Care notes · 3 min read
Choosing a scratching surface your cat will actually use
Height, stability and placement matter more than buying the largest scratcher in the shop.
Scratching is both maintenance and communication. The most useful surface is one that stays still when your cat leans into it and is placed close to where the behaviour already happens.
For a full-body stretch, choose a vertical surface that is taller than your cat when standing. For cats that scratch rugs or sofas, a dense horizontal pad can be the more natural first choice.
Change one thing at a time. Moving a scratcher, adding a new texture and changing the room layout all at once makes it hard to learn what your cat prefers.