Save Your Chair: How to Choose a Good Cat Scratcher (and Tips for Using It)

Scratch, scratch and scratch. This is one of the great tasks, if not the main one, of cats on a daily basis. Although this may be a behavior that appears before play, it is also a tool used by cats to attract attention. Other times they do so in the presence of their keepers or other cats as a sign of territorial trust.

However, their sharp nails grow quickly, and under “natural” conditions, they must be worn down by walking or climbing trees, walls, or tambourines. But if they live in apartments or spaces where they can’t go out, they will seek out the surfaces in the house that are most like them, such as sofas, rugs, curtains or wallpaper.

If this is your case, and you’re looking to keep your rugs from looking like minced meat, you should start thinking about scratching posts, also known as “cat furniture”, which are essential for the felines that live indoors.

“Scratching posts are a source of well-being for the cat’s environment,” explains Karen Valenzuela, an academic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Agronomy at the University of the Americas. There are thousands of options on the market, but a good scratching post must have a “cat-attractive” surface that allows the animal to scratch it and thus express its instinct to file and sharpen its nails, as well as marking its territory.”

This behavior, long repressed by man, is essential for him, since it also allows him to exercise, to evacuate stress, tension and energy. “All this promotes the release of neurotransmitters that translate into well-being,” adds Valenzuela.

Even if it doesn’t look like it, the scratching post is also a space that promotes olfactory development, a fundamental sense in cats. “They use olfactory cues and pheromones to communicate with other cats,” says Cristina Méndez, feline medicine specialist and academic at Universidad Mayor. “Smells give them information about the safety of their environment, so we need to provide them with a space that respects their sense of smell,” he explains.

In scratching areas, the cat “can mark the territory with its nails, leaving its pheromones there, indicating that this space is its territory. With this, he identifies with and appropriates this territory”, he goes further.

Interpreting what your pet likes or dislikes is a work of observation, chemistry and intuition. And with the scrapers it is not easy, because there are several types on the market. “One of the most typical is the type of tree: they are high so that the cat, in addition to scratching, can climb”, explains Méndez. There are also cardboard ones, others can be placed on furniture and there are horizontal scrapers.

But beyond the shape of the scratching post, the specialist mentions that the place in the house that the cat chooses to perform this action is relevant. “You have to observe where they tend to scratch more and put the scratcher there,” he says.

In any case, this area “must be in a quiet space”, where it will not be disturbed or interrupted constantly. Whether it is placed vertically or horizontally will depend on both the characteristics of the house and the preference of the cat. “If it is observed that it tends to scratch horizontal surfaces – such as carpets, footrests or cushions – then it is advisable to opt for a scratching post in this orientation, with a size that allows the cat to scratch comfortably,” says Valenzuela. “The important thing is that it is fixed and allows the cat to stretch completely.”

“I also saw very simple scrapers,” Méndez says. “For example, my cat has one made of EVA rubber. Right now she is scratching on it, very happy and content.” If you’ve let a lot of time go by and your cat has already chosen one of your chairs as a scratching post, what the specialist suggests is to put on a blanket that acts as a “protective layer”.

Age is another factor that impacts the type of scraper. “Older cats tend to prefer horizontal scratchers because they are more comfortable for them. Puppies or young cats, on the other hand, tend to prefer vertical scratchers,” adds Valenzuela.

“There are cats that like cardboard, others rugs, there are other scratching posts covered in totora rope. It really depends on the cat and its preferences,” explains Méndez.

But the hardest part isn’t getting the scraper, but getting them to use it effectively. This can be a source of frustration for many cat sitters, as they can spend and spend on toys and infrastructure, but the cat still prefers a chair, a box, or the paper from your food delivery last night.

To get the cat used to using it, a trick suggested by Méndez is to rub some catnip on it, the catnip that attracts felines. In this way “they will scratch there and mark the object with their pheromones”. Thus, they will be able to let go and interact more fluidly with the scratching post, alone or in company.

Another way to promote the use of scratching posts is to use pheromones. Although cats secrete them naturally, there are also synthetic ones, which help cats feel better in times of stress.

“There are different formats,” explains Méndez. “There are diffusers that are connected to the current and others in spray. You can use them on the cat itself or in places where you want it to be happy.” They are highly recommended during a move, a major change in the house or when trying to get it to use a scraper.

Synthetic pheromones are not perceptible to humans, only to cats, since their olfactory ability is incomparably greater than that of a person. “You have to put them where you want them to scratch,” he explains, and suggests supplementing with catnip. Both substances are completely harmless to cats.

“Innately, most cats use scratching posts,” says Valenzuela. However, some need to be guided, especially those who have already chosen a sofa or the lower part of the bed. If they persist in continuing to scrape these areas, the smartest thing is to place a scraper right there.

If you prefer mats, “one option would be to place horizontal scrapers on them,” says the UDLA academic. To encourage him, you can offer a prize —the churus never fail—, after seeing that they use the scraper.

“You have to remember that cats are extremely clean, so when the scratching post is damaged or it is no longer possible to clean it, it must be renewed”, he underlines.

Many know that cats may be interested in curtains. However, something owners should keep in mind is that their obsession with them has more to do with their need to climb rather than scratch.

“It is difficult to position a scraper on a curtain, because it must be fixed and not move,” explains Valenzuela. If the cat perceives that it is mobile, it will stop using it, as it will not provide security or stability. “The scratching post can be placed on the floor, at the foot of the curtain, or a scratching post can be attached to the wall nearby,” he suggests if the feline has an attachment to these fabrics.

“I have two young cats who initially scratched and climbed, but then stopped doing it,” Méndez shares. “I think younger, more athletic animals will do it, but I’ve never seen scratching in general.” The best alternative in this case is to get a high scratching post, which allows them to both scratch and climb.

*Prices for products in this item are current as of August 31, 2022. Values ​​and availability subject to change.