Cat Trees & Perches
Best Cat Scratchers and How to Get Your Cat to Use One
Scratching is normal cat behavior, not a bad habit. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) says it keeps the claw motion cats use for hunting and climbing and removes old claw sheaths. It also lets cats stretch and leave visual and scent marks [1].
So the aim is to give your cat a scratcher it likes better than the sofa. We picked three scratchers for three styles: a tall sisal post, an L-shaped cardboard scratcher that works upright or flat, and a 4-pack of flat pads for around the house.
The best cat scratcher is the one that copies what your cat already scratches. Cornell's Feline Health Center says to match the surface and the direction: a sisal or rope-covered post for a cat clawing the couch, a carpet-covered one for a carpet scratcher, a flat board for a cat that scratches the floor, and to set the post right next to the spot it is ruining [7]. Get those two things right and most of the battle is won.
Our 3 picks at a glance
- Best Vertical PostSmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post32-inch woven sisal post on a 16 × 16 inch baseCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best L-ShapedFUKUMARU L-Shaped Cat Scratcher, 26.8 InchCardboard scratcher you can stand upright, lay flat or use as a loungerCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best Horizontal Multi-PackAmazon Basics Corrugated Cardboard Cat Scratcher, 4-PackFour reversible flat pads, 17.4 × 10 inches eachCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
How we chose these scratchers
We searched Amazon for cat scratchers and read the listings in the top organic results. We left out cat trees, which we cover in our cat tree guide.
We then chose one vertical post, one scratcher that works both ways and one set of horizontal pads, because the AAFP suggests offering both vertical and horizontal options [2]. We checked each pick against the AAFP's advice on height, stability and material [1], and against two studies of which scratchers cats use [4][5]. For more enrichment, pair a scratcher with one of our interactive cat toys. Pair a scratcher with one of our cat tunnels for a play circuit.
What the research says
The AAFP's position statement on declawing, which it strongly opposes as an elective procedure, sets out what makes a good scratcher. Posts should be tall or long enough for a full stretch and stable enough not to move or fall over. It lists wood, sisal rope, carpet, cardboard and rough fabric as materials cats like, and suggests putting a scratcher next to where the cat sleeps [1].
The AAFP's Claw Friendly toolkit adds: offer both vertical and horizontal scratchers in several spots, some near sleeping areas (cats often scratch and stretch after a nap) and some near windows. It says a horizontal scratcher may suit a cat that scratches the carpet [2]. The feline environmental needs guidelines also list claw-scratching areas among a cat's key resources [3].
Two studies looked at what cats choose. In an online survey of 4,105 cat owners, rope was the material cats used most when it was offered [4]. The authors' ideal post was upright, rope-covered and at least 3 feet tall [4]. That is owner-reported, not observed. A small in-home study of 36 cats found upright scratchers covered in cardboard or rope got more use than sofa fabric [5].
What is the best material for a cat scratcher?
There is no single best material, but the studies point the same way: rope and cardboard beat soft fabric. The table sums up what each one has going for it.
| Material | What the evidence says | Good match for |
|---|---|---|
| Sisal rope | The material cats used most when it was on offer, in a survey of more than 4,000 households [4]. Linked with fewer reports of unwanted scratching in a 2022 survey of 2,465 cat households [9]. | Cats that claw sofa arms and other nubby upholstery [7] |
| Woven sisal fabric | No study we found compares woven sisal with sisal rope. The AAFP lists sisal among materials cats like [1]. | Same cats as rope; it gives a flatter, tighter surface |
| Corrugated cardboard | Upright cardboard and rope scratchers got more use than sofa fabric in an in-home study of 36 cats [5]. | Floor scratchers and cats that like to shred |
| Carpet | The only material that cats aged 10 to 14 used most often, in the survey; every other age group favored rope [4]. | Cats that scratch rugs and carpet [7] |
| Upholstery-type fabric | Scratchers covered in sofa fabric drew the least interest of the materials compared [5], and fabric was linked with more unwanted scratching [9]. | Not recommended as a first choice |
The 2022 survey shows associations, not cause and effect: owners may have added fabric scratchers because a cat was already scratching furniture [9].
If your cat already has a favorite surface, that observation outweighs any study. The ASPCA suggests trying several materials, including cardboard, carpet, wood, sisal and upholstery, and seeing which one your cat picks [8].
Vertical, horizontal or wall cat scratcher: which shape?
Watch where your cat scratches now. Cornell says a cat that claws drapes or door frames wants a tall upright surface, such as a post mounted on a wall or door, while a cat that digs at the rug wants a flat cardboard scratcher or a log on its side [7]. The ASPCA adds that some cats prefer a slanted surface [8].
How tall, how wide
- Height: at least as tall as your cat standing on its hind legs with its front legs stretched up, Cornell says [7]. In the large owner survey, cats used upright posts and cat trees of 3 feet or more most [4].
- Base: posts with a base 3 feet wide or less got more use than very wide ones (5 feet or more) [4]. What matters more is that the post doesn't wobble: Cornell and the ASPCA both say a post that shifts or tips will be avoided [7][8].
- Upright beats curved: in the in-home study, cats preferred a standing cardboard scratcher over an S-shaped cardboard lounger, though the difference was significant only in neutered males [5].
A wall cat scratcher counts as vertical. Screw it in at the height of your cat's full stretch so it can't rattle or swing. For a cat that scratches both ways, combine a tall post with a flat pad, as the AAFP suggests [2]. If your cat also climbs, a sturdy cat tree with sisal-wrapped posts gives it a scratcher and a perch in one.
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
This is the tallest scratcher here. The listing gives a 32-inch post covered in woven sisal on a 16 by 16 inch base, and the description says the height lets a cat stretch fully while it scratches. That matches the AAFP's advice that a post should be tall enough for a full stretch [1].
On stability, the listing says the wide base "eliminates" tipping and wobbling in one line and "reduces" it in another. We'd go with the more careful word. It assembles with two included screws.
Good to know
- Tallest pick: 32 inches of sisal
- Wide 16 × 16 in base
- Sisal cover; the AAFP lists sisal rope among materials cats like [1]
Keep in mind
- The listing says the base "eliminates" wobbling in one place and "reduces" it in another
- Spot clean only, per the listing
- The listing's item weight of 1 pound doesn't fit a post this size, so we don't rely on it
FUKUMARU L-Shaped Cat Scratcher, 26.8 Inch
Sold by FUKUMARU, ships from Amazon.
If you don't know yet whether your cat scratches up or down, this one does both. It's an L-shaped piece of corrugated cardboard, 26.8 by 16.6 by 11.5 inches. The listing says you can stand it against a wall or sofa, lay it flat as a lounger, or set it up as a "cat house".
The listing says the cardboard is 1.6 inches thick, and it calls it thicker and more scratch-resistant than other L-shaped scratchers. It gives a 90-day warranty.
Good to know
- Vertical and horizontal in one piece
- Cardboard, a material the AAFP lists among cats' favorites [1]
- Light (under a pound) and easy to move
Keep in mind
- The title mentions a ball toy, but the included-components line lists only the scratching pad
- Its longest side is 26.8 inches, shorter than the SmartCat's 32-inch post; pair it with a tall post if your cat stretches high
Amazon Basics Corrugated Cardboard Cat Scratcher, 4-Pack
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
The AAFP suggests scratchers in several spots, some near where your cat sleeps and some near windows [2]. Four pads make that easy. Each is a flat, double-sided corrugated cardboard pad, 17.4 by 10 by 1.5 inches, and the listing says you can flip it over when one side wears out.
The AAFP toolkit says a horizontal scratcher may suit a cat that scratches rugs or carpet [2].
Good to know
- Four pads to spread around the house
- Double-sided and reversible, per the listing
- Sold by Amazon
Keep in mind
- Flat only, so add an upright post for stretching
- Spot clean with a damp cloth; the listing says not to wash them
- The spec table says "Adult" while the description says kittens and adults
Scratcher sizes and materials compared
| Product | Type | Size | Material | In the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartCat Ultimate | Vertical post | 32 in tall; 16 × 16 in base | Sisal, wood | Post + 2 screws |
| FUKUMARU L-shaped | Vertical or flat | 26.8 × 16.6 × 11.5 in | Corrugated cardboard | 1 scratcher |
| Amazon Basics 4-pack | Flat pads | 17.4 × 10 × 1.5 in each | Corrugated cardboard | 4 pads |
Specs as stated on each Amazon listing, checked September 2026.
How to stop a cat scratching the couch
You can't stop a cat scratching, so the goal is to move the scratching somewhere else. In the 2022 survey, households that added more scratching posts and rewarded their cat for using them reported less unwanted scratching [9].
- Put the scratcher against the damage. Cornell says to place the post right next to the area your cat scratches, and to add one by each spot if there are several [7]. The ASPCA calls these "legal" alternatives next to the off-limits furniture [8].
- Match the texture. For a fabric sofa, Cornell suggests a post covered in sisal or another rope-like material [7].
- Make the couch less appealing for now. The ASPCA suggests covering the spot with plastic, double-sided sticky tape, sandpaper or an upside-down vinyl carpet runner [8]. Cornell adds blankets or plastic sheeting, and an odor neutralizer on the scratched area, because the scent left behind draws the cat back [7].
- Reward every use. Treats, strokes and praise when your cat uses the post, per Cornell [7].
- Move the post slowly, if at all. Once your cat uses it reliably, Cornell says you can shift it a little at a time toward where you'd like it to stay [7].
- Trim nails to limit damage. Regular trims cut the damage, and soft plastic nail caps glued over the claws are another option for cats that tolerate paw handling [7][8].
Skip punishment. Cornell says punishment only teaches a cat to fear you [7]. In the survey, owners who used verbal or physical correction reported more unwanted scratching, though the authors note the link could run both ways [9].
How to get a cat to use a scratcher: catnip, silver vine and pheromones
Placement and texture do most of the work. Scent can help a cat notice a new scratcher, but the evidence is modest.
- Catnip. Cornell and the ASPCA both suggest rubbing catnip on or around the post [7][8]. In the in-home study, catnip on a scratcher increased how long cats scratched it [5]. But about one cat in three doesn't respond to catnip at all, a 2017 study found [10].
- Silver vine. Almost 80% of the cats in that 2017 study responded to silver vine [10], and silver vine also increased scratcher use in the in-home study [5].
- Synthetic scratching pheromone. Products that copy the chemical signal cats leave from between their toes when they scratch (the feline interdigital semiochemical) raised scratching in two of three small studies. A 2021 evidence summary in Veterinary Evidence rated the support as weak [11]. In the in-home study, catnip- and silver vine-treated scratchers outscored the pheromone-treated one [5].
- Toys. The ASPCA suggests hanging toys on the post [8]; dragging a wand toy up it works too (see our interactive cat toy guide).
Don't hold your cat at the post and drag its claws down it; the ASPCA lists that as a mistake [8]. Start young if you can: in the 2022 survey, cats aged 4 to 12 months trended toward more unwanted scratching, and the odds fell steadily in older age groups [9].
When to replace a cardboard scratcher
Later than you think. Cornell and the ASPCA both say not to throw away a scratching post just because it looks ragged [7][8]. Scratching leaves visual and scent marks [1], so a shredded pad is a well-marked one, and a fresh replacement smells of nothing.
We found no study that sets a replacement schedule. In practice, replace a cardboard scratcher when the scratching surface has worn through, when it is breaking into chunks your cat could chew, or when it no longer sits flat and steady. If it is double-sided, like the Amazon Basics pads, flip it first. Put the new one beside the old one for a week or two before you take the old one away, so your cat finds it on its own.
What makes a scratcher worth using
Height for a full stretch
The AAFP says a post should be tall or long enough for your cat to stretch fully [1]. Measure your cat stretched out and compare it with the post height.
A base that doesn't move
The AAFP says posts should be stable enough not to move or fall over [1]. Look for base size on the listing.
Up, flat, or both
Watch where your cat scratches now. Sofa arms suggest an upright post; rugs suggest a flat pad. The AAFP suggests offering both [2].
Which cat scratcher to buy
- Best Vertical Post: The SmartCat is the tallest pick, with a wide base and sisal cover.
- Best L-Shaped: The FUKUMARU covers upright and flat scratching in one piece, but it's shorter than a full-height post.
- Best Horizontal Multi-Pack: The Amazon Basics 4-pack gives you four flat pads to spread around the house.
Cat scratcher FAQ
Why do cats scratch?
The AAFP says scratching is normal behavior. It keeps the claw motion cats use to hunt and climb, removes the old outer layer of the claw, and lets cats stretch and leave visual and scent marks [1].
Is sisal or cardboard better?
How tall should a scratching post be?
Where should I put a cat scratcher?
Should I declaw my cat instead?
The AAFP strongly opposes declawing as an elective procedure [1]. Giving your cat good places to scratch is the approach it recommends. Talk to your vet if scratching is a problem.
What does the AVMA say about declawing?
The American Veterinary Medical Association discourages declawing as an elective procedure, supports non-surgical alternatives, and describes the surgery as an amputation that requires multimodal pain control [6]. The ASPCA strongly opposes it [8], and Cornell notes it removes the bones at the tips of the toes and doesn't remove the urge to scratch [7]. Talk to your vet about alternatives first.
Do nail caps stop scratching damage?
They limit it. Soft plastic caps are glued over the claws, so scratching does little harm. Cornell says to use them only on cats that accept paw handling and to replace them every six to 12 weeks [7]; the ASPCA says they last about four to six weeks [8]. Your cat still needs a scratcher, because the urge to scratch doesn't go away.
Is a wall cat scratcher as good as a post?
It can be, if it is tall and solid. Cornell suggests wall- or door-mounted posts for cats that scratch upright surfaces such as drapes, and says any scratcher should be at least as tall as your cat at full stretch and sturdy enough not to move [7]. Screw it in firmly so it doesn't rattle.
Will an older cat start using a new scratcher?
Many will, with the same steps: put it beside the spot your cat already scratches and reward use [7]. Offer carpet as one option, because in the large owner survey cats aged 10 to 14 were the only group that used carpet most often [4]. Older cats were also less likely to scratch where they shouldn't, a 2022 survey found [9].
Sources
- American Association of Feline Practitioners. Declawing, position statement (2017). catvets.com
- AAFP Claw Friendly Educational Toolkit: Scratching Resources. catvets.com
- AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines, Ellis SLH et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 15(3):219–230 (2013). journals.sagepub.com
- Wilson C, Bain M, DePorter T, Beck A, Grassi V, Landsberg G. Owner observations regarding cat scratching behavior: an internet-based survey. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 18(10):791–797 (2016). journals.sagepub.com
- Zhang L, McGlone JJ. Scratcher preferences of adult in-home cats and effects of olfactory supplements on cat scratching. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 227:104997 (2020). sciencedirect.com
- American Veterinary Medical Association — Declawing of domestic cats, policy (2020). atwork.avma.org
- Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline behavior problems: destructive behavior. vet.cornell.edu
- ASPCA — Destructive scratching. aspca.org
- Cisneros A, Litwin D, Niel L, Stellato AC — Unwanted scratching behavior in cats: influence of management strategies and cat and owner characteristics, Animals 12(19):2551 (2022). mdpi.com
- Bol S et al. — Responsiveness of cats to silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, valerian and catnip, BMC Veterinary Research 13:70 (2017). link.springer.com
- Goins M — Use of the feline interdigital semiochemical (FIS) to redirect unwanted scratching behaviour in cats, Veterinary Evidence 6(4) (2021). veterinaryevidence.org