The Ultimate Cat Scratching Post

Why do they do it?

"To remove old nail sheaths from the claws
To exercise and tone muscles
To relieve stress, frustration and boredom
To "warm up" for a vigorous play session
To mark territory"

It seems as if some cat people have figured out how to not have their cats destroy their furniture and a scratching post is part of the equation. This tip comes from a few months back...

Gene says: For a handsome scratching post that is neither pastel colored nor assembled from carpet remants, check out the Ultimate Scratching Post.

Esmartcats.com sells this thingy for $69.95, which seems like a lot for a post, but not too much for saving furniture. (Thanks, Gene!) MGR

Comments (5)

How do you get a cat to use a scratching post? We bought one that hangs on a door handle and he couldn't care less.

Go over to the scratching post with your cat and show him [or her] that "this is a good place to scratch" by raking your fingernails across it. You can also catnip it and offer your cat treats after they scratch. My own cat is really picky about where he scratches, so it took a couple of different scratching posts before I found a sisal mat thingy that he accepts and enjoys.

also, some cats like scratching thingies that are on the ground like this and not sisal. My cat only likes cardboard. And if you have sisal furniture or carpeting it is best to stay away from any materials that are sisal based. They may mistake the texture of your expensive carpet for their scratching mat.

I did the catnip thing, but the trick that worked best was that If I managed to catch him in the act of scratching something that wasn't so ideal - like the couch - I'd gently pick him up and put his paws on the post. He really likes it now. I also bought him a heated cat bed recently that he didn't use until I put catnip in it...

I agree that cats can be very particular about what they use as a scratching post. My guys could've cared less on something I hung on the door, or a short little post. But one of those big, honkin' carpet covered scratchers, they shred.