Cat scratching carpet only at night

[Saz42]

I need some advice. My almost 2 year old cat has just started scratching and pulling up the carpet at night. He’s never done this before and he has the run of the house no doors are shut. He’s ruining my carpet and more importantly I’m worried he’s not happy. I have had a feliway diffuser in my house for 2 weeks and makes no difference. He has scratching posts uses them during the day. Vet has suggested a behaviour expert if feliway didn’t work. He’s indoor so he gets played with a lot and gets lots of attention, good food and is very happy. He’s pretty feisty which is fine (I’m covered in scratches) but the carpet thing is getting too much. Any suggestions
Thanks

[Mollycat]

Before you go paying for a behaviour expert, there's a lot more to try. If it's not a stress behaviour Feliway is unlikely to do anything.

Is it always in the same spot, or the same kind of place like the edges? How do you react, does he get attention for doing it? Have you tried horizontal scratch boards? And do you get spiders or other bugs that like to hide under skirting board in your house? Also at night shadows can make really intriguing places for a cat to "explore" to see if something is hiding in there.

[puzzcat]

I second horizontal scratch boards.
Also, my cat has a square of loose carpet which is 'hers' and she tears the rubbish out of it but doesn't scratch the laid carpet. I curl it up into a tunnel, drape it over things and play with toys around it. I do not know if this will help at all in your case but thought I'd mention it since it worked so well for us.
Is your cat trying to get into a door or area, or just generally tearing up the carpet in different areas?

You can train your cat not to scratch your arms too. I had one that I let scratch me while playing when she was little and she never grew out of it. The next cat I had, I had just been doing dog obedience classes so I applied the same techniques (corrective sound or "no", stop play and withdraw. Then say "good kitty" and try patting again. correct and withdraw until you get no attack to your skin and reward that with praise and pats). I can break up the play sessions with pats and she won't attack my arm at all. Good luck!

[Saz42]

He has scratching posts and I have placed them at the places he favours. He just moved onto another place. It’s always the edge between wall and carpet and corners. All doors are open so it’s not to get in somewhere. No insects that he’s trying to get I checked that! I get up to stop him which is probably the wrong thing to do but he is ruining the carpets. I can should or make a loud noise as it will wake my other half. I don’t give him attention and as soon as he sees me he stops and runs away.
I blame my other half for the arm scratching as a kitten I trained Fred to play with toys but my partner (more a dog person) would play with Fred with his hands, arms so there is the issue and I told him over and over.
I might try the pieces of carpet that he knows he can scratch as much as he wants.
Last night was 1am and 5am

[fjm]

It sounds to me like a game to wake you up. Can you limit him to carpet free rooms at night for a while? Or try wide packaging tape along the join between carpet and skirting board - ugly, but bearable for a few months to break the habit.

[Saz42]

I would try the tape but be loves tape. Anytime we get a parcel he hears it opening he’s straight over to chew on the tape he’s nuts! He loves tin foil and all things a cat usually doesn’t. I agree it’s to get me up as he only does it when I go to bed! He used to jump up the walls which was noisy as well but didn’t make any mess I just ignored that and it stopped

[Saz42]

I’m still having issues!
Not had a full nights sleep in weeks and it’s starting to get to me. Not only that my carpet is ruined. Feliway doesn’t work, washed the carpets and bought new toys for him to play with, not worked. Playing with him every night around 8pm making no difference
Any other suggestions would be appreciated

[fjm]

If the carpets are already beyond saving then I would try earplugs and ignoring him.

[Saz42]

good plan