Cat Scratchers

Cardboard, sisal and rope scratchers in the shapes cats use most: flat pads, lounges, upright posts and boards for the wall, plus clear tape that protects the sofa while your cat learns.

Choosing a scratcher

Scratching is normal for cats: it keeps their claws in shape and leaves their scent. The goal is not to stop it, but to give your cat something better to scratch than your couch.

Watch where your cat scratches now. If it stretches up the arm of the sofa, choose an upright post or a board for the wall. If it rakes the rug, a flat pad, a cardboard lounge or a mat on the floor will feel right.

Cardboard costs little and many cats like the texture, but it wears down faster than sisal or rope. A cat tree with sisal posts gives your cat scratching and climbing in one piece.

Scratcher questions

How do I get my cat to stop scratching the couch?

Put a scratcher right next to the spot your cat scratches now, in the same direction: upright beside the sofa arm, flat by the rug. For a few weeks, cover the damaged spot with clear anti-scratch tape, so the scratcher becomes the better choice. Once your cat uses it, you can move it a little at a time.

My cat ignores the scratcher. What can I try?

Move it to where your cat already scratches, or to the spot where it stretches after a nap. Rubbing a little catnip on it, or dragging a wand toy across it so your cat's claws catch the surface, often gets things started.

Do I need more than one?

If you have 2 or more cats or a larger home, yes. Start with 1 scratcher per cat plus 1 by the sofa, and offer both an upright and a flat one so your cat can choose.

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