How to get a cat to use a scratching post

Most cats take to a new post within a week if it is in the right spot and more fun than the sofa.

Day one: placement

Stand the post directly in front of the scratched spot. Cats return to the same places to scratch; you are offering a better surface in the same place.

Make it interesting

• Rub a little catnip into the sisal or sprinkle some on a cardboard pad.
• Drag a rope teaser or a feather up the post so the claws catch the rope.
• Toss a spring toy at the base and let the play end on the post.

Make the sofa boring

Cover the scratched corner with a throw for a couple of weeks. Don't punish scratching — reward it in the right place with a treat or a word of praise.

Week two and after

Once the post is used every day, you can move it a little at a time to where you would prefer it. Add a second scratcher, often a flat one, near the bed or the door.