Two cats, one scratcher not working — fix it

Having two cats with different lifestyles — one fully indoor and one coming and going outside — often means their scratching needs are genuinely different, which might be exactly why one scratcher isn't cutting it for both of them. Scratching is completely normal, healthy behaviour: they're conditioning their claws and leaving scent marks, so the goal isn't to stop it, just to give them something better to scratch than your sofa. The trick is matching the post to how and where each cat actually scratches. Can you tell me — are they scratching vertical surfaces like chair legs or door frames, horizontal surfaces like carpet or rugs, or a bit of both? And what materials are they going for — fabric, leather, wood?

That makes a lot of sense. Small carpet-covered posts are probably the most commonly bought and least effective scratchers out there — they're usually too short, too wobbly, and the carpet texture isn't all that satisfying for cats that are drawn to fabric or upholstery. Korats in particular tend to be quite particular; they're an intelligent, aware breed and if a scratcher feels unstable underfoot they'll simply reject it. Your DSH using it occasionally but still going for the sofa tells you the post isn't fully meeting the need either. Before I suggest something, one more question: how tall is your current post roughly, and where is it positioned relative to where they actually scratch?

Right, that's two problems at once. 45cm is too short for a full stretch — cats want to reach up and really extend, which is part of the point — and placing it away from where they already scratch means it's invisible to them in the moment the urge hits. Placement next to the sofa corner, at least initially, makes a real difference. For the post itself, I'd go with the Scratchy Cat Tall Sisal Scratching Post — it's around 95cm, very stable base, and wrapped in natural sisal rope rather than carpet. Sisal has that rough, satisfying drag that mimics bark, which is much closer to what they're seeking when they go for fabric upholstery. It's substantial enough for your DSH to have a full outdoor-cat-style stretch, and stable enough that your Korat won't dismiss it after one wobbly attempt. Move it right next to the sofa corner for the first couple of weeks, then inch it to a better spot once they're both using it regularly.

Usually yes, especially with sisal — it's close enough in texture to bark that outdoor cats take to it readily. Your DSH is already halfway there by using the current post at all; a taller, more satisfying sisal version in the right spot should tip them fully. The Korat being indoor-only actually makes it more likely they'll commit to it, because inside is their whole territory and having a proper scratching station matters more to them. You might find they both use it but at different times — cats in a two-cat household often have subtle time-sharing arrangements around shared resources. If after a week or two the Korat is still hesitant, a tiny sprinkle of dried valerian near the base works better than catnip for some cats and can break the ice.

Good plan. Give it at least ten days before judging it — habits take a little time to shift, especially with a cat as considered as a Korat. The sofa corners should quiet down pretty quickly once there's a genuinely better option right there. If you want to protect the sofa in the meantime while they're transitioning, a few strips of double-sided tape on the corners is ugly but effective and completely harmless.