Modern cat scratching posts are made from durable but attractive materials and while the traditional sisal-covered posts do still exist, numerous designs include horizontal and leaning scratchers, loungers, and trees that incorporate multiple layers such as condos, hammocks, and perches. They can include hanging toys and some even come with a free pouch of catnip to help encourage your feline friend on to the scratcher for the first time.
Below, you will find reviews of ten of the best modern cat scratching posts that fulfill your cat’s natural desire to scratch, sharpen their claws, and vent their anxiety. We have included posts that are suitable for kittens and adults, as well as those for large cat breeds and for cat owners on a budget that don’t want to spend a fortune.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
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Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher
Good looking design
Suitable for small and large cats
Five positions prevents boredom
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Best Value
Catit Lounge Scratcher With Catnip
Cheap
Doesn’t dominate the room
Includes catnip
Check Price
Premium Choice
Catastrophicreations Wall Mounted Cat Shelf
Lots to do for your cat
Includes planters for feline-friendly plants
Hidden brackets
Check Price
Best for Kittens
Two By Two The Cedar
Two scratching posts
Short for kittens
Jute is softer than sisal
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Midwest Feline Nuvo Grand Forte Scratching Post
41-inches tall and suitable for large cats
Engineered wood base is stable
Top acts as a generous perch
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The 10 Best Modern Cat Scratching Posts – Reviews
The best overall modern cat scratching post is the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. The modern design includes metal stand legs and a gray scratcher frame that will fit any décor. The scratcher itself is made from a reinforced cardboard design that is textured to encourage cats to scratch, saving your furniture and giving them somewhere safe to sharpen their claws.
Post type: Scratch pad
Material: Cardboard
Position: Diagonal
Size: 24 inches
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The Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher is our choice as the best modern cat scratching post because it can be set in any of five positions including a lounger; a low position that is suitable for kittens and lazy scratchers; and the high position that allows your feline friend to really stretch out while scratching: a position preferred by a lot of cats. Because the scratcher position can be changed, it prevents boredom. If your cat is starting to ignore your scratcher, turn it to a different position and it will be like they’ve got a new toy.
Although the scratcher is a little expensive, it does have a modern, attractive design. The cardboard doesn’t withstand as much brutal scratching as natural sisal, but there is a large scratching surface that can be rotated so your sharp-clawed pet will get a lot of use out of the design.
Pros
Good looking design
Suitable for small and large cats
Five positions prevents boredom
Cons
Cardboard isn’t as long lasting as sisal
Disclaimer: At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Good looking design
Suitable for small and large cats
Five positions prevents boredom
- Good looking design
- Suitable for small and large cats
- Five positions prevents boredom
Cardboard isn’t as long lasting as sisal
- Cardboard isn’t as long lasting as sisal
The Catit Lounge Scratcher With Catnip is a horizontal lounger style scratcher that is low price and fairly basic but offers everything a small to medium-sized adult cat needs from a scratcher. It is also one of the lowest-priced scratchers available, making it the best modern cat scratching post for the money.
Post type: Lounge
Material: Cardboard
Position: Horizontal
Size: 19.5 inches
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The horizontal lounge has raised ends and a corrugated cardboard surface and comes with a jungle stripe design on the sides. It is quite small, which is beneficial because it means that it doesn’t take over the room, but does mean that this isn’t a suitable scratcher for giant cats that like to stretch out. The Catit includes catnip to further pique your cat’s interest.
The low cost of the Catit means that it is inexpensive to replace, but the cardboard is easily torn after regular scratching and there’s no base, which means that sprinkling the catnip over the lounge will result in it being left on the floor underneath, along with shredded cardboard, so it does require some cleanup.
Pros
Cheap
Doesn’t dominate the room
Includes catnip
Cons
Too small for large cats
Doesn’t last long
Requires a lot of cleaning
The Catastrophicreations Garden Complex Wall Mounted Cat Tree Shelf Set is a large, premium cat tree set. It is designed to be fixed to a solid wall using floating brackets, which give the appearance that the tree is floating. The frame material is bamboo, chosen because it is lightweight and tough, and the tree also incorporates soft material, which can be removed for cleaning, and sisal rope to cover the scratch post sections. There are also four planters, which sit in the planter holes and allow you to grow cat grass or another feline-friendly plant like a spider plant or lemon button fern.
Cheap
Doesn’t dominate the room
Includes catnip
- Cheap
- Doesn’t dominate the room
- Includes catnip
Too small for large cats
Doesn’t last long
Requires a lot of cleaning
- Too small for large cats
- Doesn’t last long
- Requires a lot of cleaning
Post type: Cat tree
Material: Bamboo, canvas, sisal
Position: Wall-mounted
Dimensions: 11 x 113 x 63 inches
The tree is very expensive, even compared to other premium options, and while it looks great when it’s new, once your cat has torn away some of the sisal and chewed at the plants, it looks a lot less desirable hung on the wall of your home. Measuring 11 inches x 113 inches x 63 inches, and requiring some room around the outside of the tree, it does require a lot of wall space to get the most from this piece of feline kit.
Pros
Lots to do for your cat
Includes planters for feline-friendly plants
Hidden brackets
Cons
Very expensive
Large
Doesn’t look so attractive once used
- Two By Two The Cedar – Best for Kittens
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Post type: Post
Material: Engineered wood, felt jute
Position: Vertical
Dimensions: 16.9 inches
Kittens naturally start to scratch when they are just a few weeks old, and if you don’t have an appropriate scratching post by that time, your young feline will start to look for alternative surfaces where they can sharpen their needle-like claws. Even with a post, there may be some occasions when the kitten forgets what is considered acceptable, but having a kitten-appropriate post in place enables you to correct unwanted behavior and ensures that your young pet has somewhere appropriate to fulfil their natural desires.
Lots to do for your cat
Includes planters for feline-friendly plants
Hidden brackets
- Lots to do for your cat
- Includes planters for feline-friendly plants
- Hidden brackets
Very expensive
Large
Doesn’t look so attractive once used
- Very expensive
- Large
- Doesn’t look so attractive once used
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Post type: Post
Material: Engineered wood, felt jute
Position: Vertical
Dimensions: 16.9 inches
The Two By Two The Cedar is a reasonably priced product with two scratching post columns connecting a base and a perch top, with a ball toy hanging down from the top. The product’s simplicity and decent design mean that it is easy to put together once it arrives, too.
Where most modern cat scratching posts use sisal or cardboard, this is one of few that uses jute. Jute is a softer fabric than sisal, which is softer on kittens’ paws, but it does mean that it is less durable and may not be suitable when your cat gets older. Similarly, the string toy might survive a kitten onslaught but will not hold up against older and stronger cats.
Pros
Two scratching posts
Short for kittens
Jute is softer than sisal
Cons
Jute is not as durable as sisal
The string toy is easily destroyed
A lot o scratch posts, especially those that are considered inexpensive or reasonably priced, tend to be on the small side. They are great for kittens and small to medium adult cats but are not big enough to offer a comfortable scratching experience for breeds like Maine Coons or even some shorthaired.
Two scratching posts
Short for kittens
Jute is softer than sisal
- Two scratching posts
- Short for kittens
- Jute is softer than sisal
Jute is not as durable as sisal
The string toy is easily destroyed
- Jute is not as durable as sisal
- The string toy is easily destroyed
Post type: Post
Material: Engineered wood, Faux fur, Sisal
Position: Vertical
Dimensions: 41 inches
The Midwest Feline Nuvo Grand Forte Scratching Post is 41 inches tall, which will allow cats of any size to reach up and scratch, and it is one of the surprisingly few options for big cats. It is also a good option for cats that like to jump and wrap themselves around the scratching post or climb up using their claws. To facilitate these actions, the post is coated in a thick sisal rope. It has a faux fur base and top cap, and the base frame is made from engineered wood to offer stability. The extra size does come at a cost, but it is not exorbitantly priced, by any means.
It is a very large scratcher, but it is designed to be. The rope is also thicker than is used on a lot of scratching posts, and this is worth bearing in mind. Like most rope-covered scratchers, if your cat is especially destructive, it may find a way to unravel the string and leave a bare cat pole.
Pros
41-inches tall and suitable for large cats
Engineered wood base is stable
Top acts as a generous perch
Cons
Very big
Sisal rope may unravel over time
- Frisco Wall Sisal Cat Scratcher
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Post type: Wall pad
Material: Engineered wood, Faux fur, Sisal
Position: Wall-mounted
Dimensions: 27 inches
The Frisco Sisal Cat Scratcher is a wall-mounted scratching pad that has a faux fur top and bottom with sisal fabric scratching midsections. The double scratcher is wider than a lot of the alternatives and they mean that your cat should have plenty of room to really go to town on the sisal fabric.
41-inches tall and suitable for large cats
Engineered wood base is stable
Top acts as a generous perch
- 41-inches tall and suitable for large cats
- Engineered wood base is stable
- Top acts as a generous perch
Very big
Sisal rope may unravel over time
- Very big
- Sisal rope may unravel over time
Post type: Wall pad
Material: Engineered wood, Faux fur, Sisal
Position: Wall-mounted
Dimensions: 27 inches
The pad is 27 inches tall, and because it can be hung several inches from the ground, this provides ample room for bigger cats, as well as small kitties, to get their fill. The pad is very reasonably priced and even comes in packs of two, if desired, saving you a little more money and providing your cat with more scratching opportunities.
It comes with a choice of adhesive or screwed hook and loop fittings, although the adhesive is ineffective because the top and bottom section of the scratcher sticks out further than the scratcher itself. Also, the sisal is a synthetic sisal fabric and is not as durable or appealing as natural sisal.
Pros
Decent height and width
Can be used on the floor or hung on the wall
Cheap
Cons
Synthetic sisal is unappealing
Adhesive mounting option is ineffective
- Frisco Nesting Cat Scratcher Toy With Catnip
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Post type: Wedges
Material: Cardboard
Position: Floor
Dimensions: 17 inches
The Frisco Nesting Cat Scratcher Toy is a nesting set of three cat scratching toys that are shaped like wedges and allow stretching as well as scratching. The scratching surface is made from corrugated recycled cardboard and because these are nesting wedges, there are three different sizes of toy included, making the low price even greater value for money. The set even comes with catnip, which can be sprinkled on the toys to encourage your cats to investigate.
Decent height and width
Can be used on the floor or hung on the wall
Cheap
- Decent height and width
- Can be used on the floor or hung on the wall
- Cheap
Synthetic sisal is unappealing
Adhesive mounting option is ineffective
- Synthetic sisal is unappealing
- Adhesive mounting option is ineffective
Post type: Wedges
Material: Cardboard
Position: Floor
Dimensions: 17 inches
This is a low-priced set of scratching toys that are decent quality for a short period of time. Not only does the cardboard become bald and unscratchable but it sheds, which means you will have a lot of cleanup to do. The cardboard, corrugated or not, does not hold up to regular and incessant scratching, and although the nesting idea is good, in theory, it means that you are unlikely to have use of either the smallest or the largest of the wedges, according to the size of your cat or kitten.
Pros
Cheap
Includes set of three scratchers and catnip
Cons
Unlikely to need the smallest and largest wedges
Cardboard quickly loses its scratch appeal
Shredded cardboard needs picking up regularly
The Trixie Dayna 59.8-in Plush Wall Mounted Cat Tree fixes to wall studs and includes all the hardware required to mount it. It measures 59.8 inches high, and, when allowing some clearance at the bottom, this means that it will come to several feet high. It incorporates four scratching post sections, two lower perches, a top perch, a hidden lounge section, and a hammock. The perches and hammock are made from a plush faux fur material while the scratching posts are covered in jute rope.
Cheap
Includes set of three scratchers and catnip
- Cheap
- Includes set of three scratchers and catnip
Unlikely to need the smallest and largest wedges
Cardboard quickly loses its scratch appeal
Shredded cardboard needs picking up regularly
- Unlikely to need the smallest and largest wedges
- Cardboard quickly loses its scratch appeal
- Shredded cardboard needs picking up regularly
Post type: Tree
Material: Engineered wood, Faux fur, Jute
Position: Wall-mounted
Dimensions: 59.8 inches
Jute is softer than sisal, which means it is softer on paws but also means that the rope is less durable and more likely to fray under heavy use. The tree is quite expensive, although not the most expensive on the list, and its design means that the scratching post sections are individually quite short. The vertical design also means that less agile cats might struggle to get from one layer to the next. It is also quite challenging to put up and is only suitable if you have stud walls available for hanging.
Pros
Mounts to the wall, saving space on the floor
Includes perches and scratching post sections
Cons
Quite expensive
Difficult to mount
Jute frays easily
- Frisco 21-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post
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Post type: Post
Material: Engineered wood, Sisal
Position: Vertical
Dimensions: 21 inches
The Frisco 21-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post is a 21-inch tall scratching post that incorporates a grooming section and a scratching post section. The groomer has a knobby surface that is supposed to encourage your cat to rub against it, while the top half of the post is covered in natural sisal for scratching. There is also a hanging toy that dangles, at least initially, from the top of the post and the base and very top are covered in a faux fur material. The base is made from engineered wood, which is supposed to offer stability and prevent the post from toppling or falling over when in use.
Mounts to the wall, saving space on the floor
Includes perches and scratching post sections
- Mounts to the wall, saving space on the floor
- Includes perches and scratching post sections
Quite expensive
Difficult to mount
Jute frays easily
- Quite expensive
- Difficult to mount
- Jute frays easily
Post type: Post
Material: Engineered wood, Sisal
Position: Vertical
Dimensions: 21 inches
Although the Frisco 21-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post is reasonably priced and Frisco has tried something different by offering a grooming section, the knobbly bottom won’t appeal to all cats and it reduces the amount of post that is used as a scratching surface. Also, the base is not sturdy enough to prevent the post from wobbling, and the rope toy is easily torn off.
Pros
Cheap
Includes a groomer and scratching post
Cons
Wobbly
A lot of cats don’t understand the groomer
Not much scratching post
- Omega Paw Door Hanging Cat Scratchy Pad
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Post type: Scratch pad
Material: Carpet
Position: Door-hanging
Dimensions: 16 inches
The Omega Paw Door Hanging Cat Scratchy Pad is a carpeted pad with a length of rope that hangs over the door handle and keeps the pad in place while your cat scratches. It is a really cheap scratching pad and comes in a variety of designs, which means that you can find something suitable for your home.
Cheap
Includes a groomer and scratching post
- Cheap
- Includes a groomer and scratching post
Wobbly
A lot of cats don’t understand the groomer
Not much scratching post
- Wobbly
- A lot of cats don’t understand the groomer
- Not much scratching post
Post type: Scratch pad
Material: Carpet
Position: Door-hanging
Dimensions: 16 inches
However, the carpet is not as rough as sisal, which means that it will do little to help maintain claws. What’s more, if your cat is taught that it’s OK to scratch carpets, it is understandable if your feline friend then scratches other carpets. Because the pad hangs loosely from the door handle, it means that it rocks and swings around during use so it does not provide a stable and secure scratching post, which most cats want.
Pros
Cheap
Easily hangs from the door handle
Cons
Carpet is not as textured as other scratching materials
Pad is quite small
Encourages carpet scratching
Not stable
Cheap
Easily hangs from the door handle
- Cheap
- Easily hangs from the door handle
Carpet is not as textured as other scratching materials
Pad is quite small
Encourages carpet scratching
Not stable
- Carpet is not as textured as other scratching materials
- Pad is quite small
- Encourages carpet scratching
- Not stable
Buyer’s Guide
Scratching posts are found in a lot of homes, and they can vary from the small single post to the multi-level and multi-faceted cat tree. Modern scratching posts may use different materials to the traditional jute or sisal or they may have a modern design that better utilizes the space in your home while offering your cat plenty of activity. Some of them look attractive enough that they can make a positive focal point in a room. But, above all, it is important to remember that the primary function of a scratching post is to give your cat something to scratch.
Benefits Of A Modern Cat Scratching Post
But, why does your cat need a scratching post? It’s a common question, especially among cat owners that give their feline companions the run of the garden and the outside world.
Burns Energy
If you’ve ever seen a determined cat having a go at a scratching post, it is not difficult to believe that it burns calories and provides cats with some exercise. This is especially beneficial for kittens. They don’t need to do much movement to burn off energy and a cat post not only allows them to do that but it also lets them explore other habits that come naturally to cats.
Protect Furniture
Cats naturally scratch. In the wild, they would scratch objects like trees and fences. In your home, they are more likely to scratch furniture, door frames, carpets, and even walls. If you do not provide them with something safe and acceptable to scratch, your cats will almost certainly find something themselves. Even a cheap scratching post could save you hundreds of dollars in furniture replacement and redecoration costs. It could also save your relationship if it prevents your cat from scratching your favorite sofa and you from getting mad.
Claw Maintenance
One of the main reasons that cats do scratch is to maintain their claws. Cats’ claws are used as a primary hunting tool. They catch small animals and then hold them in place while the cat finishes the job. Even domesticated cats, who really only have to hunt as far as a full food bowl, still have the same basal instincts that demand they maintain their claws. Doing so also prevents the pain that can come from having dull and poorly maintained ones. Furthermore, scratching is one method that allows cats to get rid of the dead layers of claws that could otherwise hang around and cause discomfort.
Stress Relief
You may have noticed that your cat goes off and scratches its post after it has been told not to do something or if it is getting hungry and its calls are being ignored. This is because scratching is a means of relieving stress and anxiety so it not only helps maintain claw health but also feline mental health.
A Water Cooler Moment
If you have multiple cats in your home, the scratching post can be quite a sociable environment. All of your cats are likely to use it, sometimes with a little encouragement, and this means that they will meet around the post. If your cats don’t get along or don’t mix, having a post or a cat tree can encourage greater interaction between them.
Scratching Post Type
There are several main types of scratching posts to choose from:
Posts – The post is the quintessential cat scratching product. It is a vertical post with a wide horizontal base. The post is covered in a material like jute or sisal and the cat stretches up to scratch. Posts can include a perch on the top or a hanging toy that dangles from the top of the product. They can also vary in height so that there are posts suitable for all ages and sizes of cat.
Trees – Trees are more complex than posts but do share some similarities. They tend to be more vertical than horizontal and have multiple “branches” with elements like condos, hammocks, and toys. A typical cat tree will have multiple different scratching post sections, which means that your feline friend can choose its preferred position or alternate according to how it feels. Trees are more expensive and do take up a lot more room.
Pads – Scratching pads are really just covered pieces of cardboard or wood. Some are mounted to walls, others are left on the floor for a horizontal scratching experience, and there are even those that hang on doorknobs for a convenient alternative to a room-filling cat tree.
Trays – The scratching tray is similar to a pad but has at least two raised walls. Commonly, these walls are also covered in a scratching material and this type of product is good for those cats that like to sit in boxes and on pieces of paper. However, if your cat mistakes the scratching tray for a litter tray, it will make a mess and require clean up.
Wall Mounted – Wall-mounted scratching posts can vary from single, short posts, to complex trees. They typically screw to the wall using mounting brackets and do require a stud wall to ensure stability. Wall-mounted scratchers provide the same level of entertainment and variety of activities as their freestanding alternatives but they take up less floor space.
Sisal vs Jute vs Cardboard vs Carpet
Most scratching posts come with a choice of one of four materials as a scratching surface:
Sisal – Sisal is widely considered the best scratching material. It is rough and textured, which offers good abrasion for scratching. It is also durable enough that it should last at least a few months before the scratching surface becomes completely bald. It is a little more expensive than other options, however, and it is harder than the likes of jute so is not always used for kitten posts, for example.
Jute – Jute is another natural material. It is not as durable as sisal but it is softer and it is a good option if you are looking for a scratcher for cats with sensitive paws or for kittens.
Cardboard – Cardboard is cheap and manufacturers can use recycled cardboard for extra environmental credentials. Although a single layer of cardboard is weak and wouldn’t last a minute under vigorous scratching, corrugated cardboard is tougher and longer-lasting, while honeycomb cardboard is even harder. However, no matter how effective the honeycombing, cardboard is still not as durable or abrasive as sisal.
Carpet – Carpet is rarely used in scratching posts anymore. It does not offer a good, abrasive texture, and a lot of owners are put off offering this material because it can encourage cats to start scratching other areas of carpet. It is quite cheap, however, because manufacturers can use offcuts and small pieces of carpet.
Posts – The post is the quintessential cat scratching product. It is a vertical post with a wide horizontal base. The post is covered in a material like jute or sisal and the cat stretches up to scratch. Posts can include a perch on the top or a hanging toy that dangles from the top of the product. They can also vary in height so that there are posts suitable for all ages and sizes of cat.
Trees – Trees are more complex than posts but do share some similarities. They tend to be more vertical than horizontal and have multiple “branches” with elements like condos, hammocks, and toys. A typical cat tree will have multiple different scratching post sections, which means that your feline friend can choose its preferred position or alternate according to how it feels. Trees are more expensive and do take up a lot more room.
Pads – Scratching pads are really just covered pieces of cardboard or wood. Some are mounted to walls, others are left on the floor for a horizontal scratching experience, and there are even those that hang on doorknobs for a convenient alternative to a room-filling cat tree.
Trays – The scratching tray is similar to a pad but has at least two raised walls. Commonly, these walls are also covered in a scratching material and this type of product is good for those cats that like to sit in boxes and on pieces of paper. However, if your cat mistakes the scratching tray for a litter tray, it will make a mess and require clean up.
Wall Mounted – Wall-mounted scratching posts can vary from single, short posts, to complex trees. They typically screw to the wall using mounting brackets and do require a stud wall to ensure stability. Wall-mounted scratchers provide the same level of entertainment and variety of activities as their freestanding alternatives but they take up less floor space.
- Posts – The post is the quintessential cat scratching product. It is a vertical post with a wide horizontal base. The post is covered in a material like jute or sisal and the cat stretches up to scratch. Posts can include a perch on the top or a hanging toy that dangles from the top of the product. They can also vary in height so that there are posts suitable for all ages and sizes of cat.
- Trees – Trees are more complex than posts but do share some similarities. They tend to be more vertical than horizontal and have multiple “branches” with elements like condos, hammocks, and toys. A typical cat tree will have multiple different scratching post sections, which means that your feline friend can choose its preferred position or alternate according to how it feels. Trees are more expensive and do take up a lot more room.
- Pads – Scratching pads are really just covered pieces of cardboard or wood. Some are mounted to walls, others are left on the floor for a horizontal scratching experience, and there are even those that hang on doorknobs for a convenient alternative to a room-filling cat tree.
- Trays – The scratching tray is similar to a pad but has at least two raised walls. Commonly, these walls are also covered in a scratching material and this type of product is good for those cats that like to sit in boxes and on pieces of paper. However, if your cat mistakes the scratching tray for a litter tray, it will make a mess and require clean up.
- Wall Mounted – Wall-mounted scratching posts can vary from single, short posts, to complex trees. They typically screw to the wall using mounting brackets and do require a stud wall to ensure stability. Wall-mounted scratchers provide the same level of entertainment and variety of activities as their freestanding alternatives but they take up less floor space.
Sisal – Sisal is widely considered the best scratching material. It is rough and textured, which offers good abrasion for scratching. It is also durable enough that it should last at least a few months before the scratching surface becomes completely bald. It is a little more expensive than other options, however, and it is harder than the likes of jute so is not always used for kitten posts, for example.
Jute – Jute is another natural material. It is not as durable as sisal but it is softer and it is a good option if you are looking for a scratcher for cats with sensitive paws or for kittens.
Cardboard – Cardboard is cheap and manufacturers can use recycled cardboard for extra environmental credentials. Although a single layer of cardboard is weak and wouldn’t last a minute under vigorous scratching, corrugated cardboard is tougher and longer-lasting, while honeycomb cardboard is even harder. However, no matter how effective the honeycombing, cardboard is still not as durable or abrasive as sisal.
Carpet – Carpet is rarely used in scratching posts anymore. It does not offer a good, abrasive texture, and a lot of owners are put off offering this material because it can encourage cats to start scratching other areas of carpet. It is quite cheap, however, because manufacturers can use offcuts and small pieces of carpet.
- Sisal – Sisal is widely considered the best scratching material. It is rough and textured, which offers good abrasion for scratching. It is also durable enough that it should last at least a few months before the scratching surface becomes completely bald. It is a little more expensive than other options, however, and it is harder than the likes of jute so is not always used for kitten posts, for example.
- Jute – Jute is another natural material. It is not as durable as sisal but it is softer and it is a good option if you are looking for a scratcher for cats with sensitive paws or for kittens.
- Cardboard – Cardboard is cheap and manufacturers can use recycled cardboard for extra environmental credentials. Although a single layer of cardboard is weak and wouldn’t last a minute under vigorous scratching, corrugated cardboard is tougher and longer-lasting, while honeycomb cardboard is even harder. However, no matter how effective the honeycombing, cardboard is still not as durable or abrasive as sisal.
- Carpet – Carpet is rarely used in scratching posts anymore. It does not offer a good, abrasive texture, and a lot of owners are put off offering this material because it can encourage cats to start scratching other areas of carpet. It is quite cheap, however, because manufacturers can use offcuts and small pieces of carpet.
Conclusion
A cat scratching post should be considered a vital piece of equipment for the modern cat-owning household. It offers exercise, engagement, and stress relief, as well as claw management. It may even provide social opportunities if you have multiple cats, and one doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be effective.
Hopefully, our reviews have helped you decide on the best modern cat scratching post for your home.
We believe the Hepper Hi-Lo to be the best modern cat scratching post thanks to its attractive design and multiple scratching positions, but it is a little expensive. The Catit Lounge Scratcher is a really cheap, albeit somewhat basic, scratching post and includes catnip to encourage your cat to get involved.
Featured Image Credit: 5 Second Studio, Shutterstock
