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Don’t know where else to post this, please help me out! I am sorry for the long post :(

My boyfriend and his cat moved in with me a few months ago, and most of her stuff is set up in our upstairs area so she feels safe (my dog doesn’t go up there). Unfortunately my beloved wool rug is also up there. I only got it this year and it took so long to pick one out I actually liked. I care a lot about it.

When they moved in, I noticed her scratching the carpet to my dismay. I bought 3 scratching posts, the top-recommended ones. There is a tall vertical one, a medium one with both horizontal and vertical surfaces, and a flat one. She uses the first two quite a lot, and we praise her every time we notice her doing it. Sometimes she even runs to the scratching post and goes ham on it when she sees one of us come in, so we praise her.

However, despite this success, she continues to claw the carpet all the time. Sometimes we are present, and sometimes we are not but we see new threads that have been pulled out. My boyfriend does his best to monitor it too. Since all her stuff is on one side of the room, she only ever scratched the carpet on that side.

When we see her scratching the carpet we say “no” but even though she responds to this ANY other time we say no, if she’s scratching the carpet and we say no she totally ignores us. We have to physically go over and shoo her, which sucks because then she gets mad at us and sometimes that means she scratches the carpet even more later in the day.

I purchased a plastic carpet cover which covered that half of the carpet, this was yesterday. All her stuff is still on that side, sitting on top of the carpet cover. She is fine still using these scratching posts, she is walking around on the plastic cover, but now she’s relocated her carpet scratching to the other side of the carpet. I am at a loss. Please help — how do I get her to stop scratching the carpet?

She is well behaved in all other ways, but she just won’t stop clawing the carpet.

I cannot get a plastic cover for the other half of the carpet because we work from home on that side and the plastic coverings sturdy enough for our desk chairs are quite expensive ($80+ per, and we’d need 2 of them) at which point I might as well give up and buy a new carpet.

I am at the end of my rope, I know it’s only a carpet but I care about the carpet :( does anyone have any advice?
Don’t know where else to post this, please help me out! I am sorry for the long post :( My boyfriend and his cat moved in with me a few months ago, and most of her stuff is set up in our upstairs area so she feels safe (my dog doesn’t go up there). Unfortunately my beloved wool rug is also up there. I only got it this year and it took so long to pick one out I actually liked. I care a lot about it. When they moved in, I noticed her scratching the carpet to my dismay. I bought 3 scratching posts, the top-recommended ones. There is a tall vertical one, a medium one with both horizontal and vertical surfaces, and a flat one. She uses the first two quite a lot, and we praise her every time we notice her doing it. Sometimes she even runs to the scratching post and goes ham on it when she sees one of us come in, so we praise her. However, despite this success, she continues to claw the carpet all the time. Sometimes we are present, and sometimes we are not but we see new threads that have been pulled out. My boyfriend does his best to monitor it too. Since all her stuff is on one side of the room, she only ever scratched the carpet on that side. When we see her scratching the carpet we say “no” but even though she responds to this ANY other time we say no, if she’s scratching the carpet and we say no she totally ignores us. We have to physically go over and shoo her, which sucks because then she gets mad at us and sometimes that means she scratches the carpet even more later in the day. I purchased a plastic carpet cover which covered that half of the carpet, this was yesterday. All her stuff is still on that side, sitting on top of the carpet cover. She is fine still using these scratching posts, she is walking around on the plastic cover, but now she’s relocated her carpet scratching to the other side of the carpet. I am at a loss. Please help — how do I get her to stop scratching the carpet? She is well behaved in all other ways, but she just won’t stop clawing the carpet. I cannot get a plastic cover for the other half of the carpet because we work from home on that side and the plastic coverings sturdy enough for our desk chairs are quite expensive ($80+ per, and we’d need 2 of them) at which point I might as well give up and buy a new carpet. I am at the end of my rope, I know it’s only a carpet but I care about the carpet :( does anyone have any advice?

11 comments

[–] Greatlakeshotdish 6 points

Trim her claws or you can get claw caps. If you go to a groomer or vet, they can show you how to trim her nails safely and correctly, it's very easy. Please don't declaw, it's cruel.
[–] KissMyOvaries 0 points

Only kittens can be declawed. This sounds like a full grown cat.

[–] spacykate 4 points

A full grown cat can be declawed too, its a barbaric practice either way.
[–] redacted 3 points

scratching can be a territorial thing, in which case maybe try reducing anxiety using one of the plugins, but not feliway as it can make some cats think there's another cat due to the pheremones. i've had some success with one called pet remedy.

unfortunately i don't have an answer. i have a number of rugs including a genuine persian carpet bought from iran. when i bought that i told the people in the shop i had cats that would destroy it so they gave me a really sturdy one. 6 years later it still looks pretty well perfect despite cat attacks. the cheap carpet on the stairs of the house i moved into a year ago? less so. its a complete mess and i can't even see the point replacing it cos i can't afford one that's going to be sturdy enough to withstand attack.

sadly animals have different ideas about our stuff than we do. i kind of expect it now and try not to get too attached. that said, i would be devastated if they ruined any of my rugs. sometimes they really make me reconsider why we think allowing animals in our homes is ok. but then they do something cute and i remember.
[–] Redmage thehotline.org 4 points

If her nails are short, she won't want to scratch practically at all. Get those nails trimmed! Learn to do it and do it every 1-2 weeks.

Having used the caps... They are legitimately more of a pain in the ass than trimming. To the cat, the nails still feel long so she'll still try to scratch and when one falls off, there's at least one nail scratching.

Try Feliway. It can help her feel calmer and safer, and it's expensive AF which always makes cats happy. 🙄

Don't bother praising her. She's a cat. She doesn't give a shit.

Keeping them trimmed well I think will solve like 90 percent of it. Keep some corn starch on hand in a small bowl while you're first learning juuuust in case you hit the wick. There's lots of positions but I sit the cat in my lap, facing forward, sort of on their lower back. Press down on each "finger" pad and the nail will come out. Observe for wick and cut not the wick. Don't forget the "thumb" on each "hand" paw. Lots of treats after. Don't bother praise. Imho, most cats ignore it or are offended.
[–] Redmage thehotline.org 0 points

This style (like scissors) https://a.co/d/cnEQ3Oh

Not this style (like a noose) https://a.co/d/cMQc0xv

I find the scissors easier to work with. This is probably very personal preference, but if you don't have a preference you can borrow mine until you form one. :)
[–] Threnody 1 points

Is one of the scratchers a cardboard one? Those are my cats' favorite. Possibly use some double sided sticky tape or make it smell citrusy, cats hate citrus. (Citrus febreze maybe since it is for fabric?)
[–] spacykate 2 points

Cats release scent markers when they scratch, in order to get her to stop scratching you'll have to wash the carpet. Once cats start scratching in a particular place its very difficult to get them to stop. If it doesn't damage the carpet you could try spraying some diluted vinegar on the place where she has been scratching and see if works. One of those pet products to stop dogs from peeing in the same place might also work.
[–] hmimperialtortie Cats. Just cats. 3 points Edited

I don’t have any advice (my two also scratch wherever they fancy, regardless of having plenty of scratching posts) but I would take a look at The Cat Site - they have tons of knowledgeable people there and lots of links, so hopefully you’ll get some help.

Seconding o/Greatlakeshotdish, even if declawing is legal where you live, and I don’t know if it even crossed your mind, but whatever you do, don’t do that to her. It means removing the toe joints and inflicts lifelong pain.
[–] holy_santo 0 points Edited

My cat used to scratch the couch. I got double sided tape and put it on the area that he liked to scratch, and that stopped the behavior pretty quickly. Idk if the spot she scratches is feasible for this option but I thought I would throw it out there. Good luck!
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