Hello there!
I've bought this cat scratcher twice now, and I'm a fan. It's a must-have for any cat owner who wants to save their furniture.
My cat never scratched the walls or the couch, but he fell in love with a stool covered in what looked like linen, and he pretty much destroyed it. That's when I realized he needed something to scratch, not just something to lie on. The first cat scratcher I bought was a stick wrapped in rope, but he never even touched it, so I thought my cat just didn't care about those things. But it turns out he was just waiting for the right one.
Then I saw this cat scratcher on Yandex Market and decided to give it a try. The reviews were all positive, and the price was low, so I figured it was worth a shot.
Where to buy:
I bought the first one on Yandex Market, and the second one on Wildberris. It's also available on Ozon. But I couldn't find it in any offline pet stores, so you might have to shop online.
Price:
I bought the first one a few years ago for 192 rubles, and now it's around 250 rubles. The second one cost me 304 rubles, which I think is a fair price for a cat scratcher that lasts three months.
Description:
The cat scratcher came wrapped in plastic, which keeps it clean and dust-free during storage and transportation. It's a nice touch, especially if you're buying online.
Inside the package:
- A leaflet with the product description, the manufacturer's contact info, and a promotion to get another cat scratcher for free. The conditions are simple, but I didn't bother, although it's interesting to know if they really send it out. It's always nice to get something for free, right?
- A packet of catnip. The stuff is a bit pricey, but it's strong, and my cat was immediately attracted to it. I sprinkled it according to the instructions on the back of the package, and he seemed to enjoy it.
But something went wrong, and my cat started licking the cat scratcher instead of scratching it, so I didn't put any more catnip on it. I guess some cats just prefer to lick things, huh?
The cat scratcher is made of corrugated cardboard sheets tightly connected together, which is a genius idea. Cats love scratching cardboard boxes, so it's no surprise that this works. Plus, it's eco-friendly and biodegradable, so it won't harm the environment when you throw it away.
You can see the water spot from my cat licking it.I ordered the largest size, 50*30cm, but there was no info on the packaging about the size, so I measured it myself and it matched. My cat is pretty big, almost 6kg, so this size is perfect for him. If you have a kitten, you can get a smaller size for less money.
After my cat licked it, he didn't need any explanation - he just started scratching it and seemed to be enjoying it. It's amazing how cats can find joy in something as simple as a cardboard scratcher.
He also loves lying on it, especially during the winter when we have the heated floors on - it's like a heated bed for him. I guess it's not the most comfortable thing for me, but my cat loves it.
Now, about the main downside - the mess! Normally, the scratcher lasts for about a month, and during that time, a few small cardboard pieces fall off, but it's not a big deal. But then things start to get ugly. Look at the picture above - by the third month, the cardboard had disintegrated and was flapping around. And all this trash was scattered around the scratcher, and since it's also a bed for my cat, it gets all over his fur and paws and spreads around the apartment.
So, I have to constantly clean out the bed and pick up the trash around it. It's not the most fun task, but it's worth it to keep my cat happy.
And then it gets to this stage:
When cleaning the scratcher becomes pointless, and I have to throw it away. But even in its worst state, it still looks the same and works fine - it's just a matter of aesthetics and cleanliness.
So, for my cat, the lifespan of this scratcher is about three months, but it's cheap, and I can just buy a new one every quarter and keep my cat happy. It's not the most sustainable option, but it's better than scratching the furniture, right?