Tips to stop scratching carpet

[DominoRules]

We have a lovely cat who’s developed a bit of a scratching habit and has caused a fair bit of damage to our carpets.

She has scratch posts, access to outside, lots of attention. We’ve had her nearly 10 years (she was around 2 when we got her) and she’s never done this before so I don’t know if it’s an age thing?? She’s very healthy otherwise, eats well etc

it tends to happen early morning before we get up - she mostly sleeps on our bed.

Any tips?!

Horizontal scratch boards, near her bed & feeding areas, as much as possible on the same exact location as where she has destroyed carpet now. Heavy enough that she can't pull it around & can stand on it entirely while scratching away. Surface around side she can scratch is good, too.

Initially Get down with her & scratch the board with her to show her out (use Ur own fingernails)

You can buy horizontal boards or make your own.

The instinct to scratch is strongest before/after eating & nap & litter tray time.

Have you tried horizontal scratching pads, or wall scratchers made of carpet material?

Haven’t tried horizontal ones actually only the tower type ones, will give them a go thanks!

Watching with interest as my 10 year old cat has recently started doing this too and it's very problematic because she's so powerful she's actually dragged the carpet out from under the metal thingy that holds it down on the threshold!

Our cat is pretty much perfect apart from this. It makes me so angry with her. She has scratching posts !

My cats love coconut mats like the ones sold to be put by the front door. They prefer it much more than the expensive cat posts I bought.

Just to add once we bought them another (so one each) they never scratched floor / sofas again

Also recommend flat scratching posts, my cats use them way more than the vertical ones

Carpet and scratch posts are different textures annoyingly.

We gave up and stapled old bits of carpet onto our sofa for them to destroy instead

My DCat #2 totally wrecked the carpet in my family room within a short time of being here.... When I can afford it, I am going to replace the carpet with tiles! She also pisses on the sofa... it's a good job I adore her!!!

Thanks fellow cat scratchers!

I’ve ordered some mats today so will let you know if they work 👍