The carpet is super short and rough, perfect for a scratch pad for her. When she scratches it to death, it doesn't damage it at all. If I replaced that carpet with a longer, softer, nylon carpet, would that type of carpet get torn to shreds? I don't want to pay a bunch of money for new carpet on my stairs if my cat ends up making it look yucky by scratching it to death.
2007-09-17 02:17:09 · 9 answers · asked by hello 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
I don't mind her scratching my stairs, rather there than my furniture!! Just wouldn't want new carpet ruined if I decided to replace the existing carpet.
2007-09-17 02:44:37 · update #1
it will tear to shreds. i have normal carpet and my cats tear the S out of it LOL. maybe try some scratching posts or those round cardboard toys with the ball track. my cats love those things....so far as i remember, any cat i ever had loved cardboard!
2007-09-17 02:25:31 · answer #1 · answered by Sassy Gal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just trim the loose bits off the stair carpet and leave it be, it's not as though it's the middle of the living room floor. Make sure your cat has scratching posts both upright to stretch up and flat on the ground too, the corrugated cardboard ones are good, cheap and completely different to carpet so it removes the association with scratching the carpet. I would never recommend spraying water at a cat, it just makes them flinch and become wary of you, and using pepper is just plain nasty. When she does it say kindly but firmly NO and pick her up and take ger to the flat scratcher and show her what you want her to do. During the day you could put an some objects on the stair carpet so she couldn't do it, but make it something bright enough for anyone to see so as not to fall over, maybe some saucers or tins of peas for example or you could try putting cat toys, balls and cat nip there so if she goes to do it she gets distracted . You could make it into a game with her by throwing a ball up the stairs and letting her catch it as it bounces down. Above all please don't even consider declawing her or your troubles will be just beginning. There's not much point in your hubby getting on at you about it, and although "getting rid" is easily said finding a new safe and loving home for an adult cat is really difficult. And if you have two more cats then you obviously love cats so I wouldn't think you'd want to "get rid" anyway. Ug
2016-05-17 04:37:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat scratches the carpet on the stairs because that is the kind of surface cats love to scratch on. Soft paws are not a solution; they are uncomfortable for your cat, because she scratches, not to scratch, but to loosen the cuticles at the base of the claw, which bind and are uncomfortable as the claws grow. Soft paws will prevent her from loosening these the cuticles and will cause permanent discomfort, though no pain. It is possible that if you replace your rough carpet with poofy-woofy carpet the cat will not scratch, but you won't know that until and unless you do it.
Why don't you invest in a really rough, good, sisal scratching post. Rub it well with catnip, and put it right by the stairs. Temporarily cover the step she scratches with ribbed vinyl step pads -- just for the week or so that it would take to re-direct her scratching behavior. Once she is weaned to the scratching post, you can pick out a carpet you like for your stairs.
Do you trim her claws? Because just clipping the points off the tips of her front claws once a week will make it harder for her to penetrate fabric -- or your skin -- when she scratches or play-smacks.
2007-09-17 02:36:39 · answer #3 · answered by Mercy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think what type of carpet you choose will change your cats behaviour. She is marking that area of her territory for some reason.
Try buying a scratching post and spray it with catnip. Place on the stairs where she is currently scratching.
With cats you need to give them a preferable alternative.
If this works then you can replace your carpet with whatever type you like.
Have you considered trimming her from claws? You can learn how to do this safely by looking on the website.
Hope this helps.
2007-09-17 04:07:14 · answer #4 · answered by MAGINA & CAT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat will seriously damage a carpet that has longer piles. It will get the threads caught in it's claws and really rip the carpet apart. You have three solutions.
1) If your cat isn't damaging the current carpet, don't change it
2) Remove the carpet and just paint and / or varnish the staircase
3) Get a scratching pole for your cat
Getting a thick carpet will be a waste of money.
2007-09-17 02:27:59 · answer #5 · answered by kendavi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I probably wouldn't even bother getting new carpet since it will probably just get scratched up even worse, and look awful since it is longer.
what i might suggest is some of this "no scratch " cat spray that you can get at walmart or your vet, it's safe to spray on any material from carpet, suede, wood, just about any surface that you have in your house, and cats can't stand it, and won't scratch.
good luck!
2007-09-17 06:01:17 · answer #6 · answered by Rae Elizabeth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suggestion, if your cat doesn't go outdoors, get Soft Claws and have the vet put them on her nails. Then she can try to scratch all she wants to but because the claw covers are over the tips, she can't. I did that with one of my cats over the winter and it was very helpful. I'll be doing it again this winter.
The other option is to have her nails trimmed and keep them trimmed short.
2007-09-17 02:24:55 · answer #7 · answered by sonofstar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it'll keep scratchin. Get it a treading post. They like to keep their claws sharp.
2007-09-17 02:26:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no itll scratch it more
2007-09-17 02:23:41 · answer #9 · answered by bavery42289 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋