A post needs floor space and a clear approach on every side. A board leans into a corner, runs along a skirting or props against the leg of an armchair, which is where a lot of scratching actually happens. The triangle shape is the reason: two faces meet at an angle, so it holds itself up without a weighted base and without being screwed to anything.

Natural sisal fibre laid across a compressed fibreboard core. Bonding the pad down rather than wrapping it loose means it does not shift under the paw, and cat scratching sisal that stays put gets used harder than sisal that slides. The trade is that you cannot replace the pad when it goes.

Light enough to pick up with one hand and move to wherever your cat has started scratching this month. 0.6kg also means it travels: the spec lists windowsills and carriers, and it is small enough for both. Cat corner scratch spots tend to be the ones owners cannot easily block off, which is what makes a board worth having.

Cats that work at an angle rather than straight up or flat down. That is most cats working a sofa arm, a chair leg or the edge of a door frame. Cats that stretch to full height want something upright instead, and the cat scratchers range covers those.

It depends on the angle your cat works at, not on which is better. Cats that reach up want a post. Cats that scratch at waist height on furniture edges want a board. Watch where the damage is and buy to match it.

What is a cat scratch board? A flat or angled panel with a scratching surface fixed to it, meant to lean or sit instead of standing upright. Boards suit corners and furniture edges. Posts suit cats that stretch vertically.

How long does a sisal cat scratcher last? Longer than cardboard, though how much longer depends entirely on the cat. Sisal fibre wears down slowly instead of tearing away, which is why it makes so much less mess as it goes.

Where to put a cat scratch board: against the thing being scratched. Behind a sofa, the side of an armchair, a door frame, or near where your cat sleeps. Boards fail when they are put somewhere tidy.

The best cat scratching board for most homes is one that fits the angle of the damage. Shape matters more than brand here.

Is sisal better than cardboard for scratching? Neither, they do different jobs. Sisal wears slowly and sheds almost nothing. Cardboard gives way more readily and most cats prefer it for lying-down scratching. Households with one cat often end up owning both.

A corner cat scratcher only works if the corner is one your cat already uses. Buying the shape without checking the location is the usual mistake.