A scratching post is a wooden post covered in rough material that

cat The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the ...

owners provide so their pets have an acceptable place to scratch. The most common type consists of a wooden post, roughly tall, covered in rough fabric or

sisal Sisal (, ; ''Agave sisalana'') is a species of flowering plant native to southern Mexico, but widely cultivated and naturalized in many other countries. It yields a stiff fibre used in making rope and various other products. The sisal fiber is ...

. The post is mounted vertically in a wide base, which allows the cat to stretch upward on its rear legs and scratch freely without tipping it over. A post that is unstable or does not allow a cat to fully extend its body might put off the cat from using it. Surfaces vary: the post may be covered in sisal rope, upholstery fabric, the

jute Jute ( ) is a long, rough, shiny bast fibre that can be Spinning (textiles), spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from flowering plants in the genus ''Corchorus'', of the mallow family Malvaceae. The primary source of the fiber is ...

backing of a piece of carpet, or sections of corrugated cardboard. Many pet owners say they have to experiment with different surfaces to find one that their cats will scratch reliably. Matt Wildman, a cat behaviorist, explained that sisal or corrugated cardboard surfaces are favored by most cats. Other kinds of scratching posts are more elaborate, with several levels of horizontal platforms for climbing and cozy cave-like areas where cats may hide. Very tall ones are often called " cat trees." These may have a vertical tension rod that extends to the ceiling to provide extra stability.

Why cats scratch

Cats have a natural urge to scratch. As cats are predators it is a reflex for them to sharpen their

claw A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds). Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or Arthro ...

s. Other functional reasons they do it include removing the outer sheath of the nail, exercising the muscles of the paws, and stretching. Scratching is also a social outlet for cats that facilitates communication. Cats have scent glands in their paws, allowing them to leave their scents and pheromones on surfaces to mark territory.

Gallery

Image:Corrugated fiberboard scratch pad with cat.jpg, A corrugated fiberboard scratching pad Image:WickerCatPole.jpg, A wickerwork cat pole Image:MTP Cat Show 2230206.JPG, A variety of scratching posts for sale at a cat show Image:3 maciatka.png, An actual tree trunk used as a scratching post File:Cat tree with 2 cats.jpg, Cat tree with 2 cats

References

{{Reflist Cats as pets Cat equipment

Why cats scratch

Gallery

See also

References