Cats scratch to shed the outer sheath from their claws, to stretch the whole length of their spine and to leave a visible mark of where they live. Take away the option and the sofa arm becomes the option. A barrel-shaped tower wrapped in tightly wound natural sisal gives them a surface that grips properly, at a height that lets them reach up and stretch out rather than crouch over a floor mat.

There is more here than a post. The top forms a flat lounging platform, and below it sits an enclosed cubby with its own entrance, so one piece of furniture covers scratching, a lookout and somewhere to hide, which are three different moods in the same cat. A pom toy dangles from the frame for batting at. Choose single or double layer, in white or black, depending on how much height you have room for.

• Natural sisal wound tightly around the barrel body
• Flat platform on top for lounging and watching
• Enclosed cubby underneath for hiding and sleeping
• Dangling pom toy for batting
• Single-layer or double-layer versions
• White or black

One thing worth correcting. It is sometimes sold as roomy enough for a multi-cat home, and it is not: this is a one-cat-at-a-time piece. Cats sharing a house need their own scratching and resting spots, or they queue and squabble over the good one.

Who it's for: One-cat households, or multi-cat homes buying more than one, who want scratching and hiding in a single compact unit.