It is common in today’s households to have a furry friend. However, it can be a little frustrating when they start scratching you and your belongings at home. If carpet scratching is something you deal with regularly, keep reading. This article will reveal some key points to help you reduce or eliminate this unwanted behaviour and how to avoid them.
Reasons why cats scratch
On the rare occasion that cats go outdoors, they have a habit of scratching fences, doors, sheds, or wooden gates. However, we also observe this behaviour inside the home. Here, they love to attack furniture, rugs, carpets, and anything else they can get their paws on.
While it can be very difficult, we first need to understand why they act this way to help us better deal with it.
Marking their territory: Male and female cats are overall territorial by nature, and scratching is their way of marking their territory.
Nature: Cats have long and sharp claws made for hunting insects and climbing trees. Since they live indoors, they put their paws to good use by scratching the different surfaces like your carpet.
Exercise: Although it does not seem like it, scratching is a form of exercise for cats. This allows them to stretch their bodies and release tension in their back muscles.
Habit: Cats also scratch a lot to sharpen and shorten their claws, and they also do this regularly to keep their nails healthy.
To communicate: Cats also tend to scratch to express their emotions, like stress, anxiety, frustration, joy, or excitement. You will also notice that they scratch when they see you return home.
Curiosity: We all know that cats are curious animals, so they will inevitably scratch your carpet just out of curiosity.
10 INNOVATIVE WAYS TO KEEP CATS FROM SCRATCHING YOUR CARPET
You can already tell from the reasons above that it will be a challenge to stop your cat from scratching because it’s in their nature. Completely preventing them from doing so may create some adverse physical or mental effects on your furbaby. Therefore, it will be best for you to learn how you can deal with this in a way where no cat or carpet will be compromised.
#1 Set up a horizontal or vertical scratching pad.
Instead of stopping your cat from scratching, you should provide great scratching posts. If not, they will damage your carpets, sofa, and other furniture, which you do not want to happen. Find simple, wide, and durable pads for your cats to enjoy. When our pets get used to something, they may find it challenging to switch. So let them choose among a couple of materials. Specifically, try to let them try and pick from those made from cardboard or carpet. Overall, make sure you know their preferences.
You should also place scratching posts or pads strategically around your home where your cat is likely to scratch. If they are movable, your cats will find them less satisfying and stop using them.
#2 Help reduce your cat’s stress.
Although it does not seem like it, even our pets experience stress. They can also feel anxious and tend to scratch on things to alleviate their anxiety. You can help them lessen their stress by playing with them or simply petting them. This way, they will not feel the need to scratch your carpet.
#3 Purchase scented carpets.
Cats are naturally sensitive to smell, and they dislike certain scents. If your carpet has hints of citron and thyme and banana and mustard, they will less likely go near and scratch it. You can add the scents by mixing them with water and spraying the mixture on your rugs, carpets, and furniture.
#4 Give your cat enough exercise.
As mentioned earlier, your cats can sometimes scratch just for them to add a little exercise into their daily activities. This alone is a sign that they are not receiving enough movement throughout the day. Giving them exercise through playing with them or keeping them entertained can lessen the chances of them scratching your rugs.
#5 Keep your cat’s claws short.
You can ask your vet about how to groom your cats or bring them to a professional. If you decide to groom them at home, remember to choose the best equipment that works best for your feline friend. Furthermore, trimming your cat’s claws should be done as often as 10-14 days.
#6 Interrupt them while scratching.
You can interrupt your cat by simply removing the rugs while your cat is scratching them. This will clearly send the message that they are not allowed to do so.
#7 Put cover-up on the spot where your cat often scratches.
You can also add a cover to certain carpet areas by putting double-sided tape or sandpaper. Consider also putting a piece of furniture or a scratching post on the location of your carpet where your cat scratches.
#8 Clean your carpet thoroughly.
Since cats are sensitive to smell, some scents can drive them to scratch the surface. Cleaning your carpet thoroughly will remove undesired odours that your car may despise. This can also help remove marks that compel your cat to start scratching. Besides the regular vacuum cleaning, you should also consider having your carpet professionally cleaned.
BOAS Cleaning Services
BOAS Cleaning Services provides skilled carpet cleaning services in Fremantle to commercial and residential customers. Having operated in Western Australia since our foundation in 2003, the company has built the manpower, vehicle fleet, and high-performance cleaning equipment required to provide various services, including Steam Cleaning, Dry and Bonnet Carpet Cleaning.