Royal Cat Boutique 24-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post, Neutral

I got this scratching post to replace a very old carpet-covered post that I had actually recovered over time. I hated the idea of putting it in the landfill. When I finally decided to get a replacement, it was hard to find just a regular, substantial post (not a tree or anything elaborate) that looked like it would last. I was looking for a certain height because my big heavy cat uses his post to get up to the window sill where he likes to hang out. After reading a lot of reviews, I selected this one, even though it was much more expensive than most of the others. It is very sturdy, and the square base makes it fit in the corner snugly. There is no issue of tipping or anything that would make him scared to get on it. I rubbed it with some catnip at first, and he adapted to it right away. The jute rope is not just coiled around the post, but seems to be woven in a way that will not easily come apart. I have now had this for a couple of months, and my cat uses it multiple times a day, both for scratching and jumping up to the window sill. There are no signs of wear and tear so far. I am happy with my purchase. Also glad to see it is a small business and made in the US.

I wanted a scratching post to fit unobtrusively in my living room, next to a piece of furniture. I wish the base were in the brown family rather than gray (the only reason it loses one star from me), but this model otherwise works well. It is sturdy to allow my 9 pound cat to claw at it and stretch on it without budging.