Health & WellbeingTheir very first cat scratcher post&they don't like it. How can I get them to like it&scratch the post vs. the side of my bed/sofa.Catnip doesnt work.
It may be that they don't like the scratching post. Cats can be picking about a lot of things, and scratching post is one of those things. Some cats like a vertical one where they can stretch out their spine fully, it should be solid and not wobbly, and some do seem to like ones that have carpet covering on it. I'd also recommend one that has levels for them to sleep on, so they can claim it as their own. The furniture they scratch one, such as your bed and sofa, they also sleep on, so they should have a scratching post that allows them to sleep on it, thus claiming it as theirs. To entice them to use it, I would try dangling a toy over it to get them interested in, and praise them and give them treats when they use it. To keep them from scratching your bed and sofa, you can get Soft Paws. These are caps that you can glue onto your cat's nails to prevent them from scratching on things. You can get them online or in pet stores, and they come in a variety of colors.
Updated on August 12th, 2025