You need a cat scratching post for most cats, it's really non-negotiable.
It's good for both you and for your cat, let's talk about why that is the case for a minute.
Well, you see, cats are not entirely domesticated animals, in case you hadn't noticed, their wild instincts are still fairly well intact.
And, if these instincts are don't have an outlet and aren't directed to some degree, well then your cat is not going to be happy and it's not going to have a healthy existence either.
A scratching post is very calming to a cat, cats have claws and they need and want to use them, it's like an itch that they just have to scratch, pun intended.
So, go out and buy a post today, or if you're a handy person, why not go the lumber yard, pick out a piece of wood and make your own post.
In fact, almost anyone with a pulse can build a scratching post; it doesn't take a whole lot of creativity or wood working skills.
The prerequisite for a scratching post is that it simply be sturdy and long enough so that your cat can get a lot of good old fashioned scratching time in, this is like a cat's coffee break, so make it worthwhile, hey, we all like our coffee breaks, right? The key is getting your cat to realize that this is their scratching post, not your grandmother's end tables from the nineteenth century, t herein lies the rub.
Cats, like dogs, no matter what you have heard or have even observed can be trained just like dogs or any other higher animals.
Cats are very smart, they just tend to be a little nervous, independent, and aloof at times, that does not mean that they cannot be trained extremely well.
Just a few minutes per day of playing with your cat, and showing them that it's OK to scratch the post and not the furniture is perfect, repetition is the key with any type of learning, so set aside some time each day for a few weeks and you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
If you want to get fancy with your cat scratching post you can add on some new features, or again, you could also go out and buy them as well, there are some pretty cool "cat trees", "cat gyms", and even "cat condos" out there.
Have fun with it, you only go around this crazy world once.