Which cat scratching post would you recommend?

I don’t know a brand, but someone once told me it is important the post be tall enough that the cat can do a full stretch or they won’t use. I don’t know of that is true, but it might explain why some cats never take to some posts.

Upright and sturdy is pretty much the standard for cat trees, the tall and larger ones I should say.
Obviously you can test the stability by wiggling it on a level surface, floor or carpet.
My very big male can practically tip his over and it is very sturdy, he is just a 16 pounder that tips it when he leaps up to the top.
It is on carpet in my bedroom.

It is five feet tall with 3 bed type platforms and two supporting posts.
Other than that I’d suggest looking for a darker colored carpet so it doesn’t show the dirt as much. Mine is beige with a slightly darker beige on the platforms, it shows a lot of dirt and I am constantly using carpet cleaner on it and dragging it out on my deck to wash the platforms in the summer. I have red clay soil that leaves a reddish stain on the carpet.

It is a never ending chore to keep the cats brushed, wiped down and the tree clean.
Because it is at the foot of my bed I am fastidious about cleaning it, the one in the garage, not so much. Just a quickie wipe down now and then with a old washrag and a spritz of Lysol.
One other thing, cats are very sensitive to changes in smell and when I clean mine they do not use it much for a few days until the scent of the cleaner dissipates.

Very helpful. Thank-you!

I know you said upright, however, none of my four cats use that one with any regularity. They all love the small circle cardboard one in the middle of a ball track or the rectangular cardboard one. Both of these are cheap, disposable and thoroughly used. The rather expensive upright post type scratcher, even when refreshed with catnip, gets nothing but a head rub.

@SpatzieLover I have the one that you recommended, and he just sleeps on it. He was an outdoor kitty for almost 8 months and used trees to scratch on. He likes to stretch his body (upright) and scratch. He has just started using my coffee table and small kitchen hutch.

If you’ve ever looked at these things closely, they are just a couple of pieces of wood nailed together, then covered in carpet. Just don’t spend too much; they don’t improve in quality with price (and they can be ridiculously pricey in some places).

I have two of these on each floor (which makes 6) plus several of the refills tossed around at advantageous points. Milo ignores the tall, expensive post.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+20831+12927&pcatid=12927 $8.00 each for the cardboard container and insert.

He still sneaks onto my screens when I have my back turned.

www.pioneerpet.com
(reccomended by Maahhhtha)

www.naturaltreefurniture.com

(this is my preferred choice, plus free shipping.)

They even have a DIY section if you’re so inclined. But just make certain that any wood you bring into your home has the bugs and larvae killed off first to avoid any nasty surprises. My personal preference is to just buy from someone like this who has done all that. I’m not really a woodworker.

The one I have right now has sisal rope wound around it, (looks like this), and my kitties like it. They are 5–6 months old, and it’s not very tall, so I plan on getting a taller one. I may repurpose a piece of firewood and see how they like that.