An old one breaks, you’re in a hurry, and you just need kitty to be set in terms of scratching until you have the time to pop into the pet store, or wait out the long shipping date it takes to get a nice new cat tree. The cats tore the “HE-double-hockey-sticks” out of the back pleather. See this article here: My Cat’s Scratching Furniture! The rough texture of the scratching post will ensure that the cat’s nails and claws get polished and strengthened while also satisfying their urge to scratch. So good considering it’s one of the few items he can scratch on as much as he likes without it eventually falling to pieces. Enter your email address and hit "Go" to be notified each time a new post is published on KittyClysm. Not sisal rope, but sisal fabric. , oh yes, mine likes to scratch our carpet too even though he has his scratching post:), Our cat loves to use the sofa! You should also play around the post. Ask-a-Vet is not manned by the staff or owners of CatHealth.com, and the advice given should not delay or replace a visit to your veterinarian. Your cat probably already loves scratching on your rugs, and if he/she isn’t doing it while you’re around, there’s a very good chance he/she is doing it when you’re notaround… I have a slew scattered around the house, so when my cats get bored, even if I’m busy or not even home, my furries are able to actively play. Veterinarians know that sisal fabric is the preferred scratching material for cats. That would lend me to believe that sheep and goat hides/furs will work out better for this purpose. Cardboard scratchers that you sprinkle with catnip are also very popular with most scratching cats. Try getting an alternative that is as close to what she is scratching as possible. Pros: Cons: Sisal Fabric: Sisal fabric is a favorite among cats. Avery’s quite literally used the sheepskin to knead on every day since it’s arrived. and I try to keep claws trimmed…, What good kitties! Below, we consider the pros and cons of some of the most popular materials for cat scratching posts. Declawing cats is an emotionally charged and hotly debated topic.Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Academy of Feline Medicine stress that owners should be educated about both the procedure and its alternatives. The tighter the knit, the longer the blanket usually lasts without getting damaged, and the happier kitty seems to be to put his claws all over the item. Need more help getting kitty to scratch somewhere besides your furniture? Cats also knead, which can give your carpet a workout. But if you don’t like having any hides or rugs around for a specific room, and yet still want to keep your furniture safe from kitty claws, blankets and throws strewn on furniture your cat already loves scratching up could do the trick perfectly. I thought that chunks of fur would start coming off a bit at a time, and that it would eventually have to be replaced, but that hasn’t happened yet at all. Your email address will not be published. some cats like wood. Pioneer Pet’s SmartCat The Ultimate Scratching Post is 32 inches in height, tall enough for most cats to use comfortably when scratching. Tip-overs are less likely to be an issue with a wood scratching posts. This serves as a healthier alternative than having them scratch anything else. Your email address will not be published. Make sure your cat knows that this particular clothing item is just for him/her by placing it in a spot he/she frequents. He uses the sheepskin just as much as he uses the rug – though definitely as a secondary scratch post (rug takes the cake for him being able to stretch while he has a good scratch). Again, also haven’t tried using imitation furs, but my guess is that they would work almost as well as the real thing. Read more: Soft Paws® Can Help Save your Sofa. Hi, I'm Elise! Velvet not so much. … It’s highly durable and has a texture that they love. Speaking of scratching at different angles, this New Cat Condos tilted scratching posts is yet another – not quite the approximately 60 degree angle like the WARE scratch post I used to have, but not even close to parallel with the ground like in the Molly and Friends Horizontal Scratching Post either. The American Academy of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) goes even further by saying it strongly opposes the practice, which is considered a major surgery. Ever tried using them to increase the number of items your cat has to use his/her nails on? Apart from that, one needs to play with the cat in the vicinity of the scratching post. Every night, and whenever we binge-watch TV shows from bed on Netflix, we move the sheepskin from the dresser to the end of the bed. Haha too true! Read some of the best cat scratching post here. Should you get a cat scratching post made of wood, sisal rope, or carpet? Since getting the rug, he’s sharpened his claws solely on it, and never took a second look at the scratcher. If you have any experience with cats + feau furs, let me know in the comments! If you can’t stand the idea of kitty scratching up your carpet, there’s always the great option of putting a rug or two right on top of your carpet – ones that are approved for kitty claws. Which brings me to my next point. No matter how much he uses the sheepskin, no damage seems to occur. Posts: Cats like to stretch when the scratch. My Cat’s Scratching Furniture! Other times, it’s really not practical to have a scratching post in every single room of the house that kitty uses. Why? Required fields are marked *. This is the most common form of sisal covering for posts. So we weighed down the scratcher with an exercise weight and all was fine. Understand why it is that cats scratch things. They do like to use the edge of the braided rug too so about once year, I cut off the outer layer of the rug. One of the most frustrating problems I’ve had to deal with as a pet parent is staying on top of my cats’ desire to play. It’s a great material for a scratching post. A couple of them even like to climb the curtains, too : 0. AmazonBasics Cat Condo Tree Tower with Hammock Bed and Scratching Post by Archie & Oscar™ from $94.99. Quiz - Do You Know How to Choose a Cat Scratching Post. Best Materials to Combat Claws, Accidents & Fur, Stable, Durable, Sleek: Real Wood Cat Scratch Posts & Scratching Cat Trees, Raccoon-Proof Cat Doors: Protecting Cat Shelters & Your Home. Excellent. Midwest Homes Furniture for Pets Forte Scratching Post. Of course any cat will still want to scratch in every room, but then kitty’s just taking out his or her claws on the poor furniture. Obviously, it’s also much easier and more cost efficient to replace blankets that are damaged than it is to replace scratched up furniture. PS. Join me & my furries in our little corner of the feline-obsessed world. My Cat Sleeps All Day: Is This Normal? What can you do? Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Chewy. My 4 MaineCoons are armed, but I was blessed! Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more. Also we used to have the same rug as you have in that picture (until the cat ruined it! How Can I Keep Claws Off the Couch? Options Available on Open Box. Thank goodness it was black, and we could “repair” it with duct tape : } So, we decided to get an ALL leather sofa and recliner. While this is typically hard to do, toys like these that allow cats to play by themselves make the job one heck of a lot easier. It’s time to remove and replace the sisal on the cat scratching post! Just fill in the form below and hit "Subscribe"! Interestingly, the sheepskin is heavy enough that we don’t need to use an underlay to keep it in place at all, even if we have it on a slippery dresser or the floor for him to use. Same as the blanket section, I’d go with tight-woven high quality wool to get the most durability – but if you’ve got throws around, chances are kitty definitely won’t be able to resist getting claws on them. Once you've found the perfect cat scratching post, you'll need to teach your cat to use it. You can also sprinkle catnip on the post while applying this method. Instead of using the furniture, your cat would likely be drawn to the blanket or throw to get his/her paws on instead. Dig KittyClysm? The Ragdoll cat has very specific needs in a cat scratching post. The one from Ikea (the STOPP-Anti-slip underlay) works really well for us on vinyl, and I’m sure it would do the same on tile, laminate, and hardwood. One can also hang bags of catnip from the top of the scratching post. If you don’t have much space in your house for rugs, get a small one. Avery loves kneading in pretty much any wool, so blankets are an excellent alternative to the furs for scratching and kneading in. 264. Welcome to KittyClysm - a blog for cat lovers & kitty keepers. 6. I do have posts in rooms where they hangout. Now, I haven’t tried using feau furs, but I have tried using genuine sheepskin hides. Learn how to make your Ragdoll happy with the best scratching post. Learn how to make your Ragdoll happy with the best scratching post. The Pioneer Pet Smart Ultimate Scratching Post is our top cat scratching post because it really stands out in a crowded marketplace. Actually, most cats prefer sisal fabric over any other material, including sisal rope. Scratching is a perfectly natural behavior for your cat. Figured I might as well blog about 'em. Try These Couch Protector Covers, Toys Cats Can Play With On Their Own: Ideal for When Kitty’s Home Alone, Is There a Cat Proof Couch? Scratching tower wrapped in soft plush. I’d suggest you do the same. We left that rug in Canada when we moved to the UK last May, but you can bet that rug will be on one of the first or second trips back with us when we go back to Canada to visit. Is your … Your cat probably already loves scratching on your rugs, and if he/she isn’t doing it while you’re around, there’s a very good chance he/she is doing it when you’re not around. Having at least one or two of these “approved alternative scratching posts” in every room will make it so that kitty knows that if there’s an itch to get those claws scratching, there’s plenty of a-okay items to take it out on. Wand toys also make it more effective. At 32 inches it is tall enough for cats to get a full vertical stretch, and the 16 x 16-inch base is sturdy enough for felines of all shapes and sizes. We do have scratching cardboard toys, a cat tower, and other entertainments for the kitties. Facts about cats, training tips, odd behaviours, pet care advice - I talk as much as I can about it all here! PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge – The Best Cat Scratching Post to File Nails. Most cat’s love plain wood as it is like scratching a real tree. Scratching is a normal aspect of cat behavior. Learn how to trim your cat’s nails, and do so at least once a week. This woven material provides great texture for shredding — which cats love to do when scratching, and it feels good on their paws. Have two pet cats, Avery & Bjorn, whom I love to bits. 4. Sisal is great for scratching, but it frays easily. Have I missed any everyday items that cats absolutely love getting their paws on? Our favorite cat scratching post is made with sisal rope placed in a vertical direction. Check out all the other blogs I pen & photograph. Wood. Do all cats scratch furniture? Obsessed with cats. Purrfect Post® covers all of their posts and scratching surfaces in the best scratching materials. Sounds like you preemptively had out for them the alternatives they would want/need! Currently, Thomas and I don’t have a lot of space, being in a studio apartment. If you have bought cat scratching posts just to have your cat turn up his nose and refuse to touch it, it may be because the post doesn't fit your cat's needs. Cats can easily draw their claws down the fabric, yet still get a good grip. . And I know, you probably don’t want your cat on your nice rugs in the first place, but hear me out when I say, it’s often not worth the fight over keeping the rugs in your house safe from kitty’s claws. I’ve had the same sisal scratching post since 2017. How Can I Keep Claws Off the Couch? If just having these scratch-approved items in the room is not enough for kitty to stop clawing away at your furniture, whenever you see your cat trying to knead or scratch in the wrong place, gently pick kitty up and plop him or her on a scratch-approved item. Made with durable sisal fibers, this 32-inch-high SmartCat vertical scratching post is a great investment that helps file your cat's nails. There has even been mention of using outdoor furniture furniture/fabric. Sometimes, it’s hard to get access to a scratching post as soon as you need one. Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. I’m not sure cow hides would work as well as sheepskins because I do notice there’s something magical about long fluffy wool that cats go crazy for. Avery loves taking his claws to this thing, and while he also loves taking claws to our clothes if we ever leave them on the bed, a quick picking him up and plopping him on this fur will get him to continue kneading in this scratch-appropriate location instead. PetFusion … As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; learn more here. My cat doesn’t scratch on boxes, but I know many that do. Pros: Wood is an attractive material, and scratching posts made of wood tend to be durable, sturdy, and stable. M&MKPET Natural Sisal Cat Scratcher Mat,Scratch Pad for Cat Grinding Claws & Protecting Furniture (25.6" 15.7") 4.3 out of 5 stars 145. There are actually plenty of everyday objects that your cat will happily take his or her claws to – so you don’t have to grab that extra scratching post if you don’t want it around. Then, you will be transferred to a human. See more of this duo on my personal blog, E&T. If you’re new to my blog, Turbo is our cat. Read more: What Is the Best Cat Scratching Post for Your Cat? Re-Sisal a Cat Scratch Post. Or, of course, get another scratching post or use one of the other alternative scratch items on this list. $16.99. Hopefully, it’ll mean that even when you’re not home, the furniture remains safe. Learn more about cat scratching and how to deal with it. I think it’s because it’s so frayed his claws don’t have much to bite into anymore. In the wild, cats scratch … I’ve replaced the sisal on this scratching post twice already. I am the proud fur-momma of 9 cats and 8 dogs (at present) : D I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree on the leather and pleather options as being “cat friendly”. 470 Reviews. It’s just such a nice thing to have – a high quality rug that won’t be damaged no matter how much claw action your cat takes out on it. If you like the posts on KittyClysm, please take a moment to subscribe to the email newsletter! The hits in my household are ridiculously affordable: cat springs, ball track toys, & kick sticks. ), consider only shooing kitty when he/she scratches the furniture and not when kitty’s scratching on the floor. Place the scratching post on the side: this is an important step when introducing a cat to a scratching post. 4. Another trick I have personally used is to take the carpet off of the lower part of the scratching post (if it’s multileveled) to expose the bare wood. The first step is to lure the cat to the scratching post using catnip. 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