6 Best Cat Scratchers: Cardboard Pads, Boxes and Sisal Mats

The best cat scratchers are the ones your cat will actually use, so match the surface and angle to how your cat scratches. For cats that scratch on the floor, a corrugated cardboard pad is a simple place to start, and a sisal mat suits cats that like a rougher texture. Tall, sturdy vertical posts are a separate job, so see our guide to the best cat scratching posts if your cat likes to stretch upward.

Scratching is a normal, instinctive cat behavior, and Humane World for Animals notes that cats do it to show emotion, leave scent marks and shed the dead outer layer of their nails. A scratcher gives your cat an approved place to do it. The specs below come from each product’s Amazon listing, and listing details can change.

Our Top Picks

These six cover a flat pad multi-pack, a curved pad, a scratch-and-rest box, a cardboard house, a toy-style scratcher with a replaceable pad, and one sisal mat. They are ordered by fit for horizontal and sloped scratching, not by any score.

For several rooms or several cats: Mankaide 5-Pack Flat Cardboard Cat Scratch Pads

This is a straightforward option if you want flat pads spread through the house or spares ready to swap in. Five pads let you put one in each spot your cat likes to scratch. It suits cats that scratch low and flat rather than stretching up a wall.

Key specs (per the Amazon listing):

• 5 flat pads, each 16.93 x 7.87 x 0.95 in
• Corrugated cardboard (the listing says recycled)
• Two-sided, floor mount
• Care: spot clean or wipe with a damp cloth, keep dry
• Package weight about 2.38 lb

Consider: The pads are thin and flat, so they may slide on smooth floors. There is no lounge edge, and they need to stay dry.

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For a gentle slope: SIDAZON Curved Cardboard Cat Scratch Pad (2-Pack)

Two curved pads give you a simple floor scratcher for cats that scratch horizontally or on a slight angle. The listing says the wave shape lets a cat lie down and stretch while scratching. Two pads also mean you can place one in each of two spots.

Key specs (per the Amazon listing):

• Corrugated cardboard (the listing says 100% recycled)
• Curved wave shape, usable from both sides
• Pack of 2, catnip included
• 16.5 x 8 x 2.35 in
• Slight color variation possible

Consider: Cardboard sheds bits as it is used. The pads are low and light, so they are not a stretch-up surface, and you will replace them once both sides wear down.

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For scratch-then-nap cats: PrimePets Cardboard Cat Scratcher Box XL with 5 Pads

This box suits cats that like to scratch and then settle into the same spot. The box frame holds five reversible pads, and each pad can be used from both sides.

Key specs (per the Amazon listing):

• Box 17 x 13 x 5 in, 3.5 lb
• Holds 5 reversible corrugated pads
• Catnip included
• Described as a scratch-and-rest box for small to medium cats and multi-cat homes
• Spot clean only

Consider: The listing sizes it for small to medium cats, so check the 17 x 13 in footprint against a larger cat. The rim is 5 in, and the box is spot clean only.

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For cats that like to hide: ARGOPET Cat Cardboard House with 2 Scratching Pads (Cactus)

This one combines a hiding spot with scratch pads, which fits cats that like to duck into a box. The pads give the cat a scratching surface inside the same piece.

Key specs (per the Amazon listing):

• Corrugated cardboard house (the listing says 100% recycled), 17 x 12 x 12 in
• Entrance 6.7 x 5.9 in
• Includes 2 scratching pads
• Listing describes double-walled, thickened cardboard
• Catnip to sprinkle

Consider: The doorway is 6.7 x 5.9 in, so check that a large cat fits through it and inside the 17 x 12 x 12 in body. A house is not a stretch-up scratcher.

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For playful cats: Bergan Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy with Catnip

This pairs a ball-track toy with a horizontal cardboard pad, so it suits cats that like to bat and chase. The listing says the scratch pad is replaceable, so you can renew the scratch surface instead of the whole unit.

Key specs (per the Amazon listing):

• Round plastic ball track around a cardboard scratch pad
• 16.25 x 16 x 1.88 in, 1.1 lb, no-slip bottom
• Ball and catnip included
• Replaceable pad (replacement pads sold separately as Bergan Turbo Scratcher Replacement Pads)
• Hand wash

Consider: The scratch area is small, and the listing recommends it for small breeds. The track is a toy, so the pad is the smaller part of the product. Color may vary and cannot be chosen.

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For sisal or wall mounting: FUKUMARU Natural Sisal Cat Scratcher Mat

Choose this if your cat prefers a sisal or carpet-like texture, or if you want a scratch surface on a wall in a small space. It is the one non-cardboard pick in this list.

Key specs (per the Amazon listing):

• Sisal mat, 23.6 x 15.7 in, listed thickness 0.39 in
• Can be fixed to a floor, wall, furniture or door with tapes or screws
• Ships rolled and can be pressed flat under a carpet
• Care: shake off dust and vacuum

Consider: Because it ships rolled, it may need flattening before use. It needs fixing in place so it does not move, and a mat is not a tall post.

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How to Choose Cat Scratchers

Match the way your cat scratches

Watch whether your cat scratches the floor, a rug edge, a sofa arm or a door. International Cat Care says cats differ on vertical versus horizontal surfaces, and that kittens and older cats may prefer sloping or horizontal cardboard. Flat and curved pads fit floor scratchers, while a wall-mounted mat suits cats that reach up. If you are raising a new kitten, see our kitten care guide for the rest of the basics.

Check size and stability

Compare the listed length to your cat’s stretched-out body, and check the doorway or rim on boxes and houses for larger cats. The ASPCA says all cats want a sturdy scratcher that will not shift or collapse when used. Light cardboard pads can slide on smooth floors, so put them on a rug, in a corner or against a wall.

Plan for replacement

Cardboard wears down and sheds crumbs as it is used. As general practical guidance, flip a reversible pad when one side is shredded and replace it when both sides are worn. Keep a spare on hand, and sweep up the bits.

Choose where to put them

Put scratchers where your cat spends time. International Cat Care suggests placing them near where your cat sleeps, since cats often scratch after waking, and next to damaged areas. It recommends one scratcher per cat plus one extra in several locations, and a wall-mounted scratcher if floor space is tight. If a specific sofa or chair is the target, see our guide on how to stop a cat from scratching furniture.

Try a wand toy near the scratcher, and rub on catnip if your cat likes it. Never carry your cat to it or hold their paws against it. Our guide on how to get your cat to use a scratching post walks through the steps. If scratching suddenly changes or spreads, talk to your veterinarian.

Cardboard vs Sisal Scratchers

Neither material wins for every cat. Humane World for Animals says some cats like corrugated cardboard. It suggests a sturdy horizontal sisal scratcher for cats that prefer scratching flat. The ASPCA recommends trying a few materials, including cardboard, carpet, wood, sisal and fabric, to see what your cat prefers.

None of these sources compares how long cardboard and sisal last, so we do not give a lifespan. As general guidance, cardboard is easy to replace but sheds, while a sisal mat is a firmer surface that must be fixed down. If your cat ignores one, try the other before giving up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cardboard cat scratchers good?

They are a practical, easy-to-replace way to give your cat a scratching surface, especially for cats that scratch flat or on a slope. They wear out and shed, and they will not suit every cat. A tall post is a better fit for cats that stretch upward.

Do cats like cardboard scratchers?

Some do, and some prefer other textures such as sisal. As noted above, preferences vary, so it helps to try more than one material and angle.

How long does a cardboard scratcher last?

The sources we used give no lifespan. It depends on how often and how hard your cat scratches. Flip reversible pads when one side is worn, and replace them when both sides are shredded.

Can a cardboard scratcher replace a scratching post?

Not for every cat. Pads cover floor-level scratching, but a cat that stretches up to scratch may still need a tall, sturdy post. You can offer both in different spots.

Conclusion

Choose by how your cat scratches. The Mankaide 5-Pack suits multi-cat homes or several rooms, the SIDAZON pads suit cats that like a gentle curve, and the PrimePets box suits cats that scratch and then rest. The ARGOPET house suits cats that like to hide, the Bergan Turbo Scratcher suits playful cats and has a replaceable pad per its listing, and the FUKUMARU mat suits sisal fans or wall mounting. Add a tall post if your cat stretches upward.

Sources

• Humane World for Animals, Stop cats from scratching furniture with a scratching post
• International Cat Care, Scratching on furniture and carpets
• ASPCA, Destructive Scratching

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