Designed in the UK  ·  Built to last

The last cat scratcher
you'll ever buy.

A solid bamboo core. A replaceable jute sleeve.

Built to last years — not months. When the scratching surface wears out, replace only the sleeve. Not the post. Not the base. Not the whole product.

Natural bamboo and jute at the core Replaceable sleeve subscription from £20 Lower-waste by design — replace the surface, not the scratcher
Coming soon Product photography here
Prototype sleeve estimate
2–4 mo typical use — varies by cat
Solid bamboo constructionReplaceable jute sleeveRefill subscriptionPlastic-free packagingBritish designedLower-waste by designEngineered scratching surfaceCircular thinkingSolid bamboo constructionReplaceable jute sleeveRefill subscriptionPlastic-free packagingBritish designedLower-waste by designEngineered scratching surfaceCircular thinking
The problem

Most cat scratchers
are disposable.

🧵

The rope frays

Sisal and jute wrap unravels within months. The post underneath is structurally sound — but it looks finished, so it gets binned.

📦

The cardboard collapses

Corrugated scratchers disintegrate under daily use, shedding shreds across your floor and lasting weeks rather than months.

🗑️

The whole unit gets replaced

A solid base, a viable structure, recoverable materials — all discarded because only the surface has worn out.

Most cat owners replace their scratcher several times a year — yet the base and post are usually still perfectly usable.

£60+

Estimated annual spend on replacement scratchers per household

~90%

Of a scratcher's material that could be saved with a replaceable surface model

11M

Cats in the UK — almost all with scratchers that get disposed of in whole

3mo

Typical lifespan of a standard sisal scratcher surface before it needs replacing

The Culm system

Built differently.
Designed to reduce waste over time.

Most scratchers are single-component products — when the surface wears, everything goes. Culm separates the structure from the surface so you only ever replace what's actually worn.

01
🎋

Solid bamboo core

The structural column is machined from solid culm bamboo — a fast-growing, renewable material when responsibly sourced. Treated with food-grade oil. Designed to last years, not months.

Lasts years
02
🪡

Replaceable jute sleeve

The scratching surface is a heavy-weave natural jute sleeve, precision-fitted over the post. When it wears through — slide it off, slide on a fresh one. No tools needed. Designed for under 60 seconds.

The innovation
03
♻️

Lower-waste by design

The bamboo post stays. Only the sleeve — a natural jute component — needs replacing. This is designed to significantly reduce material waste compared to replacing the whole product each time.

Reduced impact
The honest comparison

Two different ways to buy
a cat scratcher.

Most scratchers are bought, worn down, then replaced whole. Culm is designed differently: keep the structure, refresh the surface. They solve the same need in very different ways — and should be compared that way.

For context: cardboard scratchers often last 1–3 months of active use. Wrapped rope posts typically hold up for 6–12 months before the surface shows visible wear. In both cases, the whole unit is usually replaced. Culm is built on a different assumption — the structure should outlast the surface by years.

Typical scratcher
Core structureMDF, plastic, or cardboard
Scratching surfaceSisal wrap or corrugated card
When surface wears out Full unit replaced
Typical surface lifespanCard: 1–3 months · Rope: 6–12 months
Upfront cost Low — typically £10–£40
Est. annual running costUsually £40–£100+ over a year, depending on format and replacement frequency
Designed forPet accessory category
Culm
Core structureSolid bamboo culm post
Scratching surfaceReplaceable heavy jute sleeve
When surface wears out✓ Sleeve only — post stays
Typical surface lifespanPrototype estimate: around 2–4 months per sleeve, depending on cat behaviour
Upfront costHigher — post is priced as a durable, long-term purchase
Est. annual running costSleeves from £20–£25 — designed to lower replacement spend over time
Designed forInterior furniture category

On the upfront cost

Culm will cost more upfront than most scratchers. That is intentional — it is built from solid bamboo with steel hardware, designed for years of daily use without replacing the whole post.

The ongoing cost is the sleeve only. We think that long-term comparison is compelling, but we'll publish pricing clearly before launch — not drip-fed through email — so you can decide for yourself. Founding members see it first.

Designed for cats

Built around
natural cat behaviour.

Cats don't scratch to be destructive. They scratch because they have to.

Understanding why cats scratch is how you design a product they'll actually use — and keep using.

01

Full-body stretch

Cats instinctively scratch at full extension to stretch their spine and shoulder muscles. A post tall enough to allow this full stretch is one cats will return to consistently.

02

Claw conditioning

Scratching removes old claw sheaths and keeps claws healthy. Dense, tightly-woven jute provides the resistance cats seek naturally — more satisfying than loose sisal or soft card.

03

Territorial marking

Cats leave scent from glands in their paws when scratching. A stable, weighted post in a visible spot satisfies this instinct — and keeps them off your furniture.

Cat in use — photography here
Replace the sleeve — not the scratcher

Under 60 seconds.
No tools. No guesswork.

The sleeve replacement is the innovation — and it's been engineered to be as straightforward as possible. Because a product people can't actually maintain isn't sustainable, it's just expensive.

👆

Remove worn sleeve

Slide the old sleeve off the bamboo post from the top. No clips, fixings, or tools. It lifts cleanly in a single motion.

~15 seconds
🪡

Slide on fresh sleeve

Your replacement sleeve arrives rolled. Unroll and slide over the post from the top — it sits snugly against the base with no adjustment needed.

~30 seconds
🌿

Dispose responsibly

The worn sleeve is natural jute. Based on material composition, it's designed to be lower-impact at end of life — check local composting guidance for disposal.

Done

My cat destroyed every cardboard scratcher in weeks. The Culm prototype has been standing for two months and looks exactly the same.

Sarah M., Manchester Beta tester

I was sceptical she'd use something this minimal — but she went straight for it. The jute texture is clearly different. She genuinely prefers it.

James T., London Beta tester

Finally something that doesn't look embarrassing in my flat. The sleeve swap took about 45 seconds — genuinely easy.

Priya K., Edinburgh Beta tester
At home with Culm

Designed to live
in your home — not hide.

Most cat scratchers are tolerated, not chosen. They live behind sofas, out of eyeline — because they look like pet accessories, not considered objects.

Culm is built with the same thinking as quality furniture: natural materials, honest construction, restrained form. It belongs beside a sofa, not behind one.

Natural bamboo tones that sit well with wood floors and neutral walls
No neon, no cartoon motifs — a product for design-conscious homes
Weighted base stays planted — no tipping, no shuffling across the floor
Hero interior shot
Detail / texture
Cat using it
Materials

Named, honest,
considered.

Premium products name their materials because the materials are the story. Everything in Culm is chosen for a reason.

🎋

Bamboo culm

Structural post

Solid culm bamboo — the structural stem, not composite board. A fast-growing, renewable material when responsibly sourced. Finished with food-grade oil. Designed to outlast repeated sleeve changes.

🪡

Natural jute

Replaceable sleeve

Dense, tight-weave natural jute. Provides the grip and resistance cats seek. Wears evenly rather than patchily. Based on material composition, designed to be lower-impact at end of life than synthetic alternatives.

🔩

Minimal steel fixings

Hardware

Steel bolt-through construction with brass inserts. Designed for longevity and disassembly — every component can be separated, and the post is designed to be refinishable at end of life.

🎋

Renewable bamboo

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that reaches harvestable maturity in 3–5 years. Culm uses solid culm stems — machined, not moulded — for a structural post that's designed to last years, not months.

🪡

Natural jute sleeve

Heavy-weave natural jute — not sisal, not synthetic rope. Scratches satisfyingly, wears evenly, and is designed to be lower-impact at end of life based on its natural fibre composition.

📦

Plastic-free packaging

Every sleeve is planned to ship in kraft paper packaging — no polybags, no bubble wrap. Designed to be recyclable or compostable at kerbside as standard.

Culm
/kʌlm/ noun  ·  botany

The hollow or pithy stem of a grass or bamboo plant — the structural column that gives the plant its strength and form.

Why this name

The name means
something real.

A culm is the structural stem of bamboo — strong, load-bearing, and built to support everything above it. It's the part that doesn't give way. Our scratchers are built around the same principle: a core designed to last, so the surface can be replaced.

We chose this name because it's honest. Not a made-up word, not a pet pun — a precise material term that describes exactly what the product is built around.

🌱

Strong by nature

Bamboo culm is well-regarded for its structural strength relative to its weight — a natural material used in construction, flooring, and engineering applications globally.

♾️

Built to last

The culm is the part of bamboo that grows back. Our post is designed with the same logic — structural permanence, with a surface designed for renewal.

Founder photo
Why Culm exists

After watching my cat go through six scratchers in a year, I realised the problem wasn't the cat — it was the design.

I work in sustainability professionally — I spend my days thinking about material cycles, waste, and what responsible design actually looks like in practice. So when I found myself binning yet another perfectly solid scratcher base because the surface had worn out, I couldn't just accept it.

There was no better option on the market. So I started building one.

Culm is still in prototype. I'm making it by hand, testing with real cats, and trying to do it properly — natural materials, honest pricing, and a refill model that makes a genuine dent in the waste most people don't even think about. If that sounds like something worth following, I'd love to have you along.

— Tom, founder
Choose your rhythm

A fresh sleeve,
when you need it.

Set your cadence and we handle the rest. A replacement arrives before your cat notices the old one's gone. Pause, skip, or cancel any time — no friction, no fees.

🪡Natural jute sleeve — lower-impact by design
📦Plastic-free kraft packaging planned as standard
⏸️Pause, skip, or cancel — no friction, no fees
💷Save vs buying sleeves individually
📅Every 2, 3, or 4 months — you choose
Every 4 months

Relaxed

£25.00/sleeve
Every 3 months

Regular Popular

£22.00/sleeve
Every 2 months

Heavy scratcher

£20.00/sleeve

Planned pricing — founding member discount available at launch. Actual sleeve life varies by cat and usage.

Core

Natural materials

Bamboo and jute at the heart of the product. Designed to minimise synthetic components throughout.

Lower-waste design

The post is built to last. Only the sleeve — the worn scratching surface — needs replacing.

60s

Sleeve swap time

Engineered for a tool-free, single-motion replacement. Under a minute, by design.

Less

Designed to cost less

Built to reduce ongoing replacement cost compared to buying a new scratcher every few months.

Questions

Things people
usually ask.

Something else? Drop us an email — we reply to everything.

Cats scratch instinctively — they respond to texture, stability, and height, not branding. Culm's heavy jute has a resistance cats seek naturally, the post height allows a full-body stretch, and the weighted base stays completely planted during use. We're currently testing prototypes with real cats and will share results before launch.

Very — simplicity of swap is core to the design brief. The sleeve slides off and on in a single motion, no tools needed. Beta testers are averaging around 45 seconds. We'll publish a demonstration video before launch so you can see the mechanism clearly before you buy.

Yes — anytime, with no notice period, no cancellation fees, and no phone calls required. Pause, skip a delivery, change your cadence, or cancel entirely from your account. We'd rather earn your loyalty than lock you into a contract.

It's designed to be. The sleeve is made from natural jute, which based on material composition is lower-impact than synthetic alternatives. Real-world outcomes depend on how it's disposed of and local composting conditions, so we'd suggest checking local guidance. We're also working on a freepost returns programme for those who want us to handle end-of-life directly.

We're finalising pricing ahead of launch. Given the materials and construction, Culm sits in the premium cat furniture category — it's designed as a long-term investment rather than a disposable purchase. Waitlist members receive an exclusive founding discount when we go live.

We're in prototype and testing now. We won't rush a launch — the product needs to be genuinely excellent before it ships. Join the waitlist and you'll hear from us first, with an exclusive discount on day one.

Early access

Be first in line
when Culm launches.

We're in prototype. Join the waitlist for early access, a founding-member discount, and honest updates on our progress. No marketing fluff. No spam.

We'll only ever email you about Culm. Unsubscribe anytime.

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at launch.

Leave your email and we'll send you a founding-member discount code the day Culm goes live. No pressure, no spam.

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