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
The most common reason cats ignore scratching posts is they're too short, too unstable, or the wrong material — cats need a post tall enough for a full stretch and stable enough that it doesn't wobble or tip when used. That tipping problem is especially frustrating with kittens, because one bad experience with a falling post and they'll avoid it entirely. To point you in the right direction: how big is your cat, do they prefer scratching vertically or horizontally, and what surfaces are they currently going for?
She's a 5-month-old Devon Rex, so still pretty small and lightweight. She's been tipping over every post we've tried. She scratches vertically, usually goes for the corners of the sofa.
inparticular.ai
That's a really common Devon Rex problem — they're athletic and springy even as kittens, and they launch themselves at posts in a way that exposes any instability immediately. The irony is that lightweight cats actually need heavier, wider bases than you'd expect, because it's the sudden dynamic force that tips things, not the cat's resting weight. What posts have you tried so far — freestanding poles, or the smaller tabletop-style ones?
We've tried two freestanding ones, both fairly cheap and light. One was sisal, one was carpet. She used them briefly then knocked them over and lost interest completely.
inparticular.ai
Right, so she's already learned that posts fall — that's a behaviour you need to undo, not just replace the post. The carpet one was probably also unappealing; most cats strongly prefer sisal rope over carpet because it gives proper resistance and mimics bark. The real fix here is a post with a genuinely weighted, wide base. For a Devon Rex at this age, I'd recommend the Feandrea Cat Scratching Post — it's a tall sisal post with a very solid, wide weighted base that doesn't shift even when a kitten hits it hard from the side. It's around 65cm tall, which is enough for a good stretch even as she grows, and the base is heavy enough that it stays put. It's available on Amazon UK and consistently well-reviewed specifically for stability.
Will she actually go back to using a post after having bad experiences with the falling ones? I'm worried she's just decided posts aren't for her.
inparticular.ai
She will, but you need to reintroduce it properly rather than just placing it and hoping. Put the new post directly in front of the sofa corner she's been using — not nearby, right in front of it so it physically blocks access. Rub a little silvervine or catnip into the sisal to get her interested initially. Once she uses it successfully a few times without it moving, she'll build a new association. Devon Rex cats are curious and quick to learn; the bad habit isn't deep-rooted yet at five months. The key is that first session where she pushes against it and it holds firm — that's what resets her expectation.
That's really helpful. Is the Feandrea one easy to assemble and does it stay put on a wooden floor?
inparticular.ai
Assembly is straightforward — most people have it done in under ten minutes. On wooden or laminate floors it does slide slightly with very energetic use, so put a non-slip mat underneath it or position it against a wall. That's actually a good idea regardless of flooring, because a wall-backed post has zero chance of tipping backwards, which fully solves your problem. The base weight handles side-to-side movement well on its own.
