Our two cats use the same post. The answer was cat nip.

Is the post you made tall enough and heavy enough for the cat to get a good
stretch on it?  If it isn't stable or tall enough for the cat to get a good
stretch s/he won't use it.

This cat might prefer a different texture. You might want to make another
with some carpet remnants and sisal as well as a good horizontal surface to
scratch. I'd also get some double sided sticky tape and put it on the couch
where the cat scratches. Spray the post with catnip and maybe feed the cat
some treats on the post.  Give the cat as many good associations with the
post as possible. Place the post near the couch for now. The cat might like
the location.

W

I recommend another post, in fact, several.  I keep a
post in each room of my house. 2 in the living room plus a
corrogated cardboard horizontal pad which they all love.

LT

Cats can share a scratching post but there are horizontal scratchers and
vertical scratchers so you may have one of each.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

Mark Healey <die@spammer.die> quoth:

Scratching post/ASHTRAY combo?  

Priscilla

Depends on the cat, depends on the post.  Mine share one of theirs, but they
are sisters and share most things pretty well.  Judy also uses two other scratching
items that Mandy ignores, because she just prefers her cardboard one.  I keep
more around for Judy because she really prefers the carpet, so the more other
items available for her, the better.

Scratching has a lot of functions, but one is territorial marking, so I guess
some cats might not share well.  Also, you have to convince the one cat
that he/she doesn't need to mark the sofa any more.

There are some good resources on this at www.maxshouse.com, particularly:

http://www.maxshouse.com/understanding_scratching.htm

which explains lots about why they scratch and how you can redirect them.

Catherine
Mandy & Judy