scratch tree
A scratching post is an upright piece of furniture for cats , usually clad with fiber (e.g. sisal ) , which is used to sharpen the claws . Some higher-quality models also have elements made of natural wood (bark, solid wood) or banana leaf (braided banana leaf in a basket look). Cat scratching posts are available free-standing or with wall or ceiling mounts to ensure additional stability.
The function of the scratching post is to give a cat kept in the apartment an opportunity to satisfy its urge to keep its claws short by sharpening, without causing major damage to the home furnishings. In addition, cat trees offer lying areas and points of retreat so that cats can view their surroundings from a safe distance and from above in a species-appropriate manner.
Often, instead of scratching posts, scratching boards, scratching corners or scratching barrels are used; large scratching posts are also called climbing trees.