After you fix it I would recommend getting a cat tree and scratching post. We have four of the beasties and I wouldn't part with any but the cat tree has made them a lot easier to live with, no more damaged furniture and they enjoy the high sleeping places.
this was ours, I called it the walking wood......
prior to selling the house most veiwers thought it nuts.....but the cat lovers wanted to take it home.....
I looked for a couple of years to find something like this but never did....
and yes her indoors would like one as well.....
sadly we lost our Bengal to a dog attack.....but a few weeks later we found these two in a dust bin.....they were just hours from death....and certainly didn't look like this.....I just love em.....we have scratching posts n tree's all over the plot but he prefers my
Clarkes decking slip on shoes....given up now....hahaha.....
Buy him a nice climbing frame, Maine **** Palace Deluxe | LOWEST PRICES GUARANTEED | FREE DELIVERY these products are great and we got a smaller one for our madame.
No harm in trying but I don’t think steaming will do much in this case. Steaming works very well for indentations, debts, bruises etc but these are claw marks where wood has been removed so there is nothing to “ push up “ and fill the dent. I think carefully sanding and refinishing will be the best.
Couple of things come to mind... and what I'd try to do to repair the damage.
#1 sand down and endeavour to collect as much of the dust as possible - from the post *and any other areas of the stairs that collecting from wouldn't be too noticeable*. Mix the dust with some wood glue and use to fill the scratch marks. Then sand again and treat the wood to match in - wax or whatever.
#2... probably a VERY long shot - but nothing ventured etc... Contact the manufacturer, explain the problem caused by the cat - as you have here with pics - and ask if they can supply some sawdust of the same wood type for you to use as suggested in #1. Even ask if they've have some suggestions or something else they can supply or recommend without saying replace the post... they may be more helpful than you think they would be
I’ve never tried filling holes or scratches with coloured beeswax but a furniture restoration video by Gilboys showed how they do it (see around 17:00 onwards). Seems to be effective and perhaps this might be worth looking at.