Anybody who owns a cat, or knows somebody who owns a cat, will tell you how much they love to scratch. Scratching is a very important behavior to cats. Cats scratch to remove excess material from their all important claws, keeping them healthy and sharp. Another reason cats scratch is to mark their territory. Cats actually have small scent glands in their paws, and when they scratch they secrete this scent onto the object being scratched. Unfortunately for the the cat enthusiast, cats sometimes have a bad habit of scratching things that really shouldn't be scratched, such as furniture and other household items. Fortunately to help facilitate the cats need to scratch in a safe, healthy way, cat scracthing posts were invented.

What is a Cat Scratching Post?

A cat scratching post can be any number of items, from a simple wooden log arranged vertically on a base, to elaborate "cat condos" and "cat trees" that cats can actually play on. The only criteria is that the cat wishes to scratch it and it's safe to do so. Cat scratching posts stand typically between two and three feet tall, have a wide base, and are usually covered in a rough surface which attracts cats to scratch. It's important that a scratching post be tall enough for the cat to stretch and stand, and the base wide enough so the whole thing doesn't topple over while the cat is scratching.

Types of Scratching Posts

Because of our love for our cats, and our want for them to have a safe place to scratch (not to mention protecting the furniture!), many styles of cat scratching post have been invented. Luckily, there are only two major kinds of cat scratching post. First, there's the classic, standard scratching post. These scratching posts consist of little more than a base, with a pole sticking out of it that's covered in a scratch able surface. the second and more popular type is the combination scratching post.

• Standard cat scratching posts are a great choice for outside cats or when space is at a premium. Outside cats do a lot of their scratching outside on tress and such, but may feel the need to do so when they are indoors from time to time. Having a simple scratching post around can really save your upholstery from those unexpected scratch attacks. Standard scratching posts also generally take up much less room than combination scratching posts.
• Combination cat scratching posts are possibly the most popular form of scratching post on the market today. What makes combination posts so special is the inclusion of neat ad dons such as cat toys and even, on very large models, cat beds! Combination cat scratching posts are a great choice for indoor cats, as it provides a great, furniture safe place to play, and when space isn't an issue.
  

Cat Scratching Post Tips

Like any bit of cat related paraphernalia, there are certain things you need to know and do to keep your cat scratching post clean, good looking, and effective. A worn out or filthy scratching post wont do anybody any good. All it will do is sit there, unused, making your house look bad. The same goes for picking the wrong size or type of cat scratching post. Luckily with so many different cat scratching posts to choose from, finding the one that's perfect for your home, and your cat, shouldn't be too hard.

• When picking out your scratching post, make sure you know where you will be putting it and how much space you have, both on the floor and vertically, depending on how tall the post is. Also be sure to match the size of the scratching post to the size of your cat. Cats will often ignore a scratching posts that are too short for them to full stretch.
• Consider buying a standard scratching post if your cat already has a lot of toys. Or, buy an elaborate combination cat scratching post if you want to get everything out of the way all at once.
• Keep an eye on the condition of your cat's scratching post. Old, warn out scratching posts are not only ugly, but can also present a danger to your cat.