Purr-fect Picks: 5 Best Scratching Posts for Maine Coons

Cats love to scratch and stretch out their magnificent limbs and claws—it’s a natural instinct of all felines. However, this lovely instinct sometimes means the demise of your furniture, bed posts, and oriental rugs! The best way to eliminate destructive scratching is to entice your cat to scratch on a scratching post—but which one is best?

Look for a scratching post that has the length to accommodate your Maine Coons extra size and stable enough to cope with their extra weight. Observe your Maine Coon’s preferences in materials and how they prefer to scratch—horizontally or vertically. Seek durable materials and a solid, extra-wide base to prevent your post from wobbling or overturning.

Scratching is such an essential part of your Maine Coons life that it is one of the critical ways to enrich your cat’s indoor environment. Scratching provides multiple benefits for cats, shedding their claws and sheaths, stretching their bodies, and relieving stress and boredom. However, due to their XL physiques, this breed has unique requirements— so let’s explore the best scratching posts for Maine Coons.

Quick Guide: Top 5 Scratching Posts for Your Maine Majesty

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5 Reasons Why Your Maine Fluff Needs a Scratching Post

1. Allows Your Cat to Shed Claw Sheaths

The fancy term for the outer layer of a cat’s claw is a cornified claw sheath that cats regularly shed by scratching rough surfaces such as tree bark (or your favorite couch)! This continuous shedding keeps your Maine Coons claws extra sharp and ready to hunt should the opportunity arise.

How cats shed the outer layer of their claws without damaging the new claw underneath is a fascinating and highly evolved process. The living epidermis within the cat’s claw builds up layers on the surface, forming a thick, cornified cap. Through everyday wear and tear, tensile forces cause microcracks between the living epidermis and the hardened outer sheath toward the tip of the claw.

At the same time, the sides of the claw are also pushed outwards by the new growth underneath. The series of microcracks further expose the hardened outer layer to water loss and separate the new claw from the outer sheath while scratching.

2. A Scratching Post Serves As Scent Marker

Cats rely heavily on scent to navigate their environment. Cats have several means of leaving pheromones or chemical scents that relay information to other cats or mark a familiar area as their own.

Cats have scent glands in their ears, cheeks, lips, and on the base of their tail and anal glands. They also have scent glands that release Feline interdigital Semiochemical (FIS) between their toes. FIS secretions carry a mixture of fatty acids, including  Linoleic acid, valeric acid, and lactic acids.

When Maine Coon scratches a scratch post, they release these secretions to mark the areas the frequent—typically areas your kitty spends most of their time.

3. Scratching a Post Is an Emotional Release

Cats are attracted to scratching areas by the visual signs of their scratches and their failure scent, and the marks make a cat feel secure rather than merely a territorial marker.

Scratching is a natural release of stress and boredom, which indoor cats often experience. Scratching gives an outlet to your Maine Coons natural cat instincts and increases their feelings of well-being, and relieves anxiety.

4. Scratch Posts Allow Your Coon to Stretch

You may notice that your Maine Coon often seeks a scratching area when they wake from a snooze. Scratching surfaces allow your kitty to stretch out their body and exercise the muscles and tendons used in claw usage. Think of it as keeping their “weapons” in fighting shape!

5. A Good Quality Scratching Post May Save Your Furniture

Scratching is a happy and regular cat activity with multiple physical and psychological benefits. The trick is not to prevent your cat from scratching but to redirect your kitty’s attention to productive scratching areas in the form of scratching posts. Providing your kitty with a perfect post placed in their favorite spot will save your furniture from looking like it lost a particularly violent battle.

How to Choose the Best Scratcher？

1. Scratching Post Size

Most cat sites agree that a cat scratcher should be at least 32” high to let a cat fully stretch—but what about our gentle giants, the Maine Coon? There is some variety in size within the Maine Coon breeds and between male and female Maine coons. The figures below are a conservative estimate from TICA (Non-show Maine Coons may be much larger).

Measurement	Average Domestic Cat	Maine Coon Male
Height	9-9.8 inch (23-25cm)	10-16 inch (25-40cm)
Length (Head-Body)	18 inch (46cm)	19-32 inch (48-81 cm)
Weight	10 lbs. (4.5kg)	9- 20 lbs. (4.5-9 kg)

If most cat sites suggest 32-inch scratching posts, you may need to almost double the length for an XL Maine Coon!

How I Measured My Main Coon

I am no mathematician. Still, I measured my Maine Coon for his vertical post successfully by the following calculation:

• Length in inches: 21”
• Plus, his height (from shoulder to ground) 10”
• Plus, his height from hip to the ground 10”
• Equals: 41”
• Because Halo often scratches without fully extending his back legs, he crouches down a bit for traction. So, I subtracted about one-third of his back leg measurement to 36”. Guess what? A perfect fit!

2. Type of Scratching Post

• Vertical: These cat scratchers allow your cat to stand on his hind legs and get a full stretch upwards. They come in a variety of shapes and forms, including the hanging vertical scratcher, which can be a good choice if you have an XL Maine Coon.
• Horizontal Scratcher: These scratchers allow your Maine Coon to dig their claws onto a flat surface and go to town on the substrate.
• Angled Scratcher: These scratchers offer an incline, and your Maine Coon can choose which direction they wish to scratch.
• Multifunctional Scratchers: Some cat scratching posts come with additions such as perches, beds, and toys and serve multiple scratching functions.

3. Scratching Post Materials

A. Sisal rope

Sisal rope is a first choice for many cat lovers as it is relatively durable, and cats seem to love to get stuck into its fibers. Sisal extracts the fibrous leaves of plants from the Agave sisalana plant and makes for a stiff and robust cordage with low elasticity.

You may see the term “unoiled sisal” because people often seek the marine cordage industry for its excellent seawater resistance. Sometimes, manufacturers impregnate the rope with chemical oils for weather resistance, which may be unsafe for pets.

Sisal also comes in fabric and carpet form, which cats love but is less durable than sisal rope.

B.Wood

Wood is natural and always looks classy, and it best mimics your Maine Coons ancestral scratching choices. However, it is sensitive to moisture and mold and may splinter over time, and gosh—it’s expensive! Look for hardwood options such as maple and oak with an excellent thick cover of natural bark. 

C. Corrugated Cardboard

For some reason, my Maine Coon loves corrugated cardboard, which is a blessing because it’s usually the cheapest material for scratching posts. I think it may be the excellent claw penetration he gets from digging into the softer surface than most ropes. However, be prepared to replace these style posts often!

D. Carpet

Some cats love the feel of carpet under their sharp little claws. The best part about carpet options is that they come in a wide array of colors and designs to match your decor. But opt for deeper, cut pile options where the fibers are cut instead of looped, which catch on your kitty’s claws and unravels.

Look for tough synthetic materials such as nylon and polyester, or opt for eco-friendly options of recycled plastics. Synthetic fiber carpets are more durable and easier to clean than wool or sisal carpeting.

E.Your Maine Coon’s Personal Style

Every cat is unique, and every Maine Coon has their own quirks and preferences. The best way to judge which type and material suits your kitty is to observe the surfaces they naturally gravitate towards to scratch.

If your cat loves to stretch up the sides of your settee, chances are he will enjoy a vertical post. If your Maine Coon loves to shred your hallway carpet, he will love a horizontal post. Look closely at the material your cat enjoys scratching; that may also give you a clue to finding the perfect scratching post.

A Handy Checklist on Choosing the Perfect Scratching Post

• Sturdy base: You can have the best materials in the world, but your Maine Con won’t use a scratcher unless it’s stable and wobble-free. Look for posts with wide and sturdy base dimensions that can hold the extra weight of your kitty.
• Height: Seek XL scratchers, allowing your Maine Coon to stretch their magnificent muscles. Try aiming for at least 40 inches, depending on your cat’s size.
• Width: Look for a thicker width of at least 7 inches or more to accommodate the larger chest size of your Maine Coon.
• Durable Materials: As mentioned above, seek durable materials such as sisal rope or tough nylon cut pile carpets to ensure the post lasts.

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Unveiling Our Top 5 Picks: Coon Cat Scratching Posts

1. KONELCARE 50″ Tall Cat Scratching Post

Specifications

Dimensions:	21.6″L x 21.6″W x 50″H
Materials	Solid wood base and a seat at the top, sisal rope
Colors	Beige, wood
Extras	Wooden 18” perch on top of post

The Konelcare scratching post offers it all for Maine Coon lovers. This post weighs a whopping 36 lbs. to avoid your Maine Coon pulling down most of the average-size towers. Plus, the post provides a generous 50-inch height for a good old-fashioned Maine Coon stretch.

The base is broad and an inch and a half thick of solid wood, so you don’t have to fear any spills, and the base has non-slip patches on the bottom for extra grip. The post is also wide for your Maine Coon’s oversized chest, and a wooden seat sits on top to survey the kingdom.

Konelcare supports this product with a six-month guarantee for the rope and a full year for the entire post, which says something about the quality.

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2. MidWest Homes for Pets Cat Scratching Post

Specifications

Dimensions:	19″L x 19″W x 41″H
Weight	19lbs
Materials	Natural sisal rope, faux brown fur base
Colors	Cream/Brown
Extras	Extra wide base 19”x19”

MidWest is a family-owned business based in Indiana that has operated for over 100 years. Their XL scratch post features double thick natural sisal rope with a sturdy base to prevent wobbling. This post would suit medium-sized Maine Coons as the product weight is 19 lbs and may struggle with a heavier load.

The sisal rope is durable, and MidWest stands behind its product with a full one-year guarantee should anything go wrong. The post is over three feet tall and provides a lush faux fur base for added comfort.

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3. PetFusion Jumbo Cat Scratcher Lounge 39 x 11 x 14-in

Specifications

Dimensions:	39 x 11 x 14.3
Materials	Eco-Friendly Recycled corrugated cardboard, non-toxic adhesive (corn-based), cardboard siding
Colors	Beige
Extras	Space to crawl inside and on top contains organic catnip from the USA

PetFusion’s unique design allows your cats to scratch, play, and stretch in multiple poses on their two-tiered design. With a length of almost 40 inches and a spacious 11-inch width, this scratcher is a match for the larger dimensions of the Maine Coon.

PetFusion individually glues the layers with a non-toxic corn-based adhesive, not pre-manufactured cardboard. This process makes the scratcher stronger and able to withstand added weight.

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4. SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post

Specifications

Dimensions:	16″L x 16″ W x 32″H
Materials	Durable sisal fiber
Colors	Brown

The SmartCat scratching post dominates Amazon with over 28,000 reviews and an average of 4.7 stars out of 5. The post offers a wide base of 16”x15.75” to prevent wobbles or tipping and woven sisal covering for durability.

The post looks good and offers an elegant furniture-like appearance with neutral colors to blend into your home. The assembly is simple, with only two screws and two dowels to set the post up. Although it is too short for an XL Maine Coon, this product suits smaller-sized Maine Coons or kittens.

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5. AGILE 74″ Tall Wood Cat Tower

Specifications

Dimensions:	17.72″L x 17.72″ W x 73.62″H
Materials	Pine plywood, woven sisal fabric
Colors	Beige
Extras	Three climbing platforms, wall anchor, and hardware

The Agile scratching tower is the best pick for XL Maine Coons because it is over 6 feet high and comes with an included wall anchor to ensure your cat stays safe. The tough sisal woven fabric is durable and provides excellent grip for climbing, and ensures the best stretches for the longest Maine Coons!

Although the donut beds are too small for an XL Maine Coon, they make effective climbing steps or a place to sit comfortably. Agile manufactures the beds with plush cushions with removable covers for easy washing. The base provides anti-slip feet to stop the tower from sliding.

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FAQs About Scratching Posts for Maine Coons

Where Is the Best Place to Put a Cat Scratching Post?

Place your scratching post in areas where your cat likes to hang out or near where they like to sleep. Often, cats seek a scratch when they wake up to stretch their bodies. Alternatively, look for areas they already like to scratch (like your furniture) and place the post in front of the area.

Should I Have More Than One Scratching Post?

It is an excellent idea if you can afford to buy more than one post. Placing a post near your cat’s sleeping area and one in the living space gives your kitties an option and adds variety. If you have multiple cats, you should place a scratch post in each of your cat’s designated spaces along with their water bowls, bedding, and litter box.

How Can I Entice My Cat to Use a Scratching Post?

Cats aren’t fans of new objects in their familiar environment, so they may not initially take to a new post. Catnip is an obvious enticement, but you can also consider Feliway® Spray, which mimics the F3-friendly pheromones released by the face glands of cats. This feel-good chemical scent helps attract the cat to the post and away from your settee!