Although considered as domestic pets, in the past, there were almost no interesting cat-designed products. Over the years, this situation has changed, and nowadays you can choose from a plethora of entertaining products with which cats can 'kill' time. According to veterinarians and professionals, the commonly used type of product where cats can have fun while scratching is the scratching post.

Cats have a natural urge to scratch, so this is a good way to help them relax while stimulating them to exercise or at least to stay physically active at some point. This is also a good way to protect your furniture, carpet and floor from scratches and tore parts. When in the search for the right product of this kind, there are some important things that you should take into account.

Just like with every other pet or animal, cats also come in different sizes, so do these scratching products. For instance, smaller cats or kittens would love the idea of having size appropriate scratching products rather than tall or large post. By investing in a larger post, kittens will feel uncomfortable, especially when unable to reach the post's top. On the other hand, investing in too small post will make cats uncomfortable and unable to stretch out. That's why you need to take into account both the cat's and post's size.

Although cats love to scratch in every position, they truly love to fully extend while scratching. This means that they love to stretch out fully and pull the back and shoulder muscles. This position is quite important for their health and flexibility which is why you are free to choose tall post. Generally speaking, you should choose a post that is at least 75cm tall in order to keep your cat happy and satisfied.

A general rule to follow when it comes to choosing a scratching post is to choose one that is sturdy and stable. This, in fact, is one of the reasons why cats love so much to scratch on furniture pieces, as they are stable. So, when in the search for a cat post, make sure the chosen one is not wobbly and soft. Otherwise, the post can flip over and your cat can end up on the floor. If you choose a post like this, you can be sure that your cat won't love it nor use it. When in the search for taller posts, makes sure it's sturdy as there will be a lot of unwanted and unfortunate situations that can end up bad. The most common material for such posts is carpet, however, posts wrapped in jute or rope are also an option. According to experienced users, the rope and jute versions are sturdier and long-lasting.

Generally speaking, the most traditional types of cat posts are the ones with a round or oval shape. However, these days you have the chance to choose from a plethora of post shapes, and in order to choose the right, you just need to observe your cat. For instance, if it wants to stretch upward while scratching, then a tower cat post is the right shape for your cat. In case your cat loves to climb and explore, then choosing a tower cat post with a platform on the top would be the perfect choice for your cat. On the other hand, if your cat loves to stretch low and is in love with longer cardboard boxes, then you should choose a tilted scratcher. You can also opt for an S-shaped post in case your cat loves to roll and scratch while rubbing its face on the scratcher.

Note: If your cat is inclined as a vertical scratcher, then you can also choose from the many wall-mounted posts that can also be layed on the floor when needed.

Except for the shape, you can make the whole cat scratching experience more fun by choosing a post with some extra features. These can allow your cat to play and have more fun. For the purpose, you can opt for a post with a little hiding spot or holes at different level so your cat could place and hide a ball.

To make things more fun for your cat, you can place the post in front of a window. This will allow your cat to scratch, climb, sit and observe any action outside. It can even take a nap or simply relax after an 'exhausting' play. Generally speaking, these posts can be put literally anywhere in the home. The key to choosing the right one is to turn to a professional and reliable supplier. This is the only way that you will receive the best product for the money, but also one that is made of high-quality material, a product that is fun, durable and able to withstand the many scratches coming from your cat.