This seems like such a simple question, doesn't it?
And I know the usual answers - try different materials and sprinkle with catnip and rub her paws on it to give her the right idea. Well, Ginger doesn't agree with those tips!
We now have three different kinds of scratching pads, and a post. We have the cardboard ones that Trent and Ophelia LOVE, sisal in both horizontal and vertical (that's the post), and a carpet pad. The cat tree and condo are also covered in carpet (Trent and Ophelia use these as scratchers too). While Trent and Ophelia are loving the variety, Ginger still prefers the carpet on the floor in the hall and the stairs - both low and medium pile carpet. She scratched on the carpet pad thingie when we first brought it home, but since then prefers to just lay on it and guard it. No scratching that I've seen since then.
Sprinkling with 'nip absolutely does not work with Ginger because she is such a little nip-head that she loses interest in everything else when catnip is involved. She rubs her head and body on it, but no scratching.
I've tried giving her the idea of scratching on it by scratching on it myself. She looks at me like I have three heads.
I've tried grabbing her paws to rub them on it, and then she thinks I'm torturing her. She sees Trent (her play buddy) scratching on them, and Ophelia too. No dice.
Any other tips and tricks?
We now have three different kinds of scratching pads, and a post. We have the cardboard ones that Trent and Ophelia LOVE, sisal in both horizontal and vertical (that's the post), and a carpet pad. The cat tree and condo are also covered in carpet (Trent and Ophelia use these as scratchers too). While Trent and Ophelia are loving the variety, Ginger still prefers the carpet on the floor in the hall and the stairs - both low and medium pile carpet. She scratched on the carpet pad thingie when we first brought it home, but since then prefers to just lay on it and guard it. No scratching that I've seen since then.
Sprinkling with 'nip absolutely does not work with Ginger because she is such a little nip-head that she loses interest in everything else when catnip is involved. She rubs her head and body on it, but no scratching.
I've tried giving her the idea of scratching on it by scratching on it myself. She looks at me like I have three heads.
Any other tips and tricks?