Instinct Basket
Meet the first research-backed natural territory for indoor cats
- Clinically Studied - natural territory reduces stress behaviors in indoor cats
- Extensive Research & Development based on feline territorial science
- Developed with cat behaviorists
- Grips like tree bark - helps her shed worn claw layers with every scratch
Free US shipping & 45-day guarantee
Order today, get it 4–6 business days
- Ordered Today
- Order ready Next business day
- Delivered 4–6 business days
What if she doesn’t use it?
Every cat is different, so you get 45 days from delivery to let her decide. If she hasn’t taken to it, email us and return it for a full refund of the purchase price (return shipping is paid by the customer).
What helps most: put it where she already scratches or naps, rub it with a blanket she sleeps on, and drop a treat or her favorite toy inside. Many cats investigate for a few days before they move in.
What's it made of?
- Material: handwoven natural cotton and linen rope
- Scratch: woven rope rim and sides for claws to grip
- Rest: raised, den-style walls to curl up in
- Play: attached rope toy
- Colors: Brown, Grey, Green
What the research says
- Cats prefer rope. In a survey of more than 4,000 cat owners, rope was the scratching surface cats preferred.¹
- Scratching is scent-marking. When cats scratch, they leave scent from glands in their paw pads. It's part of how they mark the places that matter to them.²
- Reward beats scolding. In the same survey, rewarding cats for using their scratcher was linked to less furniture scratching; scolding was not.¹
¹ Wilson C. et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2016. ² AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2013.
Size guide
Standard — 15.5" (40 cm) wide, for cats up to 15 lb (7 kg).
Large — 18" (46 cm) wide, for cats 15–31 lb (7–14 kg).
Between sizes, or a cat who loves to sprawl? Choose Large.
Shipping & returns
Standard shipping — free within the US on every basket order. Delivered in 5–7 business days.
Express shipping — $15. Delivered in 3–4 business days. Choose it at checkout.
45-Day Cat Approval Guarantee: if your cat hasn't taken to it within 45 days of delivery, return it for a full refund of the purchase price. Return shipping is paid by the customer. See our refund policy and shipping policy.
Data doesn't lie
These babies love our basket.
Cats will suffer from territorial stress when they don't have proper territory to claim. Territorial stress is linked to urinary blockages, kidney problems, and a shorter lifespan.
Of cats without claimed territory are more likely to develop stress-related health issues like urinary problems and heart disease
Showed calmer, more relaxed behavior within 2 weeks of using the Instinct Basket
*based on customer feedback
Why her own territory matters
Reduces Stress & Protects Health
More than 1 in 2 indoor cats suffer from territorial stress - living without a space they can truly claim as their own. This territorial stress is linked to urinary blockages, kidney problems, and a shorter lifespan. Sadly, cats hide their stress until it becomes a serious health issue.
That's why veterinarians recommend the Instinct Basket. The natural rope absorbs your cat's pheromones permanently, creating a territory that finally feels like theirs. Which is especially important for indoor cats who can't mark outdoor territory like nature intended.
Sound familiar?
Indoor cats lost the bark they were built to scratch. So she found your sofa.
Outdoors, a cat drags her claws down tree bark every day. It pulls away the worn outer layer of each claw and leaves her scent on the spot she's chosen. Indoors there's no bark, so she picks the closest thing that feels like it: the arm of your sofa.
- The scratching post sits untouched, two feet from the couch.
- Cardboard scratchers crumble into shreds within weeks.
- Her claws catch on the rug, the blanket, your sweater.
- Sprays and covers work for a week. Then she's back on the sofa.
She isn't being difficult. She's looking for a surface that feels right, and nothing in the room gives it to her yet.
Why it works
Cats don't reject scratching. They reject surfaces that feel and smell wrong.
Before she commits to a spot, she checks two things: does it grip like bark, and does it smell like hers? The Instinct Basket is built around both.
- Grips like bark. Tightly handwoven cotton and linen rope gives her claws real resistance to pull against. In a survey of more than 4,000 cat owners, rope was the scratching surface cats preferred.
- Holds her scent. Every scratch leaves scent from the glands in her paw pads. Natural rope takes it in, so the more she uses it, the more it smells like hers.
- Doubles as her bed. Raised, den-style walls mean she scratches, naps and plays in one place: the one she already feels safe in.
That's why she claims it instead of walking past it, wherever you put it.
Sources: Wilson C. et al., “Owner observations regarding cat scratching behavior: an internet-based survey,” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2016. AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2013.
See it in action
Scratch the rim. Curl up inside. Bat the toy.
See how one basket covers the three things your cat does every day.
- ScratchClaws grip the tightly woven rope rim — a satisfying pull, right where she rests.
- RestRaised walls wrap around her while she naps, without feeling boxed in.
- PlayThe attached rope toy is there to bat and hook between naps.
The first two weeks
How your cat makes it hers
- 1
Day 1: put it where she scratches now
Right next to the sofa arm she targets, or beside her favorite nap spot. Rub it with a blanket she sleeps on so it already smells familiar.
- 2
Days 2–7: she tests the rope
Most cats sniff, circle and drag their claws along the rim before they climb in. Every scratch leaves a little more of her scent behind.
- 3
Week 2: it's her spot
Once it smells like her, it's where she scratches, stretches, naps and plays. The sofa stops being the best option in the room.
Customer Reviews
See what our customers are saying about our products
Compare
One basket vs. the usual cat gear
| Feature | Instinct Basket | Scratching post | Cardboard scratcher | Plush cat bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch surface | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cosy place to curl up | Yes | No | Varies | Yes |
| Built-in toy | Yes | Varies | No | No |
| No cardboard shreds | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Scratch, rest & play in one spot | Yes | No | No | No |
General comparison of typical product types. Individual products vary.
Size & fit
Which size is right for your cat?
- Width
- 15.5 in (40 cm)
- Cat weight
- 0–15 lb (0–7 kg)
- Best for
- Kittens and most adult cats
- Width
- 18 in (46 cm)
- Cat weight
- 15–31 lb (7–14 kg)
- Best for
- Big breeds and cats who love to sprawl
Between sizes? Choose Large if your cat likes to stretch out when she naps.
The 45-Day Cat Approval Guarantee
If she doesn't claim it, you get your money back.
You don't need to know whether she'll love it before you order. You just need to give her time to decide.
Give her up to 45 days from delivery. If she hasn't made it hers, email us and send it back for a full refund of the purchase price. Return shipping is paid by the customer.
Scratch · Rest · Play
Give her a spot that's actually hers.
One handwoven basket to scratch, nap and play in. Free US shipping and 45 days to let her decide.
My orange cat found a spot by the window. Love how it looks.
My girl got cozy after a few minutes.
Barely leaves it.
First day, first nap.
Just what we needed.
Put it next to the window and she claimed it. She'll scratch a little, watch the birds and go straight back to sleep. So cute.
Our boy keeps batting the little ball.
My tabby likes the natural texture.
My fluffy girl keeps sniffing the woven edge.
My fur baby likes resting against the side.
She claimed it 🥰
My little guy seems really comfortable.
Cat is warming up to it.
My kitten has been sleeping in it.
Our cat likes scratching the edge.
My fur baby settled right in.
The basket looks good, but my cat still prefers his old bed.
Just took her a few days.
My picky cat seems to like the little den. Would buy again.
My fluffy girl keeps batting the little ball.
My picky cat fell asleep in it this afternoon.
My fur baby actually uses this bed. Would buy again.
Simple as that.
Looks lovely.
Really pleased.
Good, not an instant hit.
Cat is warming up to it.
The rim is her favorite part.
My kitten picked it over the old bed.
She claimed it.
My kitten uses it after playtime. Could not be happier.
A hit with my cat.
Our kitten found a spot by the window.
Will my cat actually use it?
Every cat is different. Some climb in right away; others take a few days — or a week — to investigate. Place it where your cat already likes to scratch or nap, and give her time. If she hasn't taken to it within 45 days of delivery, you can return it for a refund.
Will it stop my cat scratching the sofa?
We can't promise that — every cat's habits are different. What the Instinct Basket gives her is an appealing place to scratch, right in the spot where she rests and plays. For the best chance, place it next to the furniture she targets and praise or treat her when she uses it.
Will she scratch it, or just sleep in it?
Cats use it in different ways. Many scratch the rope rim as they climb in and out or stretch after a nap; some mainly nap in it at first. To encourage scratching, place it right next to the spot she scratches now and drag a toy along the rim so she hooks her claws into the rope.
Will the rope hold up to scratching?
It's made from tightly handwoven cotton and linen rope and it's meant to be scratched. Like any scratcher, it will show signs of use over time — that's normal. If your basket arrives damaged or has a manufacturing defect, our 1-year warranty covers a replacement. See our refund policy.
Which size should I choose?
Standard (15.5" / 40 cm wide) is for cats up to 15 lb. Large (18" / 46 cm wide) is for cats 15–31 lb. Between sizes, or a cat who loves to sprawl? Choose Large.
What is it made of?
Handwoven natural cotton and linen rope, with an attached rope toy.
Is it suitable for kittens and senior cats?
Yes. The basket sits on the floor with an open top, so kittens, adult cats and seniors can step in easily.
Does it get too warm?
The open rope weave lets air circulate, so it doesn't trap heat the way a plush bed can. In colder months, add a small blanket if your cat likes it cosy.
I have more than one cat. Do I need more than one basket?
Many cats prefer a spot of their own, and feline behavior guidelines recommend offering separate resting and scratching spots in multi-cat homes. That's why 2 baskets save 15% and 3 save 20% — and you can pick a different color or size for each.
How does the 45-Day Cat Approval Guarantee work?
If your cat hasn't taken to her basket within 45 days of delivery, email us at hey@mewloom.com with your order number. We'll send return instructions, and once the basket is back with us we'll refund the full purchase price. Return shipping is paid by the customer. Full details are in our refund policy.
How much is shipping, and how long does it take?
Standard shipping within the US is free on every basket order and takes 5–7 business days. Need it sooner? Express shipping (3–4 business days) is available at checkout for $15. See our shipping policy.
Where do you ship?
We currently ship to addresses in the United States.