What is the Best Cat Scratching Pad? Top Scratch Pads for Cats in 2020
If you have a cat at home, you will often find scratched furniture in your rooms. This can prove to be rather destructive and annoying at times. However, if you look from the other side, you will understand that there are several good reasons behind your cat scratching away at randomly chosen furniture. Cats have scent glands in their paws. Thus, scratching on different furniture basically means that the animal is marking its territory.
Scratching is also quite essential from a cat’s point of view as it lets them stretch their muscles and also strengthen and flex their claws. It is also true that scratching helps your cat to get rid of the dead skin from its claws. Although you may feel the urge of discouraging your cat from damaging your beloved and precious sofa, it is rather good for your pet to have something to scratch at. A good option would be a scratching pad.
Top 5 Cat Scratching Pads
Benefits of Using a Scratch Pad
If you talk from the owner’s point of view, then a scratch pad helps to divert your cat’s attention from destroying and shredding the soft furnishings and furniture in your rooms. There are also some pads that double up as a bed where your cat can sleep peacefully. This will prevent cat hair from spreading all over the house.
On the other hand, if you look from a cat’s point of view. A scratch pad is rather beneficial for the animal to sharpen its claws without getting into any trouble. Cats love to scratch to maintain sharp claws, to stretch out their muscles and to get rid of various extremes of emotion such as stress. It also helps to keep your pet happy and contented.
Best Cat Scratch Pads List
As discussed above there are several types of scratch pads for cats. Choosing the right one is not going to be a simple task. It is also true that finding the best quality product at first instance is also something you should not expect. Thus, we have come up with a list of some of the best quality pads that you can buy for your cat.
① Van Ness Cat Scratch Pad
If you want to protect your costly and beloved furniture from your pet cat, then this product will be one of the best for you. It will not just help to keep your furniture and furnishings safe from cat scratches, it will also encourage your pet to fulfil its natural instinct to scratch. The product also comes with a USDA Certified Organic catnip that will help the pad be more attractive to the animal.
Pros
Pros
- Helps to relives your cat’s natural instinct to scratch.
- Comes with a USDA Certified Organic catnip.
- The product is made from 100% recycled corrugate.
Cons
Cons
- Cats can easily chew at the product and destroy it completely.
- It may not look attractive on some furniture.
② Hartz Cattraction Silver Vine and Catnip Gator Scratch Mat Cat Toy
This toy cum scratch pad is made of cotton and comes with textured and durable sisal material on the gator’s back. This helps your cat to scratch at the pad happily. There is also a loop located on the mouth that will allow you to hang the product on doors. The ball that comes attached with gator also has a combination of catnip and silver vine that will help to make the pad more attractive to your cat.
Pros
Pros
- It is made of a durable canvas material that can easily withstand vigorous play.
- Ball filed with a combination of catnip and silver vine.
- Designed to satisfy the natural instincts of cats to play and hunt.
Cons
Cons
- Some cats can easily tear the toy within a few days.
- It is not as big or fat as shown in the picture.
③ Imperial Cat Scratch’n Pad Cat Scratcher
It is natural sight to find cat scratching at furniture in order to stretch its muscles, to relieve itself from stress, and to sharpen its claws. If you do not like to see your precious furniture getting destroyed gradually, you can certainly gift your pet with this product. It has a sturdy honeycomb surface that is quite similar to a real tree bark, which is also the preferred scratching surface for all cats.
This product comes with a 100% catnip that you can use to make the pad more attractive to your cat. This product is available in three different sizes. The mega comes with a dimension of 19 inches by 10.4 inches by 2 inches. The grand comes with a dimension of 14.5 inches by 9.5 inches by 2 inches. The deluxe comes with a dimension of 19 inches by 5 inches by 2 inches.
Pros
Pros
- The sturdy honeycomb surface is almost like a real tree bark.
- Comes with 100% certified organic catnip.
- It is available in 3 different sizes.
Cons
Cons
- The quality of the product may not be very good.
- It tends to leave behind a mess after your cat is done with the scratching.
④ Catit Lounge Scratcher with Catnip
This cat scratch pad is a lovely combination of stylish patterns and contemporary shapes. It is nothing like the conventional scratch pads that are available in the market. This pad comes with catnip that makes the product more attractive to cats. The scratching surface is corrugated that helps your cat enjoy its scratching moments.
Pros
Pros
- It is available in a contemporary design in 2 separate patterns.
- The product also comes with catnip that helps to make it more attractive to cats.
- The pad comes with a corrugated scratching surface.
Cons
Cons
- It tends to make a mess on the floor after getting scratched.
- Lack of proper base forces the catnip to fall out of the product.
⑤ Suck UK Cat Playhouse DJ Deck Scratch Pad
Just as the name suggests, this scratch pad also looks exactly like a DJ turntable. When your cat uses it to scratch away happily, it will look nothing less than a DJ playing some funky numbers at a local disc. This product has been designed in such a manner simply because cats scratch to make their territories, to exercise their tired muscles and to have some fun just like a DJ.
This innovative scratch pad is made by the creative minds at Suck UK that has combined a DJ scratching and a cat scratching in this product. Made from cardboard the top surface spins as your cat scratches just like a music record on a DJ’s turntable.
Pros
Pros
- This is a uniquely designed scratch pad for cats.
- It is made entirely of cardboard.
- Can easily be folded together when not in use.
Cons
Cons
- It is way too pricey.
- Cardboard tends to tear while you build it.
⑥ Van Ness Scratch N Relax Cat Scratch Pad
This cat scratch pad also doubles up as a sleeping surface for your pet. It has a corrugated scratch pad that is made of 100% recycled corrugated cardboard. It also comes with 0.5 ounce of QAI or Quality Assurance International Certified Organic Fresh Catnip. This will help the scratch pad to catch your cat’s attention and make it her favorite scratching surface.
Pros
Pros
- Helps your cat to scratch peacefully and happily.
- Doubles up as a cat lounger and a scratch pad.
- Comes with organic catnip that helps the pad to catch your pet’s attention.
Cons
Cons
- Can easily fall apart after a few hours of usage.
- Some cats may find this product highly uninteresting.
⑦ SmartyKat Scratch N Relax Mat and Lounge Cat Scratcher
Cats love to sleep and scratch at randomly chosen surfaces. This is why SmartyKat has come up with this scratch pad that can also be used by your cat as a lounger. It basically features a carpet like scratching surface, which is also perfect for digging in the claws. It also doubles as a sleeping spot with a firm and comfortable headrest. The sleeping surface is comfortable and soft. It also comes with 2 attached toys that can keep your pet entertained.
Pros
Pros
- It is a three-in-one product, a longer, a scratcher, and a play spot.
- The sleeping spot is rather soft and comfortable.
- It also comes with a proper headrest.
Cons
Cons
- The scratching surface is extremely thin.
- The size of the product is also pretty small.
⑧ Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip
Are you really worried that your cat will destroy all your furniture one day? Well, you can relieve yourself from the tension by gifting your cat this great scratch pad. This is basically a bench shaped corrugated scratch surface that is designed to fulfil your cat’s natural desire of scratching in order to sharpen its claws and to relieve itself from stress.
The product measures 19 inches and is available in a contemporary design. This also enhances the furniture at home. It comes with catnip that also helps to make the scratch pad more attractive to your pet.
Pros
Pros
- Comes with catnip that makes the pad more attractive to cats.
- It has a durable scratching surface.
- It is designed to fulfil your cat’s natural urge to scratch.
Cons
Cons
- It is pretty wobbly.
- It has a poor design and cats easily fall over on the surface.
Conclusion & What is the Best Cat Scratch Pad
All the products described above are of good quality and should easily help your pet fulfill its natural urge to scratch in order to mark its territory and to sharpen its claws. The list can also act as a guide while you go out to buy a suitable scratch pad for your pet. However, the best product of the lot was the Van Ness Cat Scratch Pad (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE).
It is made of cardboard and comes with USA grown catnip that helps to make the product more attractive to your cat. The 100% recycled corrugated surface of the pad also helps your cat scratch away happily and peacefully without attacking your costly and precious furniture or furnishings.
Things to Consider While Choosing a Scratch Pad for Your Pet Cat
It is true that every cat is a separate individual. Thus, a specific type of scratch pad may not suit all types of cats. This is why there are various types of scratch pads in the market. It is also true that cats are picky animals. They have their own likes, dislikes, and opinions about various things in life, including a scratch pad.
These pads are available in various sizes and shapes. Different types of scratch pads are also made from different materials and have different types of surfaces. There may be a need to try different types of scratching pads for your cat before you are able to understand the one that your beloved pet loves.
There are various types of scratch pads in the market. some are made out of cardboards, some are from or even covered in carpet, there are some upholstered ones, there are some sisal ones, and there are some wooden ones. Scratch pads can be put at different angles. However, it is rather important that you patiently try and find out the one that your cat prefers. If your cat normally scratches the arms and legs of your sofa or even the walls, then it prefers something that is vertical. On the other hand, if your cat scratches at carpets and rugs, then a horizontal one will be good.
Scratch pads that are made of sisal or cardboard run along the grain. There are some cats that likes the grain to be horizontal and some prefer it to be vertical. Since scratching also allows cats to stretch their muscles, cats normally prefer a scratch pad that is big enough for her to stretch out full length on the pad.
Cats scratching and pulling at drapes is a common sight. This is why they normally prefer a sturdy and solid cat post that refuses to move even while your pet uses it. Once you manage to find the right sort of scratch pad for your pet cat, it will effectively save your furniture from further destruction.
How to Teach Your Cat to Use a Scratch Pad?
Many of you may wonder how to get your cat to use a newly bought scratch pad instead of scratching away at your beloved furniture and furnishings. Well, first of all, you need to remember that forcing your cat to scratch in a specific place is not at all advisable. This will just scare the animal and make her avoid the place or the furniture in the future.
You may try using catnip or even a catnip scent. This is basically a plant that belongs to the mint family and has an extremely attractive smell to cats. Spray some catnip on the newly purchased scratch pad and encourage your cat to explore the new furniture. Gradually, it will start using it and forget completely about your furniture that it used all these days.
You may also try placing the newly bought scratch pad close to the favorite eating or sleeping spot for your cat. You may also keep the pad in front of furniture that your cat normally scratches. If this does not help, you can certainly buy a pad that also comes with attached toys. You may also affix some on your own to help make the pad more attractive to your pet.
Over a period of time and regular use, the pad will naturally get worn and torn. However, never be too hasty and get rid of the scratch pad. The pad may already be marked by the cat with her claws and scent. It is also true that the more worn out the pad becomes, the better it is for the cat since it allows her to get her claws into the pad better than before.
