I have a fairly large cat, so perhaps it's my fault for not taking note of the product's size better (although in the description all it mentions is height, not its length or width and the shipping dimensions could always be wrong) but this cat scratcher is way too small for my cat. He's an adult longhair domestic (with some Maine Coone traits) and he barely fits on top of it while standing.
Also, he doesn't seem to have any desire to scratch it. I'm going to look into returning it, but given its price it probably isn't economical to.
For anyone else considering this, it's 17 inches long and 6.5 inches wide.
I have three adult cats ranging from 7-15 pounds and aged from 1-19 years old. None of the three are interested in this fish scratchy pad. I even added catnip and they were not interested. This scratcher DOES NOT come with catnip. Even my smallest cat cannot get inside or crawl through the opening so it is pretty useless. None have even tried to get on top of the scratcher. I believe that is due to the awkward shape. These scratchers are sometimes manufactured more for the buyer than the cat. The colorful fish is adorable. Although the printed green is just a thin layer of colored paper not even card stock thickness. On one side is a 2" x 2" white sticker with the UPC code. This is unsightly and takes away from the looks of the fish design. I tried to remove it but it is stuck like glue. Trying to remove it just pulls off the green color. All in all, this is a bust. I have tried to get the cats to play on it by coaxing them with their favorite toys. They will have no part of it. I will say that I believe when they were kittens they might have used it because they could have fit through the opening.
UPDATE: I had one day that one of my younger cats seemed interested. He scratched a few times and then was done. After over a month there is still not a bit of interest in this fish.
Buy SCRATCH'M Big Fish Cat Scratcher Now
I've had this in use for several weeks and my cats love it! They scratch all the surfaces, crawl through it, and even lift it with their back paws. My four year old cat had a bad habit of scratching furniture. When I recently bought new living room furniture, I knew I had to take major action. This is one of three new scratchers I added to their collection, and at this time, this one is the favorite. It serves its purpose and I recommend it.
Read Best Reviews of SCRATCH'M Big Fish Cat Scratcher Here
I got this cat scratcher for my two new cats and they seem to be using it. I like it because I think it is cute, and my cats are using it. I'm not sure why the hole is there. It is much too small for any cat except a kitten sized one to hide inside. I will probably not be getting this again, simply due to how small it is.
As other reviewers mentioned the scratcher does not have a base so the catnip falls onto the floor underneath it. However the catnip was apparently very good, as my cat attacked the catnip bag right away when I pulled it out and chewed a hole in it. That is the first time he has ever been that enthusiastic about catnip before, I wish I knew where I could get some more of it! My two new kitties don't seem to need the help of catnip to use this as it has slid around on the floor, away from where catnip was originally applied. We have smooth wood floors, but I think carpet might provide enough friction to keep it in place, depending on how enthusiastic your cat is.
I couldn't recommend this for cats over five pounds. I think it would be good for kittens, or very small adult cats, especially with the little hole in the center.
Want SCRATCH'M Big Fish Cat Scratcher Discount?
Since I got four similar items, I might copy and paste a lot of this review so bear with me. Allow me to begin by stating that my cats, a Manx and a black and white mixed breed, have NEVER used as scratch post. I've tried everything under the sun. Well our kitties run inside and outside so, they do get to scratch on trees, etc., and on the couch (until we run them off) when need be. I got this whale and 3 other deals and they have both scratched on ALL of them. At first, my cats were leery about going through the whale. But, after I got to playing with them using those "fishing pole" toys, I was able to coax them through but this took some time. It's really a fun toy and scratch post. The cats sit on it and everything. The price was great and I really can't say anything negative about it. I think some folks mentioned that this whale moves about due to the light-weight but, that's fine as it just keeps them on the go. It's not like the whale flies all over the room or anything but it doesn't stay totally planted, of course, due to the weight. Plus, it's a cute little guy and looks good in any location. I really recommend this for those who have had no luck with any other scratch posts. I began by giving the cats little treats when they'd scratch on the toys and that helped too. Hope this convinces anyone who is undecided to go for it!
Save 50% Off
My bunny really liked it. I was also surprised it's lasted this long cause bunnies love to chew! But it's durable and good for a little bun to keep busy!
