11 Best Scratching Posts for Kittens in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
Kittens are jam-packed full of energy, so if you’re about to welcome one of these tiny balls of fluff into your home, you’ll need plenty of toys to entertain them! Investing in a scratching post is an incredibly sensible decision. Training your kitten to use one of these as early as possible will save your furniture, while still allowing your kitten the opportunity to stretch their muscles and clean their nails!
Our reviews are designed to help make it easy for you to select the best scratching post for your kitten. Adding a scratching post to your home will help keep your kitten happy and healthy by making it as easy as possible for them to carry out essential behaviors.
The Hepper Scratching Post is a great way to introduce your kitten to the wonderful world of scratching and posts. It’s 80 cm (31 inches) tall, and it has a pressed wood base that is 29.5 cm (11.6 inches), which makes it quite sturdy.
The post is comprised of two different materials: a soft carpet material on the bottom half and sisal rope on the top half. This post makes a perfect scratching post for kittens because they can still enjoy it as they grow. While small, they can scratch the plush carpet material and move onto the sisal rope as they get bigger.
This scratching post has a dangling, fuzzy ball hung from the top, which provides a playing opportunity for your kitten. This can also help encourage your kitten to use the scratching post more often and give them plenty of climbing opportunities.
The main issue with this scratching post is that your kitten only has the carpet material as a scratching option. If your kitten is too small to reach the sisal and doesn’t like the carpet, it might reject the post entirely. They might still use it to play and climb on, though.
Overall, we think the Hepper scratcher is the best cat scratcher for kittens you can buy this year!
Pros
80 cm (31” inches) tall
Sturdy pressed board base
Bottom half is soft carpet and the top half is sisal rope
Dangling ball for extra playing fun
Cons
Some kittens may not like carpet material
You might have guessed, this is our own product – but we love it so much we just have to share it, and hope you get to own one too!
If you’re looking for the best scratching post for kittens for the money, we highly recommend the Frisco Sisal Cat Scratching Post. This 21-inch tall post is the perfect height for your tiny kitten, but remember that you may need to upgrade to a taller option as they start to grow.
This scratching post is available in six colors, so you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to coordinating with your home. The sisal rope is always in a natural shade, while the plush faux fur base, central feature, top, and toy come in different colors. We all know that kittens also love to play, and this scratching post has a dangly toy to attract their attention.
Pros
Choose from six colors
Amazing value for money
Includes toy
Easy to assemble
Cons
Quite short
3. The Refined Feline Calypso 31-in Rattan Cat Scratching Post — Premium Choice
Some kitten scratching posts aren’t exactly inspirational when it comes to design, so if you’re on the lookout for something a bit different, then our premium choice is perfect! The Refined Feline Calypso 31-in Rattan Cat Scratching Post could be mistaken for a piece of art, but it’s actually designed for your kitten!
The rattan sides measure 31 inches tall, which should be tall enough even when your kitten is fully grown. The weighted base keeps this stable to avoid tipping. If you’re looking for a premium scratching post for your kitten, this is a great choice, but bear in mind that it’s quite expensive compared to most scratching posts. Some kittens may not like the texture of the rattan either.
The minimal design of the Max & Marlow 32-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post will suit a wide range of homes. The heavy weighted base means that even if your kitten decides to climb this post, there’s no danger of it falling. There’s even a cute bird-shaped plush toy as a reward for them when they reach the top!
This post is 31 inches tall, so it should last your kitten well into adulthood. It has sisal fabric, which cats love, covering the central column and a stylish fabric on the base and top. It’s easy to assemble and made with high-quality materials.
If you’re looking for a functional scratching post that also has a touch of fun, then the Frisco Cactus Cat Scratching Post is a winner in our eyes. We’ve chosen this as our best overall product. This cactus-themed scratching post is 22 inches high, which is plenty tall for your tiny tiger. It’s also available in a taller 31-inch version if you want to upgrade as your kitten grows!
This is covered in a combination of green sisal rope and moppy soft plush fabric. These textures are perfect for your kitten to both scratch and rub on. It even includes a cute toy for your kitten to attack!
Pros
Easy to assemble
Heavy weighted base
Available in two sizes
Stable weighted base
Great value for money
Cons
None that we can see
6. Catry 16.3-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post with Toy
The Catry 16.3-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post with Toy is a great choice if you’re looking for a budget scratching post for a small kitten. This is great value for money and includes a 16.3-inch-tall post and a plush toy for your kitten to enjoy playing with.
It is a little short, so as your kitten grows, you’ll need to consider sizing up to a taller post that allows your kitten to fully stretch out their bodies up its length. The base is quite lightweight too, as it’s made from MDF board rather than a fully weighted wood. If your kitten tries to climb up this, it may fall over, which could give your kitten a bit of a fright!
Pros
Includes toy
Made with sisal, which cats love
Good value for money
Cons
Short
Not that stable
7. Penn-Plax Disney 14-in Felt Cat Scratching Post With Toy
If you love Disney, then you might not be able to resist the Penn-Plax Disney 14-in Felt Cat Scratching Post With Toy! This adorable scratching post has an integrated perching platform, hiding hole, and a sweet plush toy in a contrasting color. Of course, there’s plenty of Mickey Mouse styling touches too!
This is a great choice for a kitten, but the scratching post is quite short and the sisal section is small. Despite that, this is nicely weighted so it shouldn’t tip over, and we bet that any cat will love napping and playing around this.
Pros
Easy to assemble
High-quality materials
Includes platform and hiding hole
Cons
Short
Expensive
8. Sofa-Scratcher Furniture Protector Cat Scratching Post
If you’re looking for a way to keep your kitten’s claws away from your furniture, then the Sofa-Scratcher Furniture Protector Cat Scratching Post is a great choice. This contoured post is designed to sit around the arm of your sofa, allowing your kitten to indulge in natural scratching behavior while keeping your sofa protected!
You can choose from six colors, all of which are made using a high-quality sisal fabric that kittens love. You can only use this scratching post with furniture, as it needs the weight to remain stable. It’s also expensive, but it is ideal as a secondary scratching option if your kitten likes variety.
If you’ve got a tiny kitten but you know that they’re going to grow into a large cat, then the Cat Craft 42 Bobcat Cat Scratcher is a great choice. This super-tall scratcher is tall enough for even the biggest cats, like Maine Coons or Norwegian Forest Cats. At 42 inches tall, this is the largest cat scratcher on this list.
It includes two toys to keep your kitten entertained, one toy attached to the top of the post and another on a spring attached to the base. See if your kitten can reach the one on the top. Thanks to the weighted base, you don’t need to worry about this scratching post toppling over.
Pros
Easy to assemble
Tall
High-quality materials
Cons
Expensive
10. SmartCat The Ultimate 32-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post
The SmartCat The Ultimate 32-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post is a chunky and well-made scratching post that should last your kitten well into adulthood. It’s available in two neutral colors, grey and beige, and is covered with a woven sisal material that kittens love. The top is large enough that your kitten can use it as a perch, and the weighted base means this shouldn’t tip over.
This is easy to assemble, and at 32 inches high, your kitten will be able to stretch to their full height, which is essential as they develop and test their muscles. This minimal styled post doesn’t include a toy, but you could easily add your own.
If you’re looking for a fun and whimsical scratching post to add a touch of color to your home, then the Lovely Caves Sunflower Cat Scratching Post is going to be a winner. This bright sunflower-themed scratching post has a woven sisal post and a sisal center, encouraging your kitten to experiment with scratching on different surfaces and textures.
The sisal post is a little difficult for your kitten to access, and the overall post is short at only 18 inches tall. You may find that you need to upgrade this to a taller post as your kitten grows up, as they may knock this over once big. But while they’re tiny, this is a great deal of fun!
Pros
Fun design
Good value for money
Includes two scratching surfaces
Cons
A bit too short
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Scratching Posts for Kittens
A scratching post should be high up on your list of essential items for a new kitten, but how do you know which one to choose?
Why do kittens need a scratching post?
Scratching is an essential behavior for cats, and they start experimenting when they’re still tiny kittens! Scratching cleans a kitten’s claws by removing the outer dead layer, revealing the new claw underneath. It also helps your kitten tone and stretch their muscles, so it’s important that a scratching post is tall enough for them to fully stretch out on. Stretching helps kitten’s release stress and any anxiety. It’s also a way for them to mark their territory using the pheromones found on their paw pads.
Important features of a scratching post for kittens
Before you choose a scratching post, consider these important features:
Height – A scratching post needs to be tall enough that your kitten can stretch out to their full height. While a scratching post for a kitten can be quite short, you might decide to buy the tallest one that you can afford so it can last them well into adulthood. The best height for a scratching post is 32 inches.
Weighted base – If a kitten feels like their scratching post is going to topple over when they lean their weight on it, they won’t feel secure enough to use it. We all know that kittens love to play, so many kittens also like climbing their scratching posts! Look for a scratching post with a heavily weighted base.
Material quality – The most popular material for scratching posts is sisal rope or fabric, and that’s because kittens love it! You can also find posts covered with different materials, like plush fabric, faux fur, or carpet. A word of warning against carpet-covered scratching posts: They can encourage your cat to scratch other carpeted areas in your house, since it’s hard for them to tell the difference between what’s okay for them to scratch and what’s not.
Conclusion
We selected the Hepper Cat Scratching Post as the best choice overall. This functional design incorporates two traditional scratching post fabrics, with a fun dangling pom-pom toy that we love!
For best value, we highly recommend the Frisco Sisal Cat Scratching Post. You can choose from six different colors, and there’s even a toy to keep your kitten entertained.
Scratching posts are essential for your kitten to stretch their muscles, clean their claws, and mark their territory. Getting your kitten used to one of the posts in our reviews as early as possible will save your furniture from those razor-sharp claws!
Emma is a freelance writer, specializing in writing about pets, outdoor pursuits, and the environment. Originally from the UK, she has lived in Costa Rica and New Zealand before moving to a smallholding in Spain with her husband, their 4-year-old daughter, and their dogs, cats, horses, and poultry. When she’s not writing, Emma can be found taking her dogs for walks in the rolling fields around their home…and usually, at least some of the cats come along, too! Emma is passionate about rescuing animals and providing them with a new life after being abandoned or abused. As well as their own four rescue dogs, she also fosters dogs for re-homing, providing them with love and training while searching for their forever homes.
