Declaw? Not the solution if they ever, ever go outside. Try this on the pet forum, bet they have some good ideas over there.

Try those little glue-on plastic claw sheaths from a pet supply store. I haven't used them, but I know several people who have, and they swear by them. I first heard about them from my vet, who said that the humane society approves of them. I did some research, and it turns out he was right!

Here is a link that might be useful: One brand of claw sheaths

I was having the same problem. I took clear packing tape and taped the chairs that they had targeted. Mostly along the edges top to bottom since that's where they liked to scratch. The middle part of the backs don't interest them because they can't steady themselves as well. I also trim them weekly. So far it's working. They also have 2 tall cat condos - some of the scratching posts are just too short for them to stretch out on. Good luck

We had three cats--one a stray. whenever any of them clawed anything--that cat got thrown outside for at least an hour. It didn't take long. I never had a scratch on anything, and I had well behaved cats.

Water spray. That is how we train all of our cats. When they do something they should not squirt them with water. After one week all you have to do is pick up the spray bottle. After two you'll have well behaved beasts.

You will never find the perfect solution but here are some things to try--every cat being different.

Cats don't like plastic. Cover as much of the sofa with plastic as possible and leave it on as much as possible. A sheet of plastic thrown over sofas that aren't used much and tucked under the sofa feet. Tape plastic over areas that are getting clawed. Safetypin plastic bags so they hang over the clawed areas. Keep good scratching posts near by. Cats don't like the cheap posts--get or make good ones.

I thought I was the only smart one using the clear packing tape~great minds think alike, bluesbarby!LOL Just did the sides/corners(all 4), as they had no interst in the back.

I also would chase them away by smacking a towel at them, but the younger one thought it was a game and started scratching whenever I was in the room. He also liked to scratch on the matress at the head of the bed. I kept a spray bottle of water on the nightstand, but this never stopped him~little bugger!

My DD has him now, and his bad habits haven't changed~he's ruining *their* sofa/matress now! LOL ;o)

patty_cakes

My cat kept on scratching on the stair carpeting.
My solution was to tie a plastic grocery bag to
one of the banister rungs.
Every time she got close to the stairs i'd
shake the bag. She'd take off like a "bat outta hell" & has never scratched the carpeting again!

Think of a way to place a bag near your furniture
& see how the cats respond!
Good luck!

vlys, why didn't I think of that?? My cat hates plastic grocery bags as well and she's behaving just like maja's cat (sharpening her claws on my furniture and carpets).

I think I'll try the plastic trick for the times I'm not home though (she's sneaky)

Like that Country Western song says:

".....and I'm against cats in the house.........etc.

ALMOST just for fun!

Ha-Ha!
Bruce (Junkmanme on GardenWeb)
P.S. a dog-lover

Also try a sqirt gun. You can hit them from a distance. I put a scratching post right on the corner of the chair where this one cat likes to scratch. She'd rather the post to the chair. A very tall, sturdy sisal post is best. Also, declawing should never be an option because it is mutilation of the cat's paws. Whether they go outside or not shouldn't even be a factor in making this decision. Great Britain outlawed declawing many years ago and I hope I see the day in is banned in this country.