Sisal rope vs. sisal fabric vs. cardboard — what should I buy?

Across the reviewers we read, woven sisal fabric tends to outlast sisal rope (which unravels) and cardboard (which sheds), and is the texture most often recommended on specialist cat subreddits for serious scratchers. Cardboard scratchers are cheaper, easier to replace, and many cats genuinely prefer them — they're a good complement rather than a direct replacement. Carpet-wrapped posts are widely discouraged because they can confuse cats into scratching rugs.