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.
Sensor Cat Water Fountain 2.5L
A 2.5L cat fountain that flows when your cat approaches, keeping water fresh and tempting. A clear level window shows when to refill, and the generous tank meets one cat's needs for several days.
From£43.99
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
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£16.49
Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat
Press down, feel the cool — this pressure-activated mat absorbs body heat and stays up to 10°C cooler than the room, with no freezing required.
From£34.99
Multi-Layered Felt Cat Cave Bed for All Seasons, Coffee or Beige
A cave bed built up in layers of dense felt, which insulates through winter and breathes rather than trapping heat in summer, offered in coffee brown or beige.
£27.99
Scratch-Resistant Jacquard Sofa Throw
A woven bohemian-pattern sofa throw that drapes over your settee to shield it from cat claws, fur and everyday wear. Tasselled edges and a tightly knit jacquard weave add a decorative, cosy finish. Machine washable.
From£23.99
Window-Mounted Sisal Cat Scratching Post
A suction-mounted pair of sisal columns that gives a cat a proper vertical scratch and stretch on a window or smooth wall, with no drilling and no floor space used.
From£52.99
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
Smart App-Controlled Automatic Pet Feeder
A smart automatic feeder with a clear food hopper, removable stainless steel bowl and app control. Schedule timed portions, record feeding plans and check in remotely, keeping mealtimes steady while you are away.
From£56.99
Palm Tree Cat Tree With Sisal Post And Bowl Bed
A playful palm-tree cat tree with a sisal scratching trunk, dangling teaser pompoms and a clear space-capsule bowl bed below. Compact at around 44cm wide, it gives cats a spot to scratch, perch and snooze.
From£7.99
Iron-Framed Radiator Hammock Cat Bed with Washable Faux Fur Cover
A metal-framed hammock that hooks over a radiator, lined with a removable machine-washable faux fur sleeve, for cats and small pets up to 5kg, in four plain colours.
£21.99
Automatic Cat Water Fountain
A clear automatic pet water fountain with a tap-style spout that circulates fresh, filtered water to encourage your cat to drink. The near-silent pump and large transparent tank let you check water levels at a glance.
£44.99
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.