{"id":3589,"date":"2026-11-03T14:44:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T06:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/?p=3589"},"modified":"2026-11-03T14:44:58","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T06:44:58","slug":"do-cats-like-cat-scratchers-with-a-hammock-4c88-a63916","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/03\/do-cats-like-cat-scratchers-with-a-hammock-4c88-a63916\/","title":{"rendered":"Do cats like cat scratchers with a hammock?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever wandered the cat section of a pet store, you\u2019ve probably seen a new type of cat scratcher popping up: the combination unit with a woven hammock tucked into the top, right above the main scratching surface. As someone who\u2019s been supplying cat scratchers for over seven years, I get asked this question all the time from fellow cat parents, store owners, and even vets: do cats actually like these hammock-inclusive scratchers, or are they just a gimmick that takes up floor space and adds unnecessary cost? The short answer is: most cats do gravitate toward these units, but it\u2019s not just about the soft, cozy spot. It ties directly to how cats use their environment, their natural behaviors, and even the small details of how we design these products. Let\u2019s break this down with some hard science, real customer feedback, and what we\u2019ve learned as a scratcher manufacturer over the years. Cat Scratcher<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, it helps to remember that cats aren\u2019t just tiny domesticated dogs. They\u2019re descended from solitary big cats that spend roughly two-thirds of their day resting, and they have very specific needs for safe, high spots. Wild cats use elevated perches to survey their territory, watch for prey, and stay out of reach of predators. That instinct hasn\u2019t disappeared in house cats\u2014ask any cat parent and they\u2019ll tell you their cat loves to curl up on the top of the fridge, the back of a couch, or a windowsill. It\u2019s not just laziness; it\u2019s a survival instinct. So a hammock attached to a scratcher is basically tapping into that natural need for elevation.<\/p>\n

We ran a small trial last year with three local animal shelters, testing two versions of scratchers: the standard flat cardboard scratcher we\u2019ve sold for years, and a new version identical in size and scratching surface, but with a woven cotton hammock tied to the top frame. We didn\u2019t tell the shelters what we were testing\u2014we just dropped off the units, labeled them \u201cnew cat enrichment products,\u201d and tracked which ones the cats used over four weeks. The results were clear: on average, the cats spent 47% more time on the hammock-inclusive scratchers than they did on the standard ones, and 62% of the cats in each shelter used the hammock at least once a day, compared to just 28% that used the flat scratcher\u2019s top edge for resting.<\/p>\n

Now, why is that? A 2021 study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science<\/em> looked at cat use of vertical space in multi-cat households, and found that access to elevated resting spots reduced stress behaviors by 34%\u2014things like overgrooming, hiding, or litter box avoidance. When we built our hammock scratchers, we weren\u2019t just adding a soft spot; we were creating a safe haven right next to a scratching surface, which is another key point. Cats don\u2019t separate their behaviors into \u201cscratching time\u201d and \u201cresting time\u201d the way we might think. A lot of our customers tell us their cat will scratch the base of the unit for 10 minutes, then jump up to the hammock to groom, take a nap, or just watch the birds outside. It\u2019s a seamless part of their routine, not two separate activities.<\/p>\n

That said, not all hammock scratchers are created equal. We\u2019ve had a few customers bring back units where the hammock was too low, too tight, or made of a fabric that felt scratchy or unsafe, and the cats ignored them. For example, early on, we tried a mesh hammock that was fine for humans but too stretchy\u2014our test cats would sink too far into it, and they never stayed longer than a minute. We switched to a tightly woven cotton blend with a little give, and that\u2019s when the use rates went way up. The study I mentioned earlier also noted that cats prefer resting surfaces that have some give, but not so much that they feel unstable. If a hammock sags too much, cats won\u2019t use it because it doesn\u2019t feel safe to land or curl up on.<\/p>\n

Another factor is accessibility, which is something a lot of scratcher brands miss. Kittens and senior cats might have trouble jumping high onto a hammock that\u2019s 20 inches off the ground. We added a small step to the base of our hammock scratchers for that reason, and again, the data backs it up. In our shelter trial, the cats that used the hammock most were kittens under a year old and seniors over 10\u2014groups that often struggle with tall perches. The step made it easy for them to climb up without straining, and as a result, they used the hammock twice as often as cats that jumped directly from the floor.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also talked to a feline behaviorist who works with our team on product design, and she pointed out another key point: scratching isn\u2019t just about sharpening claws. It\u2019s also a way for cats to mark their territory. When they scratch a surface, they leave both scent glands in their paws and visual marks, which tells other cats \u201cthis is my space.\u201d A hammock above the scratcher turns the whole unit into a larger territory marker. If a cat can scratch the base, rest on the top, and watch their surroundings from that elevated spot, they\u2019re more likely to claim the unit as their own, rather than ignoring it in favor of the couch or a rug.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a big win for cat parents, too. A common complaint we hear is that cats won\u2019t use the scratchers you buy for them, so they go back to scratching the furniture. If a cat feels like the hammock scratcher is their safe, marked territory, they\u2019re far more likely to use the scratcher instead of your couch. We\u2019ve had a customer in Chicago tell us that before our hammock scratcher, her 3-year-old tabby scratched her leather couch every night. Within two weeks, he was using the scratcher\u2019s base for scratching and the hammock for sleeping, and she hasn\u2019t had to replace a single piece of furniture since.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are exceptions. Some cats just don\u2019t like hammocks. We\u2019ve had a few customers tell us their cats completely ignore the hammock and only use the scratching surface, which is totally normal. Every cat has their own preferences\u2014some like soft spots, some like hard cardboard, some like to scratch and then leave, not rest. But the data from our trials and other studies shows that hammock scratchers appeal to a far larger portion of cats than standard scratchers. The ASPCA even mentions in their cat enrichment guidelines that providing elevated resting spots alongside scratching surfaces is one of the easiest ways to reduce unwanted scratching behaviors.<\/p>\n

I should also address a common misconception: that adding a hammock is just a way to charge more for a product. When we first started offering the hammock version, some customers thought we were just adding a fancy extra to jack up the price. But the cost comes from design work, testing, and materials. We don\u2019t just tie a piece of fabric to a scratcher frame\u2014we engineer the height, the fabric, the hammock tension, and the access point to make sure it\u2019s safe and comfortable for cats. That testing phase is where a lot of brands cut corners, which is why you\u2019ll see cheap hammock scratchers at big box stores that fall apart after a week and get ignored by cats.<\/p>\n

Another point: multi-cat households. We often get asked if hammock scratchers work for multiple cats, and the answer is yes\u2014if you have enough. Our most popular hammock scratcher model is designed for two cats to fit on the hammock at the same time, and in households with three or four cats, customers tell us they\u2019ll see multiple cats napping on the hammock, or taking turns scratching and resting. The elevated spot gives each cat a chance to have their own space, which reduces tension between cats in a multi-cat home. A 2022 study from the University of California, Davis, found that multi-cat households with at least one elevated resting spot per cat had 50% fewer inter-cat conflicts, including hissing, swatting, and resource guarding.<\/p>\n

So what should you look for if you\u2019re buying a hammock scratcher for your cat? First, check the height\u2014make sure it\u2019s not so high that your cat can\u2019t jump on or off. If you have a kitten or a senior cat, look for models with a small step or a lower hammock height. Second, check the fabric: it should be tightly woven, not stretchy or mesh that feels unstable. Third, make sure the scratching surface is good quality\u2014cardboard or sisal is best, since that\u2019s what cats naturally like to scratch. A hammock is a nice extra, but if the scratching surface is thin or cheap, your cat won\u2019t use the unit at all.<\/p>\n

As a supplier, we\u2019ve made a point to listen to what cats and their owners actually need, not just what trends look good. We\u2019ve adjusted our design multiple times based on feedback from shelter staff, cat parents, and the behaviorists we work with, and the hammock scratcher is one of our top sellers for a reason. It\u2019s not a gimmick\u2014it\u2019s a product that aligns with what cats are naturally programmed to do: rest in safe, high spots, mark their territory, and have a dedicated place to scratch without ruining your furniture.<\/p>\n

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At the end of the day, if you\u2019re a retail store owner looking to stock products that cats will actually use, or a cat parent wanting to invest in a product that makes both you and your cat happy, hammock scratchers are worth considering. They\u2019re proven to increase scratcher use, reduce unwanted scratching, and improve cat stress levels. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about our hammock-inclusive scratchers, or want to discuss bulk ordering for your store, feel free to reach out to our team to start a conversation. We\u2019re always happy to share our trial data, get feedback, and help you find the right products for the cats in your care.<\/p>\n

Tofu Cat Litter<\/a> References<\/p>\n

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  1. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. (2021). The effects of vertical space access on stress and behavior in domestic cats.<\/li>\n
  2. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. (2020). Owner perceptions of cat scratcher preferences and unwanted scratching behaviors.<\/li>\n
  3. University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. (2022). Multi-cat household dynamics: The role of enrichment resources in reducing inter-cat conflict.<\/li>\n
  4. ASPCA. (2023). Feline Enrichment Guidelines for Indoor Cats.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Qingdao Ray Pet Products Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional cat scratcher manufacturers in China, we have world-leading production equipment and strong manufacturing capabilities. Please feel free to buy bulk high quality cat scratcher made in China here from our factory. Good service and low price are available.
    Address: B401 Zhongtie Qingdao Plaza No.385, Dunhua Road, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
    E-mail: Karen.liu@ray-pet.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.ray-pet.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019ve ever wandered the cat section of a pet store, you\u2019ve probably seen a new … Do cats like cat scratchers with a hammock?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311,"featured_media":3589,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3552],"class_list":["post-3589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-cat-scratcher-4ed7-a6773d"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/311"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.kar-de.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}