Would a cat scratch and ruin tatami mats?

Question

Would a cat scratch and ruin tatami mats?

Answer 1

I'm not sure what a tatami mat is.

Cats can be trained to scratch on scratching posts and scratching cardboard.  Until you have the cat trained, I would take up any special rugs or mats (or keep the cat out of those rooms).

Answer 2

Yes, a tatami mat is a basket-weave type mat, right? Cats LOVE that texture. It feels to them just like a scratching post or sisal rope. The only thing you can really do is keep the cat out of the room with the mats or spray the mats with some kind of scent that will keep the cat away from it (bitter apple, lemon juice, etc.). Cats can't tell the difference between that mat and their scratching posts, and they won't see the problem with scratching them. It would be like having two identical litter boxes in your house and only allowing the cat to use one of them. It's thinking, why not? It's the same thing.

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

Yes.

Cats love to sharpen their claws on all sorts of textures, especially grass and rope-like fibers.

Sometimes they especially like to scratch that which they know will drive us crazy.

Sometimes their scratching is just another way they "mark" or "claim" something.