Scratching is not a behaviour you can train out of a cat. It sheds the outer claw sheath, marks territory and stretches the whole front end, and a cat deprived of a decent surface uses the arm of the sofa instead. The trick is putting a better option exactly where the cat already scratches, which is usually near where they sleep or beside a doorway. This is a compact tower built for that job.

The posts are wrapped in a coarse rope, a padded bed sits within the frame, and a bear-face panel forms the top perch. The rope is the part that matters, because cats want a vertical surface with enough grain to catch a claw and pull down through, and a post they can stretch to full height against gets used where a short one is ignored. A catnip element is included to draw a cat to it in the first week.

• Compact tower combining a scratching post, a bed and a top perch
• Rope-wrapped scratching surfaces
• Cushioned built-in bed
• Bear-face top perch
• Catnip element included
• Small footprint for flats and smaller rooms

On the rope, honestly. It is worth knowing, because the two wear very differently: sisal is coarser and lasts longer under a heavy scratcher, while paper rope is softer and sheds more.

Who it's for: Cats in flats who are currently scratching the furniture, and owners who need the alternative to fit into a corner.