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
A Lykoi with sensitive skin is a specific situation worth getting right. That patchy, partially hairless coat means rough sisal or coarse carpet can catch and irritate skin that isn't well-protected by fur — so the usual scratching post materials are off the table. Most cats ignore posts because they're too short, too wobbly, or the wrong texture, but for a Lykoi the texture issue is the real priority. Can you tell me: how big is your cat, do they tend to scratch vertically or horizontally, and what are they currently going after around the house?
He's a pretty average size, maybe 4kg. He scratches vertically mostly — goes for the sofa legs and the doorframes. I've tried a sisal post before but he avoided it completely and I think it was scratching his skin when he did brush against it.
inparticular.ai
That tracks. Sisal is too abrasive for a Lykoi — the exposed skin patches will catch on it and it's uncomfortable enough that they just stop using it. Doorframes and sofa legs tell me he wants a good vertical stretch with something solid that doesn't move. What does the post you tried look like — was it one of the smaller tabletop-height ones, or a full standing post?
It was one of the shorter ones, probably only about 40cm tall. He's maybe 45cm when he stretches out fully.
inparticular.ai
That's your first problem right there — he literally couldn't get a full stretch on it, so it wasn't satisfying the instinct. You need something at least 60cm tall, and for a Lykoi specifically you want corrugated cardboard as the scratching surface rather than sisal or carpet. Cardboard is smooth enough not to snag on exposed skin, it gives a satisfying scratch, and cats genuinely love the texture. I'd go with the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post — it's 32 inches tall (about 81cm), has a heavy weighted base that won't wobble when he leans into it, and the surface is tightly wound natural fiber that's significantly smoother than standard sisal. It's widely available on Amazon UK. If you want to go cardboard entirely, the Petfusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is a great horizontal backup, but given he's a vertical scratcher the SmartCat post is the one to start with.
Is the SmartCat surface really smooth enough? I'm worried even 'smooth sisal' might still irritate him if he brushes against it.
inparticular.ai
It's a fair concern. The SmartCat uses a woven fiber that's notably less rough than rope-wound sisal — most Lykoi owners who've flagged skin sensitivity do fine with it. But if you want zero risk of abrasion at all, go fully cardboard: the Petfusion Ultimate Scratcher Lounge on Amazon UK is a large horizontal corrugated cardboard unit with a curved surface. It's designed for bigger cats, holds weight well, and cardboard has no catching texture whatsoever. The downside is it's horizontal, and your cat prefers vertical. You might need to try propping it at an angle initially to see if he takes to it, or use it alongside a tall stable post.
I think I'll go with the SmartCat post first since he's a vertical scratcher. Is there anything I should do to encourage him to use it?
inparticular.ai
Put it right next to the sofa leg or doorframe he currently uses — don't hide it in a corner. Cats scratch where they already scratch, so you're redirecting not relocating. Rub a little dried valerian or silvervine on the base (avoid catnip if he's indifferent to it, some cats aren't responsive). Let him investigate on his own terms for a day or two before doing anything else. Once he's using it consistently, you can slowly move it a few inches at a time toward wherever you'd prefer it to live. The height and stability will do most of the work — you're just pointing him at it.
