{"id":3437,"date":"2026-09-23T12:24:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T04:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/?p=3437"},"modified":"2026-09-23T12:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T04:24:13","slug":"what-materials-are-used-to-make-cat-scratchers-4393-d7e12e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/2026\/09\/23\/what-materials-are-used-to-make-cat-scratchers-4393-d7e12e\/","title":{"rendered":"What materials are used to make cat scratchers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey there, fellow cat parents and anyone who\u2019s ever stared at a shredded couch and thought \u201cthere\u2019s gotta be a better way!\u201d If you\u2019re a regular here, you know I\u2019m all about cat stuff that works for both kitties and humans\u2014no fancy fluff, just real solutions. As someone who\u2019s been in the cat scratcher game for a minute (we\u2019ve supplied to shelters, pet stores, and even a few influencer-owned multi-cat households over the years), I get asked this question all the time: \u201cWhat even are these scratchers made of? I thought it was just \u2018cardboard\u2019 or \u2018rope\u2019 but my last one fell apart in 2 weeks.\u201d Spoiler: it\u2019s way more specific than that, and picking the right material is the difference between a scratcher that lasts 6 months and one that\u2019s basically kitty confetti by month 1. Let\u2019s break it down like we\u2019re chatting over coffee (minus the spilled latte on the scratcher, been there) so you know exactly what you\u2019re buying when you pick one up from us. Cat Scratcher<\/a><\/p>\n

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First up, the OG most popular material: corrugated cardboard. Yeah, I know, \u201cthat\u2019s just cardboard\u201d but hear me out\u2014 not all corrugated is created equal. A lot of cheap scratchers use thin, single-flute cardboard, like the stuff you get in a cereal box or a cheap Amazon shipping box. That\u2019s why your cat can tear it apart in 10 minutes flat, and it leaves little pieces all over your floor. No thanks. The good stuff? Double-flute corrugated. It\u2019s got two layers of the wavy \u201cflute\u201d in the middle instead of one, so it\u2019s way denser and sturdier. We use 100% virgin corrugated for most of our flat and horizontal scratchers, not the recycled stuff that\u2019s been pulped and re-made 5 times (that\u2019s way too flimsy for a cat\u2019s claws). Wait, but why do cats go crazy for cardboard? It\u2019s not just texture\u2014 corrugated has that rough, ridged surface that\u2019s perfect for wearing down claws (cats hate pointy claws, trust me, I\u2019ve had enough scratched arms to know) and it also absorbs scent like a charm. When a cat scratches it, they leave pheromones from their paw pads, so it becomes their little territory marker. Pro tip: if your cat doesn\u2019t love their cardboard scratcher, flip it over! The other side is often unused, so it\u2019s like a brand new toy. We actually recommend that to all our clients\u2014 it\u2019s free fun, and extends the life of the scratcher by 50% easy.<\/p>\n

Next, sisal rope. This is the material that\u2019s used for vertical scratchers, like the ones you lean against a wall or post-style ones that stand on the floor. A lot of people mix up sisal with jute, but let\u2019s clarify real quick: sisal comes from the agave plant, it\u2019s rough but not as scratchy as some other fibers, and it\u2019s super durable when treated right. Jute is softer, more like burlap, and it frays way easier. So when you\u2019re looking for a vertical scratcher, check if it\u2019s 100% real sisal rope, not jute or a synthetic substitute. The cheap ones use a mix of synthetic rope that looks like sisal but doesn\u2019t hold up\u2014 after a month, it\u2019s frayed and the core is exposed. We use natural sisal for our vertical posts because it\u2019s the perfect balance for cats: it\u2019s tough enough to handle daily scratching, but it\u2019s not so rough that it hurts their little paw pads. Also, how it\u2019s attached matters a lot. If the rope is just glued or stapled on loosely, it\u2019ll come off in a week. We wrap our sisal rope tightly around the wooden post (yeah, the core of most vertical scratchers is wood, but we\u2019ll get to that next) and use heavy-duty staples every few inches so it doesn\u2019t shift. I\u2019ve seen competitors\u2019 posts where you can pull the rope off with one hand\u2014 that\u2019s not a scratcher, that\u2019s a cat toy that breaks in 2 days.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s talk about the core of scratchers because the base material is often overlooked. For horizontal flat scratchers, sometimes it\u2019s cardboard on a wood base, but for vertical ones, the post core is key. A lot of cheap scratchers use particleboard or even cardboard tubes for the core\u2014 particleboard falls apart when it gets a little damp (cat water bowls spill, accidents happen) and cardboard tubes just crumple under the pressure of a cat scratching hard. We use solid pine wood for our cores. Pine is affordable, sturdy, and it doesn\u2019t warp or crumble like those garbage materials. It\u2019s also naturally resistant to mold, which is a big deal if you have a cat who likes to scratch near their water bowl. Some people say \u201cbut wood is for furniture, won\u2019t my cat scratch the wood?\u201d If your scratcher is big enough and the sisal or cardboard is the main surface, they\u2019ll go for that first\u2014 cats are creatures of habit, they like their designated spot. We design our scratchers to be the perfect size: not too small that they can\u2019t stretch out fully (cats love to stretch when they scratch, it\u2019s their way of waking up) and not so big that it takes over your living room.<\/p>\n

Another material that\u2019s been growing in popularity lately is hemp fabric, especially for those of us who don\u2019t love the \u201cshredded cardboard all over the house\u201d vibe. Hemp is similar to sisal but softer, and it\u2019s woven so it doesn\u2019t fray as easily as rope. We make a few limited-edition scratchers with hemp fabric, and they\u2019re a hit with people who have cats that like to knead while they scratch (kneading is just their way of showing they love it, by the way). Hemp is also 100% natural, so if you\u2019re into eco-friendly stuff, it\u2019s a great option. The only downside? It\u2019s a little more expensive, so the scratchers with hemp are a bit pricier than our cardboard ones, but they last twice as long, so it\u2019s worth it in the long run. I always tell our clients: you get what you pay for. A $10 scratcher that lasts a month is way more expensive than a $20 scratcher that lasts 6 months. That\u2019s basic math, right?<\/p>\n

Wait, what about the stuff you should avoid? Let\u2019s get into that because I don\u2019t want anyone wasting their money. First, synthetic materials that are designed to look like sisal or cardboard. We\u2019ve tested a few\u2014 they\u2019re slippery, so cats don\u2019t get the satisfying scratch they want, and they break down way faster than natural fibers. Second, thin corrugated cardboard\u2014 like I said earlier, single-flute is garbage. Third, particleboard cores\u2014 as soon as your cat knocks over a glass of water (or pees on it, we\u2019ve all had that mishap) it\u2019s done for. And finally, carpet. Wait, carpet scratchers? Yeah, those exist, and they\u2019re the worst. Cats will scratch the actual carpet in your house instead of the scratcher because it\u2019s the same texture. So that defeats the whole purpose, right? Don\u2019t get a carpet scratcher. Save yourself the trouble.<\/p>\n

Now, why does all this matter beyond just how long the scratcher lasts? Let\u2019s talk about your cat\u2019s health. Scratching is super important for cats\u2014 it\u2019s not just to sharpen their claws, it\u2019s to stretch their muscles, mark their territory, and even relieve stress. If they don\u2019t have a proper scratcher, they\u2019ll turn to your couch, your curtains, your bed\u2014 whatever is nearby. So giving them a scratcher made of the right material means they\u2019re more likely to use it, which is better for your furniture and better for your cat\u2019s well-being. We\u2019ve had so many clients tell us that their cat stopped scratching the couch as soon as we sent them our sisal vertical post or double-flute cardboard flat scratcher. That\u2019s the whole win-win here.<\/p>\n

And for anyone who\u2019s thinking \u201cbut what if my cat has a favorite material?\u201d We\u2019ve got you. We have a range of scratchers: horizontal cardboard ones for cats that love that rough, ridged surface, vertical sisal posts for cats that like to stretch and climb a little, hemp fabric ones for cats that knead, and even a few shaped ones (like houses or trees) that double as a hiding spot. So whatever your cat prefers, we\u2019ve got something that works.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a pet store owner looking to stock high-quality scratchers that won\u2019t fall apart on your shelves, or a shelter needing durable scratchers for the kitties, or even a homeowner with a multi-cat household that needs a few extra spots, hit us up. We work with all kinds of folks, and we can help you find the right scratchers that fit your needs and budget. No weird hoops to jump through, no hidden fees, just good scratchers for good kitties. Let\u2019s stop wasting money on cheap, flimsy stuff and get both you and your cat something that lasts.<\/p>\n

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Oh, and one last quick tip: to make your scratcher even more appealing, rub a little catnip on it (we even include a tiny bag of organic catnip with every order, as a little bonus). Cats go crazy for catnip, and it\u2019ll make them check out the scratcher way faster than if you just leave it there. We\u2019ve had so many people say their cat started using the scratcher within 10 minutes of opening the box\u2014 it\u2019s magic. Just don\u2019t overdo it, too much catnip can make some cats overexcited and run around the house like maniacs, but a little sprinkle is perfect.<\/p>\n

Mixed Cat Litter<\/a> Reference: 1. The Humane Society of the United States. (2022. Best Practices for Cat Enrichment: Scratching Surfaces. Retrieved from professional pet care resources; 2. International Cat Care. (2021. Feline Scratching Behavior: Why It Matters and How to Support It. Retrieved from feline welfare research; 3. Corrugated Packaging Association. (2020. Strength and Durability of Double-Flute Corrugated for Pet Products. Retrieved from packaging material science studies.<\/p>\n

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Qingdao Ray Pet Products Co., Ltd.<\/a>
As one of the most professional cat scratcher manufacturers in China, we have world-leading production equipment and strong manufacturing capabilities. Please feel free to buy bulk high quality cat scratcher made in China here from our factory. Good service and low price are available.
Address: B401 Zhongtie Qingdao Plaza No.385, Dunhua Road, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
E-mail: Karen.liu@ray-pet.com
WebSite: https:\/\/www.ray-pet.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hey there, fellow cat parents and anyone who\u2019s ever stared at a shredded couch and thought … What materials are used to make cat scratchers?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":3437,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3400],"class_list":["post-3437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-cat-scratcher-4a99-d82a76"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3437"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3437\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}