Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Mdiecksa on November 19, 2013, 12:52:45 PM

Title: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: Mdiecksa on November 19, 2013, 12:52:45 PM

Hi All,

I am new and this is my first post. I am concerned about my 1yr old neutered male Bengal Max. He has the full run of the house and access to the garden when we are home. Over the last few months but with increasing frequency Max has started to claw at the carpets in certain parts of the house. At first we thought it was toilet related but when put in his sand box he merely climbs out and goes back to clawing the carpets. Max is very social and loves us being around but does not like being handled and very seldom sits on us. He will come sleep with us but usually only in the very early morning for a few hours. I cannot understand his clawing as the places where he claws there is no food, toilet or toys. He has some other quirks I'd like to raise but this is the first and major concern. He has recently had his checkup with teh vet so do not think it is a physical issue, possible mental, stress or anxiety.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Michael

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: Dawn F on November 19, 2013, 12:56:34 PM

does he have a scratching post?  often they claw to sharpen nails and to mark territory (I've got a bengal myself!)

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: Mdiecksa on November 19, 2013, 13:57:04 PM

Max has several several scratching posts which he uses and this does not appear to be sharpening or marking behaviour.

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on November 19, 2013, 15:55:04 PM

I think this is just cats LOL

Sasa does it all the time!

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: Lyn (Slugsta) on November 19, 2013, 16:31:52 PM

Cleo claws the carpet, she won't use a scratching post.

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: heather sullivan on November 20, 2013, 22:48:31 PM

my cats do it on the backs of chairs, the stair carpet and the settee :evillaugh:

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: KittyNic on November 23, 2013, 12:53:29 PM

Codex tends to like scratching the carpets and the back of the sofa. We've ended up buying a scratch wave and a scratch mat to go along with the cat tree we have.

The scratch wave has been well received by 3 out of 4 cats.

Apparently, some cats like to scratch vertically and some like to scratch horizontally.

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: Skiddaw on November 23, 2013, 17:15:49 PM

In my experience, cats will scratch on:

Wall paper
Furniture
Rugs
Carpets
Wicker baskets
Cashmere cardigans  >:(
Curtains
Leather (especially 'going out' handbags)

The only thing that cats WONT scratch on is a scratching post. Obviously.  :shify:

Title: Re: Clawing at the carpets
Post by: Lyn (Slugsta) on November 23, 2013, 21:29:59 PM

Cleo likes to stamp around and 'knead' for about half an hour at a time. She has wrecked one skirt because I didn't realise that her claws were catching in the fabric  :(