Are scratching posts a neccesity?

I do not have a scratching post for my cats, and some of them I've seen are pretty expensive. However, I do think I need to find one or come up with something that resembles a scratching post. Does anyone have any ideas? I did buy a really cheap one awhile back and it turned out to be nothing more than cardboard. It was very messy - after a day or two I had little pieces of cardboard all over & I threw it away.
Has anyone had trouble with the pet food that is being recalled? From what I understand, it's mainly canned pet food. I feed all my babies dry food.

The corrugated cardboard type are cheap but very effective. Yes they are messy but they work. They should last longer than two days. Can you turn the corrugated part over so the other side is available?

Do you have a local Freecycle board that you can post on?? I go through my Yahoo Groups page, and I belong to Freecycle (which is national and international) and I find many things that I need for my cats and my foster cats.

Just last week, I got a Disney Princess Toddler Bed, mattress and all, for $10.00. I have two of them upstairs now(toddler beds), and the cats love to sleep on them. I have piles of blankets on them, so they can sleep on them on burrow under the covers. You'd be surprised at what you can find.

Here's the link:
http://www.freecycle.org/groups/

I forever went without a scratching post in my house, as they are so expensive, but after finding a great deal on E-bay, wonder why I waited so long, as the cats love it! You can find some great ones on E-bay, most you just have to pay for shipping! I won mine for 99 cents,a nd just paid to ship it here. I couldnt resist such a deal, as the one I have retails for about 180-230$!! :eek:

They are not a neccesity if your cat doesn't care to use one. I have a couple cats that are not interested in one at all.

There are cats who are horizontal scratchers and cats that are vertical scratchers, just figure out which you cats prefer.
cardboard horizontal scratchers are great, as are sisal vertical posts.

Just beware of picking up a used scratcher, they can carry disease, such as ringworm and distemper. :(

I make ours, simple cheap and work. go to any flooring store ask for remants (they are free) and then a few bucks ad HD or Lowes and a few screws Viola a custom post!

My guys favor the cheap board I covered with fabric. Its nothing more than a 4' scrap of wood with fabric wrapped around it and leaning against a wall. They shred it to pieces then I occasionally rewrap it with remants from WalMart that I picked up for a $1.

Hubby wants to get a new HUGE cat tree though. He swears he'll make it this summer.... we'll see. If he doesn't, I'm buying HIM one of the big ones for Christmas! (I swear, he says he wants one for the cats!)

They're a must in my home and my cats love them.:) I bought a cheap one at Walmart and Big Lots, a couple of large ones on e-bay, a couple of cat condo's at cat shows, a small triangular scratching post and another larger scratching post on sale at two different pet stores.:)

My cat and I have a classic "failure to communicate" about scratching posts. Every time I see him trying to scratch a vertical surface, I put a nice scratchboard there - and he immediately ceases and desists, not wanting to mess up my stuff. Rubbing it with catnip, scratching it myself in front of him ("What the heck is she doing????") - nope, he won't destroy property. He's just not into that. Luckily, the rug is just the ground as far as he's concerned, so he'll have a nice horizontal scratch now and then, often to a response of "There you go, Smudge! You show that rug who's boss! Good kitty!"

Do try horizontal scratch surfaces - a rug sample sprayed with catnip spray is a classic starter. Some cats like to scratch on the floor. Some like a slanted scratchboard that they can sit on and claw with their heads lower than their butts! Descendants of mountain cats, I guess.

Love, Columbine

I used to think that all cats loved vertical scratching posts. Then I started fostering and found out that cats are just like people...they have their own likes and dislikes.

Most of my fosters prefer the wicker furniture, especially the laundry hamper. This does not bother me as it doesn't really show the marks and well, the hamper is easy to replace.

Most of them hated the cardboard, but a few loved it.

Most of them hated the sisal rope, but a few used it.

One cat ripped the carpeting constantly and ignored all scratching posts.

But they all needed something. :)

My cats like the ones w/twine. (I know it's called something else but I don't know what it is.) I have a vertical and a horizontal. When I had the ones w/carpet on them, the cats then decided it must be ok to scratch on the carpet! :eek: So I gave them away and now have these. They use them several times a day.

P.S. I gave the scratchers away, not the cats. :p

Ha ha oh Mary! Thanks for clarifying, I am SURE we thought you got rid of the cats and kept the posts!

NancyS: Are scratching posts necessary? Well, cats scratch, it is a normal behaviour for them. The do it -
- to clean off dead nails
- to sharpen nails
- to deposit scent

So in general, a cat IS going to scratch, it is just a question of WHERE. By having a scratcher, you guide the cat to the appropriate place. I have vertical and horizontal ones, fabric and sisal. Ebony still prefers to use Dad's recliner. :rolleyes:

When I first had cats I used teh cardboard ones. A bit messy, but I'd keep them for MONTHS. With this many cats, now, it doesn't make much sense cost wise for me.

When I first got Tabitha (18 years ago!) I had to go away for work, and my parents took care of my girl. They weren't thrilled, as they weren't "cat people". But they knew I had no one else I could trust. So, I come home a week later, and find ALL KINDS OF CAT TOYS ALL OVER THE PLACE.... and a scratching post that my Dad had made! :D

Believe it or not, we still have it to this day. Tabby used to sit on the top of the post and look outside more than she "used" it. Sasha actually uses it, and sometimes she like to just lay across it and look outside. (She is too big to sit on top of it!) :eek: :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes:

It is just a base made of board with carpeting on it. Then he took a piece of post, wrapped carpeting around it and attached the post to the base. Very simple, but works fine!

We have a great one that has lasted through at least 10 cats. It is 3 boards slanted like a teepee with sisal wrapped around the wood. The rope has been replaced, but the cats love it because they can sit on their haunches and scratch away! Don't know where I got it, but it's heavy & indestructible.

They also love the TurboScratcher, the circular toy with corrugated cardboard in the center and a ball they can chase outside the ring. It's not too expensive and you can buy refills for the center.

I would take a look in the Salvation Army stores or Godwill stores and quite a few times they have old scratching posts available for very little money.
I got carriers there for 3 dollars!
Its amazing what people will donate.
I wish I had know about this when I was young.

The Clan LOVE their sisal scratching posts! I bought one from the Felix company in 1992 for Ralph. He loved that one and I still have it!! Unfortunately, I cannot find out if that company still exists. Take a look at the Foster and Smith site, they have a nice selection.

A word of caution if you get a second-hand scratching post/pad/tree or carrier or whatever: As Rose said, they can carry disease such as ringworm or distemper .. or Virulent Calicivirus for that matter.., so be sure and wipe them down or spray them thoroughly with bleach, and let it soak for at least 10 minutes.

I get loads of good things like that at yard sales and thrift stores and such, and I ALWAYS give them the bleach treatment before putting them into use.. as I do for the goodies I get for myself from such places. (I'm a real fiend for yard sales and thrift stores and such.) You just never know what kinds of cooties might be lurking in them!

Happy hunting!

Pat

A lot of good ideas - thanks everyone!