Cardboard cat scratchers
A cardboard scratcher is a flat or shaped pad of layered corrugated card, sold as a low-cost, replaceable alternative to a sisal-covered post. It gives a cat somewhere appropriate to scratch, which matters for protecting furniture and for a cat's own need to maintain its claws and mark territory.
Cardboard versus a sisal post
Cardboard scratchers are generally cheaper and lighter than a sisal-wrapped post, and many cats genuinely prefer the texture — the way it shreds and gives way under their claws mimics bark in a way some cats respond to strongly. They wear out faster than sisal, though, and need replacing every few months with regular use rather than lasting years.
A sisal post tends to suit a cat that likes a firmer, more resistant surface to pull against, and stands upright rather than lying flat, which some cats prefer for a full-body stretch while scratching. Many households end up with one of each, since cats can be particular about which they use.
Getting a cat to use one
Position matters more than the scratcher itself — placing it somewhere your cat already spends time, near a favourite sleeping spot or by a door they use often, gets it noticed far faster than tucking it away in an unused corner. A light dusting of catnip on a new scratcher can help draw interest in the first few days.
If your cat is scratching furniture despite having a scratcher available, try moving the scratcher closer to the exact spot they are targeting rather than assuming they simply dislike scratching posts altogether. Cats often have a strong preference for scratching in a specific place.
Replacing a worn scratcher
A cardboard scratcher is genuinely worn out once it flattens, tears through or stops holding its shape, and a well-used cat can get through one in a few months. Replace it before it disappears entirely — a cat that suddenly has nowhere familiar to scratch may go back to furniture in the meantime.
Buying more than one at a time and rotating a fresh one in as the old one wears down keeps a cat from ever being left without an appropriate place to scratch.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Low-Shed Sisal Cat Scratching Post and Board with Replacement Pads
A low-shed sisal scratching post and a folding scratch board, sold alongside replacement pads so you can renew the worn surface rather than buying the whole thing again.
£31.99
Catit Play 'N' Scratch Pad
A replacement scratch pad for the Catit Play Circuit ball toy, 3-in-1
£6.09
Pine Wall-Mounted Cat Climbing Frame with Scratching Rope and House
Wall-mounted pine climbing components, sold individually rather than as a set: a scratching post, a cat house, and wall scratching ropes in 1.3m and 1.5m lengths.
From£42.99
Cat Scratch Starter Set
A sisal ramp, a cardboard scratcher box with three reversible pads and a cat-face accordion scratcher: different textures for every scratching mood.
£42.99
Classic Wavy Cat Scratch
A 44 x 21 x 5.5cm cardboard cat scratcher, with a bag of catnip included
£12.99
Classic Box Cat Scratch
A recyclable cardboard scratch box with catnip included, sized 45 x 24 x 4cm
£9.99
Whac-A-Mole Cat Scratcher & Toy Box
A multifunctional cat play box combining a corrugated cardboard scratching pad with a whac-a-mole game and wooden mallets. Keeps cats clawing, pouncing and entertained while saving your furniture.
£49.99
Scratch & Play Cat Set
A mushroom scratching post with ball track and feather plus an L-shaped cardboard scratcher with its own ball track.
£42.49
Scratch Post & Lounger
A palm-tree sisal scratching post and a cardboard lounge box with five reversible pads to scratch and nap on.
£39.49
Magic Organ Cardboard Cat Scratcher with Bell Ball
A foldable accordion-style corrugated cardboard scratcher that reshapes into a round scratching toy. A bell ball spins in the central track to keep your cat batting, chasing and scratching for hours.
£8.99
Organ Cardboard Cat Scratcher with Cat-Face Design
A concertina cardboard scratcher in a fun cat-face shape that doubles as a cosy perching arch.
£11.99
Scratch-Resistant Stretch Sofa Cushion Cover
A stretchy jacquard-knit cover that hugs individual sofa cushions to protect them from cat claws and fur. The non-slip, all-season fabric fits most seats and is machine washable for easy care. Sold per cushion size.
From£12.99
Common questions
- How long does a cardboard scratcher last?
- It varies with how much your cat uses it, but a few months of regular scratching is typical before it flattens or tears through. Multi-cat households tend to wear one out faster.
- Why won't my cat use its cardboard scratcher?
- Position is often the reason — a scratcher tucked away somewhere quiet gets used far less than one placed where your cat already spends time. Try moving it closer to a favourite spot, or near the furniture they currently scratch instead.
- Is a cardboard scratcher as good as a sisal post?
- Neither is universally better — cats vary in which texture they prefer. Cardboard is cheaper and many cats like the shredding texture, while sisal is firmer and better suited to a cat that likes an upright post to stretch against.
- Can I sprinkle catnip on a new scratcher?
- Yes, a light dusting of catnip on a new scratcher is a common way to encourage a cat to investigate and start using it in the first few days, though not every cat responds to catnip the same way.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.