Cat scratching the carpet

[HoorayForFishAndChips]

Hello!

We have a 4 year old neutered male, with us as a Blue Cross rescue since May 2016. Friendly and affectionate, loves sitting on laps, has a microchip cat flap so comes and goes as he pleases, he's a laid back chap. He has a big scratching post and toys out and gets lots of loving attention from us all.

Despite this he CONSTANTLY scratches 4 particular places on our living room carpet. He's completely destroyed one section, and the others look a bit ropey now too. Any ideas how to stop this? He does use his scratching post which is in an easy location for him to access, but he uses the carpet more! We've tried just moving him away from the area but he generally sees it as a chance to play and drops onto his back with his big eyes on and tries to get us to chase him, so I fear we've made it some kind of game!

[HoorayForFishAndChips]

Here he is by the way...handsome chap 😍

[AprilLudgateDwyer]

All my cats have done this. Totally ignored scratching post and gone for the carpet. I've found they all prefer a flat cardboard scratcher. We place them in the worst places they scratch and they seem to go for the scratcher instead!

[ememem84]

Mine does this. But only on the stairs. I thought about a flat scratcher but too dangerous on stairs....

[HoorayForFishAndChips]

I hadn't heard of a flat scratcher! I'd only seen the posts in different heights. I'm googling now, thank you!

[HeyMacWey]

Our boy used to do this, we have him a cardboard flat scratcher. He's now using the regular one though and only scratches the carpet if he's cross with us :o

[Palomb]

Those cardboard scratchers are brilliant 👍🏼

[HoorayForFishAndChips]

That sounds a nightmare on the stairs eme, we've just had the stairs and landing carpeted so I try not to let him upstairs as I don't trust him not to start scratching up there too!

[ttcnovice]

Our cat does this (only on the stairs too) and completely ignored the flat scratcher we bought on purpose to spite me knowing him. If anyone has any other tips I'd be most grateful as we've already replaced the carpet once!

[Icequeen01]

One of my two cats does this and has ruined the carpet in the hall and on the stairs. I've tried using the repellent spray but that doesn't work, I've tried clapping my hands when he starts but he just goes off and does it elsewhere. I've noticed that he sometimes does it around 5.30 am outside my bedroom door as he seems to know that I am so sensitive to the sound of clawing that I immediately wake up and shoot out of bed to stop him. He then saunters downstairs and starts meowing for his breakfast! I did yell at him once when he did it in the early hours but nearly gave DH a heart attack as he was sound asleep so Ive be banned from doing this again!

I am watching this thread with interest to see if I can pick up any tips. He has a large climbing frame and the flat scratching boards and a scratching pole and does use them but still likes to rip up the carpet 😡

[lljkk]

I have had success with a platform scratcher like this (mine are home-made). D-Cats like edges, so I have towels over the carpet stairs steps.

[lljkk]

ps: I couldn't make a good carpet scratcher, tried.... cats slept in it, but not interested in scratching.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Put laminate down. That'll stop him.

[HeyMacWey]

Have you tried putting catnip on the scratcher icequeen?

[HoorayForFishAndChips]

We actually had laminate down when we moved in, then carpeted as it was in bad condition - our previous cat didn't ever scratch anything but his post (and that was rare) but this one is a real scratchy pants!

I think our cat definitely does it sometimes for attention ice as he loves the ensuing chasing/picking up and is so playful...it would be interesting to know if he did it when we weren't in or if he does it just to get us to come over to him!

[Icequeen01]

The flat scratchers do have catnip sprinkled on them Heymacway and he will use them occasionally but still likes to rip at the carpet!

It's interesting Hooray that when we go away my mum, who lives next door, looks after them. She most certainly wouldn't get up at 5.30 am to feed them and we have never come back to any damage, so I think that speaks volumes!

[Weedsnseeds1]

When I bought my current house it was fitted with sea grass carpets. I don't particularly like them, but they are utterly indestructible!

[LivingInMidnight]

My girl cat is very good and will only scratch the cardboard scratchers. My slightly grumpy boy cat will scratch the carpet next to the scratcher, and also any additional carpet he feels he needs to.

[HoorayForFishAndChips]

I've ordered a couple of flat cardboard scratching pads - hopefully those should do the trick, I'll report back when they've arrived! Little terror, with him and a toddler our carpet (which was only fitted 2 years ago) isn't looking fantastic...

[rainbowstardrops]

Our cat tends to scratch the furniture. I read once to have a water spray bottle close by and to give a quick spray when they scratch.
She still scratches but not so much.

[cakesandphotos]

Spray bottle is the way to go. Sounds mean but a few showers of water will be a good deterrent. We got rid of ours when we moved and the cats are total arses in the new house, scratching the sofa, carpet, jumping on the kitchen surfaces. Definitely going to invest in another!

[JellyWitch]

Ours goes for the newly carpeted stairs too. Our best solution behaviour wise is to get her outside all day day everyday so when she comes in for the evening she is tired and ready to sleep!

[Qwebec]

Have you tried clipping his claws regularly? Mine starts scratching around when her claws get too long and she gets caught in fabrics. Clipping makes all the difference.

[HoorayForFishAndChips]

I did consider a spray bottle, we used one once on a previous cat who had a different naughty habit but he was so chilled he looked at us like 😐 'really? Is that all you've got?', elegantly licked the water off his paws and continued doing what he was doing!

Also not tried claw clipping, he goes outside a lot which I assumed would keep them short? They don't look too long at the moment but I'll keep an eye on them.