Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After reading the reviews and losing all of my security deposit (and then some) from my last apartment due to my cat's constant scratching of the woodwork, I decided to try this item. I really had my doubts about it as my cat can be very fussy about being directed to do anything (especially where to scratch). At first, as some dissatisfied users have reported, my cat showed absolutely no interest in the post. When he would scratch the woodwork, I would place him at the post and still, he showed no interest at all - even going so far as to retract his claws as a further insult (lol). Just as I was thinking "well, there's another waste of money," I remembered reading a review from a lady who had the same disinterested reaction from her cat, but who enticed her cat to scratch the post by teasing her cat with his favorite swinging cat toy on top of and around the post. Feeling I had nothing to lose, I gave it a try and I simply couldn't believe it. My cat dug his claws deep into the post while swatting at the cat toy and the rest is history. In fact, he became so interested in the scratching post that he forgot the toy. Another good recommendation I read was to place the scratching post near where most of his scratching behavior usually takes place which seems to work well also. After I introduced him to the post, he only tried to scratch the walls a few times and just saying "no' sent him to the nearby post. I also want to comment on how sturdy this item is. It only took about a minute or so to assemble and is solidly constructed and not likely to tip over. I have a huge Ragdoll cat who is over 20 pounds of muscle and he hasn't knocked it over yet - and he vigorously uses the post now. Sorry this is so lengthy, but I hope it can help someone who, like me, was a skeptic and at first assumed it won't work like most of them. Thanks to whomever posted the hint about using a cat toy to create interest in the scratching post. You saved me a lot of heartaches.