Cats scratch to stretch and to mark, and they usually want to do both where they sleep — which is why a post at one end of the room and a bed at the other so often ends with the sofa arm taking the damage. This puts the two together: a woven sisal oval with sides high enough to curl into and a surface that is meant to be clawed rather than merely tolerated.

The rope is bound tightly rather than loosely coiled, and that is what stops a sisal product shedding fibres across the floor as it wears. The tight bind also gives claws something to catch on, so scratching feels worthwhile to the cat instead of skidding off. The oval shape provides a raised edge to stretch against and a hollow to sleep in, and a ball on a string hangs off it for cats who want to bat something before settling.

• Woven natural sisal rope, tightly bound
• Doubles as a scratching surface and a bed
• Raised oval sides to stretch and claw against
• Includes a dangling ball toy
• No-shed construction to keep loose fibres off the floor
• Compact enough for a windowsill corner or quiet spot

On expectations for a horizontal scratcher. Plenty of cats scratch flat and will take to this straight away. Some are vertical scratchers who need to reach full stretch, and no low product will convert them — a cat targeting the back of an armchair at head height is telling you they need a tall post as well.

Who it's for: Indoor cats who scratch flat surfaces and like to sleep where they scratch, in homes where a full cat tree would be too much furniture.