Our cat is driving Dh up the wall

[Troels]

He's actually a good cat, but wants to go outside at about 3 or 4am each night. No problem, but to get us to let him out he's started to scratch the carpet on the landing and meow.
Even with the bedroom doors open so he can come in, he scratches and meows.
No cat flap from the house as we have a few friendly other cats who visit and I don't want them all having a party in the kitchen.
So is there a spray I can put on the carpet on the landing that actually works?
He doesn't scratch in the day as he just goes to the door and tells us to get it open loudly

Hi,
The best solution to this would be a cat flap. Since cats are crepuscular, they like to go out at this time. You can get cat flaps that are restricted to your cat’s microchip which you program into it.

We used to lock ours in the kitchen overnight with the flap locked, it’s dangerous to have a cat out at night.

He never seemed to mind.

Microchip cat flap as a pp suggested

A collar with a chip isn't going to work I thought of that as my sister had one on her cat. Ours manages to rip the collars off he's a real tree climbing mad man. I worry he'll hang himself.
Kitchen is open plan to the rest of the house so no door to close, if we trap him in any room he yowls. I have no problem letting him out in the early hours, he's back in again at 6.30 when I get up anyway. So only out a couple of hours. I just want him to wake us without scratching up the carpet.

I meant a microchip inside your cat, not on his collar!

They chip a cat to open the flap? I've never heard of that.
All I want is for him to not scratch the landing carpet, I was hoping for a spray that works or something none drastic.

Cats can be microchipped at neutering in case they get lost. Did you have him microchipped?.

It's the chip that's already in him for identification.( If he's chipped)

Microchipping him won’t hurt him, or only briefly. Both of mine are done. You then program the cat flap with their number and all other potential interlopers are excluded!

Why is it dangerous to have a cat out at night?? mines practically nocturnal!

Higher risk of being run over. Mine was run over last night between 6 and half past so not late but dark. Now he’s dead.

Fluffy, that’s awful. Did the driver stop?

I’ve got one of those, she is very vocal! I have 3 cats but live in a rural area. They all go out at night, they have a cat box shelter with a fleece blanket. Not sure a spray will help? Unless you’re thinking of one of those plug in calming things but they don’t work with mine.

Surely you have your cat microchipped in case he gets lost?

The cat flap just uses that microchip. No collar necessary. No strange cats get in. Done.

The driver did not stop. We’re destroyed.

That’s absolutely awful. Did you find him in the road? It’s dreadful that the driver didn’t stop. What a swine

Your cat should be microchipped really if he goes outside. Our microchip cat flap is a Sureflap one and it can be set to out only/in only etc. It’s great. Our kittens are restricted at the moment so we set it to in-only at bedtime.

As to the scratching, you could try something physical on the patch of carpet to act as a barrier or deterrent.

Small rug/mat, old t shirt or towel, sticky tape, tin foil, citrus spray. You can get thick sticky tape from amazon that you can put on furniture where the cat is scratching.

Or a cardboard scratching box there. They’re quite inexpensive and last a long time.

What about getting him a scratching post as a diversion?

Another thing. Do you have a litter box indoors? Could he be scratching as he needs to toilet? We still have a tray (use Cats Best litter it’s fab) and they rarely use it but do occasionally in the early morning before we get up.

Fluffy, so sorry to hear about your dear cat. How awful; such a shock. Sympathies.

Thanks @Deux Yes he's microchipped incase he gets lost, He refuses to use a litter box, stopped using it after about 4 months when he figured out if he stands by the patio door and shouts at us we open it. We had it in the house till he was nearly a year just in case, but it was abandoned by him in favour of the garden.
He has a scratch post in the living room and a pad one in the back room, the couches are all intact. It's only the landing.
@FAQs
He loves tin foil, best toy ever according to our boy. I'll have a look for the tape or some citrus spray. Is Citrus safe for cats? I don't want him to get sick.
What other smells don't they like?
Theres usually someone home so he has us well trained. He gets locked in if we go for a walk or shopping and makes himself cosy and sleeps.
@FAQs what are the plug ins

If he's already microchipped, just install a chip-readable cat flap.

I think youre only option is to install a microchip cat flap. I wouldn't be too happy either if I wanted a wee in the night and was allowed into the bathroom!

@Fluffycloudland77 oh my goodness I am so so sorry. I've seen you posting regularly on the litter tray, you must be absolutely devastated. Sending love and un mumsnetty hugs your way

I put hard backed books and cushions in areas I don’t want scratched. I can still walk over them on my way to the loo in the dark!

I warn you though that this solution will work but may just move the problem to another area of carpet.