Shires Equine Scratcher

Product Information

Like the V-Tower cat tree, this features lots of curved edges to give it a safe and high-quality feel. The tower itself is made from poplar wood, and the oval cave on top is fitted with a soft memory-foam cushion and soft white faux fur. The cave also has an opening at the top for your cat to use for access or just observation. The cushion is attached with Velcro strips to make it easy to remove for cleaning. Your cat will enjoy this incredibly sturdy scratching post, and you'll appreciate the simple design and strong construction. Making a DIY scratching post or stall scratching pad isn’t difficult. Horses love freestanding posts, and you can create one in a weekend with a 4×4 post, some bagged concrete mix, and a post hole shovel. Proper installation is key to prevent wobbling or injuries. Posts must be firmly fixed into the ground or wall.

With a height of 170 cm, this cat activity centre includes 2 cat sleeping dens, 3 beds and several platforms. There are also a number of sisal-wrapped scratching posts, 4 toy mice and 2 ladders to help your cat access the sleeping dens. There are places on a horse’s body that they just can’t scratch using teeth or hooves. And even the best cared for horses can get very itchy from time to time.

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It is made from high-quality MDF which is made from New Zealand pine, and a scratch-resistant wood-finished laminate. It has rounded corners and edges for a safe and high-quality feel. It is quite a sturdy and heavy piece of furniture, so should be very stable for even large and boisterous pets. The Diogenes Scratching Barrel is a barrel covered in sisal, with 3 round entrances leading to sleeping dens. The lower den has a soft padded sleeping area, and has a connecting passage leading to the second level which makes it great for games of hide and seek. Each of the 3 dens also has a small toy with little bells to give your cat something to play with. None of my horses like being groomed with a stiff curry like this, but it’s perfect for a scratching post, or affixing to the side of barn, or along the top of a railing or stall door. Since horses will lean their full body weight into the post, it must be sturdy enough to withstand constant pressure without toppling over or breaking. Now that you know about ideal post materials and placement, let‘s go over the many perks of providing an effective scratching post. 5 Benefits of Equine Scratching Posts

Now that you know why horses scratch excessively, let‘s look at the best materials to provide scratch relief. Suitable Materials for Scratching Posts The key to this activity is to teach your horse to bring their itchy parts to you. To do this, act like a human scratching post: don’t move around! Stand in one spot and scratch a few inches of skin at a time. Here’s what these re-purposed grooming tools look like after I screwed them onto a 6″ diameter post I had pounded into the center of my pasture. I used 2.5″ long screws. It would have been better to have some washers between the screws and the jelly scrubbers as they’re very soft plastic, but hopefully they’ll last a while before tearing off (it’s been 3 months and they’re still good!). Scratch at a medium pressure. If your horse leans into the scratching, increase the pressure. If they move away slightly, scratch more lightly or rub their coat instead.

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Even if your horse does have scratchable objects, they may not be your first choice for self-grooming. Rubbing and pushing can damage fences, trees, and walls. It can also rub or pull out hair from your horse’s mane, tail, or coat, or create a safety hazard for eyes and skin. There is also a rope, which is attached to the bottom of the sleeping den. This is great for clawing and for cats to play with. And if your horse is extra itchy, how about a scratching session with you? It’s perfect for building a relationship. Here’s the right way to safely and effectively scratch your horse.

Self-care, technically called self-maintenance, is how horses maintain their bodies. Scratching against objects is an important self-maintenance behavior. It helps horses groom their hair and skin, along with rolling on the ground, scratching themselves with their teeth and hooves, and having a mutual grooming session. At 62 cm high, it is tall enough for most cats to stretch out when they use it. The base is covered in a plush material, and the post is covered in natural sisal to encourage your cat to use it. Standing a whopping 219 cm tall, it has a very large 27 cm diameter, and will make your cat think you have a large tree growing inside your home! Not only can your cat climb right to the very top if they so desire, but there are also 2 wooden platforms which have soft and comfortable beds attached. Natural tree bark has ideal coarseness. Sycamores, oak, cedar, and birch trees make great scratching trees.Our selection for best overall is the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post. It's well made and has a classic design that comes in two neutral colors to coordinate with most home decor styles. Most importantly, the majority of cats find the shape and the sisal carpet covering will appeal to your cat and their clawing habit. If you'd prefer a cat scratching post that's more streamlined, consider the 7 Ruby Road Wall Mounted Scratcher, which can be mounted to the wall or secured to the floor. What to Look for in a Cat Scratching Post Size Mounting several brushes vertically and horizontally at different heights around your yard or building means your animals can all scratch that itch and choose the position that suits them best.