Help naughty scratchy cats

[Peaches2018]

Hi everyone first time posting here (love this pet section) and I'm in deep trouble 😅I've got 3 cute and lovely cats, 1 11,5 years old and my double trouble brothers of 3,5 years. We've moved to a lovely house, lots of birds to see and lots of space. Especially carpeted space.

I think you might know where this is going. My lovely thick carpet is on its way being ruined by my 3 sweethearts. Hubby isn't pleased one bit and I'm out of options too. I've tried the pet behave spray (stinks like absolute mismatch of rotten fruits if you ask me) and it stopped working. We've got 2 scratching posts (albeit small) and even when we had a bigger one in the old house they still sometimes dunked their nails in the carpet.

What can I do, what worked for you and how can I stop this? I can't put them outside (better said I don't want to) and soon our baby starts crawling around and I don't want any nasty spray on the carpet then.
Thanks for reading this long message 👍🏼💐

www.bitiba.co.uk/shop/cats_accessories/cat_trees/scratch_pads/cardboard/371376

Scratchboards are what you need. Get a few, sprinkle with dry cat nip and hopefully it will encourage them to use those instead of the carpet.

However, despite ours having endless boards and cat trees, they still like a good carpet scratch on occasion, making eye contact while doing it. Because cats are little sods at times.

I think the rule is that you have to post pics first! (of the cats, not the carpet)

@MyCatsaPirate Well at least yours sound quite brave, mine scratch 1 second after being told a firm NO and look at me like they're deaf. Except of course for the sound of the Dreamies bag!! I'll definitely try out the boards, seems a bit of a cheaper option too than (again) a scratching post and the space they sometimes take up!

@BrettAndersonscheekbones really?!? I need a big screenshot of my old girl then she's huge 😂😅

I second scratch pads, mine ignores posts completely but regularly uses his pad and I don’t even use the cat nip. He does still occasional scratch the carpet but a quick yell of his name usually stops him. I get mine from amazon because I’m too lazy to shop and order my life online

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06Y5ZVCBR/ref=asc_df_B06Y5ZVCBR58062982/?hvlocphy=1007232&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvnetw=g&hvadid=205292602537&creative=22146&hvpone&hvlocint&creativeASIN=B06Y5ZVCBR&hvpos=1o1&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-414095567477&hvrand=8240895446833662072

@Bringbackthestripes really?? Sounds good thanks! I'm definitely going to look into them asap. It's not that they don't use the scratching posts but what's better than a good race through the house, over the sofa's, the stairs, the beds and then nicely sink your nails into carpet 😂 😅

Cheddar does abs and stops as soon as I tell her to stop!

We bought some carpet squares from the carpet shop, 50p each and sprinkled them with catnip, they worked a treat.

why can't you put them outside?

Mine have never used scratch pads and we have accepted that our furnishings will get a bit trashed - luckily we're not that fussed!

If you're saying no to one area, you need to give them a yes to another. You need PLENTY of scratch posts. You can get horizontal ones they might be interested in too. Use a cat nip spray or rub some cat nip on them to attract them to it. Right now, their best option is the carpet, you simply need to give them a better one and they won't bother. Also, put the posts and scratch stuff in the same spaces they're tearing up, as where they're scratching is where they're comfortable - plus immediate diversion.

(Speaking from experience, had a rug basically destroyed until got her a huge tall scratch post which she loves)

Also - any furniture they may be trying to get at, pop some clear double sided sticky tape on! They hate the feel of it and after a couple of times of trying, they won't bother any more. Once they've fully accepted they don't want to scratch there and no longer interested, you can remove the tape.

Hi and sorry for the late reply 😳 2 out of the 3 cats won't put one paw outside and actually scare of their own shadow 🙄 The other one wouldn't mind I think as long as the door would be permanently open which is no option of course.
I've blocked 2 parts where they sunk in the nails and provided better alternatives and so far it looks Okey!! Catnip seems to work on just cat not the other 2 🤔 Anyone else had that too?!? I got my hands on a dried ball of catnip but nope no reaction at all!!
Thank you all for your tips and advice💐

Not all cats respond to catnip unfortunately.

www.catbehaviorassociates.com/catnip/