(05-19-2010 02:09 PM)stess Wrote: [ -> ]Thank you all for your replies. I am new in being a ragdoll / cat mommy so I when I saw the soft paws I thought: better be safe than sorry. Everyone around me warned me in advance when they heard I was getting 2 cats that they would definitely ruin my interior but now I figured out that Ragdolls are totally different from any other cat, right? They are SOOOOO SWEET!!!! And if people have never met a ragdoll they judge them as they would any other cat. So being a little bit afraid after hearing all the advice I figured that if I did want to use them later on I'd better start early in their life to get them used to it. Nova is doing very good in using the scratching part of the star chaser, but Sky likes my carpet and one piece of wallpaper in my bedroom. Also I have a new couch but up till now they seem to leave it alone. The scratching post in the living room is being totally ignored! I have put some catnip on it but still no reaction at all!
This afternoon I did clip their nails and it was so easy 
I did it while they were sleeping so it was a breeze! Am so glad I found this forum. Thank you, thank you!!!
Is there fooey spray available where you live? I bought some and sprayed some things that I did not want the Gs chewing on. That worked as far as chewing is concerned. For scratching, I found some double sided tape to put on areas where scratching is a problem. But really I have never had much of a problem with the Gs scratching or chewing where they should not.
Just a quick thought-maybe move the post to a different area...and get another small post to keep in yet another room.
We've go two nice trees (one in computer room, one in living space) two small posts-bedroom and club room.
Some get used more than others but I'd rather be safe than sorry
I remember once that JanH posted that you need scratching posts close to where the cat likes to sleep because they tend to want to stretch and scratch when they wake up. I've observed this to be true, so I do have scratch pads and posts available. Does anyone else use the sisal mats? I bought some of those but then attached them to a piece of plywood cut to size so that when they are scratched they stay in place for the girls. Those are Samantha's favorite scratch surfaces.
Anyway, my thought was to be sure to try different scratch surfaces (cardboard, sisal, etc) and also horizonal and vertical and put one close to where they are scratching inappropriately hopefully to entice them to it.
I'm just cracking up over the name "Fooey Spray"! Learn something new every day. Love product names.. my sister in law uses "Butt Paste" on her daughter for diaper rash.. that has spurred a lot of ribbing. (Yes, it's really called that)!
Good luck with the scratching!
Slightly off topic but I'm sitting at work giggling like mad at "Butt Paste" !! What a name! LOL!
You could also try luring them to the scratching posts with a wand toy. They might use their claws to climb the post while playing and it should help them get the hang of it.
You just have to provide things for your cats, that they will like scratching. Puss Puss (our senior stray cat) had never had a scratching post before. she wasnt sure what to do with it to start with, but we would place her on the post if we caught her scratching something else. She started using the post and mustve realised that it felt better than the furniture, and she never looked back.
Another thing she likes is cardboard. She loves to rip it to shreads!
So try a few different things, and you'll get to know what your cats like to use.
The wand toy suggestion is defo one you should try, I've been doing this with Charlie, when we're playing I will place him on one of the perches on his scratch post and run the wand up and down the post, which makes him obviously try and catch it...as soon as he realises how the post feels he has a good old scratch at it!