How to stop the cat scratching the carpet!

[GU24Mum]

Does anyone have any suggestions for how we stop one of the cats scratching the carpets? We (well, OH and the children, not really me!!) adopted two cats about 18 months ago and they all love them.

One sticks to the scratching post (or scratching outside) but the other one keeps scratching the carpet. I'm pretty sure he's not unhappy/anxious and he and my teenager adore each other! We've tried shooing him, spraying him with water, moving him, shouting at him but nothing works!

He's already damaged some of the (fairly new) carpets and we're supposed to be putting some more new carpet in some of the rooms soonish.

Thank you!

A scratch pad.

Thanks - is that different from the scratch post -we've got one of those and he doesn't use it.

You can't - sorry. We bought all scratch posts available on the market by now. Do you trim his claws regularly? This usually stops mine for a while.

Cardboard scratch pad that lies on the floor where they scratch. You can buy them for about £2.

There are sprays available and large sticky pads which you could try to deter him though he may just go somewhere else.

Mine do use their scratching posts but they’re on their cat tree. Maybe get a cat tree? Mine also like the corrugated cardboard type and you can lace it with catnip

I’ve never managed to stop cats who want to scratch carpets from scratching them. Avoiding loop carpet helps as they can unravel a loop carpet horribly. Obviously adding cat scratching posts with lots of catnip might entice them elsewhere. But in my experience they scratch the post and the carpet 😬🤦🏻‍♀️

Yep, a scratch mat, some cats prefer horizontal scratching rather than vertical. Get as many as you can cope with. Works for mine. It can be a sign of stress, so if you're all suddenly at home all day your cats will likely be stressed due to the distruption, make sure they have plenty safe spaces to go to, preferably up high and make sure they're not being disturbed too often by your DC, contact with cats should only really happen when the cat is actively seeking it.

You can buy carpet squares and put these where they scratch, so that if it’s carpet they like, they scratch this and it’s replaceable.

Missed the part about the new carpets. New carpets/furniture remove a cat's scent from the home and really stresses them out. Try putting beds/throws or anything with their scent on in the rooms with new carpets.

My cat wouldn’t use the post but she loves scratch pads. I have two and she runs to them, stands on them and has a good scratch.

She took to scratching furniture and carpets when my dd left for uni so scratch pads were a godsend.

Which bit of the carpet. Is it near somewhere you congregate like a sofa? Perhaps, The cat is trying to add its scent to a popular area. Second (third?) getting a cheapo cat may for scratching like this

Thanks - I'll look into the horizontal ones.

He isn't all that fussy which bits of the carpet he scratches - various places in at least 4 rooms and on the stairs..... he goes outside too and there are lots of things for him to scratch there but obviously not as much fun as the carpet.......

It's been going on for ages so I don't think he's stressed about us being here.

@justanotherneighinparadise - I fear you are probably right!

One of our cats is mighty miffed that we are all sat at desks working/gaming/Mumsnetting ATM and is taking it out on the furniture to grab our attention.

Putting a T towel over the back of a chair seems to stop her - would a t towel over the "favourite patch" help? We've tried the double-sided sticky tape (but I think it is annoying us more than her as we keep catching socks/jeans on it).

I have ordered some Beaphar Pet Behave Training Spray (it is supposed to smell off-putting to cats). I'll keep you posted.