Any tips to stop cat scratching stair carpet?

pinkteapot

I'm going to guess the answer is "no", but just in case...

As per the title really - cat loves sharpening his claws on the stairs, and is slowly destroying the carpet. We have large upstairs and downstairs halls so replacing the carpet would be expensive! The same carpet is actually throughout our entire house. :eek:

We have tall scratch-posts at the top and bottom of the stairs which he does also use. We do a sharp "hey" when he's scratching the carpet and he runs off, but always does it again.

Is there anything we can try? He likes scratching both the top and upright bit of each stair - maybe he needs some flat scratchboards as well as posts?

no1catman

How long have you had the cat?


Two years ago we spent a small fortune on a new carpet on the stairs & landing (no carpets down-stairs), eighteen months ago had a new cat of nine from Cat Protection. It was most disheartening having give her a new home that she's intent on destroying it!! At least that's what it felt like at the time!


On the one hand you need to be wary of rewarding bad behaviour - giving her attention when she scratches, but it can't be ignored.
Options:
- a water pistol (I use an indoor plant sprayer), to get the cat to associate scratching there with the sudden impact of water - downside cat shouldn't be away that you are doing it. It has stopped minge scratching the bed.
- Feliway - sprayed on the most scratched areas reduces the cats urge to 'mark' the area.
- pepper - as a last resort I blew a pinch or two into the bend of a step, it did break the cycle of habit scratching.


The reason I asked 'how long' was because over time I found the need to scratch the carpet & furniture has got less.
And incidentally, did have a scratch post but gave it away - she ignored it!


HTHs
Good luck

pinkteapot

Kitty is three years old but we've only had him since October, when he was just over two. He did have a bit of a traumatic rehoming. His old owner got a puppy and couldn't integrate them - after six weeks kitty was still absolutely on edge when puppy was around, and attacking puppy. So in the end she decided to rehome and he came to us. He had six weeks of puppy trauma, then a move!

Feliway spray is a good idea - we'll try that.

He gets told off when we catch him scratching the stairs and rewarded when he uses the post, but I'm sure he's also doing it when we're at work. We'll get a water spray-bottle and try that.

We do clip his claws which is slowing down the destruction.

MarylandCookie_2

Ive had exactly the same problem, luckily it was only the bottom step. I keep the step covered with a pillow case and it does the trick. We have 2 cat scratch posts which she does use.

I've tried Felliway in the past but unfortunately it didnt seem to have much effect when my two cats werent getting on.

Hope things improve x

HB58

On top of the other things, you could also try getting a horizontal scratcher, some of them actually look quite nice.

pinkteapot

Thanks, all! Ours is every single step on the stairs! All done one side, so he obviously likes facing a particular way to scratch. I was wondering whether we could tack a narrow hessian runner down that edge.

I'm going to look for some horizontal and upright panel scratchers...

Slinky

Another vote for the Feliway spray, Pixie was first attacking the bottom step of the stairs, that's stopped, she's moved elsewhere but whereever she scratches and we spray it does seem to stop it completely in that area.

She has occasionally scratched her scratch post recently! We tried a horizontal cardboard box thing we got from PAH, complete waste of money.

pinkteapot

Thanks - have now ordered the spray. The plugins work on him. We've had them since he moved in and it's really obvious when a refill has run out - he gets far more scatty, then calms down within a couple of days when we replace it. :eek:

So, as the plugins work hopefully the spray will have an effect on him too.

no1catman

When you get, just spray on and around the scratched areas. Don't 'hose' it about - it's expensive!!