Originally posted by PayItForward
With a scratching post, look for one which is as tall & study as you can afford, place it in the room the kitten will be in most.
And remember that the kitten will grow, so don't buy a kitten size post.

I've never trained a cat to use a post so I don't have much advice, but I know Eddie (Edwina's nemesis) likes the cardboard box thing that lays on the ground. I bought him one when I first got him and in a recent picture that Sara posted I noticed she had gotten him another one, so that might work also.

I think it's a good idea to keep her in your room away from Smitten until they can get used to each other. I'm so glad your mom agree to let you get her, and also agreed to let you try and train her rather than just taking automatically getting her declawed.

Oh, and have a spray bottle handy so if she does start to claw at anything else you can squirt her and give her the idea that she shouldn't be doing that.

I really don't think you'll have a problem because I believe if they are trained from when they are very young, they will prefer the post or the cardboard to anything else.

Also, you should start clipping her claws as soon as possible too, to get her familiar with that. You can ask the vet to show you how, and from what I understand, the best time to do it is when they're sleepy. Not when she's up and tearing around the room like a mad kitten.

Good luck with it all, and she is such a cutie, so I hope be seeing lots and lots of pics of her!