Cat scratching carpet driving me loopy

[Kasumi]

We've got an 8 month old BSH who is gorgeous and lovely. He's an indoor cat due to the fact that the best hunting ground around here is across a busy road and we've lost cats on that road and are not prepared to risk it again.

However, mornings he is a nightmare. We already have the magical non-sleeping toddler, who only ever wants to sleep about the same time in the morning that the cat wants to walk on our faces and purr. Cat then gets chucked out of the bedroom and spends from 5-6:45 am scratching the carpet.

We've tried everything we can think of. There's now about three tuns of duct tape sticking the carpet down a)to put him off and b)to stick down the tempting fluffy destroyed bits. As you can imagine, it looks lovely (not) and although has slightly reduced the scratching at the door, it's not stopping him. So he wakes us up and fucks the carpet up.

I am a cat person 100% and need a kitty in my life, but I'm feeling very frustrated that we can't seem to stop him doing this. We've tried sprays, a little olbas oil (carefully), putting down towels or something over the carpet, feeding him later at night, new toys to keep him amused.

One day I'd like to get some sleep (I know, pipe dreams) and get a new carpet, but I don't dare!


Any ideas or advice? I hoped it would stop once he was neutered :(

[LowDudgeon]

Can't you shut him in downstairs at night?

[LowDudgeon]

Pref in the room in the picture, with no carpet?

He is very lovely though

[ThisIsme2]

I feel for you. I have the same problem. My cat scratches all over on the carpet, it drives me mad .. And I live in rented accommodation. I've tried everything, but nothing helps.

[Wolfiefan]

Ours scratched one spot. We put Lino under the door to stop them.
How about cat proofing the garden?
Do you have a cat tree/scratching post?

[Kasumi]

Sadly our house set up is all open plan downstairs which means no way of shutting him somewhere carpet-less! Actually in fairness we could try to shut him in the lounge, if we moved his litter tray and food at night but think he'd throw himself at the door all night.

We would try cat-proofing the garden (semi did it with our fat old lazy previous cat) but he wouldn't be allowed out at night either way, so might help with general energy and wearing him out but not the scratching?

He's got lots of toys and two big scratching posts which he does enjoy.

[Kasumi]

Mighty handsome though

[Heyheyheygoodbye]

He's beautiful! Just do whatever he wants and accept your fate as an underling

[mumforadecade]

I cut my cat's claws, just the front ones as she doesn't really like her back ones being touched. She still scratches at the carpet sometimes but it's so much quieter!

[Roobix04]

Get a flat scratching post and put it downstairs.

[lljkk]

Cats like to have a scratch right after...
they wake up
they eat
they have a poo

You can't change it, it's instinctive. The first suitable place they find after those activities.

But you might be able to get them to scratch somewhere slightly different. A much funner scratch post near the carpet they otherwise go for, might help.

There are Utube videos showing how to encourage your cat to scratch where you like (kid you not). You try to get the cat to copy you so you have to scratch the approved of item for them to see & copy. It works well with 1 of my cats.

[CrazyCatLadyTS]

Change the floors. No kidding, we had to do it. The state of our carpets was awful and having long-hair cats it also meant I had to hoover twice a day. Only one of ours never scratched any carpet. It is natural to them so they won't stop whatever you try....

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

My cat won't sharpen his class on the scratching posts but LOVES doormats so I bought a few from wilkos and put a couple downstairs and one upstairs, seems to have helped loads.

[Amandav123]

You cat is beautiful! Mine is also 8mts old and noticed some fluffy areas where I think she has been scratching my carpet too. I have thought about get a rug, just a nice cheep one. Maybe this could work for you too?