Sisal Cat Scratching Post

An upright sisal post for cats who want to scratch standing up and stretched out, which is what most cats prefer and what a flat cardboard pad does not allow. Sisal is the fibre cats take to most readily — it is coarse enough to give proper resistance without shredding into the room.

Key features

• Sisal-wrapped upright post
• Two heights: 36 cm and 65 cm
• Choice of solid wood or MDF base
• Weighted base so the post stays put while your cat pulls against it
• Assembly required

Choosing a height

A post needs to be taller than your cat is when standing on its back legs with front paws reached up — that full stretch is half the point of scratching. Measure your cat that way before choosing.

Base options

The solid wood base is heavier and more stable. The MDF base costs less and works, but a lighter base is more likely to shift under a determined cat. If your cat is large or scratches hard, go for solid wood.

Getting a cat to use it

• Put it next to whatever your cat currently scratches, not somewhere out of the way.
• Leave it in place for a few weeks before considering moving it.
• Cats scratch on waking, so near a sleeping spot works well.
• Do not lift your cat and press its paws to the post — it reliably puts them off.

Specification

• Scratching surface: sisal
• Base: solid wood or MDF
• Heights: 36 cm, 65 cm
• Assembly: required

Safety and care

Tighten the base fully on assembly and check it every few weeks. A post that wobbles is one a cat stops trusting. Vacuum loose sisal fibres as they appear — all natural fibre sheds a little with use. Replace the post once the sisal is worn through.