How Many Cat Scratching Boards Should You Have at Home?
There is currently no definitive answer to how many cat scratching boards you should have at home. However, based on our practical experience, we recommend having at least one or two scratching boards in each main activity area to ensure your cats have enough places to scratch.
For example, I live with three cats in a three-bedroom, two-living-room, two-balcony apartment, and we have about ten scratching boards spread throughout the space.
If your cat's living environment is a studio or a small single room, we suggest making active use of every available nook and cranny to increase the number of scratching boards. In such cases, you might exceed the general guideline of "at least one or two scratching boards per main activity area".
Especially when multiple cats share a studio or small room, it is recommended that the number of scratching boards matches or even doubles the number of cats. For instance, if I live with three cats in a studio apartment, there should be at least 3 to 6 scratching spots—sometimes even more.
Where Should You Place Your Cat Scratching Board?
When discussing where to place a cat scratching board, it's essential first to understand the purpose behind a cat's scratching behavior. Scratching serves multiple important functions for cats: removing old and dead claw sheaths, exercising and stretching, expressing emotions, and marking territory through scent glands in their paws. Therefore, the locations you choose for the scratching board should conveniently meet these needs!
1. Removing Old Claw Sheaths
Cats often scratch when they see a preferred scratching surface. For this reason, the ideal location is somewhere easy to reach or places your cat frequently passes by. This can also extend to areas where your cat's favorite humans spend a lot of time, encouraging more interaction and use.
How Cats Use Scratching Boards to Remove Dead Skin
Cats typically scratch when they see a scratching board they like, using it to remove old, dead skin from their claws. Because of this behavior, the ideal location for placing a scratching board is somewhere that is easy for the cat to reach or in a spot they frequently pass by.
Additionally, it's beneficial to place the scratching board in areas where the cat's beloved humans often spend time, as cats tend to enjoy being near their favorite people. This not only encourages regular scratching but also strengthens the bond between cat and owner.
2. Exercising and Stretching
This need usually arises right after your cat wakes up. Therefore, placing a scratching board near their sleeping area allows your cat to stretch and exercise comfortably as part of their waking routine.
Understanding Cat Stretching and Optimal Scratching Post Placement
Cats often feel the need to stretch their muscles right after waking up. This instinctive behavior helps them increase blood flow, relieve muscle tension, and prepare their bodies for movement throughout the day. Because this stretching need most commonly occurs immediately after a cat wakes, it is practical to place the cat's scratching post around their sleeping area. This location allows the cat to conveniently stretch and scratch as part of their natural wake-up routine.
Positioning the scratching post near the "sleeping zone" supports the cat's instinctual behavior of stretching upon awakening, encouraging healthy muscle activation and claw maintenance. This setup aligns with cats' natural habits of stretching and scratching as soon as they get up, making the scratching post both accessible and appealing.
3. Expressing Emotions
Cats often scratch to vent emotions, which can happen before mealtime, after playing with toys like a cat teaser wand, or during other emotionally charged moments. The best spots for this are places where your cat experiences excitement or agitation — in other words, areas where emotional outbursts are likely to occur.
Expressing Emotions: Understanding Your Cat's Needs
The need to express emotions in cats often arises in specific situations such as before mealtime, after playing with a teaser wand or engaging in an overly exciting game, or during other scenarios that trigger strong positive or negative feelings.
Because these moments are when emotional excitement is most likely to occur, the ideal placement for a cat scratching board is in locations where such emotional arousal happens. This strategic positioning helps cats release their pent-up energy and emotions in a healthy and constructive way.
By recognizing these emotional triggers and providing an appropriate outlet, cat owners can better support their pets' well-being and reduce unwanted behaviors that stem from emotional stress or overstimulation.
4. Marking Territory
Scratching also serves as a way for cats to mark their territory with scent glands located in their paws. Key locations for this behavior are around the edges of their territory and near entrances and exits. Therefore, placing scratching boards around doorways, especially near the main entrance, helps your cat confidently mark their domain.
By thoughtfully placing your cat's scratching boards in these strategic locations, you support their natural behaviors and help keep your furniture safe. Happy scratching!
Understanding Cat Scent Marking and Optimal Scratching Post Placement
Cats are naturally inclined to actively mark their territory through scent marking. This behavior helps them establish and communicate boundaries within their environment.
Typically, the key areas for scent marking are around the edges of their territory, especially near entrances and exits. These spots are crucial because they serve as transition points where cats can assert their presence to other animals.
To accommodate this instinct, placing a scratching post in corresponding locations is highly effective. In particular, positioning the scratching post near doorways—especially around the main entrance—aligns with cats' natural marking habits and encourages them to use the post for scratching and scent marking.
Choosing the Perfect Cat Scratching Board: A Strategic Guide
Selecting the right cat scratching board involves understanding your cat's preferences and the qualities of the materials used. To start, test which textures your cat enjoys the most—such as corrugated cardboard, sisal rope, linen fabric, or even carpet (yes, there are cat scratching posts made with real carpet material!). Additionally, observe whether your cat prefers the board placed vertically, horizontally, or at an angle.
Step 1: Cater to Your Cat's Preferences
The first and most important strategy is to cater to what your cat likes. Purchase scratching boards that align with your cat's favorite textures and orientations. This ensures your feline friend will be attracted to and use the product.
Step 2: Consider Product Quality
Next, evaluate the quality of the scratching board:
- Does it shed or leave debris easily?
- Does it have any strange or unpleasant odors?
- How durable is it over time?
- How much does your cat actually like it?
A high-quality product strikes a good balance between durability and your cat's enjoyment. Sometimes, products that are very hard and long-lasting may not be cat-friendly. For example, in Taiwan, it was once popular to give cats wooden washboards as scratching surfaces. While extremely durable, cats generally did not enjoy them.
Understanding Corrugated Cardboard Scratching Boards
Among the most popular scratching boards is corrugated cardboard, which comes in different weights and flute types such as A-flute, B-flute, and AB-flute. From a cat's perspective, E-flute cardboard may have grooves that are too narrow, making it difficult for their claws to dig in and scratch effectively.
After extensive trials, I personally prefer high-weight AB-flute cardboard. Consequently, I sought out products featuring this type to recommend to everyone.
If you are interested in learning more about the characteristics and varieties of corrugated cardboard, please refer to the brief introduction in box1 for further reference.
When to Replace Your Cat Scratching Board
Cat scratching boards are essential tools that help our feline friends maintain healthy claws and mark their territory. However, knowing when to replace these boards is just as important as having them. Here's a guide to help you understand the right time to swap out your cat's scratching board, focusing on common materials like corrugated cardboard and sisal rope or fabric.
Replacing Corrugated Cardboard Scratching Boards
For scratching boards made of corrugated cardboard, the ideal time to replace them is when they become worn down to the point that your cat's claws can no longer easily penetrate, get stuck, or have difficulty pulling out. This wear and tear prevents your cat from comfortably removing old, dead keratin layers from their claws.
When the cardboard board is too old or damaged, your cat may struggle to find a good spot to scratch effectively, which can lead to frustration and discourage them from using the board altogether.
Replacing Sisal Rope or Fabric Scratching Posts
For scratching posts or boards made of sisal rope or fabric, watch for areas that have been completely shredded into frayed strands or "whisker-like" tufts. When this happens, the post loses its claw-sharpening function and should be replaced to keep your cat engaged and happy.
How to Replace Your Cat's Scratching Boards
When it's time to replace a scratching board, it's best to do so one at a time. Avoid the temptation to replace all the boards in your home at once, as this sudden change can be very stressful for your cat. These boards carry important visual and scent marks left by your cat, which help them maintain a sense of territory and security.
Replacing boards gradually allows your cat to adjust comfortably and continue enjoying their scratching routine without disruption.
Summary
- Corrugated cardboard boards: Replace when worn so claws can no longer easily scratch in and out.
- Sisal rope/fabric posts: Replace when frayed into strands, losing their scratching function.
- Replace gradually: Change one board at a time to avoid stressing your cat.
- Preserve scent marks: Old boards contain important visual and scent cues for your cat's territory.
By paying attention to these signs, you'll help your cat stay happy, healthy, and stress-free while maintaining their favorite scratching spots!
Space-Saving Strategies for Choosing Cat Scratching Boards
When selecting cat scratching boards, especially in homes where living space is limited, it's important to consider how to save space effectively. Sometimes, purchasing too many medium to large scratching posts can further reduce the available living area for everyone. Fortunately, there are products designed to minimize this feeling of clutter, which can indirectly increase owners' willingness to use and place more scratching facilities around the home.
Choosing the Right Size
The general guideline is to choose scratching boards that are at least as long as your cat's body length. However, since many products on the market don't reach such sizes, a relaxed standard of 40 cm or longer is usually sufficient. Some small or square-shaped scratching boards, with side lengths of just around 20 cm, are really too small for cats and don't allow them to apply proper force when scratching.
Space Efficiency and Visual Impact
These smaller, flat scratching boards are placed directly on the floor, which visually reduces the sense of clutter in your home. They also make excellent use of narrow or under-furniture spaces that might otherwise go unused.
IKEA Cat Scratching Fabric: An Excellent Option
One standout product is the IKEA cat scratching fabric. It's highly durable and well-liked by cats, and it can be wrapped around existing household structures like pillars and table legs. The recommended height for the pillar or table leg to use this product is between 63 and 64 cm. If your table legs are slightly shorter and can't be fully wrapped, there are tutorials available to help you adapt the setup.
Wrapping pillars or table legs with this fabric doesn't significantly affect the aesthetic of your living space. When placed thoughtfully, cats tend to love these spots and will use them daily. Additionally, some users have reported great success wrapping the pillars of electric fans, which also works very well.
Wrapping the fan's pillar with the IKEA scratching fabric was surprisingly effective — my cat uses it all the time!
Summary
- Choose scratching boards at least 40 cm long to accommodate your cat's scratching needs.
- Smaller, flat boards can save space and reduce visual clutter.
- Utilize vertical household structures like pillars and table legs with durable scratching fabrics.
- IKEA's cat scratching fabric is a versatile, space-saving, and cat-approved option.
- Creative placement can maximize usage and maintain a tidy living environment.
What to Do When Your Cat Keeps Scratching the Sofa?
Many cat owners face a frustrating problem: their beloved sofa ends up looking like a disaster zone, torn and scratched beyond recognition. Why does this happen? The answer lies in what makes the sofa so appealing to cats in the first place.
Why Does Your Cat Scratch the Sofa?
Cats are naturally drawn to the sofa because it meets several important criteria that make it an ideal scratching spot:
- Prime Location: The sofa is usually placed in a high-traffic, visible area — a main passageway or a focal point in the room.
- Owner's Presence: It's where the cat's human often spends time, making it a social and comforting spot.
- Stable Base: The sofa has a solid, stable structure that doesn't wobble when the cat scratches, providing a satisfying resistance.
- Size and Reach: It's large enough for the cat to stretch out and really enjoy scratching.
- Texture: The sofa's surface feels good to scratch — not too soft, so the cat can effectively remove old claw sheaths.
How Can You Protect Your Sofa?
Knowing why cats love scratching the sofa helps us create better alternatives. The goal is to replicate these appealing conditions in designated scratching areas so your cat willingly chooses them over your furniture.
Key Conditions to Replicate in Scratching Posts or Pads:
- Location: Place scratching posts in prominent, well-trafficked areas — not tucked away in unused corners.
- Owner's Presence: Put them where you often spend time, so your cat associates the spot with you.
- Stability: Ensure the scratching surface is sturdy and doesn't wobble during use.
- Size: The post or pad should be large, tall, or long enough for your cat to stretch and scratch comfortably.
- Texture: Choose materials with a good scratching feel — firm enough to remove old claw sheaths but not too hard.
Additional Tips
If your cat's favorite scratching spot happens to be your leather sofa, it's almost guaranteed they will keep scratching it no matter how much you scold them. Punishment is ineffective and can damage your relationship with your pet. Also, deterrent sprays or repellents usually don't work well and might just annoy your cat.
The best way to protect your sofa is to provide multiple attractive scratching posts or pads around your home, especially near the sofa. Keep an eye on these scratching surfaces — if they become worn out or ineffective, replace them promptly to maintain your cat's interest.
Or Try This:
You can also attach scratching pads directly onto the sofa itself. This can help redirect your cat's scratching behavior without sacrificing your furniture's condition.
By understanding your cat's natural preferences and providing suitable alternatives, you can save your sofa and keep your feline friend happy and healthy!
Should You Replace All Your Cat Scratchers at Once?
Many cat owners wonder: "If my cat's scratching posts or boards are all worn out, can I just replace them all at once? Will my cat be happier?" This is a common question, but the answer might surprise you.
The Short Answer: Absolutely Not!
Cats actually love their well-worn scratching posts and boards — even when they are torn up and ragged. If you suddenly replace all the scratching surfaces in your home with brand-new ones, your cat might feel unsettled or unhappy.
Why Do Cats Love Their Worn Scratchers?
Cats use scratching posts not only to sharpen and shed old nail layers but also to communicate and mark their territory. They do this through two main methods:
- Pheromones: Cats' paws secrete pheromones, which leave a scent marker on the scratching post.
- Visual marks: The scratches themselves serve as visible signs to other cats.
Because of this, a scratching post with both scent and visible scratch marks holds special meaning and value for your cat.
Why You Shouldn't Let Scratchers Get Too Old Either
On the flip side, if you never replace worn-out scratchers, they lose their effectiveness for helping your cat remove old nail layers. This can lead to your cat scratching inappropriate objects or becoming frustrated with their worn-out posts.
How to Replace Scratching Posts the Right Way
When it's time to get new scratching posts or boards, here are some helpful tips:
- Replace only one or two at a time. Don't swap out all of them at once.
- Place the new scratchers near the old ones. This allows your cat to gradually discover and start using the new posts.
- Don't force your cat to use the new scratchers. Let them explore naturally.
- Once your cat starts using the new posts and leaves some scratch marks, quietly remove the old ones. This reduces stress and keeps your cat happy.
Conclusion
In summary, cats form a strong attachment to their scratched posts because of the scent and visual markers they leave behind. Sudden replacement of all scratchers can cause confusion or sadness. By introducing new scratchers gradually and thoughtfully, you help your cat feel comfortable and maintain their healthy scratching habits.
A happy cat is a cat that feels secure in its territory — and its scratchers are part of that security.
