How can I stop the cats scratching up the carpets.

[Hotterthanahotthing]

Just that really.I amresigned to a bit of sofa scratching and the side of the bottom step on the stairs but since getting new carpet one cat in particular scratches the carpet by the doors and after only 6months they are looking bad(wish I had got cheaper carpets).
They didn't scratch the old carpet by the doors just the bottom stair and I have spare carpet to replace that.They have scratching posts but one of the cats really does prefer by the doors and a bit by the fire place.
Any solutions ?

There's some good advice online.
They like to scratch (will have own cues) after eating, crapping or sleeping. My worst carpet-killer (WCK) it's waking up from a nap or after eating that he must scratch. So I need the scratch post (or board) right there, where he tends to sleep & eat, 2 seconds after he gets up or starts licking chops.

WCK likes to stretch out horizontal when he scratches. So he needed a large horizontal board. My lot also like edges, so they go for edges of stairs. I broke that habit by throwing towels & blankets over most of my stairs for a few months.

My friend's (tiny) cat genuine likes to stretch vertical for scratching. She uses an ordinary looking post. My doddery old cat just kind of stretches his claws a bit, can't seem to do more.

So each one is individual; you need to see what your cat's triggers & preferences are..... oh, and you can encourage some of them in certain ways. WCK will copy me, if I scratch at something, he'll have a go at it, too. Lot of people make their own scratch boards (see example).

Hissing is supposed to deter some.

Are they indoor/outdoor cats? My mums old cat had a massive log outside that he used as a scratching post for years. It was part of his daily routine and he never scratched indoors, despite having a few to choose from.

@YeOldeTrout makes a good suggestions about working out their preferences. Good luck, it is annoying!

Marking place, Mog took half a curtain down yesterday

My ~bastard~ pair (brothers) have worked out that scratching the landing carpet at 6am is the fastest way to getting me out of bed in the morning. No suggestions, just watching for suggestions (actually, hurling slippers seems to work...)

I did once hear it said that the best sound for an alarm clock should be the sound of a cat about to vomit, Mairzy.

I’m now off to change my name to DozyDoats.

We’re slowly replacing with hard floors. Polished porcelain downstairs, laminate up the stairs and landing.

We have the same problem here with my two ginger ninjas. They wrecked our last stair carpet and we have recently redecorated the hall, stairs and landing and they have started on the new carpet now As someone said above, mine know if they start scratching I am out of bed like an Exocet missile which is what they want. I have also been known to throw my slipper (not at them) just close enough for them to get the message!

I think it depends on how much your cats like to scratch and what materials they prefer.

We have one cat and luckily although we have leather dining chairs, armchairs, footstools and sofas she doesn't scratch them. Never carpet, but sometimes she lightly scratches our fabric chairs.

I agree with PP about strategically located scratching posts/surfaces everywhere they have been scratching. We got something like this (pic, but can't remember the exact brand, there are lots of different kinds available anyway) to go under a radiator and our cat loves it. It's lasted 3 years or so and I plan to reverse it so the bottom goes on top so should last a fair few years more.

Would Feliway help to calm things down?

We changed carpets when redecorated the house. They like looped carpets and wool. We have a long pile carpet now that hasn’t been touched. (Previous cat was ok with long pile carpet in the old house and totally ripped up the woollen ones here. Despite being allowed outside and having lots of trees to scratch. )

Cats gotta cat! Ours in convinced our duresta sofa is one large scratching post! which has earned him a lifetime ban from the living room. He never touched the dfs leather sofa 🤦🏻‍♀️

He’s also partial to the landing carpet which I’m hoping to replace by 5he end of the month.

He’s still got the divan to go at if he’s bored.

These are not indoor cats and I have wooden garden benches that are also used as scratching posts.Considering that the sofas are now a couple of years old they have stood up really well.I don't mind the stair at the bottom as they scratched to old carpet there so I have spare bits.
I do mind the bits by the doors which they only scratch when open..These places are very wisible and can't be covered.They are pulling the pile out.They had no interest in the old carpet.
I will look out for the times it happens but it is rarely after feeding as they want to go outside after their main feed.I do leave a little food out as they are rescue cats

Cheddar likes to scratch despite two scratching posts. She does stop as soon as she's told, I think she prefers horizontal scratching though.