Cats do not scratch out of malice. They scratch to stretch the shoulders and to leave a scent mark somewhere that matters to them, which is why the sofa always beats the post standing in the corner. The post is not where your cat wants to make its mark. A self-adhesive sisal mat gets around that entirely by putting the right surface exactly where the wrong one is already being used.

The mat is woven sisal on a self-adhesive backing, so it goes straight onto the arm or corner of a sofa, up a wall beside a favourite perch, around a table leg, or over a scratching post that has worn smooth. Sisal is the surface most cats pick when given a fair choice, because it is coarse enough to catch a claw and strip the old outer sheath away, which is the part of scratching a cat is really after.

• Woven sisal surface on a self-adhesive backing
• Sticks to sofas, walls, posts and furniture corners
• Seven colours: black, beige, dark blue, dark brown, light grey, dark grey and khaki
• Redirects claws away from upholstery
• Can be used to recover a worn scratching post
• Works on vertical or horizontal surfaces

On measurements and on adhesive. Worth knowing too: a self-adhesive backing is designed to stay put. Test a small corner on delicate fabric or painted plaster first, and expect it to mark wallpaper when it comes off.

Who it's for: Owners of a cat who has chosen one specific spot to scratch, and who would rather change the surface than fight the habit.