Are scratching posts a neccesity?

[nancys]

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.

[Freckles]

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?

[jennielynn1970]

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/

[critter crazy]

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$!!

[rosethecopycat]

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.

[DrKym]

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!

[catnapper]

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!)

[krazyaboutkatz]

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.

[phesina]

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