Scratching posts for senior cats

Two senior cats — that's a setup that needs a bit more thought than usual. Older cats often stop using scratching posts not because they've lost interest in scratching, but because the post is too tall to reach comfortably, or they have to strain their joints to use it properly. Cats aged 12 and 14 are likely dealing with some stiffness, so you want something low, flat or angled, and completely stable — no wobble, no tipping. Before I point you in the right direction: are both cats still mobile and getting around well, or is one of them noticeably stiffer than the other? And what are they currently scratching — carpet, furniture, a particular spot in the house?

That tells me a lot. The arthritis in your older cat's back legs means upright posts are probably out entirely for him — even a low one he'd need to lean into could put pressure on those joints. A flat pad on the floor is going to be much more comfortable, and it'll naturally redirect him away from the carpet edges since you can place it right over the spot he's targeting. Your 12-year-old scratching the sofa corner suggests she likes a vertical surface, so she might be happy with something slightly angled. Are they competing over the same spots, or do they tend to use different areas of the room?

Perfect — that actually makes placement really straightforward. For your 14-year-old, I'd go with the PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge. It's a flat, curved corrugated cardboard scratcher that sits right on the floor — no stretching, no strain on his hips or back legs. He can approach it from any angle and apply as much or as little pressure as feels comfortable. It's also quite large, which matters for older cats who want room to shift position. Place it directly on or just in front of the carpet edge he's using and he'll almost certainly switch to it. For your 12-year-old, the same scratcher placed near the sofa arm will work, or you could get two and position one upright against the sofa — it's reversible and can lean. The corrugated cardboard texture is close enough to carpet that both cats should take to it quickly. I'd get two — one flat for him near the carpet, one propped slightly for her near the sofa arm.

Most cats find corrugated cardboard pretty irresistible on their own, but you can speed things up. Place the scratcher exactly where they currently scratch — not nearby, directly on the spot. For the first week, don't move the sofa away or block the old spots, just let the new scratchers compete on their own merits. You can sprinkle a small amount of dried catnip on the surface to draw attention to it initially, though some older cats are less responsive to catnip than they used to be. If your 14-year-old seems uncertain, gently drag a feather toy across the surface so he paws at it — that's usually enough to remind them what it's for. Once they're using the scratchers consistently, you can protect the sofa corner with double-sided tape as a gentle deterrent.

Good call. Two is the right number here — one each, placed where the problem actually is. The PetFusion holds up well even with daily use, and when the surface wears down it's reversible so you get double the life out of it. Your older boy especially should find it much easier than anything he'd have to reach up for. Worth checking in on how his arthritis is generally too — if he's struggling with everyday movement, a vet chat about pain management can make a real difference to quality of life at that age.