Cat scratching mats work when they sit right next to, or on, the furniture your cat already scratches. For most cats the FUKUMARU sisal mat (about $12) is the one to start with; cats that prefer cardboard do better with Catinarla's reversible pads. Vertical scratchers need a tall post such as the SmartCat instead.
Blocking your cat from the couch is half the job. Cats need to scratch somewhere. It's how they shed old claw layers, stretch, and leave scent. A scratching mat next to the furniture they've been wrecking gives them a legal option, and when it's in the right spot, that fixes the problem instead of just moving it.
This guide covers sisal, cardboard and self-adhesive carpet mats, and where each one works.
Why placement matters more than the mat
Cats scratch where they spend time. The mat has to be in the same room, right next to the spot they've been attacking. A mat tucked in a corner across the room will be ignored. Put it directly against the couch arm or in front of the door, and most cats switch within a week or two. Cornell's Feline Health Center suggests starting right beside the scratched spot and only moving it gradually, if at all.
When people say "my cat ignores scratching mats," this is usually why. The mat is fine. It's in the wrong place.
Sisal vs cardboard vs carpet
Sisal. Natural plant fiber woven into a rough, tough surface. Many cats love shredding it; a 2019 review of destructive scratching found sisal rope was the material most cats preferred. It lasts months, and sheds some fibers along the way.
Cardboard. Corrugated edges that cats can dig into. Some cats prefer it to anything else. It's cheap and wears out faster. Best on the floor or wedged in place, not stuck to vertical surfaces.
Self-adhesive carpet. Peel-and-stick carpet you can cut to any shape. Good for walls, cat shelves and odd spots where a freestanding post won't fit. Softer to scratch than sisal.
Best cat scratching mats
FUKUMARU sisal mat: best sisal mat
A 23.6 x 15.7 in natural sisal mat for about $12. It's the most-reviewed mat here by a long way, roughly 22,000 ratings at 4.3 stars. You can lay it flat on the floor, or fix it to a wall, door or the side of furniture with tape or screws.
It arrives rolled up. FUKUMARU suggests flattening it under a rug or heavy object for a while. The listing also says it's untreated sisal with no oils or chemicals added.
The obvious use: on the floor right in front of the couch arm the cat's been scratching. If your cat is a vertical scratcher, mount it upright instead.
Editor rating: 9/10
Furrther sisal mat: best for walls and couch sides
A 21.7 x 13 in sisal mat that comes with adhesive pads and twist pins, so it's ready to fix to a couch side, a wall corner or the floor. It comes in printed designs, which helps if it's going somewhere visible. Furrther calls it shedding-resistant.
About $25, 4.4 stars from about 450 ratings. It costs twice as much as the FUKUMARU, mainly for the mounting hardware and the looks.
Editor rating: 8/10
Catinarla cardboard pads: best cardboard
Eight reversible corrugated cardboard pads, each 16.8 x 8.5 x 1 in, made from recycled cardboard. Two usable sides each, so 16 scratching surfaces in the pack. About $22, 4.4 stars from around 1,300 ratings.
Put them on the floor in front of the couch, on the couch seat, or around the house so there's one in every room the cat uses. When one side wears down, flip it.
Editor rating: 8/10
SHENGOCASE self-adhesive carpet: best self-adhesive
A 78.7 x 15.75 in roll of carpet with adhesive backing, 0.16 in thick. Cut it to fit a wall section, a door frame, cat shelves or the side of a cat tree. The listing says it sticks to wood, plastic, glass and leather and peels off without residue. SHENGOCASE also suggests staples for a firmer hold when it's used as a scratcher. I'd test on painted walls and wallpaper first.
About $18, 4.1 stars from about 900 ratings.
Editor rating: 7/10
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post: the upgrade
Not a mat, but it belongs here. If your cat stretches up the side of the couch to scratch, a flat mat may not be enough. This post is 32 inches tall with a 16 x 16 in base, so it doesn't tip or wobble, and it's wrapped in woven sisal.
About $70, with roughly 34,000 ratings at 4.7 stars, the highest average of anything in this cluster. Wobbly posts are a big reason cats ignore posts, and the heavy base deals with that.
Editor rating: 9/10
Where to put scratching mats
Next to the couch. In the exact spot the cat wants to scratch. A sisal mat on the floor against the arm, or a mat fixed to the side panel.
In front of closed doors. Cats scratch doors they want opened. A mat on the floor there gives them something to do while they wait.
On the wall section being scratched. Self-adhesive carpet or a wall-mounted sisal mat on that exact spot.
Everywhere the cat scratches. If it's three rooms, you need three mats. One in the living room won't fix the bedroom door.
How long do scratching mats last?
Sisal: several months of daily use before it's worn smooth and the cat loses interest. Less-active cats get more out of it.
Cardboard: much faster, often a few weeks per side. Reversible pads help.
Self-adhesive carpet: the carpet lasts, but the adhesive can let go over time, especially in humid rooms. Check it now and then.
FAQ
Do cat scratching mats work?
They work when they're in the right place. Put the mat right next to, or on, the furniture the cat has been scratching. A mat in another room usually gets ignored.
Is sisal or cardboard better for cats?
It depends on the cat. Many cats like sisal, which lasts longer. Others strongly prefer corrugated cardboard, which is cheaper but wears out faster. If you're not sure, try one of each and see which gets used.
Should a cat scratching mat be horizontal or vertical?
Match what the cat already does. A cat clawing the couch arm or a door frame wants a vertical surface; a cat scratching the rug wants a horizontal one. Vertical surfaces should be tall enough for a full stretch.
Related reading
- Back to the full cat scratch protector guide
- Cat couch protectors: tape vs plastic vs sisal compared
- How to stop cats scratching furniture: the full guide
- Cat scratch tape for furniture
Sources
- ASPCA. "Destructive Scratching." Common cat behavior issues.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. "Feline Behavior Problems: Destructive Behavior." Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
- DePorter TL, Elzerman AL. "Common feline problem behaviors: Destructive scratching." Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2019;21(3):235-243.
