How do I stop my cat from scratching the furniture?

Why cats scratch (and why you cannot stop it)

Scratching sheds the outer layer of the claws, exercises the shoulder and back muscles, and deposits scent from glands in the paw pads, all essential cat behaviors. Removing the outlet with no substitute causes stress, urine marking, and inter-cat conflict. Provide a better outlet; the sofa becomes uninteresting on its own.

The scratcher your cat will actually use

• Height: tall enough for the cat to fully stretch upward, at least 32 inches for an adult, taller for Ragdolls and Maine Coons.
• Stability: does not tip when the cat pulls, tipping teaches avoidance.
• Material: most cats prefer sisal rope or corrugated cardboard. Carpet-covered posts confuse the message.
• Orientation: some cats prefer vertical (posts), some horizontal (mats), some angled. Offer at least one of each and observe.
• Location: place scratchers WHERE the cat wants to scratch, next to the sofa, at the entry to a favorite room, near sleeping spots. A perfect scratcher in the basement never gets used.

The redirection protocol

1. Place preferred scratcher next to the targeted furniture spot.
2. Cover the furniture spot temporarily with double-sided tape, aluminum foil, or a plastic runner, cats dislike the texture and lose interest.
3. Reward (treat, catnip, play) any use of the scratcher; ignore attempts on the furniture rather than punishing (spraying with water damages the human-cat bond and does not generalize).
4. Over 2-4 weeks, gradually move the scratcher a few inches at a time to its final location, and remove the furniture protection.
5. Trim claws every 2-3 weeks; scratching does not fully replace trimming, and shorter claws do less damage while training is in progress.