Guide
How to choose a scratching post your cat will actually use
Scratching is a need, not a whim. A good post solves it if it’s tall, stable and made of the right material.
Updated: 04/10/2026 · YAO, woodworking workshop in Barcelona
In short
- Tall: at least your cat fully stretched (about 80–90 cm).
- Stable: heavy base or wall-fixed.
- Sisal rope or cardboard: the most used materials in studies.
- One per cat plus one.
In a 2018 survey (Moesta et al.) cats used simple vertical posts of at least ~90 cm and sisal rope most; in a 2020 study (Zhang & McGlone) they preferred cardboard and rope to carpet or upholstery. See our wooden sisal scratching post.
FAQ
How many posts?
One per cat plus one, in different places.
