Sisal Rope vs. Sisal Fabric for Cat Scratching Posts – Is There a Difference?

Sisal is a common material for scratching posts. It’s wood-like and many felines love scratching on it, so it makes sense that many scratching posts would have sisal wrapped around them. With that said, as the cat uses it, the sisal will become torn and worn out. Therefore, you may have to replace it eventually.

When you go to replace the sisal, you may notice that there are two main forms of sisal—sisal rope and sisal fabric. Both of these can be utilized for scratching posts, but there are some differences between them.

At a Glance

Overview of Sisal Rope

Sisal rope is the “default” for cat scratching posts. It’s extremely common, as it’s cheap and effective. Many cats love the feel of sisal, and sisal naturally comes in a rope form. Therefore, most scratching posts come with sisal rope wrapped around the part cats are meant to scratch.

When it’s time to replace the sisal, it may make sense to purchase sisal rope again, as that’s likely what your scratching post had to begin with. However, you don’t have to use rope if you don’t want to. It is the most widely available type of sisal. Therefore, if you go to purchase sisal, you’ll probably find it in rope form most often.

Installation

To install sisal rope, you have to wrap it around the scratching post and add glue after each round. Each section of rope has to be glued down to ensure durability—often multiple times. In the end, this is a lot of glue and a lot of time. Sisal rope can be a pain to install, as you might imagine. Luckily, it isn’t too difficult, just time-consuming.

You’ll need some type of glue that’s pet-safe to glue down the sisal. Your cat will probably come into contact with the glue at some point, so be sure it’s not harmful.

Availability

Sisal rope is widely available. It isn’t hard to find. You can find it online and at many pet stores. However, there aren’t many sizes or types available. Often, it’s all the same. There are some slight differences in rope diameter, but these differences are often too slight to matter.

Overview of Sisal Fabric

Sisal fabric is basically fabric with sisal on top. It’s one long piece of sisal instead of a long strand of rope. It looks like sisal and feels like sisal, so your cat probably won’t notice a difference. Often, sisal fabric even comes in different colors, as some people attach it to their furniture as an extra layer of protection.

Most scratching posts don’t come with sisal fabric. However, there is no reason you can add sisal fabric to a worn-out scratching post. It simply wraps around, allowing you to easily add it to any scratching post or other item. You can even find whole rugs made out of woven sisal, which is a great option to put underneath cat trees or wherever your cat tends to hang out.

Installation

To install a woven sisal fabric, you simply cut the fabric to match the space you’re adding it to. Then, use a fabric glue to attach the fabric easily. There is no wrapping involved or anything of that sort. Therefore, installation is often faster and easier.

You can also add sisal fabric to many kinds of furniture. If your cat tends to scratch on a particular piece of furniture, covering it with a protective sisal fabric may be helpful. Many companies also make sisal rugs. These can be thrown on the floor without any installation.

Availability

Sisal fabric isn’t as easy to find. You often have to look for it specifically online, and you may have to pay a bit more than for sisal rope. However, it is easier to install and more durable, so many pet owners find it more than worth it.

Sisal rugs are available, but there are only a couple of companies you can purchase them from. However, if you want to protect your floor from your feline’s claws, then a sisal rug may be a great option.

What is Sisal Fabric?

Sisal fabric is a natural fiber from the Agave Sisalana plant. To make sisal, the fiber is extracted from the plant’s leaves. It’s a strong, durable material that many cats love. Sisal isn’t backed by a synthetic material. Therefore, the fabric is extremely easy to work with and very durable. It’s often treated with a fire retardant to make it safer and resistant to mildew.

You can use sisal fabric for things beyond your cat’s scratching post. Some enjoy using it to cover other pieces of furniture for aesthetic purposes. It’s very popular in Boho décor and similar styles. Therefore, you may be surprised to find sisal fabric at places that sell other fabrics, as well.

How Many Types of Sisal Are There?

Technically, there is only one type of sisal. However, there are four different plants that produce sisal fiber. Different varieties do produce different types of fabric. However, the sisal they produce is the same in the end. You can also find sisal in many different forms, with rope and fabric being the most common. However, the actual fiber utilized in each form is the same.

Therefore, you don’t have to worry about giving your cat the “right” sisal. It’s all the same and should be safe as long as no cat-unsafe additives are utilized.

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Final Thoughts

For most uses, sisal fabric is the better option. It’s simply easier to install and lasts longer. You may have to search a bit harder for it, though. It may also be more expensive, though it largely depends on the brand. You can often find this fabric sold at fabric stores, as it is utilized for other purposes, too.

Sisal rope does work just fine in many situations. You have to wrap it to install it and use more dots of glue. However, in the end, it works very similarly. As long as you install it correctly, it isn’t terribly challenging to add to a scratching post—just time-consuming.

Featured Image Credit: (L) Vic Lab, Shutterstock | (R) Seregam, Shutterstock