Scratching is not only claw maintenance. It also stretches the body, leaves scent and releases tension. A scratcher gets ignored when it sits in a corner, wobbles, or is too short for the cat to stretch fully.
Placement matters more than quantity. Cats often scratch after waking, when entering a room and when the owner comes home. Put scratchers along those routes rather than lining them up on a balcony. Beside a damaged sofa, add one next to it first and move it gradually.
Stability is critical. A scratcher that moves will be abandoned. Use a heavy base and secure tall posts against a wall. Cardboard suits horizontal scratching; sisal suits vertical stretching. Offer both and let the cat choose.
Choose height by the cat’s standing stretch, usually at least 60 cm, and taller for large cats. In multi-cat homes, spread scratchers across different areas instead of concentrating them in one corner.
Do not punish scratching. Spraying or hitting can link scratching with the owner’s presence and stress, often shifting the behaviour to times when nobody is watching. Cover the target with an appropriate scratcher and reward use instead.
Image: cat beside a sisal scratching post, by Jess, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homemade_scratching_post.jpg
