How to Get Cats to Use a Scratching Post

Adopting a new cat or kitten is an exciting time, and gathering all the wonderful supplies to enhance your pet’s new home can be a lot of fun. There’s so much to explore, such as food, litter, toys, a cozy bed, nail clippers, a grooming brush and, of course, a scratching post! Choosing the right scratching post can be a wonderful adventure, as you’ll find various sizes, shapes and materials to consider. By thinking about what your cat enjoys, you can make this decision easier and more enjoyable. If you’re wondering how to get cats to use a scratching post, here are some tips to encourage your feline friend to embrace it!

Understanding Why Cats Scratch

Why do cats scratch? Cat scratchers are essential for any healthy, well-adjusted cat. Cats must have an outlet for their urge to scratch, so providing a post can save your furniture, drapery and carpeting from destruction. Cats also use their scratching post for stretching and exercise, so obtaining a suitable post is vital to a cat’s health and well-being. 

All cats have claws on their front and rear paws. The rear ones are primarily for itching and climbing, while the front claws help a cat catch and hold onto prey. Both front and rear claws can also be used as defense if necessary. Like human fingernails, cat claws continue to grow throughout a cat’s life and need regular attention. Most cats care for this by using their teeth to pull at their rear claw sheaths, revealing the sharp new claws underneath. 

Why do cats love scratching posts? It’s easier to hook their front claws in some material and pull them downward, pulling off the old sheaths to expose the new claws. A scratching post accomplishes this. 

Best Types of Cat Scratching Posts

Some of the types of cat scratching posts include: 

• Cardboard cat scratcher 
• Pros: Easily replaceable; many cats love it 
• Cons: Cheap material; not all cats enjoy it 
• Sisal rope cat scratcher 
• Pros: Some cats enjoy the grip 
• Cons: Some cats dislike the texture 
• Wood cat scratcher 
• Pros: Sturdy 
• Cons: It may be hard for cats to scratch  
• Carpet cat scratcher 
• Pros: Can be very satisfying for your cat 
• Cons: It may tempt cats to scratch any other carpet in the house  
• Vertical scratching post 
• Pros: Vertical cat scratching post offers resistance to cats’ claws 
• Cons: Not all cats enjoy it 
• Horizontal scratching post 
• Pros: A cat scratcher, when horizontal, can help deter cats from scratching carpets or rugs  
• Cons: Not all cats enjoy it 
• Slanted cat scratcher 
• Pros: Slanted cat scratching post provides space for cats to stretch 
• Cons: Not all cats enjoy it 
• Cat lounger 
• Pros: Cats may also lay on the furniture-shaped “cat scratching lounge” 
• Cons: Not all cats enjoy it 
• Cat wall climbers (or a wall-mounted cat scratcher) 
• Pros: Wall-mounted scratching posts often offer space for cats to climb, explore and rest 
• Cons: A cat wall scratching post might not be large enough for the cat to scratch comfortably

Why do outdoor cats like scratching posts? Outdoor cats typically use tree stumps or a wood scratching post to sharpen their front claws. If a cat has spent time outside, they may enjoy scratching a post of wood. Instead of getting pre-made cat trees, that scratching post made of wood could function as a real cat tree, reminding them of the great outdoors.

Some cat lovers bring firewood or small stumps into their homes for their cats to enjoy. Others purchase scratching posts or larger cat towers made from natural logs to offer their cat a tall scratching post. 

Another material of choice is a corrugated cardboard cat scratcher. Economical cardboard posts are easy to replace and appeal to many cats. Usually, they lie flat on the floor and may come with a toy attached to entice a kitty to scratch at them. Since many cats enjoy cardboard posts and they’re often inexpensive, first-time cat owners often start with this option before graduating to more elaborate and pricey cat furniture.

A cat post covered with rough sisal rope is another popular option. The rope scratching post accomplishes the same purpose as tree bark outside – it catches the front claws so the cat can pull downward and release the sheath to expose the new claw underneath. Sisal rope posts cost more than disposable cardboard, but they’re durable and last for years before they need replacement. Many cats enjoy using posts covered in sisal.

Some scratching posts sold in stores are covered with carpeting. While a carpet cat scratching post accomplishes the same purpose as sisal, it often resembles the carpeting on staircases and home floors. Some cats may not distinguish between the carpet on their carpet scratching post and that in the rest of the house. These cats often pull at carpeted stairs and floors and usually benefit from a switch to a post made from a different material. 

Choosing the Right Scratching Post for Your Cat

To most cats, the sturdiness and stability of a scratching post matter even more than the construction material. Cats put a lot of energy into sharpening their claws, and they can’t scratch with gusto if the post won’t stay upright. A wood or sisal post must be attached to a sturdy base that won’t wobble when the cats scratch. A wobbly post may also be nailed onto a larger base for stability. Cardboard posts that lie flat on the floor should be large enough for the cat to stand on them and scratch simultaneously.

Another factor to consider in how to get cats to use a scratching post is the height of the post. Cats reach upward and pull down against the post, so a cat’s post should be at least half as tall as he is to allow him to stretch. The taller and sturdier the post, the greater the chance of a cat preferring the post to a couch or armchair.

DIY Cat Scratching Post

You can also make your own do-it-yourself (DIY) cat scratching post. Read on to check out our easy, step-by-step guide on how to make a cat scratching post.

To start, you’ll need the following supplies: 

• Gloves 
• Wood round 
• Fabric or felt of your choice 
• A marking and measuring tool 
• Spray adhesive 
• Cordless glue gun 
• Scroll saw or jig saw 
• 3” PVC pipe 
• Clamps 
• 3” PVC cap 
• 50’ 3/8” rope 
• PVC bits 
• A cordless compact drill

Here’s how you do it:*

*Safety Warning: Before starting, ensure you are familiar with the operation and safety procedures of all of the following tools mentioned. If you’re not confident using them, please seek assistance from an experienced tool user. 

1. Cover the wood round: Put on your gloves, lay the wood round on a piece of your fabric or felt, and draw a cut line around it using your marking and measuring tool. Pick up the wood round and spray adhesive on its rounded side. Place the fabric on top and smooth it in place. Hot glue the overhang around the wooden round.

1. Attach PVC pipe to wood round: Use the scroll saw or a jig saw to cut a circle of wood to fit inside the PVC pipe.*
   *Caution: Make sure you are comfortable using these saws, as they can be dangerous if misused. 

1. Securely clamp the PVC to the table: Do this to predrill four holes around the base. Screw the wood circle into the wood round, making sure it’s securely attached. You can place it off-center to give your cat more space to use it. Then, make sure the PVC is secured using the four predrilled holes. 

1. Wrap the PVC with rope: Place the PVC cap on, and then, starting from the bottom, hot glue the rope to the PVC pipe.  

1. The rest can be customized! 

Encouraging & Training Your Cat to Use the Scratching Post

Wondering how to train cats to use a scratching post? To start, positive reinforcement, rewards, enticing with toys and catnip, and avoiding premature replacement of the scratching post in a home all play a role. 

Outdoor cats scratch prominent markers in their territory, leaving scent and visual warnings for other feline intruders. For the same reason, many cats who scratch furniture choose a prominent chair arm or table leg, so anyone entering the room or home will know immediately whose territory they’re in.

Hot tip: If you’re still stuck wondering how to get a cat to use a cat scratching post, try placing a scratching post in a prominent location in the most used room in the house, even directly in front of the piece of furniture the cat has shown a preference for – that’ll often encourage the cat to scratch the post to mark their territory.

Whether cardboard, wood, or sisal, horizontal or vertical, simple or elaborate, an effective scratching post exists to satisfy every demanding cat and owner, clearly answering the question, “Why do cats need a scratching post?” with its presence. Choosing a post to please your cat can be an adventure, with vigorous scratching and purring the reward.

For more expert tips on your new cat’s behavior, explore our other cat and kitten behavior articles.