanup is required.

 

Catastrophicreations Garden Complex Wall Mounted Cat Tree Shelf Set – High-Quality Option
 

The Catastrophicreations Garden Complex Wall Mounted Cat Tree Shelf Set is a substantial, high-quality cat tree set.

It is intended to be attached to a solid wall with floating brackets, giving the illusion that the tree is floating.

The bamboo frame was chosen for its lightweight and toughness, and the tree also includes soft material that can be removed for cleaning and sisal rope to cover the scratch post parts.

There are also four planters that fit into the planter holes and can be used to grow cat grass or another feline-friendly plant such as a spider plant or lemon button fern.

The tree is incredibly pricey, even when compared to other premium options, and while it looks fantastic when it’s new, it looks a lot less attractive hung on your home’s wall once your cat has torn away some of the sisal and eaten on the plants.

It does require a lot of wall space to get the most out of this piece of feline kit, measuring 11 inches × 113 inches x 63 inches and necessitating some area around the edge of the tree.

 

Cat Scratcher Hepper Hi-Lo
 

The Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher has a contemporary design with metal stand legs and a gray scratcher frame that will complement any décor.

The scratcher is made of a reinforced cardboard design that is textured to entice cats to scratch, preserving your furniture and providing a safe place for them to sharpen their claws.

The Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher is our pick for the best modern cat scratching post because it can be set in any of five positions, including a lounger, a low position suitable for kittens and lazy scratchers, and a high position that allows your feline friend to stretch out while scratching, which is a position preferred by many cats.

It eliminates boredom because the scratcher location can be varied. Though your cat is starting to disregard your scratcher, change its location and it will appear as if they have a new toy.

Although the scratcher is a little pricey, it has a modern, appealing design.

The cardboard isn’t as tough as natural sisal, but it has a big scratching surface that can be spun, so your sharp-clawed pet will get a lot of usage out of the design.

 

Midwest Feline Nuvo Grand Forte Scratching Post – Large Cats Only
 

Many scratch posts, especially those considered affordable or fairly priced, are on the small side.

They’re fantastic for kittens and tiny to medium adult cats, but they’re not big enough for breeds like Maine Coons or even certain shorthaired cats to scratch on.

The Midwest Feline Nuvo Grand Forte Scratching Post is 41 inches tall, allowing cats of all sizes to reach up and scratch, and it is one of the few options for large cats.

It’s also a wonderful choice for cats who like to jump and wrap their claws around the scratching post or climb up with their claws.

The post is covered in a thick sisal rope to aid these motions. It has a faux fur base and top cap, as well as an engineered wood base frame for stability.

The greater size does come at a cost, but it is not too expensive. It is a huge scratcher, but that is by design.

The rope is also thicker than on many scratching posts, which is something to keep in mind.

If your cat is really destructive, it may find a way to unravel the string and leave a naked cat pole, as it does with most rope-covered scratchers.

 

Trixie Dayna Plush Wall Mounted Cat Tree 59.8″
 

The Trixie Dayna 59.8-in Plush Wall Mounted Cat Tree attaches to wall studs and comes with all mounting gear.

It stands 59.8 inches tall, and with additional space at the bottom, it will reach many feet in height.

It has four sections of scratching posts, two lower perches, a top perch, a secret lounge part, and a hammock.

The perches and hammock are made of soft faux fur, while the scratching posts are constructed of jute rope.

Jute is softer than sisal, which makes it easier on the paws, but it also makes the rope less durable and more likely to fray when used heavily.

The tree is quite pricey, but not the most expensive on the list, and its design results in the scratching post parts being quite short separately.

Because of the vertical arrangement, less nimble cats may have difficulty moving from one layer to the next.

It is also difficult to install and is only appropriate if you have stud walls available for hanging.

Buyer's Manual

Scratching posts can range from a single little post to a multi-level and multi-faceted cat tree, which can be found in many households.

Modern scratching posts may be made of materials other than jute or sisal, or they may have a modern design that better utilizes the space in your home while providing lots of activity for your cat.

Some of them are visually appealing enough to serve as a positive focal point in a room.

Above all, keep in mind that the fundamental function of a scratching post is to provide something for your cat to scratch.

The Advantages of a Modern Cat Scratching Post

However, why does your cat require a scratching post? It’s a popular question, especially among cat owners who let their feline pets roam the yard and outside.

Energy is expended

If you’ve ever seen a determined cat attempting to scratch a scratching post, you’ll understand that it burns calories and gives cats some exercise.

This is especially advantageous for kittens.

They don’t need to move much to burn off energy, and a cat post not only helps them to do so, but also allows them to explore other natural cat behaviors.

Safeguard Your Furniture

Cats scratch on purpose. They scratched things like trees and fences in the wild. They are more likely to scratch furniture, door frames, carpets, and even walls in your home.

Your cats will almost likely find something to scratch if you do not offer them with something safe and acceptable to scratch.

Even a low-cost scratching post can save you hundreds of dollars in furniture replacement and redecorating expenses.

It may also preserve your relationship if it keeps your cat from clawing your favorite sofa and causing you to lose your cool.

Maintenance of Claws

One of the main reasons cats scratch is to keep their claws healthy. Cat claws are the key hunting tool. They capture small creatures and then secure them while the cat finishes the job.

Even domesticated cats, which only need to hunt as far as a full food bowl, retain the same basic instincts that require them to have their claws.

This also avoids the discomfort that can result from having dull and badly maintained ones. Scratching is also one way for cats to get rid of dead layers of claws that might otherwise stick around and create discomfort.

Stress Reduction

You may have noticed that your cat scratches its post after being ordered not to do something or when it is hungry and its calls are ignored.

This is because scratching relieves stress and anxiety, therefore it benefits not only claw health but also feline mental wellness.

A Splash of Water

If you have numerous cats in your home, the scratching post might be a social gathering place.

All of your cats are likely to utilize it, possibly with a little coaxing, which means they will congregate around the post.

If your cats don’t get along or mix, installing a post or a cat tree can encourage more interaction.

Type of Scratching Post

There are various varieties of scratching posts available:

• Posts – The classic cat scratching product is the post. It consists of a vertical post with a broad horizontal base. The cat extends up to scratch on the post, which is wrapped in a substance similar to jute or sisal. Posts can feature a perch on top or a toy that dangles from the product’s top. They can also vary in height, so there are posts ideal for cats of all ages and sizes.
• Trees are more intricate than posts, although they do have some parallels. They are typically more vertical than horizontal, with several “branches” including components such as condos, hammocks, and toys. A conventional cat tree will include various scratching post parts, allowing your feline buddy to choose its favored position or alternate based on how it feels. Trees are more expensive and take up far more space.
• Scratching pads are simply covered pieces of cardboard or wood. Others are wall-mounted, some are placed on the floor for horizontal scratching, and some even hang from doorknobs as a simple alternative to a room-filling cat tree.
• Scratching trays are similar to pads but have at least two raised walls. These walls are frequently covered in a scratching material, which is ideal for cats who prefer to sit in boxes and on bits of paper. However, if your cat confuses the scratching tray for a litter tray, he or she will make a mess that will need to be cleaned up.
• Wall-mounted scratching posts can range from single, short posts to intricate trees. They are normally screwed to the wall with mounting brackets and require a stud wall to be stable. Wall-mounted scratchers offer the same degree of amusement and range of activities as freestanding scratchers, but take up less floor area.

Sisal against Jute versus Cardboard versus Carpet

Most scratching posts have a scratching surface made of one of four materials:

• Sisal is widely regarded as the best scratching material. It has a rough and textured surface that provides effective abrasion for scratching. It is also long-lasting enough that the scratching surface should endure at least a few months before becoming entirely bald. It is slightly more expensive than other options, and because it is harder than jute, it is not always used for kitten posts, for example.
• Jute – Another natural substance is jute. It is not as durable as sisal, but it is softer, making it an excellent choice for scratchers for cats with sensitive paws or kittens.
• Cardboard is inexpensive, and manufacturers can use recycled cardboard to boost their environmental credentials. Although a single sheet of cardboard is fragile and would not withstand intense scratching, corrugated cardboard is tougher and lasts longer, and honeycomb cardboard is much tougher. Regardless of how good the honeycombing is, cardboard is not as robust or abrasive as sisal.
• Carpet – Carpet is no longer commonly used in scratching posts. It lacks a good, abrasive feel, and many owners are hesitant to use it since it may encourage cats to scratch other areas of carpet. However, because producers can use offcuts and little pieces of carpet, it is fairly affordable.

Conclusion

A cat scratching post is an essential piece of equipment for any cat-owning household. It provides exercise, involvement, stress release, and claw control.

If you have numerous cats, it may even provide social chances, and it doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective.

BestForPets‘s (bestforpets.org) reviews should have helped you choose the best modern cat scratching post for your home.

The Catit Lounge Scratcher With Catnip is a low-cost, albeit basic, scratching post that includes catnip to entice your cat to participate.

We hope our reviews of the best modern cat scratching posts have helped you choose one.