They aren't succeeding, though the rug pad might get shredded eventually. Anyway. This is some kind of display to get my attention, but I don't understand why they think I would like that.
Dear Zelda, I hate to have to tell you this, but you don't have a small thick silk rug anymore. The cats do!! They have claimed it as their property will do with it as they please. It sounds like they are really enjoying it too. Who knows, maybe their goal is to Kill it! When they do, be sure to praise them. Cats Rule!! I have these fancy- schmancy catnip covered scratchers placed strategically throughout my house.....BUTT!! Tiki prefers the arms of 'his couch instead. Reasoning with him hasn't helped, so I ain't sweating it anymore. AND what IS up with Dready?! Hmmm, I guess the curtains are as good as any place to hang from. lol! I love my cats. I have this magnet on my refrigerator that my Mother-In-Law gave me years ago (when she realised who ran my home). It simply states : Everything in this house belongs to the cats! It's okay. As long as they don't jUmp up into the sky pull down the moon the stars.....every little thing is gonna be all right. Cats Rule!! AND Zelda.....that rug is theirs. [meaw]
Attention seeking behaviors. Iggy, my beloved white Persian who died a while back, would do such things whenever I got on the computer... because I wasn't paying attention to him. LOL
It's not a play for attention, cats scratch to help keep their claws sharp. I f you don't want them to scratch on that rug then get them a scratch pole or special rug and bait it with cat nip so that they will use it instead.
It's common nature for Cats to scratch, surfaces they like, so if I were you I would remove the Rug from them as soon as possible, or do this declaw them and you would not have any trouble from them anymore, I know that this might seem cruel but my Sister has Cats that she de-claws them when she brings them into her House and the cats seems not to mind that they do not have their claws with them anymore.
Cats scratch not to get your attention. They do it for two main reasons... 1. to keep their claws sharp, and 2. to mark their territory. And this looks like what yours are doing, especially if this is a common area where all the cats are scratching. It's sort of like a bulletin board for cats, where they all come over and sign-in with their scents. They don't care whether you LIKE it or not. If you wish to STOP it, then try to spray the area with a commercially available spray that discourages them. It provides a cover scent that they don't like. If they don't smell the others' scents, they will not scratch there... it's like they're trying to put their scent over top of the others. Check your pet shop for such sprays. Me... kittyslave23... I know my place.
