My cat wont use his claw scratcher thingy?….?

We have had our cat for almost a year now, we got him as a kitten. And we have had no problems with him at all except for one thing. He wont stop scratching the rug in the sitting room and the legs of the coffee table. I went out and bought him a cat scratcher toy with catnip in it. But he refuses to use it and is still using the furniture Every time I catch him at it I give him a firm NO and take him to the toy. I have showed him how to use it but he wont bother. A couple of times he has played with the toy alright and he definately has a reaction to the catnip but he still wont scratch his claws on it…Im out of ideas, Any advice??
Hey John u didnt read my question properly i already said there’s catnip in it!!

WHile training, make what they were scratching unappealing, by using:

Reversible tape
Tinfoil soread over the surface
Cayenne Pepper
Mothballs (in a old marge tub, sealed, with holes punched in the sides to let the smell out)
Balloons
Bitter apple spray (pet store)
Lemon scented polish
They also do not like the smell of clove oil.
Spraying with citrus oils on the surfaces.
A tin with a few coins to rattle when they do scratch startles them away from it.
A water-spray also works well.
A loud clap when they do scratch.

Then you need to encourage the right behaviour, patiently.

Getting scratching posts and every time kitty scratches, putting them on the scratching post. When they scratch it, encourage them by petting them. This encourages the to “dig in”, thereby discovering what a nice surface that is to scratch.
Remember that you don’t only need one, but cats like different things, sisal or cardboard, horisontal or vertical sisal weaves, they all have their preference.
Remember that a cat will want to also scratch after a good snooze, so put one near where they like to nap, as well as near where they want to scratch.
Even a log mounted on a piece of wood will suffice as scratching post, it need not be something expensive.

DO NOT try ands teach them how to scratch – they know full well how to do it, but you have to make them WANT TO. Provide constant, positive re-enforcement. You can drag a toy accross the surface you want them to scratch, another brilliant way to get them “into” the durface.

Rub the post with catnip, they love it. If catnip does nothing (33% chance), use Valerian or Honeysuckle.

Consider getting a Feliway Diffuser, it does help calm things down as well. If you use a pole type of scratcher, consider trying different types, and seeing which one he prefers.

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