Cat scratching posts really work, but it may take some trial and error to find the one your feline friend likes. Scratching is essential for a cat’s mental and physical well-being, and if you don’t give the cat supplies they need for scratching, they’ll find something on their own that you might wish they hadn’t. Some cats like to scratch either vertically or horizontally, and some cats like to do both. Once you find one that they like, you’ll have a very happy cat.