Instructions
Provide your cat with a scratching post. Scratching posts can be purchased at pet stores and many discount retailers. Scratching posts come with many different surface types and styles. Try one that is covered in carpet. Experiment with different styles of posts until you find one your cat seems to like best. Place the scratching post near the stairs.
Hang toys on the scratching post. Scent the post with catnip. This will entice your cat to play and climb on the posts and take his attention away from the carpet.
Dissuade your cat from the stairs by covering them with something undesirable. Cover the carpet on the stairs with a plastic carpet runner. If your cat is still clawing at the exposed carpet, try flipping the carpet runner upside down. This will put the knobby side up, an unpleasant feeling for your cat.
Trim your cat̵7;s nails often. If your cat is scratching your stairs to help him remove his worn outer claws to expose his new sharp claws, grooming may end the problem.
Cover your cat̵7;s claws with nail caps such as Soft Claws. These are vinyl caps placed on your cat̵7;s claws with adhesive. This enables your cat to scratch without causing damage. Soft Claws are temporary and need to be reapplied every four to six weeks.
Contact an animal behavioral specialist. If you are having no luck changing your cat̵7;s behavior, you may need to seek advice from a professional. Your veterinarian should be able to offer referrals to qualified pet behavioral specialists in your area.
How to Stop a Cat From Clawing Carpeted Stairs
Cats love to scratch. Marking territory, stretching and playing are just some of the reasons your cat scratches. Grooming his nails is another reason cats scratch. The problem is that all his scratching can tear your house apart. A favorite spot for many cats to scratch is carpeted stairs. In no time at all, your stairs are a shredded mess. With some behavior modification, you can teach your cat to stop.