The best cat scratching posts are a godsend for those of us who share our home with cats. A sturdy post gives your cat a safe place to sharpen their claws and avoids your furniture and carpets being shredded.

While a lot of cats are happy to sharpen their claws on tree trunks outside (if they’re outdoor cats), it still pays to have a scratching post at home. Having a scratcher inside gives your cat a safe place to scratch, without the need to keep an eye out for any neighbourhood cats or other perceived threats.

We’ve reviewed a great range of scratchers that will appeal to cats of every shape and size, so you’re bound to find one to suit. We’ve also put together a buying guide to answer your questions about cat scratching posts – but if you already know what you’re looking for, scroll down to view our recommendations.

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Scratching is very much part of a cat’s natural routine. It’s pretty much the only way that a cat can wear down their claws and make sure that they remain sharp (although we do sometimes trim our domestic cats’ claws). In addition to this, it also gives them the chance to stretch their muscles and spread their scent. Scent marking is vital for cats – it helps them mark an area as safe, as well as advertising their presence to any visiting mogs. If you don’t give your cat a suitable post to scratch, the chances are that they’ll look for something else to scratch – and that’s how furniture and carpets get ruined.

Cat scratchers are made from a variety of materials, but we’d recommend steering clear of any made from fabrics similar to those used in your furniture and carpets – that’s just going to confuse your cat. The vast majority are made from jute or sisal, but you’ll also find some made from cardboard.

We assembled a team of crack feline testers to try out our different scratching posts and pads. Although written feedback was somewhat lacking, our testers were able to show us how durable and tough these scratching posts are and, indeed, whether they were appealing to cats.

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Price: £15 | Buy now from Pets at Home

This scratching post from Pets at Home is made from sisal, with a faux fur base and a small play toy attached at the top. Traditional in design, the post itself is solidly made and the sisal is very resistant to cat claws, meaning you should get a good lifespan from it.

There’s good height on the post, meaning that most domestic moggies will find there’s plenty of room to reach upwards for a good scratch. Width-wise, the post is small and discreet, meaning it doesn’t take up a lot of room.

Like a lot of scratching posts, the cat toy attached to the top doesn’t have quite a long enough string for most cats to show any interest in it. And we wouldn’t recommend this post to cats weighing much more than 5.5kg, as a larger cat could pull it over. However, this is a really nicely designed and simple scratching post that the average cat should enjoy immensely.

Key details – Size (cm): 58 x 34 x 34; Material: Sisal post and faux fur/plush base; Our recommended cat weight limit: 5.5kg

Buy now from Pets at Home

Price: £43 | Buy now from Amazon

Do you live with a big cat, such as a Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest? Or is your cat a bit larger than average? Then this is the scratching post for you. This 80cm post is tall enough for big cats to stretch up fully while scratching and the solid, 40 x 40cm circumference means that there’s no chance of the post being knocked over. Made from sturdy woven sisal, the post is strong, tough and should give many years of happy scratching.

As this scratching post is on the larger side, it might be a little overwhelming for some spaces but it’s a nice, neutral beige colour that should blend seamlessly into a room. It’s also a little more expensive than other options on the market but with some reviewers saying theirs is still going strong after five years, the durability of this post makes it worth the initial outlay.

Key details – Size (cm): 80 x 40 x 40; Material: Sisal and Wood; Our recommended cat weight limit: Any (Up to Maine Coons)

Price: £14 | Buy now from Catit

This fun crocodile scratcher is a purse-friendly option that’s our top recommendation for those on a budget. Made from layers of thick, corrugated cardboard, the scratcher provides a great surface for cats to strop their claws on.

Despite being made from cardboard, the crocodile scratcher is actually remarkably strong and should stand up to repeated use. However, you should be aware that cardboard will shred more than sisal and jute, so you will have to clear up bits of cardboard from time to time. It’s also worth noting this is a horizontal scratcher, which some cats might not enjoy (although some don’t like vertical posts either). However, it has lots of ridges and bumps to make it more interesting and even comes with a little bag of catnip to encourage your cat to use it. Catit also sells nine other animal-shaped scratchers in various sizes and prices, if the crocodile doesn’t grab your attention.

Key details – Size (cm): 44 x 18.5 x 9.5; Material: Cardboard; Our recommended cat weight limit: Any

Price: £19 | Buy now from Pets at Home

It’s somewhat disingenuous to suggest this is just for older cats, as cats of all ages will love it! But what we really love about this post is the curved shape and low height, which is ideal for older cats who might be suffering from arthritis or simply not able to stretch up as far as a younger cat.

Made from tough sisal with a soft, plush interior this is a really well-designed scratching post that’s inviting for a cat to use. As well as the scratcher, there’s an interior tunnel with a cat ball toy attached so that cats can use the post to hide and play in as well. Some cats have also been known to sleep on this scratcher!

A sturdy post that should have a good life span, this is an excellent choice for most cats although it may not be vertical enough for some.

Key details – Size (cm): 45 x 26 x 26; Material: Sisal and plush; Our recommended cat weight limit: Any

Buy now from Pets at Home

Price: £27 | Buy now from OnBuy

Cat bed/scratching post combos are generally pretty expensive, so this Pawhut offering is a welcome exception for those on a budget. There are two scratching posts of different heights, wrapped with durable sisal ropes and joined together by a plush bed for your cat to lounge in. Our largest cat tester (around 6.5kg) was able to scratch vigorously on these posts without them showing any sign of strain.

This is because both scratching posts are sensibly joined to a sturdy base, with the cat bed adding further stability. While the cat toy balls on this bed have a sensible length of string attached to them, we did feel they were quite fragile and probably wouldn’t stand up to much of a pummelling.

Although this is obviously larger than a standalone scratching post, it’s still a great option for those in smaller houses, as it combines a cat bed and scratching post into one.

Key details – Size (cm): 72 x 40 x 40; Material: Sisal and plush; Our recommended cat weight limit: 7kg

Price: £17 | Buy now from Amazon

As wonderful as our feline friends are, their belongings can take up a lot of space. If you live in a small house, you probably don’t have the room to be tripping over countless cat beds and scratching posts. So if you want to free your floor, Trixie’s wall-mounted scratching post is an excellent option. Made of natural sisal with plush ends, it attaches to the wall with a simple wall bracket, which is also hidden from view once the post is attached. Trixie also sell replacement posts, meaning you don’t have to bin the wall brackets once the sisal on the post gets tired. You simply unscrew the post, replace it with a new one and fit the ends back on.

As the Trixie scratching post is attached to the wall, you can choose what height to put it at, which is ideal if you have a particularly long or short-bodied cat. It’s also extremely sturdy due to being drilled in. Do be aware, however, that the post doesn’t come with screws or plugs – you’ll need to buy the appropriate ones for the wall you’re drilling into. Apart from that, this is an extremely well-priced cat scratching post that has much to recommend it.

Key details – Size (cm): 81.3x12.7x12.7; Material: Sisal and plush; Our recommended cat weight limit: N/A

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