FAQ: Scratchers for cats

Calmer cats climb less, but they still need to scratch. A stable scratching post and a lower cat tree with a comfortable lounger for watching the room are often enough for them.

After surgery a cat usually needs to avoid jumping and vigorous activity, so access to a tall cat tree may need to be limited for a while. Follow the vet's advice on when climbing is allowed, and meanwhile leave only a low horizontal scratcher if the vet agrees.

Yes, such a cat still has the urge to stretch and scratch, even without claws. Softer surfaces such as cardboard suit it. Declawing is a harmful operation that vets advise against.

High platforms can be risky for small kittens because they do not always land accurately yet. Start with lower platforms and put a soft mat beneath the tree; once the kitten grows, it will safely master higher levels.

The usual advice is at least one scratcher per cat plus one extra, placed in different spots. That way the cats do not compete over one spot and each has somewhere to leave its scent.

Yes, if the tree is large enough, has several platforms at similar heights and more than one route up and down. If one cat claims the top and keeps others off, add a second cat tree or wall shelves elsewhere.

The highest spot is an important resource for cats, so a dominant cat may guard it. More high resting spots in different rooms and trees with several exits reduce competition and tension.

Choose a wide, sturdy tree with several platforms at similar heights, more than one house or lounger and several scratching posts. The cats should be able to pass each other, and there should not be just one top spot.

Scratching lets a cat mark territory and calm down, so several scratchers in different places can reduce competition. Serious conflicts between cats, though, should be addressed with a vet or behaviour specialist.

During the first weeks it is worth giving a new cat a separate room with its own scratcher, litter box and bed. It settles in faster and leaves its scent there, and later it can use the shared scratchers too.

One good scratcher is enough for a single cat, but two or three of different types, such as vertical and horizontal, in different places protect furniture better. It is especially useful to have one near the sleeping spot and one near the entrance.

Yes, because a cat that has just woken wants to stretch and scratch first. A scratcher near the bed or favourite sofa spot is often used far more than one in another room.

Yes, cats love watching birds and the street, so a cat tree by the window often becomes a favourite spot. Make sure the window has a screen or stays closed, as a cat can jump or fall out of an open window.

A hallway often works well, because the cat passes through it many times a day and likes to mark entrances. Place the scratcher where it does not block the way or get bumped, since a moved or knocked scratcher puts a cat off.

On an enclosed or netted balcony a scratcher is fine, but moisture and sun damage cardboard, plush and board materials faster. The main scratcher should still be indoors, where the cat spends most of its time.

A cat tree is best placed in a room where the family spends a lot of time, such as the living room, where the cat can watch what is going on. In a dark or rarely used room cats use it much less.

Better not right next to them: cats dislike having their scratching, eating and toileting spots crowded together. Shredded cardboard or fibres can also end up in food or water.

If the cat ignores the scratcher, moving it to where it scratches furniture or rests often helps. If the cat already likes it, do not move it without reason, as location matters to cats.

Put it on the rug the cat scratches, beside the sofa or bed, or where the cat likes to lie in the sun. It should lie steady and not slide across the floor.

Yes, a scratcher placed right at the part of the sofa the cat scratches is often the most effective way to redirect it. Once the cat is used to the scratcher, it can be moved a little further away bit by bit.