Help; new rug and cat loves to scratch it

[indecisivewoman81]

I'm after ideas in what to do.

I've just bought a lovely new rug as our hard wood floors are so cold this winter and our usually very good 9 month old kitten has scratched it and pulled multiple threads!

Apart from getting rid of the rug (not really an option) what can I do?

I'm going to order a scratch mat for him but thinking of maybe a spray to use on the rug to put him off?

Has anyone tried and had success with anything?

The cat knows it's a lovely and new, probably expensive rug, therefore they must break it in for you. Cats are amazing, the best pets ever, and also complete and utter assholes.
Mine is 2 and out of the kitten stage, so I thought it was safe to buy some decent quality blackout curtains for the French doors. I was wrong. Now when the sun shines there's lots of delightful little holes throughout.

It's the cats rug now.

Shit! As I feared. Should have bought a cheaper rug!