Carpeted Cat Scratching Post

carpeted cat scratching post
How can i stop my Cat Scratching at the carpet?

I know people say get a scratch pad or a scratch post and i have both of them but she will not scratch them no matter what. She prefers the carpet and she scratches the carpet in front of doors that are closed

John, This is not an unusual problem. But sadly, many people don't understand how to deal with it. I've have a couple of dozen cats, and I'd like to offer you my solutions here. If you try them, I predict that you'll get your cat scratching in the right place.

First of all, if your scratch pad is made of corrugated cardboard, there's a better option. It's called Brazilian sisal rope. My cats have preferred this material over all other things over the years, and my sofa looks almost new (no scratched up areas). Our carpeted rooms are looking good, too. For the times when our cats want to do some horizontal scratching (which your cat is doing), I have three strategically placed flat sisal rope scratchers. Two are 24" x 8" and one is 16" x 8", and they've seen a lot of action over the last 7 years we've had these cats. Yes, they've lasted seven years, And I wouldn't be without them.

The scratching posts should also be wrapped in this rope, and they need to be tall. A short (less than 19" or so) post is useless to a cat. They want to stretch when they scratch vertically. The taller the post, the better. We have quite a few of them, ranging from 24" to four feet tall!

I need to disagree with some of the advice you're receiving. First of all, catnip, as nice as it is for your kitty to get a little wacky, is not going to show your cat how your new scratching post or platform works. You'll need to be a little more involved. The method I am linking below involves simply playing with your cat. So, if you'd like to take another shot at helping your kitty discover these scratchers on her own terms, I have a great link for you.

Also, I think you want to avoid any remedy that involved scaring or startling your cat. There's no reason to intimidate her or frighten her. You are smarter and better that that, and certainly much more creative. A cat will respond to praise much better than these other things. I particularly reject the squirt bottle approach. I think that is unneccessary & bordering on cruel (although not as cruel as some of the answers).

I applaud you for asking other cat owners about this. Sadly you've gotten some lame advice, here, as well as some answers that just shouldn't appear here. Some people have too much time on their hands! Take my advice, my friend, and I think you'll restore some peace and harmony in your home.

How to Make a Scratching Post that Actually Works: Cat Uses This Homemade Scratching Post