Cat tearing up the carpet.?

Question

Now i've read around that you should spray them with a water bottle. She only scratches the carpet by the door when she wants to go out (She never miaows.) By the time one of us can get there, she's stopped doing it and it's too late to spray her. Any suggestions for what i can do to stop her? Putting something on the carpet maybe? Also, when she wants to come in, she'll tear up the screen door. If it was our house I wouldn't worry, but we're renting and our landlord will NOT like it.

Answer 1

You could always train her to be an indoor cat. With enough entertainment and attention, a cat can learn to be happy indoors, just as we humans are; and it's a LOT safer--as in, increases her lifespan by 10 years, statistically. But I assume you have considered and discarded this option.

Her letting you know that she wants to go out is a good thing; it communicates her desire to you, so don't discourage it. But you will want to protect your carpet.

Try:
--A welcome mat placed over the area, in hopes she'll scratch the mat instead
--A plastic carpet protector, of the sort they sell in office supply stores for office chairs to roll across so they don't damage the carpet
--Combining welcome mat and plastic carpet protector--so she digs her claws into the welcome mat instead of the carpet beside it (the mat should be more comfortable to scratch)
--Sprinkling the appropriate scratching surface with catnip, so she's attracted to it

If she doesn't have a scratching post inside, provide one... Sounds like she likes horizontal scratching; stores sell cardboard scratch pads, or you can just use a welcome mat or carpet sample of the sort mentioned above.

For going in:
Can you remove the screen door? It's getting to be winter, so you won't want to leave the door open anyhow; and the screen door can be put back in place when you move out.

Be sure to protect your door as well, since your cat wil then scratch that to get in. A thick layer of cardboard taped over the bottom half of it should do for protection; or you could get a sheet of plywood, affix it with screws, heavy duty glue, duct tape, etc. That second option of course means you'll have to fix and paint over the screw holes or glue/tape residue when you move out.

If your door is metal, you probably won't have to protect it; those would have to be some pretty sharp claws.

Answer 2

Do not get your cat declawed. That is just if it is scratching you and is very aggressive. I think she's just not used to having carpet under her feet. I sometimes have my feet irritated by carpet and this might have happened to her as well. When she goes this, take out a spray bottle. It may sound cruel, but it works. Try making a noise- I would suggest a whistle, since she wouldn't hear it very often, or you could bang on a surface near to you. She may jump at this noise: That's okay, she is startled. Then spray her. I would aim for her chest or back, since spraying a cat in the face is kind of mean. Most cats hate water, and she will run. Fast. Do this every time. Soon she will learn that she should not scratch the carpet. I would also suggest a scratching post with some sort of string with a toy attached to it. Put catnip on it, and swing the mouse around to attract her attention. She will notice the post. Cats love rough things to scratch: My cat likes to scratch on wood. If you don't want her to do something, just blow the whistle or bang on a surface. Then she will stop, since she'll associate the noise with getting wet. My cats kept jumping on the counter, and the spray bottle and noise worked very well. Good luck with your cat. She seems like a sweetie.

Answer 3

Cat Carpet Protector

Answer 4

My doors have bells hanging from the door nob on the inside and outside of the house. Both my dog and cat use these when they want in or out. My cat was harder to train (about 4 months!) than my dog( had to show him several times for a week or less) to use the bells.
Check out the pet store, they might have some kind of repel product you can use on the carpet, although you should try the pepper like the fellow above suggested. You can also get a scratch post and put it on the carpet where she scratches.

Answer 5

as far as the carpet try getting her a remnant and put some catnip on it. Move it away from the door and teach her to scratch it instead of the carpet on the floor. The screen door I'm not sure how to remedy as our cat does the same thing to let us know he is here. Maybe try hanging a bell at the door and teaching her to ring it when she wants out. They have the long cat toys that have bells that you can hang on things. Even if she has stopped the scratching it would be soon enough to still try to get your point across somehow. You could also try a little catnip on whatever you decide to hang on the knob and that would make her more apt to pay attention to it.

Answer 6

Do you have a high enough scratching post? Sometimes the problem is that the scratching post is too low-- the standard 12 inch scratching post is way too short. Get a much taller one for maximum effectiveness.

They also sell cat deterrents at petco, petsmart, and even walmart. Walmart has great cheap pet supplies, fyi:) This may work, but it's not guaranteed. Definitely worth a try.

Another tactic is to put some catnip and/or treats on or near the scratching post. Take her paws, and have her run her fingers down. Dangle a toy near the post, and have her "accidentally" get her claws on it.

As for the screen door, have you considered getting a pet door? A good one is between 30-50 bucks. Check out costco.com fo good deals.

Cheers,

C

Answer 7

Cats -hate- closed doors, because they don't understand them. Those who are allowed outside consider both inside and outside the house to be their territory, and it's instinct for them to "patrol" their -entire- territory regularly. Since your cat doesn't miaow, but tears at the carpet instead, I would put a little area rug right where she scratches. As for coming back in...do you have an idea of how long she likes to stay out? If so, keep an eye on the time and try to be ready for her. If not, you might want to learn. Unfortunately, this is one instinct you might have to live with.
P.S. You can buy screen material and replace what the cat ripped up...it's pretty easy.

Answer 8

First, your cat is very smart and you need to get smarter. She is telling you what she needs, not being naughty.

Forget the water bottle. She is telling you something in her own way.

Get an inexpensive carpet, by the door, that you don't mind her scratchig up. Go the the thrift store and buy many.

She needs to be able to come and go without you getting to her.

Renting is hard. Can you leave the screen door ajar or a door ajar while you are home? Giving her a out!

We must respect cat's because they can only communciate by action, and she is not bad and doesn't need to be sprayed. She is just telling you what she needs.

You can do it!

Spraying is not you answer.

Answer 9

First, I hate to hear that any cat goes outside for whatever reason. Too many bad things can happen to them. Second, it sounds like she needs some good scratching posts. There are all kinds of posts and scratchers from the inexpensive ones made of cardboard to the more expensive ones made from carpet or sisal rope material. I've heard that you should try to have one in just about every room of your house. That might help with her scratching if she has an alternative.

Answer 10

Try a product called Boundary it has a smell to it that cats don't like and detours them from tearing up the carpet