Do cats actually use scratching posts?

[Hellfire]

And if so do you have any recommendations please?

When my cat was a kitten I gave him a treat everytime he used the scratching post. He still uses the post but does occasionally have a go at the furniture. Everytime he uses the post (even if I'm not visibly in sight) he will have a look for the treat on the top and be quite confused when no treat appears. His intelligence has limits apparently :)