How do I stop them scratching the stairs??

[VultureCulture]

I have 2 three year old cats. They have cat scratching posts galore. Never bothered with them and never scratched the furniture either.

We re-did the stair carpet. £1500 (lots of stairs!). Now they are scratching the stairs every day and every night. Pulling up the carpet really badly. It is driving us all mad.

Totally open plan house so no way of locking them away from the stairs - unless they are locked in a bedroom (and I'm not doing that with a litter tray!)

Any ideas?

Is there something you can spray onto the carpet to deter them?

My cat hates scratching posts so has a large piece of coir mat (about twice the size of a normal doormat in length). He loves it! Doesn't scratch the furniture or the rugs but really goes for it on his mat!!!! It might distract your from the stair carpet....