Kitten scratching carpet but not scratching posts.

[wherestheotherone]

Kitten is 6 months old. Has a tall scratch post, a willow mat and a cardboard pad with ball. I've cat nipped all of them and encouraged play etc. He still chooses the carpet and rug in the front room and is starting to damage them 😔.

He's allowed outside in our garden when we're home. I've seen him scratching trees etc.

He's also started to scratch doors in the house to try and get them open and digging up carpet. Specifically outside bedrooms that were trying to keep him out of. He has access to other bedrooms, sleeping rugs, cushions etc.

Help! What do I do?

My 19 year old has never touched a scratching post but has dessicated my carpets for 19 years. Still does.
I wish I knew what the answer was.

Same here. Actually he didn’t scratch at all until a few years ago and he is now 12. Now my carpets are ruined. I’m resigned to this now as nothing I have bought has worked.

Kittens don't respond to catnip apparently. Not sure what age that changes.

Try a horizontal scratcher in the spot where he wants to scratch.

Have you shown him how to use them? Our kitten only used the posts etc. when he saw our older cats doing it.

Another one here hoping for the answer. I've had cats all my life. One of my current pair is a bigger for scratching, like nothing I've seen before. He has loads of scratchy posts, toys -all shapes, and I've shown him how to use them. But he really prefers scratching carpet.