A cat scratcher lounge can be one of the most valuable accessories to make your cat happy. Not only do they offer a great range of activities to keep your cat engaged away from your favourite piece of furniture, but giving your cat something to scratch on is also great to keep its claws sharp, keep her more active and reduce her stress. So, if getting a cat scratcher bed sounds like an excellent idea, we put together some tips to help you choose the best option.
Get the Best Material
Once you start looking for a cat scratcher bed, you’ll come across various types made from different materials. At this point, it’s important to know that cats literally despise surfaces that will catch their claws and pull them on. So, make sure you go for something rough that makes nice sounds and leaves visible scratches so your little feline can mark its territory.
Talking about rough scratcher bed surfaces, sisal fabrics are definitely standing out from the crowd. In fact, these fabrics are made from the popular Agave sisalana plant and are commonly used to make sustainable and eco-friendly products such as carpets and rugs. Plus, they are strong, rough, have a similar consistency and deliver almost the same feeling as tree bark does. These fabrics are also quite durable, so you won’t have to worry about replacing your cat’s scratcher bed for years.
Cat scratcher beds can also be made from different carpets, but know that they’re not the most recommended option. As we said before, carpets will only catch your cat’s claws and pull on its toes, which will only upset and stress it out. Also, carpet surfaces can be commonly found in many parts of your household, which can lead your cat to think that it’s allowed to scratch these surfaces too. This is why it’s always recommended to choose fabrics that will make a clear difference between surfaces that are and aren’t intended for scratching.
Go for the Right Size
Cats love scratching in various positions since it helps them get a good stretch through every area of their bodies, and this is why it’s important to get a bed that will allow your little feline to stretch its body high. But don’t worry, you can always roughly measure the ideal height for your cat. The bed should be tall enough for your cat to stretch its body along to it completely. The taller your cat, the longer this surface should be. Also, don’t forget to add a little bit of extra length for the situations when your cat is standing on its hind legs and stretching its front ones as far as it can.
On the other hand, if you’re having more than one cat in your household, aside from choosing an extra-tall bed, it’s recommended to get a wider surface so it can comfortably accommodate all your cats and their stretching and scratching needs.
Designs
The best thing about cat scratcher beds is that they come in a variety of colours and designs, so you can always choose something that won’t be a sore to your eyes. So, don’t hesitate to explore your options and pick between cream shades, darker charcoal or ash greys – whatever works best for your home.
Also, since scratcher beds tend to be high, they often come with additional “climbing aid” such as convenient ropes or ladders included, so your cat can always easily reach its throne. So, make sure you choose the perfect design that won’t only look gorgeous and work as a nice ornament for your home, but it’ll also offer some great features for your kitten.
Placement
When it comes to placing your cat’s new scratcher bed, there’re a lot of options around your household.
So first of all, have in mind that if you just tuck the bed in the darkest corner of your house, your lovely feline is most likely to avoid it. In fact, cats love to scratch in high-traffic areas since this way they can display their scratch marks and mark their own territory so other cats can smell them and humans can see them. In addition to this, scratching is most cats’ “morning cup of coffee”, so make sure you place the scratching bed near its favourite sleeping spot.
Placing the scratcher bed next to a window is also a good idea since cats love watching nature and all its inhabitants such as birds and squirrels. Also, your lovely kitten would love to hang out with you more, so make sure you place the bed in your household areas where you spend your time mostly. The areas such as your living room sofa or near your kitchen counter are always a great idea, since this way you’ll allow your cat to be close to you without it scratching your new sofa, or climbing near the food you’re preparing and making a mess.
On the other hand, if you love to spend the evenings sipping a glass of wine on your rocking chair in your backyard, then placing a cat scratching bed outdoors is the best thing you can do for your feline. Not only will you get to spend some additional time together, but you’ll also give your cat an amusing activity to do while you’re relaxing.
