Pet Cat Supplies Guide: Cat Bed Selection & Scratching Post Material Analysis

You bought a cat bed, but your cat won't sleep in it. You bought a scratching post, but your cat won't scratch it — this is a common frustration for many cat owners. This guide starts from feline behavioral needs, explaining why cats reject certain products and how to choose items that cats will actually use.

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1. Cat Bed Selection: Understanding Feline Sleep Needs

Cat Sleep Behavior Characteristics

• Daily sleep time for cats: 12–16 hours (average 14 hours)
• Sleep is divided into light sleep and deep sleep: light sleep keeps them alert, deep sleep is when they truly relax
• Cats only enter deep sleep in places where they feel safe

Safety Determines Cat Bed Choice

Enclosed Cat Beds (Cave-Style)

• Wrapped on all four sides, with only one entrance
• Provides the strongest sense of security
• Suitable for: timid cats, newly adopted cats, submissive cats in multi-cat households
• Note: The entrance diameter must fit the cat's size (for a 5kg cat, recommend ≥25cm opening)

Semi-Enclosed Cat Beds

• Three sides enclosed, one side open
• Balances security with the ability to observe surroundings
• The preferred style for most cats

Open Cat Beds (Cat Mats/Cat Cushions)

• Flat-laying, no enclosure
• Suitable for: confident, dominant cats; cats that like to observe their surroundings
• Note: Must be placed in a location the cat considers safe (high places or corners)

Hammock-Style Cat Beds

• Suspended from a cat tree or radiator
• Utilizes vertical space, allowing cats to overlook the ground
• Particularly favored by cats that enjoy heights

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2. Cat Bed Materials & Practicality

Fleece/Flannel Cat Beds

• Soft to the touch, absorbs and retains heat
• High acceptance rate from cats (close to the texture of fur)
• Drawbacks: heavy shedding, difficult to fully remove fur, requires machine washing

Faux Sherpa Cat Beds

• Thicker and fluffier than flannel
• Better insulation, suitable for winter
• Same noticeable shedding issue

Canvas/Oxford Cloth

• Durable and easy to clean, machine washable without deforming
• Less insulating than fleece, suitable for summer
• Suitable for cats that like to bite and tear

PP Cotton Filling

• Fill amount affects rebound and support
• Insufficient fill: quickly flattens and loses shape
• 300g fill: medium quality; 500g+ is more durable

Memory Foam Cat Beds

• Conforms to the cat's body shape, reduces joint pressure
• Suitable for: senior cats, cats with joint issues, overweight cats
• Note: Not machine washable, cleaning is more troublesome

Cat Bed Cleaning Recommendations

• Choose a cat bed with a removable, washable inner pad
• Light cleaning once a week (use a lint roller)
• Deep cleaning once a month (machine wash inner pad at 60°C to kill mites)
• Store in a dust bag when not in use to prevent dust accumulation

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3. Why Won't My Cat Sleep in the New Cat Bed?

Reason 1: Unfamiliar Scent

• Cats use scent to identify "safe zones"
• Solution: Place old cat fur or an old blanket into the new cat bed to transfer the scent

Reason 2: Wrong Location

• Cats dislike open central areas, noisy spots, or drafty locations
• Ideal locations: corners, high places (on cat trees), quiet rooms
• Try moving the cat bed to where the cat already likes to lie down

Reason 3: Disliked Material Texture

• Cats have material preferences (some love soft fleece, others prefer hard surfaces)
• Solution: If you bought a material opposite to their usual preference, acceptance rate will be low

Reason 4: Wrong Temperature

• In summer, cats don't need warm beds; they prefer cool tile floors
• They will only actively use warm beds in winter

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4. Scratching Posts: Meeting Feline Instinctual Needs

Why Do Cats Scratch Things?

1. Scent Marking: Glands in their paw pads secrete scent onto the scratched surface
2. Nail Maintenance: Removes old, outer nail sheaths to keep claws sharp
3. Stretching Exercise: Scratching stretches back and front leg muscles
4. Emotional Regulation: Scratching is an instinctive release during excitement or anxiety

Key Insight: Cats scratching furniture is not "misbehavior"; it's a physiological need. You must provide suitable scratching alternatives.

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5. Scratching Post Material Comparison

Corrugated Cardboard Scratching Posts (Most Common)

• Made from stacked, cross-cut or vertical-cut corrugated cardboard
• Highest acceptance rate from cats (texture and sound are attractive)
• Low cost, can be fully replaced after wear
• Drawbacks: produces a lot of debris and paper dust

Key Selection Factors:

• Paper core density: high density is less prone to crumbling; low density wears out quickly
• Thickness: thicker = longer lifespan (recommend >6cm thick)
• Horizontal vs. Vertical: depends on the cat's scratching habits (see below)

Sisal Scratching Posts / Cat Tree Wrapped Posts

• Natural plant fiber, rough texture
• More durable than cardboard (3–6 months)
• High acceptance rate from cats (natural material scent is appealing)
• Suitable for wrapping cat tree posts
• Drawbacks: higher price than cardboard; some sisal fibers may shed

Carpet / Burlap Surface

• Soft carpet texture
• General acceptance rate is average (depends on the individual cat)
• Low abrasion resistance, prone to pilling
• Not recommended as a primary scratching surface

Wooden Scratching Posts

• Solid wood (pine, etc.)
• Some cats like it, but acceptance is inconsistent
• Relatively niche

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6. Horizontal vs. Vertical: Choose Based on Cat's Habits

Cat Scratching Style Preferences

Horizontal Scratchers

• Trait: Cat likes to lie down and scratch forward with front paws flat
• Suitable product: Flat-laying scratching pad (placed on the floor)

Vertical Scratchers

• Trait: Cat stands and scratches upward on walls or doors
• Suitable product: Vertical scratching post (height ≥60cm is needed for full stretch)

Most cats use both: Have different forms available

• Most common combo: Flat corrugated cardboard pad on the floor + Cat tree post (sisal wrapped)

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7. Scratching Post Placement: Wrong Location = Cat Won't Use It

Placement Matters a Lot:

✅ Correct Locations:

• Along the cat's regular travel paths
• Next to the cat's sleeping spot (first thing they do when waking up is stretch + scratch)
• Near furniture they have already scratched (stronger attraction)

❌ Wrong Locations:

• In a room corner where no one goes
• In storage rooms, kitchens, or other areas the cat rarely visits

Training Tips:

1. Place the scratching post next to the furniture the cat is already scratching
2. When the cat approaches, use a wand toy to guide it to scratch the post
3. Give a treat reward every time the cat uses it spontaneously
4. Never scold or hit the cat for scratching the wrong thing — it increases anxiety

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8. Cat Tree Buying Guide

Cat Tree Stability: A Core Safety Issue

• Cats generate lateral impact force when jumping or running quickly
• Risk of collapse can injure the cat
• Stability reference standard: horizontal wobble of the crossbars should not exceed 2cm

Factors Affecting Stability:

• Base area: larger = more stable
• Post thickness: diameter >10cm is more stable
• Counterweight: a metal weight at the bottom provides more stability
• Post height: higher center of gravity = harder to keep stable

Height & Number of Levels

• Cats love heights, but a stepped design is necessary
• Platform height difference: each level <35cm (friendly for large cats and seniors)
• Distance from top platform to ceiling: leave at least 30cm, otherwise the cat cannot fully stretch

Cat Tree Materials

• Main posts: solid wood (pine/birch) is better than MDF
• Post wrapping: sisal is better than carpet (more durable and cats prefer scratching it)
• Platform surfaces: fleece or burlap are both fine; a removable cover for easy cleaning is ideal

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9. Multi-Cat Household Planning

Number of Cat Beds: Number of cats + 1 (to avoid territorial disputes)

Number of Scratching Posts: At least one per cat, distributed across different rooms

Vertical Space Planning:

• Single cat: one cat tree is sufficient
• Two cats: two cat trees or a ceiling-mounted cat walkway
• Submissive cats need additional "escape routes" (high places to avoid dominant cats)

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Summary: If your cat doesn't use what you buy, the core issue is not understanding feline behavioral needs. Cat beds need to provide security (location + scent), scratching posts need to be placed correctly (along paths + near furniture), and cat trees need to be stable and tall. Understand these three points, and your chances of buying the right products will increase significantly.