If you’re raising a cat indoors, chances are you are familiar with the infamous bed, sofa, chair, wall and door scratching. More often than not, we tend to put the blame on the cat – why is she doing it, why won’t she stop doing it, how do I stop her from doing it and so on. Some people decide to trim their cat’s nails in order to stop her from leaving her mark on every piece of furniture, but most of them encounter challenges in doing so, as the cat won’t let them do it. This activity often results in more scratches, this time on the owner, and in an upsetting mood on the cat. However, there are other options on how to avoid having to buy a new sofa every few months, and that’s with the help of a cat scratching post or a cat scratcher.
What Is a Cat Scratching Post?
This is, truth be told, a life-saving accessory to have in your house. Not only will it keep your furniture from the fierce little crawls of your companion, but it will provide extra entertaining for the little one. You’re doing both of you a favour with this one. A cat scratching post is exactly what it sounds like – a tall (or not so tall, depending on your space) tree-looking-like structure covered in carpet that completely drives the cats crazy (but in a good way) while providing some piece of mind for the owner. What the cats do is that they climb it, they scratch it, bite it, kick it, they completely destroy that thing (but hey, at least it isn’t your expensive furniture) and, by doing so, they, they are less likely to scratch other household objects.
DIY or Store-Bought? What Is the Best Option?Safety should be your primary concern when addressing this question. People often consider material residue such as cardboard and polystyrene as suitable alternatives to a store-bought cat scratching post. You should, however, know that these are not materials that are safe for the cat.
Not only are they not resistant enough to withstand the energy of a cat during her “zoomies” time, but these substitutes to a real cat scratcher can fall over and harm the cat and possibly damage your place, and they are not healthy for the animal either. Polystyrene can pose as a choking hazard, it can cause blockages in the intestine if swallowed, as it is non digestible, it can block airways if inhaled and even the mere presence of it around a cat can be harmful, as certain types can often contain toxic chemicals. Other types of textiles people use for home-made options are also dangerous, as they can peel off the post and be indigested. This can result in choking hazards and you know the cat will absolutely try to eat any string left unattended.
Cardboard, while not inherently dangerous, can be tricky to work with. If it is a piece of cardboard you decided to recycle and keep for your DIY project for your cat, it can be already too damaged to meet the safety requirements. Moreover in absence of industrial and heavy-duty materials, it can prove to be too thin. One can simply not take that risk.
Typically, a store-bought one is on the cheaper side of the cat accessories spectrum, which makes them the better alternative comparative to DIY ones and other alternatives for the scratching such as trimming nails. Not to mention that this option won’t bring stress to neither you or the cat. They are made from resistant materials, some which might even pose a challenge for your cat, making it all the more entertaining for your companion. They are reinforced with a heavy base, meaning that if your cat decides to fly right at it, it will withstand the impact and stand tall.
Benefits Of a Scratching PadIn addition to the benefits mentioned earlier, you should know that there are multiple other ways in which you cat can benefit from a cat scratching post. We mentioned it will keep their little paws away from your furniture (which is more of a benefit to the owner), but by scratching their nails on a specific and intentionally-designed item for them, the health of their nails is ensured. Scratching helps cats shed the outer layer of their nails, thus preventing nail overgrowth. If you cat is indoors-only, giving her such an accessory will fulfill her natural instinct to scratch and leave her mark. These accessories can often come with handing toys and other incorporated toys for your cat, therefore simulating physical activity as well as mental health.
Types Of Cat Scratchers:
Depending on the available space, there are multiples types of scratching posts you can choose for your cat:
Vertical: these are the usual types, tall and sli
Horizontal: these are not so commonly encountered and are designed for cats who like to lay flat while scratching their nails. They are also suitable for small places.
Wall-Mounted pieces: these are pads that are attached to the wall
“Towers” and “Trees”: these are structures that include sleeping areas, various toys and other entertaining accessories that together resemble the look of a tree, therefore the name
These are the typical cat scratchers you may find, but there are other more unique options as well, there are also some sustainable variations on the market too if you’re interested in that and there are also accessories that combine these types of posts.
Conclusion:
For the safety of your cat and your well-being, take one for the team and get a cat scratcher. If you won’t end up liking it, you don’t have to buy a second one, but we’re sure once you’ll give them a try, you will not go back to the life before the cat scratching post.