This is a specific conversation about Cat scratching posts — ones they'll actually use — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
With four cats and one blocking access to the scratching post, you don't have a scratching problem — you have a resource-guarding problem. The fix isn't a better post, it's more posts in more places so the dominant cat physically can't control all of them at once. Before I point you in the right direction: how big is your largest cat, do your cats tend to scratch vertically or horizontally, and what surfaces are they currently going for — sofa arms, carpet, door frames?
They're all medium-sized, maybe 4-5kg. Mostly vertical scratchers — the sofa arms and the side of a doorframe are the main casualties. One of them, Bruno, just plants himself next to the post and the others won't go near it.
inparticular.ai
Classic Bruno. He doesn't even need to use it — just being there is enough to claim it. For four cats with one resource-guarder, the rule of thumb is one more scratch station than the number of cats, so you're aiming for five, and they need to be spread across different rooms or zones so Bruno can't patrol them all. What you want are tall, sisal-wrapped posts — at least 90cm — because your cats are stretching vertically. Sisal is the key material here; it's the texture cats naturally prefer for that full-claw drag. How many rooms do your cats have regular access to, and is Bruno the only one doing the guarding or do the others jockey for position too?
They've got the run of downstairs — living room, kitchen, hallway, and a spare room. Bruno's the main issue but honestly once he's out of the way the others are fine. I've only got one post right now, it's about 60cm and wobbles a bit.
inparticular.ai
That wobble is part of why Bruno's the only one using it — cats stop using unstable posts quickly because it feels unsafe mid-scratch. At 60cm it's also too short for a proper full-body stretch for a 5kg cat. Here's what I'd recommend: the Feandrea Tall Cat Scratching Post, the 104cm sisal version. It's heavy-based, doesn't rock, wrapped in natural sisal rope, and it's straightforward enough that you can buy four or five without it becoming expensive. Place one in the living room away from Bruno's usual spot, one in the hallway, one near the kitchen, and one in the spare room. That way no matter where Bruno stations himself, the others have an unguarded option nearby. It's listed on Amazon UK and usually under £30 per post.
That makes sense. Should I do anything to get them to actually use the new ones rather than just ignoring them?
inparticular.ai
Yes — rub a little dried valerian or silver vine on the base of each new post when you first put it out. Catnip works too but silver vine tends to get a stronger reaction from cats who are indifferent to catnip. Put the posts near where the damage is currently happening, not in a corner out of the way. Cats scratch where they already are — near favourite resting spots, by doors, at room entrances. Once you see them using a new post consistently, you can nudge it a few inches at a time toward wherever you'd prefer it to live permanently. Don't move it more than that in one go or they'll lose track of it.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll grab a few of those Feandrea posts.
inparticular.ai
Good plan. Four spread across those rooms should be enough to break Bruno's monopoly. Give it a week or two — once the other cats realise there's always one available without confrontation, they'll start using them regularly. If one post is still getting ignored after a fortnight, try moving it six inches closer to wherever that cat sleeps. That usually does it.
