SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post – Gray, Large 32 Inch Tower - Sisal Fiber, Simple Design - For All Cats

I knew I needed to get my cat a great scratching post. She was scratching up all of our furniture and the scratching post she had was too small and just not very nice! After we placed an order for new furniture, we knew we had to get her a post that would stop all of her scratching! After doing extensive research, I found out what is really important in a scratching post is size, it must be big and tall so that the cat can stretch out. It must be sturdy, so the cat cannot easily knock it over, and it should have a favorable scratching material (sisal is preferable). Well, this post meets all of those criteria. So I bought two posts, this one - after finding this incredible deal on amazon (29.99 with free prime shipping when I purchased), and a very expensive competitor post developed by a veterinarian. A small note on cost - buy this from amazon! It is so much cheaper than at the pet stores, they cost upwards on 80 bucks at the pet stores, so stick with amazon! Anyway, my cat likes this post better than the more expensive competitor and it truly is perfect! She no longer scratches any furniture at all, our new furniture looks perfect! When she wants to scratch, she goes straight to this post and scratches away, stretching out and fully enjoying herself. I never thought getting a good scratching post would solve her scratching problem, but it completely did! This was absolutely worth the investment. A few notes - you can buy a topper for this scratching post so that your cat has a comfy perch to sit on. It is small and red and does not look very comfortable. I recommend making your own! This is what I did and my cat absolutely loves it! I simply got a piece of wood (you can size however you wish, mine is a nice square fit to her size), added a piece of foam and upholstered fabric on top! If you want your cat to have a scratching post and a nice little perch, this is the way to go. My cat lays on her perch on top of this every single day. She loves scratching her post, and loves laying on top of it. I never thought she would love it more than her expensive trees but she absolutely does. Also, we attached a small toy to the post. There are numerous things you can do to make this even better for your cat, although it is perfectly fine on its own! In conclusion, this is a great scratching post and I cannot believe how cheap it is compared to others! It might just solve your problem if your cat wont stop scratching all your furniture! It absolutely solved mine. One more thing - my cat plays hard on this post and uses it multiple times a day. It has held up extremely well and has never once toppled over!

OMG - Insanely good and sturdy. OK, now for why I say that. I used to have a huge carpet covered cat tower with a pagoda type house on top (still have it, just not in the living room any longer). First thing each morning and thru out the day, my indoor/outdoor (ie has claws) female cat would just shred the daylights out of it. And there would be plastic strands sticking out all over so every month or so I had to give the cat tower a "hair cut". Finally it looked so bad I moved it out to the porch. Which started Ms Claws (Tootsie) going after a couple of recliners, and (her favorite) the wicker shelving in the bathroom. I needed a scratch post for inside. I looked at ALL of them on Amazon. I read HUNDREDS of reviews. While sisal covered things never excited Tootsie, it became obvious any scratching post with carpet would be quickly dispatched to the dump once she laid into it. So sisal it would have to be. Then everyone said having the post be tall enough so the kitty could stretch was very important. Made sense to me as she would stretch out on the wicker shelf unit in the bathroom before reducing it to rubble even further. So I found this one. Kinda pricey I thought but at 32" high, it was the tallest one on Amazon. And reviewers said it was sturdy (don't need some tippy piece of crap). So I got this cat scratching post. And some of the catnip spray that some reviewers used to entice kitty to like the scratching post. And I got a dealie bob that is covered in sisal to hang from the front door knob (hoping she'd scratch that to go out rather than the trim around the door) (that hasn't happened yet). Before we see how it worked, let me tell you how it's built. I come from an engineering background as does all my family. So I can recognize sturdy and well built from cheap piece O crapola. Ha! Even tho it said it is 32" tall, it doesn't really register until you see that it stands taller than the bathroom vanity. The base is 16" x 16" which others have said gave it stability. They are correct. And then if you look real closely at the base of the sisal part you'll see some molding that rings the square vertical post. Because that part is screwed firmly into the vertical part covered in sisal, it increases the stability factor a great deal (someone was thinking when they designed this). The wood surfaces have a nice finish on them. It's a nice nuetral color overall so will match nearly any decor. Oh, and the sisal covered part is approx. 6x6" so quite stout compared to a 4" cardboard tube with carpet stapled to it. And it is bombproof. I first tried squirting the catnip spray on it. Meh! says the cat, the wicker shelf unit is more fun. Then I take the peacock feather that I use for the "behind the bathroom door" game and wiggle the eye end of the feather up by the top of the post. Tootsie sees it. She crouches. She wiggles her butt in the pre-launch stage. Then she LEAPS up, landing clinging by front and back claws to the upper part of the post, nailing the feather and hanging well above the floor. Whoa! and the post didn't even wobble or jiggle or lean. Ninja Kitty made a flying leap and the post just sat there, all nice and steady. After a few rounds of flying kitty onto big tall sturdy scratching post, she got the idea that THIS was the new Scratchable of Choice. And it is definitely tall enough that nearly any cat (even the Big Boys) can get a good long stretch - fully extended my cat doesn't reach the top. I did read that the same company makes a shelf that can be screwed on top for your cat to lay on ($15.99 elsewhere on Amazon). But that person said they thought you could as easily make a better one by taking a piece of board, putting foam on it, then stapling fabric of your choice over that. While that is true, I figured what is the real chance of me doing that? (like in the next 5 years - let's be real - not very big). I don't really need a laying place on top of this but just thought I'd mention the options because others might like that. What we're doing now is I put one of her toys up on top of the post. She sees it up there sometime during the day, and has to leap up and cling to the top of the post so she can knock it off. Then later I find it and put it back on top. You get the picture. Anyways, this gets a 2 thumbs up as a big beefy cat scratching post. Oh, and another side note: My Maine Coon kitty (Cassie, built like a tank - a biiig girl) who had no front claws when I got her - she also likes to "scratch" and stretch on this sturdy post. So she can lean her big self against the post and remains rock solid. Love it!

This is the best scratching post I’ve ever bought. I used to use the carpeted posts that cost around the same but they don't last. After a year the carpet is shredded and gets all over the place. This seems like it will hold up a lot longer. It took about a week for my cats to figure out what it was but once they did they use it all the time. It’s pretty tall so they can stretch out while scratching. The base is large so its not going to tip over and it looks nice too. I may get another one once my other old carpeted on finally falls apart. ## Edit 8/2018 ## I’ve had this scratching post for almost 2 years now and you can barely tell it’s been used. I ended up buying a second one and that’s in great shape too. The cats use them frequently and they do not fall apart. I expect this to last a few more years and maybe even longer. Very good quality for a very reasonable price. *Edit Dec 2020* These things are still in great shape. No signs of falling apart any time soon. These are the absolute best scratching posts I’ve ever bought and I’m replacing the cat condo that my cats destroyed within a year with one with the same type of sisal material. I am never buying a carpeted scratch post or condo again. Btw, These cost more now than my original purchase but I feel it’s still a fair price. The length these will last will pay for itself. **Edit January 2023** It’s been a good run but both of these are starting to fall apart and “shed”. The oldest one is in worse shape, but the newer one I can probably get the rest of the year out of. If I turn it around, maybe the cat will scratch the less worn parts? Like I’ve said. These are excellent scratching posts and hold up for a long time. The price is almost DOUBLE the price it was in 2016 and 2017 when I bought them last and that is absolutely ridiculous, even with inflation. So I won’t be buying these again unless the price drops considerably. I’ll add it to my cart and keep track of it. **Update Aug 2024** You can’t ask for a longer lasting scratching post, and mine are now 7 and 8 years old. I keep turning them around so the less worn part is showing because these are still priced too high. Im cheap (also known as broke) I’m not paying $50 each for a scratching post, but at least the price has come down some. Maybe next year. **Update May 2025** Well it’s next year and the price is currently $60 for something that was half the price when I originally bought it. At least it lasts a long time. 8-9 years old and they are finally at the end of their usable life. I’ve turned them around to the “good side” so many time trying to get every last drop of life out of these things but now they’re shedding and falling apart. The price is too high now, but they do last a long time. Kind of evens out I guess if you have to replace cheap carpeted scratching posts every year or so. I think I’ll have to look for something else. ** Update August 2025 ** Finally replaced one of these after what was it, 8 or 9 years. Last couple of years they were really showing their age. But lasted a long time. Still outrageously overpriced though.

Fantastic scratching post!! I bought one, then quickly bought 2 more. Great for my adult cat. 1. IT DOES NOT SHED. At all. The fabric seems to be indestructible. 2. It's completely stable. Even with The Budlet hanging on it, he's never pulled it over. 3. It's discreet-- this scratching post can be partially hidden behind furniture, instead of being the focal point of the room like similar items. 4. It's completely portable. If the cat is scratching a particular corner of the couch, this post can be easily put in position temporarily as an alternative while the cat learns to use it. It's also easy to put out of sight when needed. I have no complaints about this scratching post.

I quickly assembled this post and put it at the end of my bed where lately one of my cats has been clawing the box spring. Digit went right over to the post and started using it instead. I couldn't be happier. The scratch-able covering is woven sisal (pronounced SIGH-sel), a natural fiber from the agave plant and, in its untreated state, is frequently recommended as the best product for cat scratchers. This covering had a few wayward fibers right out of the box and, as do all such natural fiber products, will become worse with wear. I am eager to see how fast the woven product becomes unsightly compared to a sisal rope-wrapped unit; well, perhaps eager is the wrong word here! But better this than scraggly furniture or partial-amputation of kitty toes! Assembly is easy with a screwdriver (using my power screwdriver, unpacking the unit from its box took longer!): the base comes in two halves which are joined together with small dowel pegs and attach to the main post with screws. I assembled it by screwing one half of the base onto the post with a screwdriver (phillips or slotted), inserting the two small pegs into holes along the narrow edge of the base (easy slide-in), then sliding the other half of the base onto the pegs to form single base slab, and lastly inserting the screw through the 2nd half into the post to hold it in place. Although it doesn't look like high-end furniture, it is a nice, clean and sturdy assembly and would look fine in many surroundings. I would expect many cats to start using the post immediately - when my cat did and I praised him for it, he turned right around and used it again! We cycled through usage and praise several times, at which time I moved it a few feet away from the problem area toward where I want it to be for the long term. If your cat doesn't use it at first, you can physically encourage your cat by gently rubbing his paws on it while praising him to high-heaven (make sure and start with both of you in a relaxed state). See the end of this post for more ideas if you need them. The website for the product manufacturer is esmartcat.com. The woman who started this company states she has a long history of working with cats and has a free cat behavior counseling service, the website of which is catsinternational.org. Part of the profits from smartcat go to this nonprofit. Other methods of encouraging recalcitrant cats: First a warning - You must always be careful with strings and cat entanglement- if you are not at the other end of the string, don't leave him with something that he can get wrapped around his paw or neck, cutting off circulation and seriously injuring or killing the cat. Within these parameters you can easily create a lure. Just dragging a piece of yarn or string (maybe with a toy on the end) around and over the post may be enough to get your cat interested. You could rub a bit of catnip on the post, or tie a catnip toy to it (tie the twine both around the toy and the post so it is held to it - again, don't leave unattended dangles of string). If you have a suction cup toy, the top of the post is probaby slick enough to hold it- but since it is very tall it may be ineffective. Cat's frequently love the plastic wrappers from large milk jugs (the part that you peel off and throw away). Tie a piece of string around the unit, tucking the caps into it so they are easy for the cat to remove. A little verbal encouragement and plucking at the toy yourself should give him or her the right idea. You might take the base off and lay the unit horizontally. Put your cat on top of it gently. Eventually we can hope that he will see how nice it is to dig his claws into it. Lastly, if your cat won't use it and you don't want to send it back, you could attempt to find untreated sisal and rewrap it, at least partially, with the rope. A warning - I have found it tough to find the untreated sisal (or, at least, any that people are sure is untreated).

I love this product, but the price has gone up and the quality has gone down. The previous one I owned felt more sturdy, this one wobbles a bit when my cat uses it. Maybe it's just individual differences. It is still a quality product though, very durable and mostly stable

This is by far the best cat scratching post I’ve ever bought! It’s extremely sturdy and the quality is excellent. My cat is huge for a kitten, and when he stands up, the height is perfect for a full stretch and scratch. I’ve tried three different scratchers, and this one is hands down the best. I highly recommend SmartCat it’s absolutely worth the price and a great investment.

I had 2 persian cats over 30 years that I just trained to not scratch using a water bottle when they were kitties, so I had never bought a scratching post before. However, I inherited my mother's cat along with all of her cat stuff. Mama's cat is now 16 and has been with me for 6 years. She had scratched up a smaller, cheaper cone shaped scratching post that was also wrapped in rope. I got a new boy kitty in June after my last persian passed away from old age. This was my first boy kitty. Right away, he took to the old scratching post and completely tore through the rope inside of a month. I re-wrapped the rope and duct taped it back together and began to look for other options since I knew this new kitty would quickly tear through my quick fix. I found this large post here at Amazon. The price was OK for me and I was looking for something sturdy. I got it. This pole is very sturdy and well constructed. It was totally easy to put together. It came with dowel pins to help keep the ends together, however, I wanted a more secure connection, so I added elmer's glue to the dowel pins as I put this thing together. This product did not come with any glue or call for glue to the dowel pins in the instructions. However, I have a very rambunctious and strong boy kitty, so I wanted the base and top to be very secure and solid. Once I put this scratching post together, I rubbed all 4 sides with catnip and made sure the catnip was nestled in the scratching area. Immediately boy kitty took to this thing and older girl kitty ignored it and continues to use her older scratching post next to this big one. When I got this product, I had no idea my new little boy kitty would grow so big, so fast. This cat is a lynx pointe tonkinese type of cat (rescue kitty), and when he stretches, he now uses the entire length of this post, so I am glad I spent the extra money to get a taller, sturdier scratching post. When I looked at this design here at Amazon, I wondered how steady it would be. I have it standing next to my wall unit, so the base is right up against the wall unit, keeping 3 sides available for the boy kitty. He uses all 3 sides. He enjoys stretching along this tall post as much as he enjoys scratching his claws onto this post. It is very sturdy and surprisingly, doesn't tip over. Again, good engineering design. Well worth the money and I recommend this for all cat owners. I think the trick to getting a cat ti use these posts instead of furniture is to catch them when they are brand new kitties and introduce them to the post early. Keep a water bottle handy to discourage scratching on your furniture or carpets. So far, I haven't had to use this training method on this new boy kitty at all. He liked the first post and enjoyed destroying the rope and now proudly stretches out and uses "his" own post often each day. He completely ignores the shorter post next to it, while the older girl kitty continues to use the older post. I wish she would have adapted to the new one because it is an eyesore, but we cat owners adapt our homes for the kitties, thus the eyesore stays.