teaching a cat to use a scratching post?

[Magelet]

when he's bored or antsy, our cat scratches the bed, (under the sheets and blanket straight on the matress), the walls, the carpet, my jacket, whatever is around that shouldn't be scratched. I know part of this is he needs more play, as if I go ahead and play with him then, he'll get tired and stop.

However, he has never used the scratching post we got him. It's one of those incline cardboard scratchers. He loves to play with it, using it as a blind for pouncing, and grabbing for the toy under the incline, but never for scratching. Do we need to buy one of those carpet/sisal scratchers? It would be a bit hard to afford, but it's cheaper than him ruining everything around.

How do I teach him to use a scratching board/post? I love my new cat and I don't want him ruining my stuff.

also, he is 1.5 years old, neutered male from the humane sociaty who has adapted pretty well it seems. also, he is an indoor cat, and I haven't gotten/made a cattree or perch for him to window watch yet, though he could sit on the beaureau if he wanted to watch out that window. don't know if those things affect your advice.

(on another note, what other toys can I get to play with him besides balls and feathers on a string on a stick. he loves that one like nuts, but I don't want him getting bored of it. and when kitty wants to play when mama wants to sleep, it's nice not to have to get up to chase a ball to play with him.)

Thanks!
(first time cat owner).

[sunnysandiegan]

Our kitten came to us at a much younger age, but I think most cats are the same. Redirect, redirect, redirect. Every single time our kitten scratched on something inappropriate (and we were home), one of us would gently move her to the scratching post and lift her paws to do the scratching motion. As she got older, we would go to the post and make the scratching noise with our own fingers and the kitten would come investigate on her own. We would (and continue to) praise her every time she uses the scratching post on her own. She is a year old now and mostly scratches just on her post. Finally.

As for toys, our kitten loves the following:

~ metal rod/stick with string and sock at the end of it (handmade)
~ plastic rod/stick with string and tiny stuffed toy at the end of it (store-bought)
~ strip of fleece (handmade)
~ 5-inch (?) soft, furry ball (marketed as dog toy in discount store)
~ small stuffed mouse with present attached... present has catnip in it (cat toy in discount store)
~ soft fabric baby sandals (no babies in the house, $1 at discount store)
~ rubber bouncing balls (we had these and she just goes wild when anyone tosses one for her)

Our cat is like a dog in some ways. She brings us her toys and "gives" them to us when she wants to play. We toss whatever she brings and she "fetches" it by bringing it back. Unlike a dog, she tires of the game after about 4-5 tosses.

Fleece doesn't ravel and the strips we had were leftovers from a project that she became quite attached to. She drags them all over the house on her own, which requires zero interaction from us.

The plastic stick with string is very fun for her all by herself. It is lightweight enough for her to drag it around the house and we often find it wrapped intricately around chair legs and such. I had it hanging from the staircase railing down into the living room for awhile and she had a blast with it! (This one is awkward for us to play with her, so it is a good thing it amuses her solo.)

The metal rod is far easier to play with her and she loves the old sock attached to it. Since we made it, the length is perfect for "fly fishing"....

Also, toss an opened brown paper bag on the floor and let kitty hide and play at his leisure. Super fun! We don't leave one out all the time, but do this whenever we come home with one and our kitten has a blast for hours! We do it downstairs so as not to disturb us while we're sleeping...

[lonegirl]

Some cats are horizontal scratchers....
So 1st step...try a few different ones....my cats love a round flat cardboard one that has a ball that spins around it. http://www.cargogear.com/OneItemInfo...tnum=BETRBSCRA
For the Vertical scratchers try and make sure it is tall enough to stretch on.
Rub the kitty's paws on them to scent mark it.
Try a dangly toy on top to attract attention
Rub a bit of cat nip on it to attract