Joey won't use his scratching post..

[JaJaJoey]

Does anybody have any ideas on how to get Joey to use his scratching post? I've tried catnip..i've tried showing it to him..but he still won't use it.

[Traci]

What type of scratching post are you using? If it is carpeted, find one/invest in one with sisal on it instead.

Place it near an area where you/your family most socialize, but not close to the furniture. You may have tp physcially place him at his scratching post a few times a day so that he associates scratching behavior with the post. Also, spend more quality time with playtime and activity for him, which will help lessen the tendency/desire to scratch the furniture.

[JaJaJoey]

what's sisal? like what's the difference?

[Cleo]

Sisal is rope, carpet is, well carpet. All our posts here are sisal with carpet bases. My cats tend to ignore the carpet part.

Here's a link with helpful information on trimming a cat's nails:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6484_trim-cats-nails.html

Another with hints on how to stop a cat from clawing furniture:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2543_stop-cat-scratching.html

Here's a link to show you what a sisal scratching post looks like. Any pet store would have them.

Sisal Post

[JaJaJoey]

do most cats seem to like sisal better than carpet?

[Traci]

All cats are different, some prefer the texture of sisal as opposed to carpet. If he isn't using a carpeted post, then get one with sisal or a combination of sisal and carpet.

[Tina B and crew]

and some prefer cardboard!! I buy those cardboard scratchers...they usually cost me about $4-6 and last for quite a while. Almost all my cats prefer them over carpet or sisal.

[JaJaJoey]

Maybe that's why Joey keeps "eating" our Avon boxes. I come home from school to see an Avon box torn to pieces and Joey sitting there looking at the dog like "She did it!!"

[Tambrey]

Yep...some like cardboard...my husband works from home and we receive boxes of computer parts almost every day...some he needs to use to return the defective components...and if I do not get the boxes right up to his office when they arrive, they are torn to shreds by the end of the day!!

I also posted under your other message about "Donations"