Maybe your cat has been attacking your couch, and you’re trying to rapidly make a DIY cat scratcher. You could be wondering if sandpaper is an appropriate materials. It’s low cost, you’ve some mendacity across the home, and logically, it looks as if it’d do an excellent job of helping your cat keep their claws neat. But is this material really any good for a cat scratcher?

The brief reply is not any. Sandpaper is abrasive and could potentially harm your cat’s paw pads. Let’s take a more in-depth look at why this materials isn’t often seen on cat scratching posts.

Do cats like sandpaper scratching posts?

In our experience, no. Of course, every cat is totally different, so there shall be some cats on the market that don’t mind the texture and feel of sandpaper. But given the choice, most cats will give it a wide berth. They in all probability won’t even walk over a bit of sandpaper left on the floor!

When you assume that your cat may like sandpaper on their scratching submit, then you can at all times give it a attempt. One reason cats don’t actually like sandpaper on their scratching posts is that it doesn’t actually assist them achieve what they’re making an attempt to do when they scratch.

Why do cats scratch?

If you’ve ever watched your cat scratch something, you may need observed that in addition to making an attempt to sink their claws into the material, they typically lean down and have a superb stretch whereas they’re doing it. Scratching is definitely an instinctive conduct for our little feline pals.

It is a habits that they innately carry out, and there’s nothing that we cat house owners can do to cease them! So, what goal does it serve?

It removes the useless outer claw, revealing a new sharp claw underneath.

It could relieve stress, anxiety, and tension.

It stretches their muscles.

It leaves pheromone scent marks.

Many cats enjoy using just a few totally different locations to scratch for various causes. One place might feel nice for having an upright stretch, where they can reach up excessive to stretch those muscles. Another may need a fantastic material for sinking their claws into and eradicating the outer layer of their claws. Yet another may be just right for leaving a pheromone message for the opposite cats in the house!

As a cat proprietor, it’s best to offer your cat a variety of acceptable scratching surfaces. This is particularly vital in case your cat lives indoors, as they won’t have entry to any scratching surfaces outdoors.

In terms of which materials you should offer your cat to allow them to carry out their instinctive scratching behaviors somewhere other than your favourite couch, know that it’s unlikely that your cat would choose sandpaper as their first choice.

Sandpaper is simply too abrasive

As a cat runs their claws down a scratching submit surface, their paws often make contact with the material of the publish as nicely. This isn’t an issue with softer supplies, like sisal rope or carpet, which are often used for scratching posts. However with sandpaper, the abrasive surface can damage your cat’s paw pads. This is especially true if you’ve used one with a coarse grit.

Your cat’s paw pads might turn out to be painful, and any abrasions might turn out to be contaminated. This will definitely put your cat off from trying to use the same scratching submit again.

The best supplies for cat scratching posts

Now that we know that sandpaper isn’t the best choice for cat scratching posts, what’s a greater different?

Corrugated carpet

Sisal rope or fabric

Carpet

Wood

Some cat owners who’ve carpeted areas of their houses favor to avoid scratching posts that are coated in carpet. It can be tough for some cats to appreciate that while they’re positively inspired to scratch the carpet on their post, all other carpet is completely off-limits!

Corrugated cardboard scratching posts are cheap and most cats actually love them. The cardboard shreds satisfyingly below their claws, and as they sink their claws in, the outer lifeless layer of their claws will be eliminated.

Sisal rope or fabric is considered one of the preferred supplies for scratching posts, and the vast majority of cats absolutely love it. It’s additionally comparatively low cost and comes in a wide range of colours.

Wooden is an effective alternative for a scratching publish, though it’s not available as typically as other materials. Cats within the wild will naturally choose a couple of completely different timber as their preferred scratching posts. Tree trunks allow your cat to stretch their muscles as they lean against it, in addition to help remove the outer layer of their claws.

We’ve learn of some cat owners who made their very own DIY cat scratchers utilizing a layer of sandpaper lined with a layer of thick corrugated cardboard. This protects your cat’s paws, as solely the very suggestions of their claws will make contact with the sandpaper. Some cats appear to tolerate this fantastic, while others might not just like the feeling of the sandpaper on their claws at ask. Additionally, it doesn’t seem just like the sandpaper could have a lot impact on this occasion, as the corrugated cardboard is doing what it should: allowing your cat to dig their claws in and take away the useless outer layers.

Sandpaper isn’t advisable for cat scratching posts

There’s a motive that you won’t see any cat scratching posts in pet stores or on-line which might be covered in sandpaper. It isn’t probably the most appealing material for cats to scratch their claws against, and lots of them don’t like the texture in any respect.

Softer supplies, like cardboard or sisal rope, are far preferable, as cats can sink their claws through these, which is what they’re really looking for in the right scratching put up!

In case you do determine to offer your cat a scratching submit made with sandpaper, it’s positively a good idea to ensure it isn’t the one surface obtainable. Watch your cat intently to see how often they use each scratching put up, and you’ll soon have the ability to work out if they like sandpaper or not!