Why is my cat scratching the furniture?

Because scratching is a normal, necessary behaviour and the furniture happens to be in a good spot for it. Cats scratch to maintain their claws, stretch their back and shoulders, and leave scent marks. Give them something better placed and most will switch over.

How tall should a scratching post be?

Tall enough for your cat to stretch out fully on its back legs. For an average adult cat that means at least 60cm of scratching surface, more for larger breeds. A post that's too short leaves the cat looking for something taller, which is usually your sofa.

Sisal, seagrass or cardboard?

Sisal lasts longest and gives the firmest resistance, which most cats prefer. Seagrass is softer, quieter and looks more natural in a living room, though it wears faster. Cardboard is cheapest and very popular with cats, but it shreds and needs replacing every few months. Avoid carpet covered posts, as they teach the wrong lesson.

Where should I put the post?

Right next to whatever your cat is scratching now. A post in a spare room gets ignored. Once the habit has moved across, you can shift the post gradually if you want it somewhere less prominent.

How do I get my cat to actually use it?

Rub catnip into the surface, drag a toy up and down it, and praise your cat when it uses the post. Never take hold of your cat and push its paws against the post. That puts most cats off permanently.

How many scratching posts do I need?

One per cat plus a spare is the standard guidance. Cats don't like waiting their turn, and having options in different rooms means the posts actually get used rather than the doorframe.

Should I buy a post or a cat tree?

A post does one job and takes up very little space, so it suits smaller homes and single cats. A cat tree adds platforms, beds and climbing height, which suits multiple cats or a cat that spends all day indoors. Our cat trees are in a separate section if you want to compare.

What are your delivery and returns terms?

Delivery is free to the UK mainland and orders arrive within 3 to 5 working days, with no hidden fees at checkout. If you've changed your mind, you can return the item, but the return postage is yours to cover. If something arrives faulty or damaged, contact us and we'll sort it separately.

Scratching Posts

Q: How many scratching posts do I need?

One per cat plus a spare is the standard guidance. Cats don&#39;t like waiting their turn, and having options in different rooms means the posts actually get used rather than the doorframe.

5 products

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 products

Scratching isn't bad behaviour. It's how cats keep their claws in shape, stretch out their shoulders and back, and mark territory with the scent glands in their paws. A cat that's scratching your sofa isn't being difficult. It just hasn't been given anything better positioned.

That's the useful bit of news, because it means the problem is fixable. Most cats will switch to a proper post within a week or two if the post is in the right place and covered in the right material.

Our range covers the main styles. Barrel posts wrap sisal or seagrass around a sturdy column and often include dens or an observation deck, so they double as somewhere to hide and somewhere to climb. Tower posts add height for cats who like to get up high. Flat and angled scratchers suit cats who scratch horizontally, which is more common than people realise, especially with older cats. Cardboard scratchers are the budget option and get through plenty of use before needing replacing.

Material matters. Sisal rope is the most durable and gives the resistance cats want when they dig their claws in. Seagrass is softer, quieter underfoot and looks more natural in a living room. Cardboard is cheapest and most cats like it, though it sheds bits and needs replacing more often.

If you're after something taller with multiple platforms and beds built in, have a look at our Cat Trees instead. Posts do one job well. Trees do several.

Delivery is free to the UK mainland and orders arrive within 3 to 5 working days, with no hidden fees at checkout. If you change your mind, you can return the item, though the return postage is yours to cover.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 products

vidaXL vidaXL Cat Scratching Post 8x15 cm 10 mm Beige - Scratching Posts

Wall-Mounted Cat Scratching Post with Durable Sisal, 8x15 cm

From £12.29

vidaXL vidaXL Cat Scratching Post 8x15 cm 8 mm Beige - Scratching Posts

Wall-Mounted Cat Scratching Post with Durable Sisal, 8x15 cm

From £13.31

Save 9%

Unbranded Cat Scratching Barrel Sisal Activity Center 3 Dens Observation Deck 70H Pawhut - Scratching Posts

Activity Cat Scratching Barrel with 3 Dens & Observation Deck

£56.08 £61.65

vidaXL vidaXL Cat Scratching Barrel 60 cm Seagrass - Scratching Posts

vidaXL Cat Scratching Barrel 60cm with Three Openings & Plush Trim

£91.23

PawHut Cat Barrel Kitten Tree Tower Sisal Scratching Furniture Climbing Frame - Scratching Posts

Cat Scratching Barrel & Play Tower, 3-Tier with Sisal & Plush Hideaways

£61.67

Height and stability are the two things that matter

A cat needs to stretch fully when it scratches. That's part of the point. If a post is shorter than your cat's full reach when standing on its back legs, it won't get used properly and your cat will go back to the sofa arm, which is exactly the right height.

For an average adult cat, look for at least 60cm of scratching surface. Bigger breeds want 70cm or more. Kittens can start smaller but will outgrow it within the year, so it's usually cheaper to buy for the adult size straight away.

Stability is the other half. If a post wobbles when a cat leans into it, that cat won't trust it again. Look for a wide, heavy base. A post that rocks is a post that gets ignored.

Choosing the covering

Sisal rope wears best and gives the strongest resistance, which is what most cats prefer. It looks slightly rustic and sheds a small amount of fibre.

Seagrass is a softer natural alternative. It's quieter, it looks tidier in a living room, and cats with more delicate claws often prefer it. It doesn't last quite as long as sisal under heavy use.

Cardboard is the cheapest and, oddly, one of the most popular with cats. It shreds as it's used, so expect to replace it every few months.

Carpet covered posts are worth avoiding. They teach a cat that carpet is fair game, which is not the lesson you want.

Vertical or horizontal

Watch how your cat scratches now. Some reach up a doorframe or the back of the sofa, which means a vertical post. Others rake at the carpet or the rug, which means a flat or angled scratcher. Plenty of cats do both, in which case one of each is worth having.

Older cats often shift towards horizontal scratching as their joints stiffen, so if your cat has stopped using a tall post it may not have lost interest, it may just be uncomfortable reaching that high.

Where to put it

This is where most people go wrong. Tucking a post away in a spare room means it never gets touched.

Put it next to whatever your cat is currently scratching. If the sofa arm is the problem, the post goes beside the sofa arm. Cats scratch in places that matter to them, near entrances, near where they sleep, and in the middle of the household action. Once the habit has transferred, you can gradually move the post a few inches at a time if you want it somewhere else.

A post by the door your cat comes through, and another near where it sleeps, covers most households.

Getting your cat to use it

Rub catnip into the surface or use a catnip spray. Drag a toy up and down it to get the paws on. Praise the cat when it uses the post. Don't ever pick a cat up and press its paws against it, as that reliably puts them off for good.

How many do you need?

One per cat, plus a spare, is the usual advice. Cats won't queue.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my cat scratching the furniture?
Because scratching is a normal, necessary behaviour and the furniture happens to be in a good spot for it. Cats scratch to maintain their claws, stretch their back and shoulders, and leave scent marks. Give them something better placed and most will switch over.
How tall should a scratching post be?
Tall enough for your cat to stretch out fully on its back legs. For an average adult cat that means at least 60cm of scratching surface, more for larger breeds. A post that's too short leaves the cat looking for something taller, which is usually your sofa.
Sisal, seagrass or cardboard?
Sisal lasts longest and gives the firmest resistance, which most cats prefer. Seagrass is softer, quieter and looks more natural in a living room, though it wears faster. Cardboard is cheapest and very popular with cats, but it shreds and needs replacing every few months. Avoid carpet covered posts, as they teach the wrong lesson.
Where should I put the post?
Right next to whatever your cat is scratching now. A post in a spare room gets ignored. Once the habit has moved across, you can shift the post gradually if you want it somewhere less prominent.
How do I get my cat to actually use it?
Rub catnip into the surface, drag a toy up and down it, and praise your cat when it uses the post. Never take hold of your cat and push its paws against the post. That puts most cats off permanently.
How many scratching posts do I need?
One per cat plus a spare is the standard guidance. Cats don't like waiting their turn, and having options in different rooms means the posts actually get used rather than the doorframe.
Should I buy a post or a cat tree?
A post does one job and takes up very little space, so it suits smaller homes and single cats. A cat tree adds platforms, beds and climbing height, which suits multiple cats or a cat that spends all day indoors. Our cat trees are in a separate section if you want to compare.
What are your delivery and returns terms?
Delivery is free to the UK mainland and orders arrive within 3 to 5 working days, with no hidden fees at checkout. If you've changed your mind, you can return the item, but the return postage is yours to cover. If something arrives faulty or damaged, contact us and we'll sort it separately.