Why Cats Actually Need a Cat Post (Lessons I Learned the Hard Way)
I really couldn't understand before why cats needed a "cat post" at all.
To be honest, during the early years of having a cat, I always thought the "cat post" was kind of unnecessary.
Cats can jump onto bookshelves, windowsills, the top of the refrigerator, onto sofas, and even rub against the headboard and bedposts —
So why would we need to buy a separate post for it?
One day, when I came home from work, I noticed that the armrests of the sofa looked as if they had been chewed by a little bear. Only then did I realize:
The problem might not be that the cat was "too playful", but that I hadn't given it a place it was actually allowed to destroy at all.
After living in the U.S. for a while, you will find that many people who love cats have cat posts in their homes, and there are more than one.
At first, I thought it was "Everyone buys it, so I'll buy it too".
Later, I understood that this is something cats teach you themselves.
So what is a cat post actually for? It's not meant for people to view.
When many people choose cat climbing frames, their first thought is:
"Does it look nice? Can it match the decoration of my home?"
But from the cat's perspective, it only cares about three things:
- Is it stable?
- Is it easy to climb?
- Is it safe to climb up?
The cat is not "using" the cat post. It’s basically deciding whether this thing can be trusted.
If it jumps onto it for the first time and finds it shaky, chances are it has already judged you in its mind.
Later I learned that for cats, the cat post is essentially something similar to what humans have —
a gym + an emotional release area + a safe haven.
Why would a cat prefer to scratch the sofa rather than the cat climbing frame you bought?
This question has been asked of me by my friends countless times.
The answer is actually kind of brutal:
It's not that the cat post itself is bad; it's just that the one you bought doesn't work well.
Here are a few mistakes I’ve personally made:
- It looks very fancy, but it keeps shaking when you push it.
- The post is too short, so the cat can't stretch its body fully.
- The material is strange. The cat just sniffed it and then left.
- The base is so light that it feels like a prop.
The cat is scratching the sofa because the sofa is stable, tall and has just the right amount of resistance.
In other words, the sofa makes sense to the cat — more professional than many cheap cat posts.
A qualified cat post should at least meet these requirements.
This is the experience I've gained over the years of raising cats, learned the hard way.
1.Stability is a hundred times more important than appearance.
You may not believe the comments, but you must give it a try yourself.
Just shake it, and the cat has already written it off completely.
2.The scratching post must be "high enough"
When a cat claws, it needs to straighten its entire body.
Too short a clawing post is as uncomfortable for the cat as doing a half-squat stretch.
3.Don't be too "smart" about the material
Some materials that seem very new are considered superior by humans, but cats only find them strange.
Natural, rough, and suitable for sharpening claws, are actually the most popular.
4.The route should be smooth.
Cats don't just randomly crawl around.
They prefer the rhythm of "jump - stop - look - then jump again".
A good cat post will design the user manual for you by itself.
I began to pay attention to the "new model cat post" not because I planned to buy it, but because I wanted to observe the trend.
For a while, I would browse some pages of cat-related products that were updated more frequently, such as the new arrivals collection on mewzoom.
Not all of them were suitable for my cat, but one thing was clearly evident:
The design of cat climbing frames is evolving from "for cats to use" to "where cats actually can use them".
Nowadays, many new models no longer blindly pursue complexity, but instead pay more attention to:
- Stable structure
- Sense of touch
- Space utilization
In other words, it's finally the case that one has begun to think from the perspective of a cat.
Different cats really do require different cat posts.
This was the key point that I only realized later.
The timid cat
prefers something with height and a sense of enclosure
stands high, but needs to feel secure
The cat with excessive energy
Needs to burn off energy and jump more
Otherwise, at 3 o'clock in the morning you'll regret it
Older cats
Don't strive for height
But must be stable, easy to climb and descend
There are two cats in my home. One likes to climb high, while the other only likes to hang out in the middle section.
If you only buy one type of cat post, you will always be able to satisfy only one of them.
A truly excellent cat post, once you use it for a long time, you might even start to overlook it.
There is an interesting phenomenon:
When the cat post is truly suitable for cats, you will find that —
- The sofa was no longer grabbed.
- The cat is more relaxed.
- The house is much quieter now.
You won't even notice that cat post every day,
because it has become a part of the cat's life.
This is more important than any "design sense".
One last thought: "Cat Post" is not a cat product; it is a "contract" between you and your cat.
Looking back now, I think "cat post" is actually a form of communication.
You are telling the cat:
"This place is safe for you to catch, to climb, and to vent."
When a cat gains this sense of certainty, it really becomes much more easy-going.
If you are hesitating about whether to add a cat post to your home,
my suggestion is quite simple:
Don't ask if it looks good or not. First, ask if the cat needs it.
One day when you find that the sofa is still intact and the cat comes to "report in" at the same time every day,
you will realize that this money was spent completely without any regrets.