Cardboard Cat Scratcher FAQ

Cardboard is the surface most cats choose on their own — it's why they go for delivery boxes. Put the scratcher where your cat already scratches (next to the sofa arm, by the door) and rub a pinch of catnip into it the first day.

Tell us and we'll suggest a placement trick or two — it usually works. If it still doesn't, our 14-day money-back guarantee covers exactly this: we refund you and you can donate the scratcher to a local shelter. Nothing to post back.

Much less than cheap scratchers: the 5-layer board is dense and the wooden sides hold it together. Expect a few crumbs in the first week, then almost nothing.

12 months or more with one cat. When one side is worn, flip it over — both faces are scratchable.

Corrugated cardboard, wood and water-based glue. No plastics, no paints, no chemical odour. It doesn't split claws the way rope can.

In England — in our own workshop in Peterborough. Every scratcher is handmade there and dispatched from the same place — nothing is imported. Real wood facades, dense 5-layer cardboard and water-based glue, checked by hand before it ships.

No. Every CAT JOY scratcher arrives fully assembled — take it out of the box and put it down.

Rule of paw: the scratching surface should be at least as long as your cat from nose to base of tail. Lounge (59 cm) for kittens and small cats, Snug (70 cm) for most adults, Pavilion (68 cm) as a compact tunnel hideaway, Terrace (77 cm) as a scratcher and bed for large cats, Mews (76 cm) as a two-level house, Penthouse (85 cm) as the XL house for multi-cat homes and giant breeds — and, new this autumn on pre-order (first batch arrives 15–25 November), Manor (85 cm) as the XL two-level house and Rotunda (85 cm) as the XXL wide ring. Not sure? Use the three-question size finder or the size guide.

Mews (76 cm) or Penthouse (85 cm). Terrace (77 cm) works for a young Maine Coon — and, new this autumn on pre-order (arriving 15–25 November), the XL Manor and XXL Rotunda. More in scratching posts for large cats.

Lounge (59 cm) or Snug (70 cm) — both are low and stable, and a kitten grows into them. See the kitten scratcher guide.

Penthouse and Mews are made for it — and so are the new Manor and Rotunda, on pre-order, arriving 15–25 November. For two small cats, Terrace is fine. Ideally each cat also gets their own spot in a different room.

Some colours sell faster than our workshop makes them. When a colour shows Pre-order, you can still order it today: we make it in the next production batch, which arrives on 15–25 November 2026 with free tracked delivery to your door, and we e-mail you the moment yours is on its way. Payment is taken at checkout as usual, and you can cancel a pre-order at any time before dispatch for a full refund. In a hurry? Pick a colour marked In stock — it is dispatched within 1 working day, and Express to your door (£5.95, 1–2 working days) or free ParcelShop delivery is available for it. If your order mixes both, the in-stock items go out straight away and the pre-order items follow when the batch is ready, at no extra delivery cost.

Express to your door is £5.95 — packed first, handed to Evri Next Day and delivered in 1–2 working days. Or choose free delivery to an Evri ParcelShop near you (“Pickup point” at checkout) — within 5 working days of dispatch. Both are for colours marked In stock; pre-orders get free tracked delivery to your door on 15–25 November. Every order is dispatched within 1 working day from our Peterborough workshop, and you get a tracking link by email. Details on our Shipping & Returns page.

We currently ship to the United Kingdom only. For Ireland or the EU, email meow@catjoy.uk and we'll quote.

You have 30 days from delivery to return a scratcher that is unused, undamaged and in its original packaging. Return postage is at your cost — these are large parcels, so use a tracked courier and keep the proof of postage; if you prefer, we can book a courier collection and deduct the cost (typically £9.95) from your refund. Cardboard shows claw marks straight away, so if the scratcher comes back used or damaged we may reduce the refund to reflect the loss in value. If an item arrives damaged or faulty, we replace it or refund you in full and cover the return ourselves. Full details on our Shipping & Returns page.

Structural failure under normal domestic use: the cardboard layers coming apart, the wooden facade detaching, or the body breaking or collapsing under the weight of the cats the model is made for. It is a promise that the scratcher holds together, not that it stays looking new.

Normal wear of the scratching surface — corrugated cardboard is made to be scratched and will show marks, loose fibres and shallow grooves. Also excluded: chewing, biting or dogs; water, damp or outdoor use; misuse, cutting, painting or altering the scratcher; use by more or heavier cats than the model is made for; cosmetic marks; and a cat simply not taking to it — that is what the 14-day money-back guarantee is for. To claim, email meow@catjoy.uk with your order number and two or three photos.

Live chat on any page (the paw button, bottom right), WhatsApp, email meow@catjoy.uk or call +44 7537 133317. We answer the same working day.