Scratching

Hi all. 

I have three cats and the first two always use their cat scratching posts. (One of the two will use the couch if he wants attention :-/) We never taught them this. They just did it. But one of them downstairs scratches flyscreens, a computer chair and the mattress on our guest bed. I have an awesome spray to stop the scratching on these items but I cannot get him to use his post and he needs to use something. I put him (Rasmus) in front of it every time i see him scratching a chair or flyscreen. He just sits there and I put his litlle paws on the post but he just doesn't get it. Just wondering if anyone has had this and some tips which I could use? 

T.I.A

This article should help !! http://www.thecatsite.com/a/problem-scratching-and-how-to-stop-it

Also - try rubbing catnip on the scratching posts and then bring your kitty to the post to see if that will spark a desire to begin scratching. Once kitties learn where to scratch they will return again and again. You can also try using orange oil spray or sticky paws on the other things that you want the cats to stay away from scratching. Also - keep nails trimmed. I trim my cats nails each week or two.

Make sure your scratching posts are TALL and very sturdy. Cats need to stretch their backs during scratching as well. Try adding in some cardboard floor scratchers. My cats love those. I sprinkle the catnip on the cardboard and they go to town scratching away.

I'll second the idea of cardboard floor scratchers - my boys love them. It may be that he doesn't like to scratch rounded surfaces, so maybe try a post with a flat front like this: http://www.thecatsite.com/products/fat-cat-big-mamas-scratch-n-play-ramp-for-cats-with-catnip

I was also thinking cardboard floor scratchers.  One I have came with a bag of loose catnip to rub into it.  

My cat, Bonita, loves floor scratchers but not cardboard floor scratchers. She doesn't bother using the nice cat tower with its awesome sisal cat scratching posts either. :/ But she loves these!!! She stretches out her body as she goes to town on these all the time. The next one I buy, I'll try hanging on a doorknob.
http://t.petco.com/product/125027/P...anger-Cat-Scratcher.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch
http://t.petco.com/product/119674/P...ng-Catnip-Scratcher.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

I bought this excitedly since the reviews were good but kitty does not like it, even with catnip. :/
http://t.petco.com/product/112194/P...mmock-and-Scratcher.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch