Carpets may appear nice horizontal scratching posts to cats. Some cats might be determined to discover just what fascinating things lie underneath, especially where the carpet meets the walls. Try a combination of techniques if you don’t actually want a collection of threads and knots where your carpet once was.
Step 1
Provide a selection of alternative scratching posts, preferably not ones covered in the same sort of carpet as is on your floors. Instead, try a variety of other materials, such as cardboard, wood, other textures of carpeting and sisal.
Step 2
Spray the scratching posts with a little catnip to make them more appealing to your cat. You might want to do this in another room, to ensure that none of the spray ends up on the carpet.
Step 3
Block off access to the most scratched sections of carpet, for example in the corners, with flat, heavy items, such as ceramic tiles. These are not pleasant to scratch and hopefully your cat will have forgotten about the carpet when you remove them a few weeks later. The Humane Society of the United States notes that the same goes for rubber carpet runners and duct tape, although these can be removed by a determined scratcher.
Step 4
Add a few drops of a citrus oil, such as lemon, citronella or orange, to a spray bottle, top up with water and shake thoroughly. Spray the scratched areas of carpet lightly. Cats do not like the smell of citrus fruits one little bit. This also makes the room smell nice to you.
Step 5
Close doors leading to the room with your best carpets while you are out and provide plenty of toys in the other rooms. Cats sometimes scratch out of boredom when they are left alone.
