What Is the Best Scratching Post For Russian Blue?

Best Scratching Post For Russian Blue

Russian Blue Cats are beautiful cats with a calm temperament. Although Russian Blue kittens are hyperactive, Russian Blues as adults are very polite and only care about their business. This feline rarely scratches furniture and other things. However, scratching has many benefits and you should encourage the scratching habit of your Russian Blue. For that, you should buy a scratching post that your Russian Blue will love to scratch and play with.

One of the major mistakes that you might make is choosing a scratching post that only appeals to you. See, you should consider what your Russian Blue will love.

The ideal size of the Scratching Post depends on how long your Russian Blue is. However, the larger the scratching post is, the better. The size should be 2 times the length of your Russian Blue including the tail.

If you are buying a kitten Russian Blue, then buy an even larger scratching post, as the kitten will grow big in no time. A tall and vertical Scratching post is better as your Russian Blue can stand on their hind legs and jump up, climb, stretch, and be active.

A large horizontal scratching post is also good for them. Moreover, the horizontal post should be able to fit your cats’ entire body comfortably even while stretching. 

I won’t recommend a small size scratching post because your Russian Blue has no area to stretch and instead it brings stress to your Russian Blue. It’s never a bad idea to get a large-sized scratch post. A cat tree house with scratching posts is even better!

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is the more area, angles, planes, and platforms you give your Russian Blue to scratch in, the happier she will be. 

Today, I will tell you about what kind of scratching post your Russian Blue needs. You will even get to know how to encourage your Russian Blue to scratch the post. I’ll also try to answer other queries that you might have.

Why Does Your Russian Blue Scratch?

Like normal cats, Russian Blue Cats also have reasons to scratch. You can read the reasons below.

Marking Visual Territory

Russian Blue Cats might get territorial. This is seen in male cats more than females.

Your Russian Blue cats leave scents on their cheeks, urine on their territory. Likewise, your cat will mark an area of your house visually by claw marks too.

This is to warn other cats, animals, and even humans that the scratched area is your Russian Blues’ territory.

To Sharpen Claws

Like your nails, your Russian Blue also has claws that grow throughout their life. Thus, Scratching serves as a way to remove the overgrown claws.

It might be just natural instinct for your Russian Blue to remove the worn out claw and sharpen their inner new claws.

You can trim their nails to remove worn-out claws. However, Russian Blue cats are independent kitties and can take care of this matter by themselves. You just need to buy your cat a scratching post.

Play

Some Russian Blues are playfully aggressive by nature. They might spend all their saved up energy on scratching your furniture just for fun. Moreover, it might just be an exercise for them to stretch out and scratch your furniture.

Stress

Russian Blue cats are very sensitive. Any changes in their environment, may it be from people, places, or new pets, will make them anxious. This anxiety and stress might convert into scratching.

Excitement

Russian Blue Cats have immense love for their owners. If you come home after a hard day of work, your Russian Blue will be very excited to greet you. This excitement can burst into scratching your furniture.

What is the Best Scratching Post For Russian blue?

Choosing a scratching post for your Russian Blue might sound like a difficult task. But, if you understand your Russian Blue properly, it will be an easy task. You should understand what your Russian Blue needs and cater to their needs.

Initially, you can buy a cheap scratch post. Then, move on to some expensive ones after you are ensured that it will be the best one for your cat.

There are a lot of scratching posts you can choose from. For example, straight ones, extra tall ones, hollow and tubular ones, vertical and horizontal ones, angled scratch posts, cat tree house with sisal ropes and scratch bars, etc.

I have listed the dimensions of the scratching post that will work the best for your Russian Blue. Read below to find out.

Size Of Scratching Post

The size of the scratching post for your Russian Blue should be 2 times larger than the length of your cat. The length of your Russian blue is calculated from the front legs to as much as your cat can stretch to their hind legs. Include the tail too.

Just make sure that your Russian Blue can stretch comfortably on the scratching post. You can start with a 40-inch tall scratching post for your adult Russian Blue. For kitten Russian Blues, a 20-inch tall scratching post is better. But, since kittens grow tall soon, buying a 40-inch tall scratching post will be your best option.

If you get a tall scratching post, it leaves a lot of areas to stretch for your Russian Blue.

A larger area of scratching post around the base of the tall scratching post i.e, horizontal scratching post also leaves a lot of area for your Russian Blue to lie down and scratch.

However, small Scratching posts do not give your Russian Blue a good benefit of exercise. Your cat needs to crouch down and it can get really uncomfortable in a small scratching post. Moreover, your cat cannot stretch those muscles and get circulation.

That is why I will recommend you to get a larger and taller scratching post as you possibly can. You can never go wrong with a tall vertical and wide horizontal scratching post!

Structure Of Scratching Post

The best scratching posts structure is with many platforms (like a cat tree house) and planes. So that your Russian Blue can choose any position she likes to stretch out and exercise.

There are hollow and solid scratching posts for your Russian Blue. The hollow ones are better because:

  • The hollow ones are sturdier because it cannot topple on top of your cat. Even if it does topple, it will not hurt your Russian Blue.
  • The hollow scratching post will make more noise. This noise will be pleasant for your cat. Moreover, if your cat is mischievous, the noise might add to the satisfaction. Because your cat might think she is destroying the post.

A cat treehouse is also better. This treehouse structure incorporates the living area as well as the scratching area for your Russian Blue. Furthermore, your cat will have a lot of platforms to stay on and scratch.

In addition, the cat tree house offers a view of their surroundings. Russian Blue cats are excellent observers. Thus, the cat tree house might serve as a way to navigate their environment. This will make your Russian Blue comfortable.

Nowadays, people are buying a scratching post that blends in with the design of their house. Such scratching posts are called scratching lounges. Instead of buying a cat tree house, people buy lounges.

Actually, the structure of the scratching posts comes in a variety that you can choose.

Material Of Scratching Post

After you have decided on a large scratch post for your Russian Blue, it’s time to select a good material that your Russian Blue will love to scratch.

Your Russian Blue will love to scratch a sturdy material that shreds while scratching. This will create a scratch mark on the material and urges a territorial instinct in your Russian Blue. Moreover, this visual marking will create a sense of comfort in your cat.

Outdoor cats have a habit of climbing trees and scratching the wood. See, you can use wood for your Russian Blue but it just creates a mess in your house.

Moreover, Russian Blues are indoor cats. That’s why you need scratching materials that work best indoors.

Sisal Rope And Fabric

Sisal is a great material for scratching. It is made from the Agave Sisalana plant native to Southern Mexico.

Sisal is also very strong and rough. Your Russian Blue will feel like she is scratching a tree. It just feels natural to scratch a Sisal.

Although a bit expensive, Sisal is biodegradable and lasts for a long time. However, you may be confused about keeping a sisal rope or fabric. Bear with me.

I prefer Sisal Fabric over Sisal rope. This is because Sisal fabric becomes softer on scratching. While the sisal rope becomes sharper and it might hurt the claws of your Russian Blue.

Sisal fabric is easy to shed smoothly and leaves a territorial mark on it. While the sisal rope is interrupted by bumps and it isn’t a satisfying experience for your cat. That is why even you should use Sisal fabric!

Moreover, sisal scratching posts have a different texture compare to your furniture. Thus, you can easily train your Russian Blue to scratch rough sisal than your smooth furniture.

You can buy a scratching post entirely covered with sisal (including the tall parts and the parts around the base). Your Russian Blue will love it.

Cardboard

Corrugated Cardboard works as a cheap scratching post. Moreover, your Russian Blue will love the pleasant feeling of dragging the claws on the cardboard post. The noise while scratching is also very pleasurable for your cat.

Since cardboard scratching posts are inexpensive, it can be your perfect starter for scratching posts. Especially if you are trying a scratching post for your Russian Blue for the first time.

There are high-density cardboards as well which come in a variety of shapes on which your cat can lie comfortably.

Cardboards come on flat surfaces or angles. Some even come with toys attached to them. However, it gets destroyed quite easily.

But, for a first try, cardboards are not that bad.

Carpet

I don’t prefer carpet as scratching posts for many reasons.

First, the texture of the carpet scratching post resembles the texture of your furniture. It will be confusing for your Russian Blue to differentiate the texture and your cat might end up scratching everything that resembles a carpet.

Another thing is carpet doesn’t give a satisfying feeling to your cat. The carpets don’t shred and leave any mark. Instead, the carpet catches the claws and pulls on your Russian Blues toes which is very painful.

Vertical Or Horizontal?

I recommend the size of the scratching post to be both as tall vertically as it is wide horizontally. This is so that your cat has an ample amount of space to stretch and be comfortable.

Some angle on the scratch post is also very beneficial. Angled scratchers allow your Russian Blue to work more muscles. It is essential to remember that the more planes and platforms you provide, the more entertaining it is to your Russian Blue.

Some Russian Blue cats prefer to lie down in a crouching position and “dig” the scratching post. They might feel like they’re unraveling a burrow of a mouse in this position.

Some cats prefer to sort of stay on the ground and reach the scratchable surface with their front paws. And, some cats prefer to stand on all four paws and climb on a scratching post.

The horizontal scratching post should be wide enough for your cat to stand on, stretch, and scratch comfortably. If the scratching post is too small, then your cat might kick the claws of hind legs and destroy the floor unknowingly.

The tall scratcher should be tall enough to accommodate your Russian Blue climbing and stretching. Russian Blue cats are avid climbers and their love for climbing is unmatched. That’s why vertical scratching posts work best for your Russian Blue.

Stable Scratching Post

I think that stability is even more important than the material for your Russian Blue.

Your Cat uses a lot of force while scratching. A scratching post with a light base easily topples over due to this force. If the scratching post wobbles a lot and topples over, it’s not a good idea to keep it with your cats. Because your cat might jump and climb on it. This causes injuries.

Furthermore, this will cause your Russian Blue to never look at the scratching post ever again.

Outdoors cats prefer trees because trees are stable. Your Russian Blue scratches your chair, desk, and furniture because furniture is stable. Overall, a sturdy scratching post is favored by your cat.

That is why you should use a scratching post with a strong heavy base so it has less chance of toppling over. Using a hollow scratching post is also a lot better than dense and heavy scratching posts.

Where Should You Put The Scratching Post For Russian Blue?

This might be the most important thing to keep in mind. You should keep the scratching post in a location where your Russian Blue spends a lot of time.

You can keep the scratch post in an area that your Russian Blue has claimed as their own territory. Generally, a cat scratches an area that is visible to everyone to claim territory. If you have an idea of where your Russian Blue scratches, you have an idea of where to keep the scratching post.

Considering that Russian Blues are avid climbers and love high places, it is also better to use a high cat tree house that has scratching posts attached. I recommend you to keep the scratching posts near a window where your Russian Blue can look at birds and insects.

Moreover, your Russian Blue will love the warmth of sunshine on their scratching post. I sometimes think that Russian Blues are like cellphones that get charged by sunshine. That’s why keep the scratching post in an area with lots of sunshine.

Russian Blues are like dogs. These felines will greet you on your doorsteps when you’re back home from work. So, in the excitement of seeing you, they scratch furniture. You can keep scratching post near the doorsteps so that your cat can vent up the excitement on scratching the post.

Moreover, Russian Blues love food and can do anything for food. Food excites them. Thus, you can keep scratching posts near their food bowl.

If your cat likes to hang out in more than one place, then it will be better to buy more scratching posts and keep it in their favorite hanging spots.

A mistake you might make is keeping the scratch post secluded in a storeroom or away from the usual place where your cat sits. This will discourage your cat from scratching the post.

How To Make Your Russian Blue Use the Scratching Post?

First of all, you should keep the scratching post at a good location as I described above.

Even after doing that, your cat might not use the scratching post. There may be reasons like the smell of the post is appalling (especially the glue on the post). For that, you can use catnip sprays or calming sprays on the scratching post. This will encourage your Russian Blue to scratch on it.

Moreover, you can attach cat toys like fish poles and sisal ropes to the scratching post. This will encourage the playful aggressiveness in your Russian Blue.

You can even gesture your cat into scratching the post by dragging your hand on the post. Russian Blues are very intelligent and might understand what you are gesturing. They might start copying you after some days and start scratching the post.

However, don’t forcefully drag your cats’ paws on the post. It is annoying to your Russian Blue.

Furthermore, feeding your Russian Blue around the scratch post might increase the importance of that area. In no time, your Russian Blue will start using the scratch post as a mark of their territory.

Benefits Of Using Scratching Post For Russian Blue

There are only benefits of using Scratch posts which I’ve listed below:

  • Scratching Posts helps your Russian Blue to shed out worn-out claws and sharpen new claws.
  • Your cat can vent anxiety, frustration, excitement, and all emotions on scratching posts. Instead of being aggressive, your cat can scratch the post. In a way, it is like therapy for your cat.
  • Scratching Post acts as an alternative to furniture. So, your cat scratches the post instead of your precious furniture. In this way, you save your furniture.
  • Scratching serves as a great way to exercise and stretch your cats’ muscles. Stretching improves the circulation of blood flow and benefits your cats’ health greatly.
  • Russian Blues are calm cats. But calmness also means laziness for them. This laziness is especially seen in Old Russian Blue Cats. Thus, scratching posts can act as a great way to stretch and exercise to improve the health of your old lady/gentleman.
  • Russian Blues are friendly cats. It’s only sometimes that they get aggressive. And they are ready to share the scratching post with their family. If you have multiple Russian Blues, a scratching post can be a great place where Russian Blue Cats can meet and play.

Should You Make A Scratching Post By Yourself For Russian Blue?

Making a scratching post from home is cheap. A homemade DIY Scratching post will also tailor to your Russian Blues’ needs.

You can create the desired size of the scratching post for your Russian Blue. But, it takes a lot of work to make a hazard-free scratching post.

If you have lots of time on your hands, I’ll say go for it. However, buying a scratching post is easier and safer than tangling yourself in this hassle.

The nails should be hammered in well. Otherwise, it might pierce your cats’ paws and cause severe injuries. DIY scratching posts also need to be sanded down on the edges. If your cat chews on it, it will hamper their health.

Furthermore, your Russian Blue has a strong sense of smell. The smell of glue and tarnish is very appalling for your cat. That’s why your cat might dislike the scratching post. This will cause a waste of money, effort, and time.

Moreover, I don’t think a homemade scratching post will last as long. That is why you shouldn’t entertain the idea of making a scratching post by yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Scratching Post Should You Get For Russian Blue?

A single Russian Blue cat should have multiple scratching posts. This is so that it instills a habit in your Russian Blue to scratch furniture. Make sure to keep the scratching posts at their favorite spot though.

If you have multiple Russian Blue cats, then each one of them should have access to their scratching posts. This is because Russian Blues might get aggressive when other cat tries to invade their territory (a scratching post).

Moreover, you can buy a cat tree house with multiple platforms and multiple scratching posts. If your Russian Blue Cat is friendly, they won’t mind sharing the cat treehouse.

Does Scratching Post Trim Nails?

Like human nails, Russian Blues also have claws that grow throughout their life. Your Russian Blue cat removes the worn-out claws and brings out new sharp claws by scratching. Thus, to help your Russian Blue in removing their worn-out claws, you should buy a scratching post for them.

Trimming means cutting the worn-out claws using a claw-cutter. For this, you need to dedicate your time and effort to cut your cat’s claws. And trust me when I say that Russian Blues hate trimming their nails. That is why it is a lot better to buy your Russian Blue a scratching post to blunt their worn-out claws than trimming the worn-out claws.

In simple words, a scratching post will help your Russian Blue to shed the worn-out claws. It will also save you time and effort!

How Tall Should The Scratching Post Be For Russian Blue?

The taller the scratching post is, the better! For starters, a 40-inch long scratching post for your adult Russian Blue will be good. For a kitten Russian Blue, you can buy a 20-inch tall scratching post.

Remember that the scratching post should be tall for your cat to stretch comfortably. The tallness should be 2 times the length of your cat’s body when it stands on all four paws!

How Long Do Scratching Post Last For Russian Blue?

The longevity of the scratching post depends on the material it is made of and the number of cats in your house. It also depends on how much your cats use the scratching post.

If you have multiple Russian Blue kittens, don’t expect the scratching post to last for more than 6 months.

However, for an adult Russian Blue, it may last for 2 years.

For multiple adult Russian Blues in the household, the scratch post might last for a year.

Perhaps the most important thing is the material and quality of the scratching post. Sisal Scratching posts are really durable and last for months and even years. Whereas, if you use carpet and cardboard, I don’t think they will last as long.

Scratching posts with wood as a base are also long-lasting.

How To Make Your Cat Not Scratch Your Furniture?

Firstly, cover the furniture that your Russian Blue scratches with a heavy blanket or double-sided duct tape. Then, keep a scratching post near the furniture. Chances are, your cat will start using the scratching post instead of using the furniture covered with unsatisfying covering.

Moreover, Russian Blues are highly sensitive to smell and you can use this to your advantage.

Make a solution of lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil, and water. Then, spray it on your furniture or any place that you don’t want your Russian Blue to scratch. Although this smell is good for you, your Russian Blue will hate it.

Conclusion

I hope you understood the size of the scratching post needed by your Russian Blue.

Your Russian Blue needs a tall vertical scratching post because they are avid climbers. You can even buy a large horizontal scratcher. Angled scratcher also works well. Just make sure to get a scratching post containing many platforms and angles to make your cat as comfortable as possible. You should also ensure to get a large scratching post.

I hope this article was helpful for you to choose a scratcher for your lovely Russian Bue.

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