If you buy or make for her a scratching post, she will like it more instead of
your furniture.

Some veterinarians and pet stores carry bitter apple spray, which should not
stain upholstery and cats tend to hate the smell of.

Do you have a good quality scratch post?  Even better, a kitty condo covered
in tempting carpet, especially if rubbed with catnip, or one better, sprayed
with catnip spray.  I have two cats and always encourage them to use the
"scratch post" which is actually a previously-expensive wool area rug that I
got at a garage sale.  It was soiled, so I cleaned it (the surface still
looks greyish, but you can't see that anyway - - - it is rolled inwards) and
then rolled it tightly and then tied the carpet.  It is wedged firmly so
that it won't move.

If a scratching post is wobbly or tends to tip, many cats will not use it.
I don't blame them; that would make me nervous!

When your kitty uses the furniture, gently remove her and take her over to
her scratching area, and praise her when she uses it.  You can try to
dissaude her from using the furniture by squirting her with a water pistol
while she is in the act BUT you MUST have the alternate scratch area
prepared first, and it MUST be acceptable to her.

Another thing - - you could blunt her claws by trimming them with a cat nail
trimmer.  This is only an addition to the scratch post, not an alternative.
It is not a necessity, but when the vet that spayed my newest cat trimmed
her nails, I really appreciated it!  I have spent the last two months trying
to do the same...... *grin*  no fun.  I am petrified I will hit either the
nerve or blood vessel, and she hates it when I hold her paw firmly enough to
get the claws to pop out.

When I first moved into my apartment, many years ago, I had a lot more
space.  I used to have a very sturdy, large cat condo, covered with heavy
duty carpet.  The cats loved it - - - they could hide and play in it, and
scratch the heck out of it with minimal wear.

The bitter apple spray on the edges of your furniture should work for now,
but you do need some place for your kitty to scratch - - - this is a natural
action for cats to stretch and exercise their muscles in their toes, feet
and legs, and loosen and shed the claw sheath.

I hope at least some of this has been helpful!  I have a lot of friends with
cats, and their furniture looks just fine!  Including myself!

Melody

It takes time and patience, but you *can* train a cat not to scratch
furniture. First of all, you should have several scratching posts made
of different materials (some cats prefer rope, some carpet) around the
house. Every time you see the cat scratching your furniture, yell "NO!",
then pick her up and take her to the scratching post. Every time you see
her scratching her posts, say "Good kitty" and pet her. She will learn
to identify good behavior and the rewards that come with it.

Try this site:  http://www.softpaws.com/

They sell vinyl caps that are glued on your cat's nails.  I've used them on
my boys for 10 years with no problems and no complaints from the cats.
They fall off whenever a new nail grows in (cat nails grow differently from
ours) and you just glue on a new one.  

I know a lot of people suggest behavioral solutions (provide scratching
post, etc), but if that doesn't work, as it didn't for me, the claw caps
are safe and effective.

Thanks Lola I'll check it out.Seems ridiculous but you sound serious.

Aw, that kitty photo gallery on softpaws.com is so cute. All those little
ones with their little red and blue nail caps.Geeeeeeeeesss!

Surely every cat owner doesn't have ragged furniture.

Knucklehead,

I used to have raggedy furniture until I started using the Feliway plug ins.
Spray Feliway is available as well. I rescue feral and special needs cats so
rarely have less than a houseful at one time. Since starting Feliway and adding
towers and scratch posts along with attention with the laser pointer the
scratching has dwindled to VERY little. Of course there's always a slip up just
as if they were kids. The Feliway also helps stop nervousness, fighting, marking
their territory and helps calm my "kids" when a new member is introduced to the
family. It's a little expensive at the pet stores but I find good deals for this
on eBay. Hope this helps you as much as it has helped me.

Teri