Scratching post for kittens: when to start and which one to choose

A kitten starts scratching before three months of age, and that's exactly the window you don't want to miss: no habit has settled on a piece of furniture yet. So a scratching post for kittens needs to be there from the day you bring your kitten home, not the day the sofa gets marked. And contrary to what the shop shelves suggest, a “kitten-sized” model is rarely the right choice.

At what age does a kitten start scratching?

The behaviour appears very early, usually between four and eight weeks, often before the kitten has even come home with you. They first watch their mother do it, then copy her: scratching is part of the repertoire learned during the socialisation period.

In practice, this means the kitten you adopt at two or three months already knows how to scratch. What they don't have yet is a habit fixed on one particular surface. That's the big difference from an adult cat: with them, you have to undo a habit before building a new one.

The consequence is simple: the scratching post must be in place on the day they arrive, just like the litter tray and the bowls. Not in a month's time, not when the problem shows up.

The “kitten-sized” scratching post mistake

It's the costliest trap in this category, and it's counter-intuitive.

Models sold for kittens are small — often 25 to 35 cm — because they're sized for how big the kitten is now. The problem is that kittens grow fast: at around six to eight months, they start stretching like an adult, front paws reaching up above their head. And a full stretch takes 45 to 60 cm in an adult cat.

What happens then? The scratching post becomes too short at the very moment the need gets stronger. Your cat looks higher up, and finds the arm of the sofa or the door frame. So you've created the very problem you wanted to avoid, just a year down the line.

The right approach is the opposite: go straight for an adult-sized scratching post of about 50 cm. Your kitten will climb on it, hang off it, scale it — which is exactly what you want, and it helps build their muscles and coordination. There's no downside to a scratching post being “too big” for a kitten, whereas there's a major one if it becomes too small.

Proper height from the day they arrive
A hideaway they can scratch: 50 cm tall, with a large round entrance, a small window and corrugated cardboard walls, a surface cats are happy to scratch. Discover the scratcher house →

Vertical or horizontal scratching post for kittens?

Both, if possible, and for a specific reason: at this age, preferences aren't fixed yet. A kitten exposed to both formats develops a broader repertoire, which reduces the risk of them falling back on an unsuitable surface later on. On the horizontal side, our sisal mat for the floor complements the upright scratcher, in four sizes from S to XL.

If you can only choose one, go vertical: it's the one that covers stretching, so it's the one that will replace the sofa when the time comes. A flat piece of cardboard on the floor can always be added for next to nothing.

As for material, avoid carpet for a young cat. A kitten who learns to scratch on carpet has no reason, later on, to tell their scratching post apart from the living room rug or a fabric-covered sofa leg. Corrugated cardboard and sisal don't have this problem. The full comparison is in which scratching post to choose for your cat.

How to introduce it — and what you really mustn't do

One rule trumps all the others: never carry your kitten to the scratching post, and don't put their paws on it. It's every new owner's natural reflex, and it's the one most guaranteed to put them off the object. The kitten then links the scratching post with being physically made to do something, and avoids it.

The right sequence is passive:

1. Put the scratching post in the main living area, next to where they sleep, and leave it be.
2. A single application of catnip on the surface, at the start. Note that kittens under six months often don't respond to it — that's normal; sensitivity comes with maturity.
3. End play sessions against the scratching post. Run the feather wand along the surface and let them catch the prey right there: the chase–catch–stretch sequence is what anchors the habit best.
4. When they use it, don't make a big fuss. A calm word, or nothing at all. A noisy reaction interrupts the behaviour instead of reinforcing it.

Never scold them for scratching elsewhere at this age: they're learning, and a telling-off at this stage produces a cat who scratches when you're not around rather than a cat who doesn't scratch.

Where to put it for a young cat

The same principles as for an adult apply, with one nuance: kittens sleep a lot, and scratching follows waking up. Placing it right by their bed is even more effective at this age than later on.

That's the thinking behind beds with a built-in scratcher, like our scratcher lounger: the kitten finds the surface under their paws at the exact moment they stretch, without having to move an inch.

The places to avoid are the same — a closed room, an isolated corner, behind furniture. The details are in where to put your cat's scratching post.

Should you trim a kitten's claws?

Getting a kitten used to having their paws handled is a good idea, whether or not you trim: it will make grooming and vet visits easier for the rest of their life. Get into the habit of touching their paw pads for a few seconds while you stroke them, without ever forcing it.

As for the trim itself, only the transparent tip is cut, never the pink part that contains the blood vessels. If in doubt, have a vet or a groomer show you how once.

Be aware, though: trimming claws doesn't replace a scratching post. Your kitten will keep scratching, because the need to stretch and mark is still fully there — trimming is an extra, never an alternative. And declawing is banned in France except on medical grounds, under the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, which France has ratified: it's an amputation, not a trim. Rules vary from country to country, so check what applies where you live.

What we recommend to get off to a good start

Our corrugated cardboard scratcher house stands 50 cm tall: a three-month-old kitten can slip inside, hide and sharpen their claws on its walls, and once grown up they can carry on scratching them. The cardboard wears away as they scratch — with a young cat, who scratches a lot, that's normal.

Frequently asked questions

My kitten nibbles and eats the cardboard — is it dangerous?

Kittens explore with their mouths and often chew off a few pieces. Corrugated cardboard with no visible glue poses no risk in small amounts, but keep an eye on the first sessions: if eating it becomes a habit rather than an occasional thing, steer them towards sisal.

How many scratching posts for one kitten?

Two are enough to start with: a vertical one by their bed, a flat one in the main living area. The “one per cat, plus one” rule comes into its own if a second animal joins the household.

My kitten is already scratching the sofa — is it too late?

No, and in fact it's the best time: the habit is only a few weeks old. The transfer method works much faster at this age, often in two weeks instead of six. It's set out in detail in cat scratching the sofa.

Do they need a cat tree as well?

These are two separate needs: the scratching post covers stretching and marking, the cat tree covers height and observation. For a kitten, the cat tree can wait a few months — but you'll need to choose it for their adult size. The question is covered in which cat tree for a kitten.