15 Of The Best Cat Scratching Posts & Cat Trees Reviews & Buyers Guide

Scratching is an essential behaviour for cats, unfortunately it is also a behaviour that has bought about the end of many fine pieces of furniture.

Here at Tuxedo Cat we have witnessed first-hand many fine pieces of furniture being decimated at the paws of our own cat, we have even endured the pain of not getting our deposit back from a flat we rented due to cat damage!

Skip to scratching posts or skip to cat trees.

So we have come to value scratching posts very highly and therefore put this cat scratcher and cat tree product guide together along with reviews of some of the best cat scratchers and cat trees to help fellow cat owners avoid losing much-loved furniture or rental deposits!

The Best Cat Scratching Posts :

The Best Heavy Duty Cat Scratching Posts:

1. The Ancol Acticat Fat Boy Scratching Post

The Ancol Acticat Fat Boy is very aptly named. Compared to most cat scratching posts this thing is monstrously over sized!

With a huge pole diameter of 28.8cm using it will make your cat feel like they have landed on the isle of Brobdingnag (the land of giants from Gullivers travels – an obscure reference I know but we like to keep our readers on their toes).

The fat boy claims to be one of the biggest cat scratchers (in terms of post diameter) in the world, I’ve scoured the internet for one that is bigger and have failed to find anything that can even come close to competing, so it is likely to be the very biggest commercially available cat scratcher.

Its considerable size means that it can take regular bouts of serious scratching from the most enthusiastic of cats and last for years and years. It also is a good height too at 71cm which allows most cats to get a full stretch on it.

It comes in chocolate brown with white sisal wrapped around it.

2. The Smart Cat Scratching Post

The Smart cat scratching post deserves its name. Not because like a lot of thing named smart (such as a smart cat feeder) it connects to your WiFi but because it looks smart and tidy.

A lot of cat scratching posts simply entwine a sisal rope around the scratcher which works fine until bits of rope start to come lose – then they can quickly look very messy.

The Smart cat scratching post instead has a woven mesh of durable sisal fibres which is much tidier and more secure while also meaning that the fibres don’t look as messy when they are damaged.

Measuring 88.9cm tall it has plenty of space for even the biggest of cats to get a good stretch. With a 40.6cm squared wooden MDF base unit you can be confident that even the strongest of cats won’t accidentally knock this over in the middle of a particularly vigorous scratching session.

Users report that this is one of the most durable scratching posts they have ever used. One customer stated that her cat usually destroyed all scratching posts making them completely bald within weeks but this one had lasted five years and still looked in good condition!

One of the great things about it being square sided rather than round sided like most posts is that cats will usually choose a side they prefer and scratch that exclusively. When one side has become more or less bald simply turn it around so that an unused side is in the position that the worn out side was, this allows you to get four times as much life out of it as most scratchers.

It is extremely easy to put together, simple twist the post into the base unit and you’re good to go less than two minutes after getting it out of the box.

Extra Large Cat Scratching Post:

3. RHRQuality Chartreux Beige

RHRQuality are known for making strong cat trees for BIG cats. The Chartreux has been tested with weight of over 40kg and performed very well.

If you have several enormous cats that would enjoy a chunky scratching post with a cat bed on top then look no further!

The scratching post is covered with thick strong sisal which is glued to the post. The sisal is compiled of over 600grams of sisal per square metre making it significantly stronger than most sisal fibres.

The post itself is 101cm tall and 20cm wide. This creates plenty of room for large cats to get a full body stretch and the width of the post means that more than one cat can scratch it at once without getting in each others way.

The bed on top of the post measure 64cm across so will comfortably fit two (or more) big cats in it, it features a thick pillow which is removable with velcro attachments for washing.

The bed does look somewhat ungainly being balanced precariously on top of the post however thanks to the wide base measuring 60cm x 60cm there is no danger of the Chartreux toppling over, no matter how much chaos your cats get up to on top of it!

It also features a thick rope which cats can climb up or take playful swipes at.

Available in beige, light grey, brown, dark grey and taupe grey this is a good quality product which will last.

Should any part of it (such as the bed) break HGHQualtiy allow you to order individual replacement parts direct from them so in theory you can keep it functional for many years to come.

Best Looking Scratching Posts:

4. Pet Fusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher

The PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is a step up from their flip pad, it looks a bit like a stylish (albeit inpractical) coffee table designed specifically for cats to play in.

One of the benefits of this over the cheaper and smaller flip pad is that it has the two holes in it which cats love looking though and (if they’re not too big) squeezing through. The PetFusion Ultimate is designed with natural curves which make it easy and comfortable for cats to both scratch it and rest on it.

It comes with preimum organic catnip which can be sprinkled on the scratcher to help encourage them to use it initially.

It is available in three stylish colours; cloud white, slate grey and walnut brown.

As with the flip pad it is reversible and is covered with recycled reinforced corrugated cardboard (which is attached with non-toxic corn startch glue that is completey safe for your cat) which cats love!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/OCw8vBEr9EY?controls=0

This doesn’t last as long as sisal and you will need to clean up cardboard flakes fairly frequently.

5. PetFusion Flip Pad

The stylish Pet Fusion Flip Pad is popular with style concious cat owners.

This reversible cat scratcher doubles as a comfy lounger for your cat to nap on. You can have it with the feet down leaving more space for scratching, or with the feet up creating a comfortable place for your cat to sit.

Made from top end recycled corrugated cardboard it is durable and will outlast many cheaper scratchers however it is unlikely to outlast a sisal scratcher. One of the good things about this scratcher is that once one side has been thoroughly scratched to bits you can turn it over and get double the life out of it.

One downside to this is that you will need to clean up cardboard flakes periodically.

Realistically with the average cat the Pet Fusion Flip Pad should last around 18 months.

One thing we love about about the Fusion Flip Pad is that it is a good size, a lot of cat trees have quite small seating areas which struggle to accommodate bigger cats, the Flip Pad has a plenty of space for a big cat to sit comfotably and can easily accommodate two cats if needs be.

Best Natural Scratch Post:

6. Trixie Parla scratching post 62 cm

Lets be clear the Trixie Parla isn’t here to set the world of cat trees and scratching posts alight, it’s not offering some new innovative cat technology nor does it even come with catnip embedded sisal what it does is provide a great and soimple scratching surface for your cat.

Nothing fancy, it does the basics well.

One thing to be aware of is that at 62cm it may not quite be tall enough for some bigger cats to get a satisfactory full body stretch, this can lead to them ignoring it in favour of your furniture.

Wrapped in natural sisal and with a 40cm x 40cm base to keep it stable the Trixie Parla is a nonsense scratching post. It doesn’t take up loads of room and is perfect for slotting next to a piece of furniture that you cat seems to be intent on destroying.

Say for example your cat loves scratching your sofa then tap some tinfoil to the side of your sofa for a few days and place the Trixie Parla next to it.

Your cat won’t like the texture of the tinfoil and will look for somewhere else to sharpen her claws, hopefully she will see the Trixie and use that, before long she will have forgotten about your sofa and the Trixie will hopefully have become her go to place for scratching.

Best Cat Trees:

7. The Paradise Hand Woven Banana Leaf Cat Tree

The Paradise Banana Leaf Cat Tree is made from hand weaved banana leaves. These are fibrous (so are good for scratching) and completely natural and safe for your cats to chew on  (if they wish).

The banana leaves have an attractive feel and appearance so this is a good choice for anyone who doesn’t want to ruin the feng shui of their home with a more typical boxy cat tree.

Measuring 159cm tall and 103cm wide there is plenty of space for your cats to climb and explore. It has two banana leaf hiding places, with the lower hiding place being more enclosed for cats to hide in and the higher one being open for your cat to take advantage of his vantage point and observe the world from.

There are also two more flat open platforms which are nicely cushioned for your cats comfort. All of the platforms feature soft cushions with covers which can be removed and washed.

The Paradise boasts six sisal covered scratching posts ranging in height from almost a meter to roughly 30cm.

8. The Vesper V Double

Vesper are known for their stylish attractive cat tree designs and the Vesper V Double is one of their finest pieces of work.

Available in black, red, walnut, banana leaf, poplar and rattan patterning the V double features two cosy cubes with memory foam cushion inserts for your cat to hide comfortably in. It also has one tall and one short scratching post as well as three different raised platform areas and some balls on string for them to play with.

As with all of these sort of products assembly is required, thankfully Vesper are very good at providing very thorough step by step instructions so if you can read and handle an allen key then you shouldn’t have any problem getting this all fitted together within half an hour or so.

9. Vesper V Cube Banana Leaf

This is the second Vesper we have mentioned in our list of the best scratching posts and cat tree and to be honest we could easily have added three or four more as they are all beautifully and innovatively designed, stylish pieces of furniture that add to any room rather than making it look messy (as a lot of cat furniture can do).

The Vesper V Cube is made in a Bauhaus style with the banana skin box mounted on an exposed metal frame.

They are made from materials which is hand picked for its cat friendly properties; the V Cuve is made from banana leaf which cats love due to its natural fibrous skin.

It also features a scratching mat which is stretched accross the metallic frame.

Its not huge by any means but is still a significant piece of furniture, similar in size to the old school tea trolleys that some people used to have in their homes (not the giant ones you got in schools).

It is plenty big enough for single cat homes and homes with two cats providing your cats are friendly and will enjoy snuggling up together in the banana skin box.

10. RHRQuality Cat Scratching Barrel

The RHRQuality cat scratching barrel is availabile in light grey and beige and is perfect for big cats who need a lot of space to get a full body stretch.

Measuring 110cm tall it is big enough for even the largest of cats to be able to fully stretch out and sharpen their claws.

The large diameter means it has a good solid base and will not be easily toppled over, it can also accommodate a lot of weight with ease (see the girl sat on top of it).

It has a soft trimmings around each opening and a cushioned top which will ensure that your cat can relax in comfort when he or she is not busy scratching it.

Covered in natural sisal carpet and featuring three comfortable compartment spaces for your cat to hide in as well as space on top to sit. This is perfect for big cats or cats that like to hide and watch the world go by.

11. Finether Cat Tower

Available in grey, brown and grey and biege the Finether makes up for its lack of exciting colour options with a smorgasbord of kitty delights.

It features a round topped platform at the very top of the cat tree 154cm off the floor giving your cat a great view of everything that is going on.

Make no mistake this is a very big cat activity centre so will easily accommodate two, three or even four cats if needs be!

It is covered with a soft faux fur material that is very comfortable for your cat to lounge on. It also features several dangling balls for them to knock about and play with.

Not to mention a fun hammock which consists of some faux fur suspended between two posts.

As with all cat trees of this sort of size it features four scratching posts all of which are entwined with naturally fibrous sisal ropes.

One thing worth mentioning is that some people have had trouble with the cushioning in this with some kittens finding ways to rip it apart, generally though this isn’t a problem with bigger more mature cats.

No products found.

12. Cozy Pet Deluxe Multi Level Cat Tree

The Cozy Pet Deluxe has a lot going on, its fair to call it a busy cat tree.

There’s a lot going on, with four toy mice, five viewing platforms and two cat boxes as well as ramps to climb to climb up it and countless scratching posts this cat tree is perfect for homes full of lively cats.

It has a lot compacted into its relatively small frame with plenty of thick heavy duty sisal covered scratching posts the Cozy Pet is said to be able to handle cats of up to 4kg in weight.

4kg is roughly the weight of the average cat so this cat tree is best suited to either kittens or small breeds.

13. Songmics Activity Centre

Available in beige, grey and light grey the Songmics activity centre is an affordable cat tree packed with features including hanging balls to swipe at, a hammock for catnaps, a box to hide in and several scratching posts.

Featuring loads of different levels this is something that will provide your cat with hours of endless entertainment and plenty of interesting new angles to view the world from.

The scratching posts are all entwined with sisal ropes. Made from a fibrous mexican plant sisal is said to be the best material for cats to scratch.

Standing 154cm tall the Songmics activity centre has plenty of room for multiple cats.

The creators of this activity centre say that it can take cats of up to 7kg in weight and is fine for households of up to 4 cats, though personally I wouldn’t trust it with 4 7kg cats!

If you are the proud owner of a Maine Coon (or four) then this probably isn’t a great choice as the platforms aren’t really suitable for cats that are that big!

As with all activity centres of they do require a good amount of assembly, it comes with an allen key and all the bolts you need and should take between 20-40 minutes to assemble depending on how good you are with an allen key!

Floor To Ceiling Cat Trees:

14. The WHomes Floor to Ceiling Cat Scratch Post

This floor to ceiling post is perfect for cats who love to climb. Measuring up to 288cm it is adjustable and will fit any room with ceiling space of between 240cm and 288cm.

You don’t need to worry, it isn’t shipped in a 240cm long box – the post is broken up into four easy to assemble parts which all screw together.

Entwined with fibrous sisal rope and featuring three platforms staggered up the pole with enough space for your cat to be able to jump from one to the other the WHomes scratcher is sure to catch the eye of anyone who visits your house.

This enormous scratching post will fit nicely into a spacious kitchen or conservatory, however if you don’t have a lot of space to spare in your home buy this with caution as it will dominate small rooms.

We also recommend that you don’t install it near bookcases or shelves full of fragile and precariously balanced ornaments as your cats will definitely jump onto them from the scratching post and cause carnage!

15. RHRQuality Cat Tree For Big Cats

RHRQuality are a Dutch company that love making cat trees, they have loads of them and this one is one of their best – especially if you are the proud owner of an enormous cat such as a Maine Coon.

At almost 2 metres tall (183cm) it is not far off being a full floor to ceiling cat tree and at 120cm wide there is plenty of space to accommodate even the most enormous of pets!

It features two plush soft velvet hammocks which can happily accommodate a cat that weighs up to 20kg. These hammocks have recently been updated from the old model so that they are effectively a pillow/hammock combination making them extremely comfortable.

It has five platforms for cats to snooze, sit or play on as well as a cosy box to hide in at ground level and five separate scratching posts all entwined with natural sisal.

The large base stand measures 60cm x 43cm x 15cm allowing it to comfortably support the substantial 65kg weight of the cat tree without any danger of instability no matter how many cats decide to call it their home.

One of the great things about RHRQuality is that while they may be a lesser-known brand they do take care of their customers well, with most brands if a part of your cat tree breaks then you will have to buy a whole new tree. Not so with RHRQuality, you can simply reorder the broken part via their website or over the phone, no need to buy a whole new tree!

No products found.

---

Scratching Posts And Cat Trees Product Guide

Scratching posts come in all shapes and sizes, and they can vary massively from 1 foot tall to 8 foot tall, from £10 to £1000+!

Choosing the best scratching post or cat tree for your cat means you will need to think about exactly what your cats requirements are and what they need.

Size & Weight

It is important to consider the size you will need. There are a huge range of different sizes and shapes of scratchers you can invest in. It can be tempting to go for one extreme or the other, either a huge cat tree with loads of scratching posts and sitting areas or a small post which doesn’t take up too much space in a small home.

A large cat tree is usually very heavy and will require more than one person to move it around (once assembled) so make sure that you assemble it where you intend to keep it to save yourself a job later on.

Heavy is not necessarily bad though, heaviness adds stability and stability is very important in a good quality scratch post. Cats do not like instable posts as they feel dangerous, this is why cats like to scratch furniture – because it doesn’t move easily, so whatever size you get make sure it is stable and secure and has a good solid base which will prevent it from wobbling.

Big cat trees aren’t really necessary particularly if you only have one cat, however if you have two or three (or more cats) the extra posts to scratch and the extra platforms for them to observe the world from can be both useful and good fun!

Height

One particularly vital thing to be aware of when buying a scratching post or scratching tree is to make sure that any post you choose is at least as tall as your cat is when they are fully stretched out.

Stretching and scratching are an imporant part of your cats exercise regime. If their scratching post doesn’t allow them to stretch out fully then they are likely to ignore it in favour of something that does allow them to do that.

We strongly recommend that you don’t stretch out your cat to measure them – they won’t like that!  If you measure from their ears down their back to the base of their tail and then double the length and ensure that any post you get is at least as tall as that measurement then your cat will have plenty sufficient room to stretch out.

Materials

You should avoid buying any post that is made with artificial fibres because they can cause static shocks which your cat will hate and will result in them refusing to use it. Cats enjoy scratching materials which shred as it feels good to them and helps them to remove the outer sheaths on their claws.

One of the best materials for scratch posts is sisal. This is a fibrous mexican plant which is used for making ropes and matting, it shreds beautifully and cats love it!

Features

When deciding on what sort of cat scratching post or cat tree to get for your cat it is important to consider which features to get.

If you simply want to stop your cat from scratching a specific piece of furniture then a simple cat post placed near the furniture is usually sufficient.

However if you keep your cat confined indoors and you live in a small flat or apartment where there is not a great deal of room for your cat to run around then it is worth considering getting a bigger cat tree which will allow your cat to get some much-needed exercise and expend some energy climbing up and down it.

If you have multiple cats it is also worth ensuring that you get a tree which has multiple cat boxes, large viewing platforms big enough for more than one cat to sit on as well as plenty of interactive features such hanging balls or feathers to swipe at, hammocks and of course scratching posts.

Pricing

It can be tempting to go for a cheap scratching post, after all your cat is going to scratch it and scratch it until eventually it has fallen to bits and needs to be thrown out…so why not buy a cheap one?

The trouble with buying a cheap scratching post is that they don’t last long…at all.

If the rope quickly falls off or platforms on your cat tree become unstable then your cat is likely to tire of it quickly and will return to more functional places to sharpen their claws such as your furniture.

Cheaper cat trees and scratching posts are usually made from very basic materials which are lightweight and instable meaning they can easily be knocked over.

High quality scratching trees will last much longer, your cat will get more use out of them and over time they will cost you less than multiple cheap ones.

How To Train Your Cat To Use Their Scratching Post

Cats will be cats. You can buy them the most salubrious cat tree imaginable, and they will ignore it and play with a box instead.

There is no guarantee that your cat will immediately take to their new cat tree, generally, it will take time for them to get used to it and become comfortable with it, even then they may not use it frequently, if much at all.

Here are a few steps you can take to encourage your cat to take an interest in their new scratching post:

1. Place it in a prominent location in your house, maybe near their favourite nap spot as cats love a good stretch after waking up.
2. If your cat has a go-to piece of furniture to scratch cover it up with a sheet of foil or similar so that it is unappealing to scratch and encourages them to go and find something else…such as the new scratching post.
3. Try rubbing catnip into the post to get them interested in it.
4. It is also worth spraying Feliway on the post, this contains pheromones which will help them feel more safe and secure and therefore more at ease with the new scratching post.

Why Is Scratching Important For Cats?

Scratching is an essential cat behaviour which, no matter how receptive your cat is to training (most cats aren’t easy to train – but some are), you will never train out of them.

The reason for this is that cats don’t scratch things just to annoy you or for fun, they do it because they need to.

Scratching is an instinctive feline behaviour which helps cats to mark their territory, stretch their entire bodies (stretching is especially important when you spend a lot of time sleeping) and remove the dead outer husk of their claws.

If your cat tries to climb a tree without first having a good scratch there is a danger that the dead husk of their claws will falls off mid-climb, this means they could potentially fall to the ground. Having a good scratch prior to climbing allows your cat to keep one more of their nine lives intact.

What Do Cats Like To Scratch?

Cats like to scratch things which have a rough textured surface which they can get their claws into.

Cats love fibrous materials such as sisal rope as this replicates the type of things they would seek to scratch in the wild.

When Do Cats Scratch?

Cats will scratch whenever they feel like it but there are certain times when they are more inclined to scratch.

These include when they have just woken up, when they are excited about you coming back home or when they simply want to mark their territory – their paws have glands in which release scent so scratching allows them to leave scent behind.

If your cat enjoys destroying your carpet have a read of our post on how to stop a cat scratching your carpet.

Why You Should Never Declaw A Cat

In some countries around the solution to cats scratching your furniture or inflicting a burning scratching on your arm is to declaw your cat however increasingly this is viewed as being an inhumane practice.

In the UK you can face up to a year in prison and/or a fine of up to £20,000 for declawing your cat.

Removing a cats claws is extremely stressful, painful and debilitating for a cat.

Removing a cats nails isn’t just like giving a cat an overly aggressive manicure it is an invasive procedure which can cause both physical and behavioural problems for your cat.

The standard declawing procedure involves entirely removing (amputating) the last bone in each of your cats toes, this bone is where the nail is embedded. The amputation is performed either by laser or scalpel.

If you were the same procedure was performed on a person all of your fingers and toes would be shortened as they would be cut off at your last knuckle.

When you put it like that it sounds pretty horrific right? And it is!

There is another method which people are fooled into thinking is less harmful which involves severing the tendon that controls the claw in each paw. This means your cat cannot extend their claws to scratch, while this procedure and the immediate aftermath of it are much less painful for a cat the complications can be extremely painful with many cats requiring declawing later due to complications.

A study that was carried out by the American Veterinary Medical Association Journal found that regardless of which declawing method was used incidents of infection, lameness and blood loss were more or less the same.

All declawing procedures are completely unnecessary and do nothing but cause your cat incredible stress just so you can keep your furniture looking pristine.

Declawing can lead to infections, lameness back pain, and flesh dying.

Declawing can also cause your cat to bite a lot more, this is because they have lost their primary means of self-defence and will feel very vulnerable so are much more likely to bite people, even people they know and trust well, if startled.

Thankfully declawing is illegal in many countries around the world (including where we are based here in the United Kingdom), however if you do live somewhere where it is legal and are considering it we strongly advise that you don’t do it.

Instead:

• Buy your cat plenty of scratching posts.
• Put tinfoil (temporarily) on pieces of furniture that your cat tries to scratch as the unusual texture will dissuade them from using it.
• Be Patient with them.

It may take time but eventually your cat will learn that the scratching posts are a far better choice than your furniture and you will avoid causing your cat any psychological or physical damage so they can live a happy and healthy life.