We all know that kittens love to play. If you’ve recently added a kitten to your family or are thinking of doing so, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve got plenty of toys to keep them occupied! Just like adult cats, kittens love to scratch on a variety of surfaces.

Trust us, they’re not doing this to be naughty! Scratching and stretching is a biological necessity for your tiny tiger, so it’s a great idea to provide them with a dedicated surface or two that they can scratch to their heart’s content!

Scratching posts do just that, so one of these should be on your list of purchases. There’s so many to choose from, though, that we know it can be hard to figure out a starting point. Luckily, we’ve tested 10 of the best scratching posts for kittens and are sharing the results of our reviews here!

A Quick Comparison of Our Top Picks 2024

The 11 Best Scratching Posts for Kittens

1. Hepper Cat Scratching Post – Best Overall

Give kittens and cats a place to do what comes naturally to them with the Hepper Cat Scratching Post. Scratching is an instinctual behavior that keeps your cat’s claws sharp, clean, and groomed. Without a designated place to scratch, cats will use whatever they can find. Let this sisal-wrapped and carpeted scratching post save your couch.

The square base lends stability to this post so it can withstand jumping and climbing from active kittens. Sisal and carpet provide two textures for cats to scratch and claw, keeping them from growing bored. If the attached hanging toy isn’t enough to entertain cats, the base of the post has a marble game for added fun.

This post stands 80 centimeters high, is available in two colors, and can be constructed in multiple ways. Switch up the sections to suit your style. By encouraging scratching, jumping, and playing, the post gives cats the exercise and enrichment that they need while keeping your furniture safe from destruction.n All in all, this is the overall best cat scratchers for kittens this year.

At ExcitedCats.com, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

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2. Frisco 21-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post – Best Value

As the best scratching post for kittens for the money, we recommend giving the Frisco 21-inch Cat Scratching Post a try. The base and top are covered with soft faux fur, while the post itself is covered with durable woven sisal rope. A small fluffy toy is attached to the top, which is a great way of encouraging your kitten to start using and enjoying this post.

This 21-inch high post is great for kittens, but bear in mind that they may find it a little short once they start to grow. With that said, it’s still a great choice for smaller kittens, especially as the price is so reasonable.

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3. SmartCat The Ultimate Sisal Cat Scratching Post – Premium Choice

As our premium choice scratching post for kittens, we recommend the SmartCat The Ultimate Sisal Scratching Post. This 32-inch post gives plenty of room for your kitten to have a good scratch while young, but it will also work when they’re fully grown. Thanks to the solid construction of engineered wood and woven sisal, this post should last your kitten into adulthood.

The chunky base measures 16 inches by 16 inches and is solid enough to stop this post from toppling over should your kitten decide to climb it! Thanks to the smaller platform at the top, they’ll have somewhere to perch if they do decide that’s a fun game!

To conclude, when it comes to premium picks, we think this is the best scratching post for kittens out there this year.

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4. Max & Marlow Cat Scratching Post

The Max & Marlow Scratching Post stands at 26 inches tall. This minimalist and durable unit combines a hard-wearing sisal post with stylish fabric on the base and top. As a bonus, there are also two toys for your kitten to enjoy! One bird-shaped plush toy dangles from the top of the post, and the other sits on a metal spring on the base. These are guaranteed to catch the eye of your kitten and give them hours of entertainment!

The only thing we don’t like about this post is that it’s a little on the short side. This might mean that as your kitten grows, they go looking for another scratching surface that they can fully extend on — usually your couch!

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5. MidWest Feline Nuvo Cat Scratching Post

Standing at a generous 3 feet tall (36 inches), this post will provide your kitten with plenty of vertical scratching space, even as they mature into a fully-grown cat. The post is wrapped in a tough and hard-wearing sisal rope, designed to encourage your cat to scratch.

Assembling this post is easy, especially as all the tools you need are included! The heavy base is designed to allow your kitten to climb up it without it toppling over! The base and top of this post are covered in a soft faux fur, which is wiped clean.

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6. SmartyKat Scratch ‘N Spin Carpet Post

If you’re looking for a scratching post with extra entertainment for your kitten, then the SmartyKat Scratch ‘N Spin Carpet Post could be a perfect choice.  About 20 inches high, this includes two spinning feathered toys on the top of the post. As your kitten tries to catch these, they’ll spin around in a mesmerizing fashion.

The post is covered with a carpeted surface designed to encourage scratching, and while kittens do love carpet, it’s not the best coverage for a scratching post because it’s difficult for your cat to differentiate between why it’s okay to scratch their carpeted post, but not your favorite rug!

• Related Read: 10 Best Cat Scratchers 2020 & Reviews & Top Picks

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7. 4 Paws Stuff Tall Cat Scratching Post

The 4 Paws Stuff Tall Scratching Post is a 22-inch high post that incorporates a variety of different materials, including sisal, carpet, and wood. The thick base is made from pressed wood and includes a fun ball puzzle for added entertainment. This is a great idea for kittens, especially as a way to encourage them to use their scratching post.

The one thing that we don’t like about this post is that it’s not tall enough for your kitten to get a full-height stretch in, meaning that while they may decide to play with the toys on this post, they might start scratching and stretching elsewhere!

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8. AmazonBasics Cat & Kitten Scratching Post

If you have multiple kittens and are looking for a unique scratching post, then the AmazonBasics Cat Scratching Post could be the one for you. With this, there will never be a line of kittens waiting, because it incorporates three separate posts on the same base!

Each post is of a different height, however, and the tallest is only 18.5” tall, so you may end up having to upgrade to a taller post as your kittens grow bigger. The toy can also get pulled off, and enthusiastic kittens may be able to push the post over.

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9. Catry Cat Tree Scratching Post for Cats & Kittens

The Catry Cat Tree Scratching Post is available in two different sizes, although we prefer the 32-inch tall version. The neutral colors are going to suit any home, while the attached toy adds a bit of interest for your cat.

The top half of the post is covered in a tough and hard-wearing sisal rope, and this is the section your cat will likely use the most. The lower half is covered in a felted carpet, which can cause a few issues when it comes to your cat scratching on other carpeted surfaces and thinking that it’s okay.

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10. PAWZ Road Cats Ultimate Scratching Post

The PAWZ Road post is 32” in height and will see your kitten through until they’re fully grown. Made from a tough sisal material, this should be durable for most kittens, although if you have multiple kittens who will all be playing with this, then it might not last as long as some of the other options out there.

This post also includes a small bird toy attached by a piece of string, but it’s not that secure, so you’ll need to make sure it doesn’t come loose. It also has a carpet base, which isn’t the best when it comes to encouraging your kittens to avoid other carpeted surfaces!

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11. InnoPet Cat & Kitten Scratching Post

The InnoPet Cat Scratching Post is easy to assemble, and the two-post sections simply need screwing together before you attach the base. The attached toy is made of tough sisal rope, as is the post. The carpeted base offers something for your cat to scratch on, though we prefer uncarpeted posts.

The post is a bit too short for our liking, as well as being more lightweight and flimsier than some of the other posts. So, while it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a short-term scratching post for your kittens, just bear in mind that you might need to upgrade as your kitten grows!

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Scratching Post for Kittens

When it comes to choosing the best scratching post for your kitten, the sheer number of choices out there can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this handy buying guide that has everything you need to know before you make your purchase.

Why does my kitten need a scratching post?

All cats love to scratch, and your tiny kitten is no exception. We don’t mean scratching people (although that can happen!), but rather we’re referring to your little bundle of fluff scratching a surface. But why do cats do this?

There are three main reasons that cats love to scratch. First of all, they’re not sharpening their claws, as we’re sometimes led to believe, but rather cleaning them. Scratching removes the outer, old layer of their claws, leaving the clean new growth. Secondly, scratching helps your kitten stretch and tone their muscles. You might notice your cat using different positions when they scratch, sometimes stretching long and low and other times reaching as high as they can. This version of kitty yoga helps prevent stiffness and makes sure your kitten is feeling their best. Lastly, cats need to stretch from an emotional point of view. This behavior is instinctive and can help your kitten release tension, frustration, and anxiety.

You’ll see your kitten practicing their technique from a young age, so not providing them with a suitable surface from the start can lead to them deciding that they have no choice other than to use your couch, carpets, and fancy rugs! As good cat parents, we must do what we can to make sure our kittens have everything they need to develop into healthy and emotionally well-rounded cats.

By providing your kitten with a scratching post or multiples ones placed in your home, you’re giving them somewhere they can safely carry out their instinctive behavior without ruining your furniture.

Important features to look for

The best kitten scratching post will have features that indicate it will be well used by your kitten, rather than gathering dust in the corner. Let’s take a look.

Conclusion: Best Scratching Posts for Kittens

By now, we hope you’ve got a good idea of what you should be looking for in a scratching post for your kitten. Durability and height are key, as well as a scratching surface that’s going to be appealing to your kitten.

Our best overall pick, the Hepper Cat Scratching Post, ticks all these boxes. The generous height of almost 32 inches means your kitten will still love this as they grow older and taller. Your furniture and carpets will stay untouched!

As the best value option, we suggest the Frisco 21-inch Cat Scratching Post. The fluffy toy attached to this post is a winner with most kittens, and owners love the fact that it’s available in a wide range of colors to suit any home décor. It’s a little shorter than we’d like, but as a bargain for your kitten, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Hopefully, our reviews have helped you figure out the essential features of a scratching post, as well as decide which one of our top 11 picks will suit your cute kitten the best. The only opinion that matters, though, is that of your kitten! We’re sure they’re going to love their new toy, whichever post you decide to go for.

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Featured Image: SmartCat The Ultimate Sisal Cat Scratching Post, Chewy