Scratching is perfectly normal feline behavior, and your cat will scratch in order to keep their claws sharp, short, and healthy. Of course, you do not want this habit being performed on your sofa or kitchen table. A purpose-made cat scratcher is an ideal solution and a must-have for cat owners.
There are many different shapes and sizes of cat scratchers, and most cats will have their preferences. Having multiple cat scratchers around the home is a great idea to give your cats some variety. We’ve found that most cats prefer tall scratching posts, as they mimic your cat’s natural scratching habitat and allow a good stretch for your feline while they are maintaining their claws.
With all the different cat scratchers available on the market, however, it can quickly become confusing to find just the right one. In this article, we showcase eight of the best tall cat scratching posts, to help you choose the best one for your needs. Let’s dive in!
The Sisal Cat scratching post from Frisco tops our list and is our favorite choice overall. The post is tall enough for most cat breeds in full stretch at 33.5 inches high. It has a layer of durable, woven sisal wrapped around the square post that looks as good as feels to your cat. With four different sides to scratch on and sisal-rope construction, it will last longer than most other scratching posts, while giving your cat a full body stretch and their own clawing station. The post also has a comfy perch on top for your cat to keep an eye on the goings-on in your home. Both the perch and base are covered in soft plush material.
The only complaint we have with this post is that it is fairly high in relation to its two-piece base, causing it to be rather unstable with larger or highly playful cats.
Overall, we think this is the best tall cat scratching post.
Pros
5 inches tall
Four-sided design
Durable, woven sisal cover
Comfy perch on top
Base and perch covered in soft plush material
Long-lasting
Cons
Fairly unstable
2. 4 Paws Stuff Tall Cat Scratching Post — Best Value
The best tall scratching post for the money is the 4 Paws Stuff Tall Cat Scratching Post. This post is 22 inches high and wrapped in tough sisal rope and soft plush material for a safe and long-lasting scratching post at an affordable price. The base comes equipped with non-skid pads underneath to keep it from slipping. It also has an entertaining chase toy built into the base, with fixed balls inside a track, to keep your cat mentally stimulated. There is a soft ball attached with rope hanging from the top, which will give your cat hours of entertainment. The post is a breeze to assemble, with two provided screws and a wrench, and will take only minutes to set up.
Unfortunately, the plush part at the top of the post is easy to rip and tear for most cats and will leave a mess, and we found the lightweight base to not be that sturdy. These two minor flaws keep this scratching post from the top position on this list.
Pros
Inexpensive
22 inches high
Covered in tough sisal rope
Equipped with non-slip pads on the base
Two interactive toys included
Easy to assemble
Cons
Plush material is easy to rip apart
Not that stable
3. SmartCat The Ultimate Cat Scratching Post — Premium Choice
The SmartCat Ultimate Cat Scratching Post is a great choice if you’re looking for a premium, high-quality, and long-lasting product. The post is 33 inches high — ideal for most cat breeds — and will allow your feline to get a full stretch to tone their muscles and improve blood flow after their daily nap. It has a sturdy 16×16-inch base, with an attached post covered in tough sisal rope that is as enticing as it is long-lasting, and it won’t sag like sisal fabrics often do. The post is also easy to assemble with just two screws, and it has a great modern aesthetic that will look great in any home.
This post is difficult to fault, and the only thing keeping it from the top two positions on this list is the high price.
The MidWest Feline Cat Scratching Post is 41 inches tall, making it ideal for even the tallest cat breeds to get a full stretch. We love the unique look of this scratching post; it’ll fit right into any modern home with its sleek and neutral aesthetic. The post is wrapped in tough sisal rope with a stable, over-sized base for good support that is wrapped in soft faux fur for added comfort and aesthetics. The post is also quick and easy to assemble, with all required tools included.
The only issue that we found with this post is the faux fur — it tends to break and tear easily and will eventually leave fine particles scattered around your home.
The Dimaka Ultimate Tall Cat Scratching Post is one of the most stable designs out there, with a 15×15-inch, heavy, chipboard base. The scratching post is 34 inches tall and made from thick cardboard wrapped in natural sisal rope that is tough and long-lasting. The base and top of the post are covered in soft plush material. The post also has an irresistible plush ball attached with a rope to entice your cat to scratch, stretch, and play! There are five different colors to choose from — brown, dark brown, light grey, blue, and beige — to match your home’s color scheme. The post is also easy to assemble, with just three quick steps that will take only a few minutes.
Although it is stable, this scratching post is constructed with poor materials in general, with a cardboard post, a flimsy toy attachment that will likely break easily with feisty felines, and the chipboard base that may eventually break up into small pieces.
This cat scratching post from MidWest homes has everything that you want from a cat scratcher without any fancy added bells and whistles: It is solid, stable, and durable and will not break the bank! With a height of 41 inches, it’s tall enough for most cat breeds to get a full stretch. The sturdy, 19×19-inch base is wrapped in soft plush, faux-fur material that is easy to wipe clean, and the post itself is covered in tough, long-lasting sisal rope. The post is quick and simple to assemble with the provided Allen wrench and comes in three separate parts.
Be sure to keep this away from any moisture, as the pressed recycled construction will disintegrate quickly once it gets wet enough. Also, some customers reported that their cats simply did not enjoy it because there is not much to entice them into using it.
Made with extra-thick cardboard, the Hi-lo scratching post from Hepper is a vertical and angled scratching post wrapped into one. This scratcher can be adjusted into five different positions to maximize the life of the cardboard and give your cat unique angles to scratch on. The durable steel legs are equipped with non-slip pads to keep the scratcher in place, no matter the angle. We also love the sleek modern design with glossy white sides — proof that cardboard scratchers can look great! You can also remove the legs for a comfy scratching perch for your feline.
One downside to this scratcher is the mess — the cardboard does break up easily after a great deal of use and can make quite a mess. Considering its relatively short lifespan (being cardboard), it is also fairly expensive.
Cats love scratching and they love sleeping, and this combination scratching post and cat hammock from Paws & Pals serves both purposes! It has a solid, 16×16-inch base wrapped in soft faux fleece, with two 20-inch tall scratching posts covered in tough sisal rope. Sitting on top of these posts is a comfy hammock for your cat to laze the day away inside of, as well as a small ball attached to a string for when playtime comes around. The post is easy to assemble with all the parts and instructions included, and the hammock is removable for easy cleaning.
Several customers report that this post is far smaller than advertised and not suitable for large cats, but other customers got the correct size. Also, the posts are made from cardboard, which quickly falls apart after a great deal of scratching.
Pros
Three-in-one design
Includes hammock and hanging toy
Solid 16×16-inch base
20-inch tall scratching posts
Easy to assemble
Cons
May come smaller than advertised
Cardboard construction
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Tall Cat Scratching Post
It’s a part of your cat’s natural instincts to scratch, and without a dedicated scratcher available, your cat will soon be tearing up your prized furniture! But this is not the only reason that it’s essential to have a cat scratcher around your home, as there are benefits to your feline’s health too.
A tall scratching post allows your cat to fully extend their bodies while scratching, and in our experience, most cats prefer tall posts. There are a few other important considerations to factor in when choosing a cat scratching post, each of which has an important role in the quality, longevity, and stability of your cat scratcher.
Materials
When choosing a cat scratching post, whether tall or horizontal, there are a dizzying number of materials to choose from. Cats generally prefer a material that shreds under their claws, hence their preference for your sofa and tables! In the wild, one of the reasons for cats scratching is to mark their territory with long scratches, and this urge still exists in them today. Any material that makes a loud sound is also usually a hit with most cats.
First, try and avoid any scratchers made with carpeting. While most cats will love them, it’s vital to choose a material that differs from what’s already in your home. If you buy a scratching post made with carpeting, your cat will think that it’s fair game to scratch other carpeting in your home and won’t understand the difference.
Sisal rope and fabric are the best materials for scratching posts. The fabric is typically strong, shreds under a cat’s claws, and feels great to them. The only downside to sisal fabric is that it tends to sag after a few months of use, so it is not as long-lasting as sisal rope. While cats usually prefer sisal fabric over sisal rope, the rope is far longer lasting and more durable, saving you money and cleanup. Sisal rope is usually wrapped around a post, so your cat won’t get the same smooth motion that they’ll get from fabric, however.
Lastly, cardboard scratchers are fairly common, and cats love them. They make a satisfying sound and feel great, and they shred under your cat’s claws and are generally inexpensive. Of course, cardboard scratchers do not last as long as other varieties and can create a fair bit of mess after use.
Stability
Vertical, tall cat scratching posts are usually free-standing posts on a base of some kind. The taller the post is, the more stable the base needs to be. A wobbly scratching post is sure to put your cat off quickly, especially if it falls over easily, and they will feel far safer to continue scratching your sofa! Look for a scratching post that has a heavy, solid, wide base that won’t easily fall over, preferably with non-skid feet of some kind to prevent slipping.
Accessories
It can sometimes be difficult to entice your cat into using a cat scratcher, especially once they have developed an affinity for your furniture. Cat scratching posts with accessories can help solve this issue, along with a small amount of catnip stashed inside! These accessories can be as simple as a hanging plush toy or as complex as multiple-level cat “condos,” with toys, perches, and hammocks. More accessories mean a higher price, but most cats adore them, and they’ll be far more likely to use the scratcher.
Variety
Keeping your cat mentally and physically stimulated is an important part of their well-being, and a good scratching post can go a long way in helping you achieve this. Even the most accessory-laden scratching post may become boring to a cat after a time, so most cat lovers highly recommend having multiple scratching posts around your home. Keeping two or three posts of varying heights and materials will keep your cat from getting bored and turning back toward your furniture.
Conclusion
Our favorite tall cat scratching post overall is the Sisal Cat Scratching Post from Frisco. At 33.5 inches high, it’s tall enough for most cat breeds, with four sides of durable, woven sisal and a comfy perch on top for your cat to rest on. Both the perch and base are covered in soft plush material.
The best tall scratching post for the money according to our reviews is the 4 Paws Stuff Tall Cat Scratching Post. It is 22 inches high and wrapped in tough sisal rope and plush material, the base comes equipped with non-slip pads underneath, and it has an entertaining chase toy built into it and a soft ball toy attached with rope from the top.
With the massive variety of materials and designs of tall cat scratching posts available nowadays, it can become confusing and even overwhelming to choose the right one. We hope that our in-depth reviews have helped you narrow down the options and find the perfect tall cat scratcher to suit you and your cat.
