You've bought a scratching post. You've set it up. Your cat has sniffed it briefly, looked at you with pointed indifference, and walked back to the sofa. This is not a sign that you've wasted your money. It's a sign that a bit of deliberate introduction is needed.
Cats scratch in response to scent, territory, and habit. A brand new post has none of those things working in its favour. The sofa your cat currently scratches has months or years of scent marking on it — from a cat's perspective, the sofa is clearly a scratching site and the new post isn't. Yet. The introduction process is about changing that equation.
Done well, most cats will be using a new post consistently within one to two weeks. Here's how to do it well.
Before you set it up
The most common introduction mistake is placing the post where you want it to end up, rather than where your cat will actually use it. Decide on the right position before you even take it out of the box, because moving it later disrupts the habit-forming process.
The right position is wherever your cat already spends time and scratches. If they're scratching the sofa, the post goes next to the sofa — not across the room from it. If they scratch by their sleeping spot, the post goes beside it. The ideal location for you and the ideal location for your cat are often different. Your cat's preference wins, at least initially.
The step-by-step introduction
Position it correctly from day one
Place the post directly beside the surface your cat currently scratches — touching it if possible. This makes the post part of an existing habit rather than a new one requiring a detour. The goal for the first week is not to move the post away from the furniture; it's to get the cat using the post at all.
Transfer scent to the post
Gently take your cat's paws and press them softly against the post — not to force scratching, just to leave scent from the glands in their paw pads. Do this a few times across the first day. Alternatively, rub a small amount of catnip into the lower section of the post. Both approaches give the post something a new object lacks entirely: a scent reason to investigate.
Make the furniture temporarily less appealing
Apply double-sided tape or a clear plastic sofa guard to the specific area your cat scratches. This doesn't stop the scratching urge — it redirects it toward the post, which now smells interesting and isn't covered in tape. The tape is a temporary measure, not a permanent solution. Remove it once the post habit is established.
Reward use — calmly and immediately
When your cat uses the post, offer quiet positive reinforcement — a calm verbal acknowledgement, a small treat, or a stroke if they're receptive. Don't make it a dramatic event — an excited response can alarm a cat mid-scratch and associate the post with stress. Keep rewards low-key and immediate.
Never punish scratching elsewhere
Spray bottles, loud noises, or scolding when your cat scratches the sofa creates anxiety without solving the underlying problem. It may also result in your cat scratching in places you can't see rather than stopping altogether. Redirect — never punish.
Move the post gradually once the habit is established
Once your cat is using the post consistently — typically after one to two weeks — you can begin moving it away from the furniture, a few centimetres every few days. Move it too fast and you lose the habit before it's set. The goal is eventually to have the post where you want it, but that's a weeks-long process, not a day-one decision.
The first two weeks — what to expect
Days 1–3: Investigation
Your cat will sniff the post, possibly ignore it, possibly knock it over to test its stability. This is normal. Don't interpret lack of immediate scratching as failure. Scent transfer and catnip will help accelerate interest.
Days 4–7: First use
Most cats will attempt a scratch on the post within the first week, particularly in the morning after waking — when the scratch reflex is strongest. Even a brief scratch is a win. Reward it quietly and let them do it on their terms.
Days 8–14: Habit forming
Regular use should be establishing. The sofa tape can come off at the end of this period if the post is being used consistently. If the cat is still gravitating to the sofa, keep the tape on for another week.
Week 3 onwards: Gradual repositioning
Start moving the post toward its permanent position — a small increment every few days. Continue rewarding use. The habit should be resilient enough at this point to survive a change in location, as long as the move is gradual.
"The introduction process isn't about training a cat to do something unnatural. It's about making the right choice easier than the wrong one — until the right choice becomes a habit."
Do's and don'ts
Introducing a replacement sleeve on an existing post
If you're replacing a Culm sleeve rather than introducing a brand new post, the process is simpler — but there's one thing worth knowing. A well-used sleeve carries your cat's scent from months of use. A fresh sleeve is neutral again, which can briefly reduce a cat's motivation to use it.
To smooth the transition, rub the new sleeve briefly with a cloth that's been against the old sleeve before removing it. This transfers some scent to the fresh surface and maintains the post's identity as a scratching site. Most cats adapt quickly — usually within a day or two — but the transfer step can prevent an unnecessary period of sofa-scratching while the new surface establishes itself.
Across every introduction scenario, the single most influential variable is placement. A post in the wrong place will almost always be ignored, regardless of how good it is. A post in the right place will usually be used within a week, even without any additional introduction techniques. Get the placement right first. Everything else is secondary.