Shandong Lion Cat

　 Common cat scratching boards in pet stores are mostly made from wood boards (solid or recycled), hemp rope, cardboard, or synthetic fiber carpets, usually sized about 30–40 cm long and 10–15 cm wide in a rectangular shape.

　 Regarding materials, wood boards and hemp rope are the most durable combination; cardboard and carpets usually succumb quickly to cat claws and wear out. So, which type of scratching board texture do cats prefer? There’s no definitive answer. Obviously, even if you set a scratching board at home, cats appreciate it and often use it to sharpen their claws. However, when encountering carpets, cardboard boxes, rattan chairs, or even expensive leather sofas, they still cannot resist the urge to scratch.

　 Try scratching yourself and see; different materials indeed provide different tactile sensations, and that satisfaction must be at varying levels. Therefore, preventing cats from touching certain specific furniture is essentially a matter of education, not something solved simply by choosing a scratching board.

　 To improve the effectiveness of educating cats, consider the following suggestions for purchasing and setting up scratching boards:

　 1.Avoid choosing scratching boards made from the same materials as your household furniture or decor. For example, if you do not want your home carpet scratched, don’t select a scratching board made from carpet fabric, as cats may get confused why one similar material is allowed to be scratched and the other is not.

　 2.Stand the above-mentioned rectangular scratching board upright and secure it. The height should allow the cat to stretch while standing on its hind legs to scratch. This is the most popular setup, but remember to fix it firmly for best use.

　 3.For scratching boards placed flat on the floor, ensure the size is large enough for the cat’s whole body to lie on, so it can easily apply force and avoid being discarded by the cat for ineffectiveness.