destroying rugs.

elizwithcat · Jun 12, 2005

My cats had taken to destroying the rugs. When I come home the rugs are clawed all over. They haven't been doing it before. Could it be because one cat is peeing on them and they smell?
Also, the sneaks never do it when I am around. I haven't caught them in the act. THey either do it at night or when I am not home. In fact, in front of me, they make a big show of scratching their cat posts and condos.

Is there anything I can do?

daidreamer · Jun 12, 2005

With the crew of cats I have I am pretty lucky that I have hardwood floors, I do have a area rug under my kitchen table that Titden seems to love very much. She wraps up in it, claws it and chews on it. I worry that she will get the other cats doing the same thing but I haven't noticed it. I really don't have much advice all I know is when they get started with something like that their little habbits are hard to break - You can tell by the arm of my coach - its almost gone

geisha_girl · Jun 12, 2005

I had a Chihuahua that ripped up the carpet between the bedroom and the hallway and Geisha decided to take heed and use the remnants as a scratching post. She has an alpine scratcher that she uses regularly and a double condo covered in carpet (which the demonic dog destroyed as well; needless to say we dont have him anymore) that she will sometimes use. She knows shes not supposed to claw the carpet but unfortunately she picked up a bad habit from the Spawn of Satan. I guess cats scratch and claw at whatever feels good whether its from Persia or Petsmart. Theres things like Comfort Zone and No-Scratch to deter cats from destroying things. Maybe when you are not there, they are somewhat distressed and clawing the rugs is the only way to-should I say-get back at you. Thats just my opinion, as I dont know anything about these cats other than what Ive read in this thread. Hope Ive helped just a bit, at least.

coaster · Jun 12, 2005

I've had pretty good results with spraying citrus-scented Febreze on carpets and furniture. They hate the citrus scent, and it also covers up their scent markers (I think).

momofmany · Jun 12, 2005

Get one of the card board scratching posts, preferably the one that goes up on an angle and sprinkle it generously with catnip. If they don't have an alternative, they will start using your furniture and carpet.

With all my cats and their claws, my furniture and carpet is intact. Thank heavens for scratching posts!

elizwithcat · Jun 14, 2005

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Get one of the card board scratching posts, preferably the one that goes up on an angle and sprinkle it generously with catnip. If they don't have an alternative, they will start using your furniture and carpet.

With all my cats and their claws, my furniture and carpet is intact. Thank heavens for scratching posts!

THey got lots of scratching posts of all kinds. When I am home, they make a big show out of it, going to their scratching post and scratching it. I have yet to catch them scratching on rugs. But when I leave and come back, all the rugs have been scratched like crazy. The cats obviously know they are not to scratch the rugs but do it anyway.

elizwithcat · Jun 14, 2005

Originally Posted by coaster

I've had pretty good results with spraying citrus-scented Febreze on carpets and furniture. They hate the citrus scent, and it also covers up their scent markers (I think).

I will try that.

dancemuse · Jun 14, 2005

Do you have a Turbo Scratcher? They are $20 at Petsm@rt and the like. My cats LOVE it. I don't know what it is about this particular toy--I'd think it was the catnip, but they've had other cardboard scratching boards with catnip inside and couldn't give a hoot. I think it's the combination of the catnip, the scratching, and the ball that rolls in the track...

Anyway, it's horizontal, which would simulate the carpet experience, but it might be more appealing, which would hopefully distract them from the carpet.

A couple of other thoughts:
-Get a sheet of that plastic stuff that goes under office chairs so they can roll on carpet (like this from St@ples). Turn it upside-down so the "grippers" are facing up. Place it on the area that sees the most scratching. Cats don't like to walk on it, so hopefully they will avoid it. If they switch to another area for scratching, put the mat there. Keep moving it around to all of their preferred areas, and maybe they will eventually realize that they can't scratch the carpets for long without being thwarted.
-They may be bored during the day while you're away, which might contribute to this scratching. Make sure they have plenty of toys, like the Turbo Scratcher, and rotate in new ones when you can. Get one of those DVDs or videos made for cats. It sounds expensive, but it's probably cheaper than replacing your carpets, right?

Good luck!

elizwithcat · Jun 14, 2005

Originally Posted by DanceMuse

Do you have a Turbo Scratcher? They are $20 at Petsm@rt and the like. My cats LOVE it. I don't know what it is about this particular toy--I'd think it was the catnip, but they've had other cardboard scratching boards with catnip inside and couldn't give a hoot. I think it's the combination of the catnip, the scratching, and the ball that rolls in the track...

Anyway, it's horizontal, which would simulate the carpet experience, but it might be more appealing, which would hopefully distract them from the carpet.

A couple of other thoughts:
-Get a sheet of that plastic stuff that goes under office chairs so they can roll on carpet (like this from St@ples). Turn it upside-down so the "grippers" are facing up. Place it on the area that sees the most scratching. Cats don't like to walk on it, so hopefully they will avoid it. If they switch to another area for scratching, put the mat there. Keep moving it around to all of their preferred areas, and maybe they will eventually realize that they can't scratch the carpets for long without being thwarted.
-They may be bored during the day while you're away, which might contribute to this scratching. Make sure they have plenty of toys, like the Turbo Scratcher, and rotate in new ones when you can. Get one of those DVDs or videos made for cats. It sounds expensive, but it's probably cheaper than replacing your carpets, right?

Good luck!

They have a turbo scratcher, but they lost interest in it after a while. They remind me of those teenagers parents leave at home, and as soon as parents leave, the teenagers get a huge party going. I sure would like to know what they are doing when I am not home, as they don't do anything when I am watching them-they are most well behaved then. LOL. Maybe they invite other cats over when I am not there? LOL.

coaster · Jun 14, 2005

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

Maybe they invite other cats over when I am not there? LOL.

I don't doubt it....they probably have a wild catnip party!!

You're going to have to keep it locked up!!

destroying rugs.

elizwithcat

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daidreamer

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