Sisal for Cats
Cat scratching posts are often wrapped in
this appealing material
MetPet.com Staff Writer
 Sisal
rope is commonly used to wrap cat scratching posts. It provides
a rough and natural appearance that appeals to many cats. It
has long, strong, rough fibers that are useful in catching and
holding on to the tips of claws.
The thick,
medium-brown sisal rope is glued and/or tightly wrapped around a
plastic or wooden post or plank. Some companies
offer posts that are wrapped in sisal fabric or a sisal mat that
resembles a heavy burlap.
 Sisal
scratching structures can also be flat mats secured to planks or
square boards with or without a vertical scratching post.
Sisal rope is made from the leaves of the Agave Sisalana
plant. This sturdy shrub grows in arid climates around the
world. It has thick, rigid, spiked leaves that grow up to 6'
long spiraling out of a central core. Inside each leaf is a
bundle of fibers that provide the leaf its rigid structure.
When the outside tissue is removed, the fibers are washed, dried
and spun or twisted into yarn and rope.
Sisal fibers
are long, strong and reasonably durable. Sisal has any
number of uses including as rugs,
casual shoes, door mats, paper and any number of basic rope
applications.
This also means that if
you get a nice sisal rug for your living room, your cat will appreciate it
for the very large, horizontal scratching pad it is!
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