(Part 2) Best cat scratching posts according to redditors
We found 112 Reddit comments discussing the best cat scratching posts. We ranked the 50 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
![Dimaka 37" Tall Ultimate Cat Scratching Post, Claw Scratcher with Sisal Rope and Covered with Soft Smooth Plush, Vertical Scratch [Full Strectch], Modern Stable Design 37 Inches Height (Beige)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JUWolYqtL.jpg)
![PetFusion 3-Sided Vertical Cat Scratching Post (Large Size, Warm Gray). [Multiple Scratching Angles to Match Your Cat's Preference]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51MnW35lQhL.jpg)
![PetFusion 3-Sided Vertical Cat Scratching Post (Standard Size, Warm Gray). [Multiple Scratching Angles to Match Your Cat's Preference]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41x1Y34rDmL.jpg)
Your questions aren't silly! It's great that you're thinking about how you can make you both comfortable before you dive into a new situation. Always set yourself up for success! :)
> do I buy a litter box/food/scratch-post before I plan to bring a cat home?
That's generally a good idea, yes. Means less stress for both of you as you're scrambling to get everything ready for him. You might ask the shelter what food the cat has been eating, as cats can get an upset tummy when switching brands/types. Not a big deal, but he will have poops that are a bit stinkier/liquidier than normal poops. That should alleviate within the week. You can lessen the tummy troubles by doing a more gradual change, mixing the food he is currently on with the food he will be on more and more, until he is eating what you want him on. But you can honestly just do the change, too, and just deal with the sadpoops for a little while.
I suggest a couple of different scratching posts, if you have the space! Cats like having options, like a horizontal post and a vertical one. Cats also like being high up, so if you can swing a tall post with platforms, he will probably like that.
Get two litter boxes! A lot of people don't realize it, but the rule of thumb for number of litters you should have is NumberOfCats + 1. So, 1 cat + 1 = 2 boxes. Clean them often. Cats are very clean creatures (especially compared to dogs) and are MUCH more likely to have accidents when they feel they do not have a better option than peeing in your bed. That's not their fault. You wouldn't want to step on your own pee/poop either! If you have problems with litter getting kicked out of the box, a litter mat can be helpful.
> Do I need to buy a carrier for the cat?
Yep. You'll eventually need to take him to a vet in all likelihood, and a carrier will make that so much easier, as most cats despise the car. I recommend a hard carrier. The softer ones seem nicer in general, but the hard carriers are easier to clean out, and you never know how a cat will be in the car until... well. They're in it. One of our cats poops and pees every. single. time. So he always gets the hard carrier.
> Should I contact a vet before I get the cat?
The shelter might require you to have a vet already, so I'd probably at least pick one out from google search. They might require you to go get a checkup, but probably not. That's more of a rescue thing, I think. Most shelters have their own in-house vet, so it's not really necessary. Don't be afraid to contact the shelter if he seems to be coughing and wheezing. Upper respiratory infections are very common in shelter environments due to the crowded nature of them, but they are also very treatable, and the shelter will be able to give you medication for him.
> How do I train a cat?
Someone mentioned Jackson Galaxy, who I generally agree is pretty good for training if you have some problems. But most of the time, cats are pretty out-of-the-box ready pets. That is to say, if you have an environment that is good for cats (where you let them have some space, where you don't make a huge amount of loud noise, where they aren't prodded and poked at constantly), they generally don't need training. We've fostered tiny kittens that automatically knew how to use the litter box. We also have boy cats who were not fixed until well into adulthood and have never had problems spraying.
It's instinct to go in the box, especially once they're fixed and don't need to mark territory really.
> For those of you who own a cat/cats, any advice for this first-timer?
Give both of you time to get to know each other. Don't force it. He will come to you, given time and space, and you'll be able to cultivate a better relationship built on trust and mutual respect if he knows that you won't force him to do things that he doesn't want to do (especially at first--think about it like building a friendship with a person; you would trust your friends to do things that you would never trust a stranger to do, and it's the same for him).
Cooing and gentle words are generally pretty good for coaxing, as is letting him smell your hand/something that smells like you before you approach for pets. Think about it like introducing yourself. You wouldn't go up to someone you didn't know well and just touch them without at least saying hi.
Every cat I have ever known, male or female, fixed or not, will pee in a pile of anything if it is left long enough. They see it as 'trash,' and I think it just registers as litter. So, if you are the type to leave clothes on the floor... I would try to stop that.
Keep nails trimmed. Scratching posts are for sharpening nails, which is an instinct that they have to fulfill, and you're giving them an outlet for. Some people think it's for 'filing' the nails down, but it's not. It's for keeping them sharp enough to get prey. You'll have to trim them.
And this is just my own personal opinion, but... young--but not kitten--boy cats are best for first timers. I have one girl, and I absolutely adore her, but she is very high maintenance/prissy/touchy, whereas my three boys are all pretty chill. Each cat is different though, so obviously your mileage may vary! It's just something I've noticed in general in my time of owning and fostering cats, that boys are more laid back/forgiving than girls (and thus I think a little easier for a first timer). Young adults are also great for first timers because you have less accidents (though that's generally not a big concern anyway) and they're more able to be on their own for longer periods of time. Older adults/seniors are great too if you want a really, really chill, more stand-offish cat, or if you want a cat that you'll have for <10 years, but if you want a little more energy and time, a cat that's about 1-2 years old is a GREAT way to go.
Some toys that are great for cats include the classic laser pointer, the feather toy, catnip toys, and crinkle balls.
Cats prefer to drink away from where they eat, so place his food bowl and his water bowl apart from one another! Some cats also prefer running water to still water, so if you notice your cat likes drinking out of the faucet (or if you just want to spoil your cat like I spoil mine...) you can get a water fountain for him!
Finally, if it's not working out for some reason, like your personalities just don't mesh well... take him back. I know it sounds hard, but it's best for him if he is in an environment where he is understood and his needs are met. There's no sense in forcing both of you to be miserable. Some shelters let you do a foster-to-adopt sort of thing, where you sort of try each other out for a bit. I like this option, because you hope for the best, but it feels a little bit easier to tap out if you need to. Either way, there's no shame in tapping out. Sometimes things just don't work the way you thought they would.
Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to be as thorough as I could. My parents recently got their first cat, and it's been... an ordeal for them, getting used to it.
It's great that you have some experience with cats though, so I think you'll be fine! Seriously, cats are sort of the next level up from a goldfish as far as easiness. Should be fine.
I hope you and your new furbaby are super, super happy together! :)
When I first got my cat we lived in a tiny studio apartment. There are definitely ways to make your bedroom a happy place for your cat to hang out it while you’re not at home. Is it as ideal as your cat having access to the rest of the house? No, but it’s safer because your brother won’t be able to loose your cat that way.
Some ways to try to make your bedroom into a mini kitty paradise:
Do what you can to make your current situation a happier space for the kitty. You and Decaf won’t be living with your brother forever, this is only temporary!
Here it is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Attack-Tube-Scratch-Tube-CatTwig/dp/B01LLZ7CC6
Aaand now I just spent twenty minutes looking at ridiculously expensive cat towers on Amazon. This one is $583, this one $466, and finally you can get this one for the low price of $799.94! There are a lot of reasonable ones out there I just had no idea what some people are willing to pay for these things
It's this: https://www.amazon.com/Old-Tjikko-Triangle-Scratcher-Scratching/dp/B0789C7XVF
Tip: I found this by searching on Google site:amazon.com "my cats had no idea what to do with this." If you recognize the platform and there's enough consecutive text to be fairly unique, it's pretty easy to track down!
CAD$13 for this scratching post. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K3EK9V2
Shit, buy a few of them and put them around the house. You can rewrap it with $5 worth of sisal rope from home depot. My parents cats love their sisal rope scratching posts.
Then you just need to go over to the hardware store and buy a squirt bottle. Squirt the cat with water whenever they scratch on anything that isn't the post.
Problem solved!
Found it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beeztees-Scratching-Post-Serpa-Black/dp/B00N4T6Y36/
7 isn't really a senior as /u/antigoneelectra pointed out, but that's the age when some health ramifications from previous care start showing up. most owners neglect their cat's teeth and it really starts to become a problem when they're 4+ years old. another issue is UTIs (especially in males) which often pop-up again from a neglectful diet (or simply genetics). both are potentially expensive medical bills.
with that in mind, be financially prepared for a thorough vet check-up as well as a possible additional bill of a few hundred dollars.
don't find what i said discouraging, i think it's very responsible of you and also very insightful of you to get an older cat in your situation! i just wanted to give you a little heads-up on initial costs :)
anyway, adult cats love to lounge around so get them a window seat, a cat tree, a vertical scratching post (cats have muscles that need to be exercised vertically), and a regular scratching post.
consider a wet food diet too. either way, don't free feed as cats are prone to getting bored and grazing all day.
I am gonna guess you have $10.03 USD
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Scratchers-559458-Sharples-n-Grant-Scratcher/dp/B004S6TNJQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&amp;colid=1OSTHGX63VFRK&amp;coliid=I39QKD5HW7NCVU
kitty tower
I got a new kitten last night from my boyfriends Mom who is really one of those cat ladies. Anyway, one of her outdoor Mommacats had a litter a few months ago. So I have a feral male cat. AWESOME. I'm excited.. it's a baby tho..
My first kitten Emma was also born outside as a feral cat. She's been with me 13 years now. So i got this tower, and it will be here Thursday. I'm super psyched. I know that Emma will not want the new kitten on her perch so i got them both a bigger one to share. it'll b e great!
Today i go and get a new cat box, litter, and kitten food. Cats need their own litter boxes you know!!! It'd be nice though if it friggen went outside. Emma pees and poops in her litter box even tho she goes outside occasionally. im like... girl.. what the fuck. haha.
Anyway.. HAPPY DAY!! I will post pictures of new kitten soon enough. <3
I got her those posts:
http://www.amazon.com/SmartCat-3832-Ultimate-Scratching-Post/dp/B000634MH8
http://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Baza-Grande-Scratching-Biege/dp/B00EPXXOY2
http://www.amazon.com/Catit-Scratcher-with-Catnip-Wide/dp/B0032GEE8S
and something like that:
http://www.amazon.com/Oliver-Iris-Premium-Scratcher-Lounger/dp/B016Z4TXG6
The locations are in the same spots she used to scratch. Some of them next to where she usually sits.
If you're able to mount things to the walls, try making scratch pads (wood back & carpet) and screw them into the walls where he scratches most often. This instagram account @catswithoutjobs created a really great tutorial for an up the wall cat climber. Maybe something like this but smaller will help with the walls.
&#x200B;
I have these and they've worked pretty good saving the corners of my couch. They come in rounded or squared and a bunch of colors. The cats even sit on the couch and chew on the edges of it.
All 6 of my cats love these :
my kittens go crazy for these mylar balls.
We have 2 cat trees near a big window with a bird feeder outside in view...it keeps our two 6 month old kittens entertained for hours. I would recommend a cat tree, or a window perch of some sort. :)
Yes, that's for scratching. She started to scratch on the wall paper, so we installed this scratch on this place.
You can find it on Amazon in Germany:
Europet Bernina 433-199077 Sisal Eck Kratzbrett, 750 x 280 mm https://www.amazon.de/dp/B006X1Z0A0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7QTWDb7EWCMTG
Maybe you can order it, or another device to your country. When it not working, please DM me. I try to help, if you want ☺️
Not declawed, but is spayed. All he needs is one of those cardboard scratching things similar to this
https://www.amazon.com/Mojetto-Catnip-Scratching-Post/dp/B006QLQSTO
and he's golden!
A bit pricey but it seemd to be be lasting forever and once it does need replacing, no parts that have to go to the landfill. And big kitty loves it.
PetFusion 3-Sided Vertical Cat Scratching Post (Large Size, Warm Gray). [Multiple Scratching Angles to Match Your Cat's Preference] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UVNSASA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_B-nIDbFNYCKT0
Here’s some things I view as necessities for MCs:
I just buy stuff at the pet store, but I can try and find a few recommendations. You'll want to avoid things with bells or small parts, at least while she's tiny. PetSmart usually has some pretty good stuff, or you can even find a good selection on Amazon. If you're gone a lot, it also might be a good idea to invest in something you can turn on and leave running while you're gone, like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WP7F8YC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2GCMBb2JZP9JV.
Ironically, my cat's favorite toy is a piece of cut up fleece on a stick that I got from the pet store.
Here are a few homemade things that look fun:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/496293492/cat-toy-kitten-toy-kitten-puzzle-cat
https://www.etsy.com/listing/573944129/catnip-toy-medium-kicker-cat-toy-cat
And here are some more things from Amazon that I would recommend:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bLCMBbEDZ585B
And
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QPLUQXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_dOCMBbRA7B6MM
Just make sure she's careful with the string on this one. As long as she doesn't break it off and swallow it, it should be fine.
Some sort of a laser pointer is always a great toy for kitties, just make sure not to shine it in her eyes.
Finally, make sure to get her a cat tree if you have room for one. Cats like to climb. Something like this would be great:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0794T79KM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ERCMBbM18RTGA
Scratching posts are also important, so here's what I would recommend for a scratching post, if you don't want to get the cat tree:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BY385RX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fTCMBbKA5B15Q
Once you spay her, if she isn't already, feed her adult food so she doesn't gain too much weight. A good kitten food to start her on before the spay is Good Natured, at PetSmart. If she's spayed and you want to start her on adult food, I use this, and my cat loves it, and she's super healthy:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDQCL13/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0VCMBbHDBF7XG
If you have any other questions, please feel free to message me. I have had my cat for two years, and raised her since she was three months old, so I can answer a lot of kitten questions.
One more thing, get her a bed. She may not always use it, but she will appreciate it.
I was going to suggest the game (looks awesome) but /u/juliet1484 is quick like a bunny! failing that, anything that keeps the pets happy keeps YOU happy!