Pulling stairs instead of cat scratcher

[gillybean129]

My cat has decided he won't use his (2) scratching posts, instead he prefers to pull on each and every stair riser, thus making my 18 month old cream carpet looking like a woolly mess.
My husband hates the cat so any excuse to have a rant about him adds fuel to the fire, anyone have any tips to stop him doing this please?

[emmab]

Well we put our scratch post next to where he is clawing and that seems to work on the whole. Unfortunately animals are animals and have to expect a degree of wear and tear as you would with a dog. One of our cats scratched our lovely leahter chairs the other day which we weren't best pleased about. Unfortunately shouting at them can make them very scared so is not the answer. Can you staple some old carpet down to the stair, or better still spray some citrus onto the step? Someone has just recommended urine off for my cats peeing issues which has a citrus smell. Something with citrus should deter them.

[Joaobeneditosimoes]

Are the scrathing poles near the spot where he does that. Sometimes we have to re educate them. There are also some cardboard scratchers wich fit much betters in those spots to cover them.
On other hand you should try something they don't like at all. The smell of vinegar or citrus. Try to spray that area. Be patient and calm, its cats nature.

[Alice]

Try double sided sticky tape in the areas you mention - they hate the feel of it and avoid the area. It's colourless, so not really noticeable and can be useful on upholstered furniture if necessary.

[Ruth B]

I have to admit that very few of the scratching posts I have seen are suitable for an adult cat unless they are part of a big cat tree, the cat just pulls them over. The best I have found are the cardboard box sratchers, or a board that is screwed firmly into the wall. Unfortunately while mine do use them, it doesn't stop them using the stair carpet as well.

[Joaobeneditosimoes]

I have to admit that very few of the scratching posts I have seen are suitable for an adult cat unless they are part of a big cat tree, the cat just pulls them over. The best I have found are the cardboard box sratchers, or a board that is screwed firmly into the wall. Unfortunately while mine do use them, it doesn't stop them using the stair carpet as well.

I bought one very big that even an heavy cat can jump to it and it will not move. I got it from a site called zooplus.

The problem with cats is they will scratch wherever they want, mine do also scatch my chairs in living room, couch, and that is pretty much it, i can't complaint much. They do scratch their poles much much more... so that's just cats being cats.
The problem is that there are loads of people that say ''lets get a cat'', and then thinks that a cat its only to pet and cuddle and thats' it. Cats scratch things. Be prepared for that. Altough they sleep a lot they are demanding animals, they require atention, they want food, they want to play or hunt, love cardboard boxes, love being under sheets, want places to hide for napping, high places to feel safe, they are predators and territorial animals, they are very cleaned and routined animals, they are independent, need to have their moments alone, but at same time they are very lovely and friendly if people understand them.

Be warned new cat owners they while scratch, bite, tear your carpet, mess your floor, will sometimes throw up hair balls, food, they can pee anywhere sometimes (mine did because of territorial issues) curtains are most likely to be ropes... they will awake you for food, they will awake if want to play, they can get sick, break one leg, even two legs like mine did, and much much more... all this can really happen, so think very well if a feline friend is a good choice for you