A cat’s daily routine includes a variety of activities. Climbing heights, hiding, and caring for claws by scratching them on rough surfaces are all part of its natural regimen of activity. To this end, house cats need one or more scratching trees, cosy cat houses and caves, and various items for sharpening their claws. As the owner of a house cat, you need a lot of space for all this equipment – or a space-saving combination solution: a scratching barrel.

A scratching barrel is cylindrical unit that is hollow inside. On the outside, the barrel is wrapped in sisal or includes sisal elements just like a classic scratching tree. Instead of one or more platforms, however, it has caves on different levels inside for cats to climb. The challenge this poses to a cat’s climbing technique is that the scratching barrel has a fixed circumference. The inside of a cat barrel is usually lined with a soft material like felt. In the case of some scratching barrels, the cosy caves are also connected by entry points. These models allow house cats to climb on the outside and the inside, which creates even more opportunities for playing and frolicking. The top surface of the sisal barrel serves as a place for reclining and observing. A cat barrel offers house cats opportunities for playing, scratching, and resting while requiring a minimal amount of space. This makes it ideal for small rooms or apartments with sloping ceilings.

Scratching barrels are modelled after tree trunks. Their walls are usually made of wood or fibreboard clad with textile material. Cat barrels use sisal as a scratching material. Sisal, which is obtained from the fibres of agave plants, is one of the most important natural fibres. It is used to make rope and carpeting and is the typical material used for cat scratching products.
Scratching barrels are available in different sizes: an XXL scratching barrel is large enough for several cats to climb at the same time. If it has enough caves, each animal also has its own retreat. Of course, there are also shorter models for smaller rooms. If you’re buying a scratching barrel for a large cat, make sure that the diameter of the cat tower and the diameter of the entry holes are large enough for your pet. Scratching barrels of greater weight tend to be more stable. When setting up the barrel, however, always make sure to position it so that it can’t tip over. Discover high-quality scratching barrels & cat barrels from renowned manufacturers like AniOne, Dogs Creek, Trixie and many more in our online shop.