How do I stop my cat scratching the carpet?

SuzySu

I am living in a rented property and my cat has taken to lying at the bottom of the stairs and scratching the riser on the bottom step. Obviously I don't want to ruin the carpet, so do you have any ideas how I can stop this?

She does have a scratching post with catnip, but she is mostly an indoor cat (although she does go into the garden but usually whines to come back in after a minute or two).

Most of her scratching is at night when I can't actively stop her, but I need some advice before she ruins the carpet.

Thanks.

Milford_Cubicle

You can get double sided sticky strips from PaH which stop cats from scratching in places you don't want them to. In theory, the strip should stick to the riser. You can also apply a scent the cat doesn't like, such as vinegar or citrus. Try putting a mat or a scratching post directly next to the step she's scratching and applying cat nip to encourage her to scratch there instead.

Kimberley

My kitten is an indoor cat, he used to scratch the carpet until I showed him how to use his scratching tree.

When you see him going to scratch on the carpet, quickly pick him up, take him over to the cat post and scratch his paws down it until he uses it himself, it took my kitten just one day to get the idea

At night until he is using the post i'd put him in a room with no carpet, ideally the bathroom ensuring the toilet seat is closed obviously

Kimberley

Milford_Cubicle wrote: »

You can get double sided sticky strips from PaH which stop cats from scratching in places you don't want them to. In theory, the strip should stick to the riser. You can also apply a scent the cat doesn't like, such as vinegar or citrus. Try putting a mat or a scratching post directly next to the step she's scratching and applying cat nip to encourage her to scratch there instead.

A scent won't stop the scratching, they will scratch anywhere they can unless you teach them where it is ok to scratch.

SuzySu

Hmmmm.....I have tried most of these things. She knows how to use the scratching post and does so most of the time. It's just at night (when it means I have to get up and move her) that she seems to use the carpet. The post is near the stairs anyway.

I can't shut her in a room with no carpet as the bathroom is absolutely tiny and she will just go mad in there.

I might try the double sided tape thingy.....

Thanks for your replies.

skintchick

You can;t. My cat knows it's wrong, so she only does it when I'm not in! My stairs are a mess. But she doesn;t dare do it when I am home.

simontheiceman

Cling film works really well if you can get it secured - they hate the feel of it in their claws - I have first hand experience of this and can vouch for success. It is however normal marking behaviour and is very hard to divert.

kazwookie

Get an off cut of carpet from the local carpet shop, shouldn't cost much / they might even give it to you free, fix it over the stair, if the cat damages it, remove and replace

rita-rabbit

Trim the claws - regularly - the vet will show you how much/little to trim.

sleepymy

You can get cat behave sprays which have a peppery pong, it stops my old fella from scratching the doors, needs to be applied every day though.

viktory

Hmmm, my cat has killed my carpet. Her scratching post is carpet based and usually she scratches with one paw on the post base and the other on the carpet. I don't think it is intentional though. There was only one type of straching post that she used without using the carpet and frustratingly I can't find a replacement since the cat scratched it to death.

Eventually I intend getting rid of the carpet and having wood floors. That'll learn her!