The Turbo Scratcher is especially attractive to kittens because it has a
ball they can bat around as well as the cardboard to scratch on.  It would
probably work better to place it relatively near the rug you don't want
scratched so it will always be a more attractive alternative.

You can also buy an inexpensive scissors-like tool at the pet supply store
to trim the cat's claws.  Have someone show you how to do it because you can
injure the cat if you trim too much.  There's a blood vessel in the claw you
might hit.  It's only necessary to snip the end of the claw to blunt the
sharp point.

Bill

In addition to what Lauren has said, I would recommend that you get several
types of scratching posts.  It is good to have several so that one will be
available close to wherever the cat is.  Also try different covers.  Most
cats seem to like sisal-wrapped posts, but some prefer carpet or even
cardboard.  Some cats prefer horizontal posts, but mine have always like
vertical posts best.  As Lauren said, get a tall post to encourage
stretching; and make sure it is heavy and sturdy so it won't topple when the
cat is using it.  If the post falls over on the cat, your cat may be too
frightened to use it again.  PetSmart has a very nice tall post with a base
that the cat stands on when scratching.  That adds still more stability.
You can see some of my cats' posts (and also their cat tree, which includes
one sisal-wrapped pole and 3 carpeted poles) if you will scroll through
their pictures on the sites below my signature.

Since this is a kitten, I do think it would be a good idea to train her to a
scratching post before you put the new rug on the floor.  However, that
should be easy if you are consistent.  All of my cats were trained within a
few days, but I did monitor them closely during those first few days.  If
they would start to scratch elsewhere, I would say "no" and either take the
cat to a scratching post or tap or scratch on the post myself.  Any time the
cat used a scratching post, I would praise extravagantly.  I would
frequently take time to attract a new cat to a scratching post.  I would
drag a piece of cord (sometimes with a toy on the end) up the post while the
cat would grab for it.  Invariably, this would lead to the cat grabbing the
post itself and then would usually start to scratch ... which would lead to
more praise, etc.

As I said, it takes only a few days to train a cat to a post (although it
may take more time with a kitten -- just as you can't expect the same
reaction from small children as you would expect from an older child).  None
of my furniture is scratched!

MaryL
(take out the litter to reply)

Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of my blind cat Duffy's
integration into our household):
Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54
Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56

Having read this group for a few years now, I've seen the OP's question and
some variation of this answer over and over. (I won't declaw either, after
having declawed a cat years ago before I knew what it involved.)

I now find myself in a similar situation to the OP: I've moved into a rented
house where the entire second floor is carpeted. Taking it up is not an
option. My cat, who scratches both horizontally and vertically, has two
Cosmic Catnip scratchers (horizontal), which she uses religiously. She also
has a homemade cat tree with one post wrapped in sisal. Although she used it
in our last house, she hasn't used it to my knowledge since we moved. I also
tried a vertical sisal post on its own. She left it untouched.

Instead, she's supplementing her use of the CC scratchers with clawing at
the wall-to-wall carpet and on the chair in our bedroom. The chair is no
problem--she only scratches the back, and I've taped tin foil to the back so
she won't go at it anymore.

But what I can't figure out is how to get her to stop scratching at the
carpet. It's not localized to one area--it's in three different rooms, in
every square inch that's available to her. I keep her claws short (she's
agreeable to trimming), but it doesn't help. She still rips the loops right
out of the carpet.

I'll try the citrus idea another poster suggested. But does anyone have a
magic pill they can give me? <g>

Cate

Thank you all for the helpful posts, I will try all of your
suggestions and repost in a week or two.  This post though I had to
answer, because the memory it stirs is both a pleasant and unpleasant
one.  (The rug is 8' x 11' so a bit too big for the wall).  When we
first got Shayna, the annoying 9 month old, we had already put  a very
nice rug on the wall.  After about a week she took a running start
then launched herself at the rug and clawed her way to the top.
Would've broken my heart if I hadn't been laughing so hard.