Unfortunately some cats will totally ignore a cat scratching post and prefer to continue scratching at doors, table legs and furnishings. Cats scratch and pull with their claws to keep them healthy and to get rid of the old outer casing on the claws as the new one comes through. This is a bit like removing the outer covering of nails and a cat’s claws are made of similar stuff to human finger nails.
However, if you introduce a cat scratching post early on you may be able to get your cat to leave the furniture alone. Good luck!
There are various styles of cat scratching post and the simplest can be made for free. A piece of wood with some bark on it, direct from a tree, will do the job and many cats enjoy flexing their claws in the bark. Then there are the simple wooden poles and posts which are covered in twisted rope and various models and variations on the same thing. The more elaborate the scratching post, the more you will pay for it. Be careful that you do not pay out a large amount of money for a cat scratching post only to find that your cat is not interested in it, or simply just prefers to scratch the back of your best sofa. What you like and what attracts your interest may not do anything for your cat. This is where knowing your pet is important. Try to work out what your cat likes and go with that.
Watch your cat before choosing a cat scratching post. Some cats like to scratch vertically and will stretch up, flex their claws and pull at your furnishings, while others prefer to lay on their sides and pull on your carpets in a horizontal position. Bear this in mind when choosing a cat scratching post.
Purrfect Post.com has a tall cat scratching post which is over thirty one inches high and this is tall enough to allow your cat to stretch out to its full length and have a really good pull as it flexes its claws. This cat scratching post has a wide base and so it is stable when the cat pulls at it. This is important because if it falls over the cat may be injured, or afraid to go near the cat scratching posts again. The post itself and the base are covered in sisal fabric and veterinarians have proved that cats prefer sisal fabric to anything else when it comes to scratching. So, there’s a good chance that you cat will prefer this to your sofa.
Choosing the right cat scratching post depends on your cat. Watch your pet as it scratches and decide if it is a vertical or horizontal scratcher. Then try to work out what kind of fabrics it seems to prefer but the most important thing to think about when purchasing a cat scratching post is safety. Make sure the new toy is safe for your cat.