I just bought my cat a scratching post, but I don’t think he knows what it is yet. He just kinda sniffs it, then scratches my computer chair again. How do I get him to learn to scratch the post?

(I don’t particularly mind that he scratches the chair, because that’s the only furniture he scratches and it’s already beat up. I just want him to know that the post is there for him to scratch, too!)

The fastest and easiest way to get a cat to use a new post is to play with a toy around the post. When he goes to grab the toy (use an interactive toy that has a long reach to protect your hands) his claws go into the scratching post.

Some posts have carpeting that has too thick a pile and cats cannot get their claws into it. Some scratching posts are put too far out of the way and cats ignore it. It helps to put it where the chair is or right next to the chair. You can move it later after he has started using it.

If your cat like catnip, rather than use the herb loose or soaking it in a spray, you can put some into the toe of a long sock and tie the top of the sock very tightly around the post with a sturdy knot. This helps prevent the herb from falling onto the floor and encouraging your cat to scratch the carpeting instead.

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