scratching post

{{Short description|Object for cats to relieve skin irritation}}

{{for|the band|Scratching Post (band)}}

File:Homemade scratching post.jpg

A scratching post is a wooden post covered in rough material that cat owners provide so their pets have an acceptable place to scratch. The most common type consists of a wooden post, roughly {{convert|60|–|90|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall, covered in rough fabric or sisal. The post is mounted vertically in a wide base, which allows the cat to stretch upward on its rear legs and scratch freely without tipping it over. A post that is unstable or does not allow a cat to fully extend its body might put off the cat from using it. Surfaces vary: the post may be covered in sisal rope, upholstery fabric, the jute backing of a piece of carpet, or sections of corrugated cardboard. Many pet owners say they have to experiment with different surfaces to find one that their cats will scratch reliably. Matt Wildman, a cat behaviorist, explained that sisal or corrugated cardboard surfaces are favored by most cats.{{Cite web |title=How to stop destructive cat scratching {{!}} The Humane Society of the United States |url=https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-stop-cats-destructive-scratching |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=The Humane Society of the United States |language=en}} Other kinds of scratching posts are more elaborate, with several levels of horizontal platforms for climbing and cozy cave-like areas where cats may hide. Very tall ones are often called "cat trees." These may have a vertical tension rod that extends to the ceiling to provide extra stability.