Cat vs Rug

[BellaBaxter]

Is there anything I can do to stop my cat destroying my new rug?

Getting rid of the rug not an option as we've had it a week, it was fairly expensive and I really like it.

Ever since we got it, Dcat (1yr) thinks it's a new scratching mat. It's a loop style so he's pulled up quite a few areas 😩

I know there's a cat tax but the little fiend is too identifiable so I hope you don't mind if I sit this one out, sorry! 🐈‍⬛

Have you tried explaining to the fiend it's not a scratch mat and was expensive? I'm sure he will see reason and desist immediately. 😊

I just got a cheap Dunelm rug and let the fiend scratch. It's fairly sturdy and holding up surprisingly well so far.

I am feeling slightly anxious about the new sofa which is on order though, so have just bought a new cat tree with significantly bigger scratching pole options. If not I shall buy lots of sofa throws but guess covering up a rug rather defeats the purpose!

Oh well mine has a huge cat tree with big scratching posts on one side of the rug and a smaller scratching post on the other. He still favours the rug and the sofa 🤣

Argh - I wondered if there was something I could spray on it to deter?

Hope your new sofa survives!

Rosemary oil on the rug?

Feliway? Maybe.

To be honest though, I don't have a sofa, carpet or rug without a little added detail.

In my experience, no.

You could try a cheap alternative to distract them but generally they know when something is cheap and won't accept it

🤣 oh no.....

The rug belongs to the cat now. I lost 2 sofas to my cat...I feel you.

In the battle of cat v rug the cat is always going to win. See also bottom step of fitted stair carpet. We now have a few extra pieces whipped ( edged) so we can replace the bottom step.
We did try putting something over the step but we just slipped on the stairs!
Do you also get the cat looking purposefully at you before starting the destruction?

Can you tell "No' to your cat when he's actually scratching the rug?

I've had several cats and most of the time they do understand and leave alone the things we tell them "no", such as sofas, rugs, no climbing the kitchen, not peeing on the bathtub, etc.

They don't get it the first time, but after a few times of saying "no" he understands and realises it's wrong.

Dcat does the same with our loop rug. No idea how to stop it! Cat wins, we have learned loop rugs are out🤣

She also vomits on the small pale strip of our other rugs rather than the darker majority where it wouldn’t be obvious🤷‍♀️

Good job we all love her😻

Nothing worked for me and in the end I gave up and rolled the rug up out of harm’s way. The cat still claws it if he gets the chance. The problem is, cats are clever: once they’ve learned that a particular behaviour gets your attention, they’ll do it.

Have you tried gently distracting the cat and saying 'paws not claws' in a firm tone of voice so he knows who is in charge?

😂
I have had cats for exactly 4 days and already know that the cat will win.

Vertical posts aren't the best scratching surfaces for cats. Cats use vertical surfaces in high-traffic locations for territorial scent-mark scratching. For claw maintenance, the cat needs a horizontal, floor-level surface. Hence why yours is ignoring the post and opting for the rug.

Mine loves my kitchen carpet tiles. I don't even both with a post because he ignored the last one and, being a single cat household, he doesn't feel the need to scratch vertically to mark his territory.