Cat Scratching Toys

Scratching is not bad behaviour. Cats scratch to shed the outer sheath of their claws, to stretch out their back and shoulders, and to leave both a scent mark and a visible one. Take the outlet away and they will simply use your lounge instead.

The fix is to give them something better placed and better textured than your furniture. This range covers sisal posts and turntables, corrugated cardboard boards that double as a bed, and round scratchers with an attached ball to keep play and scratching in the same spot.

Getting the Placement Right

Position beats product every time. Put a scratcher where your cat already scratches, and another beside their favourite sleeping spot, because most cats scratch within seconds of waking. If they have started on a chair arm, place the new scratcher directly in front of it for a few weeks before moving it.

Offer both angles. Some cats are vertical scratchers and want a post tall enough for a full stretch with a stable base that will not tip mid-stroke, while others prefer to work flat on a horizontal board. Sisal and corrugated cardboard both shred satisfyingly, which is exactly the point, so replace boards when they wear smooth rather than expecting them to last forever.

Kittens and Play

Kittens learn scratching habits in the first few months, so breeders who put a low sisal post and a cardboard board in the pen give every kitten a head start in their new home. Combine scratching with play using a ball or feather attachment, then finish sessions with a meal, which follows the natural hunt and eat pattern and settles them afterwards.

Keep claws trimmed regardless, and add height with a cat tree, a resting spot from the cat beds range or a sunny cat hammock so the whole territory works together. New litters heading home can take the habit with them in a kitten pack.

Ready to save your lounge? Explore the RPBA collection of cat scratching toys and boards.