Why does my cat refuse to walk on carpet and climb to avoid it?

How peculiar! I wonder if your kitty's toenails have gotten overly long and the hard floor feels strange, or if your kitty is having some sort of orthopedic/joint pain and the hard floor feels slippery/painful. I would consider having your vet check her toenails and look her over for any signs of arthritis/pain in case this is the issue.

That is a strange behavior, especially if she is attempting to bite at her legs. If she is overweight or older, it may be that she can't actually reach her legs, and so is biting the carpet in frustration instead. If she seems painful, in distress, or the behavior came on suddenly, seeking out an exam with your vet is best to rule out any issues such as pain, illness, injury, etc that could be causing it. If she checks out healthy, trying to find ways to distract her at home through fun interactive toys, or adding in a pheromone diffuser such as Comfort Zone to help decrease stress may help resolve the behavior as well.

Hi, one of the reasons why she might not like her cat tree could be where it’s placed. It needs to be in an area where there is not much movement and not close to entry/exit points. You could add and extra hiding spot on the top with soft bedding and see if that tempts her to go there. Hope this helps !

Cats will scratch where ever they see the opportunity. Unfortunately, it is not always where we want them scratching. I would encourage him scratching appropriate areas by attracting him with food, treats and/or catnip on/near his posts. Cats hate if sticky things touch their feet. Often just a piece of tape (made into a loop with the sticky side out) placed in the corners will stop them from scratching the carpeted stairs. Some stores sell specially made double sided sticky strips as well. I would recommend giving those a try.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. If Oreo used the carpeting you put down, it would be a great idea. However, most cats will not use the rugs when you put them on the ground and most cats land so lightly when jumping down that it should not be a problem. You can try the memory foam mats and see if he will use these when jumping off from things. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Dogs can become scared of walking on slippery floors if they have slipped or injured themselves on it. This is more common in older dogs or ones with orthopedic problems who are not as steady on their feet. I recommend Dr Busby's ToeGrips to provide traction on slippery floors. These are little rubber circles that go on the nails so the toenails grip the floor when walking. Most dogs are no longer afraid when they have good traction. You can purchase these online. Otherwise I'd place a track of rugs or runners so she has a safe path through the house. Chihuahuas are prone to luxating patellas and back problems so you don't want Bella Blue to get injured, or be scared to go where she wants. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella Blue.

Thank you for using PetCoach. Unless there is some sort of chemical in the the carpet that Walter is allergic to or causing contact irritation I would not expect carpet to be the cause of bleeding pads. When possible, I recommend taking him to a veterinarian to find out what may be going on. This is one condition that may be possible: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952090