Cat Scratching the Furniture?  Try redirection.

Is your cat scratching the furniture?  Some cats will scratch both upholstered and wood furniture and the damage can be quite visible.  It will be easier to stop your cat from destroying your home if you first understand why he scratches. 

Before cats were domesticated, they were deadly hunters. They relied on their razor sharp claws to help them climb trees so that they could leap down on their prey. Today, cats may get dinner from a bowl, but they still sharpen their claws. Scratching is their way of trimming their nails, since it removes the old outer part of the claws.

Another reasons cat scratch is to let other cats know that the house and yard belong to them. When cats scratch, they release scent from special glands in their paws that help them mark that spot as theirs. Finally, cats scratch to get the kinks out of their bodies and to burn off some of their energy

How do you stop this behavior?

Declawing is often mentioned as one option.  This, however, is a controversial subject as many consider it a cruel procedure.  In declawing a cat, the veterinarian is actually amputating part of what we would think of as the cat's "fingers".  It is a very painful recovery for you cat and should be avoided if at all possible by cat owners.  There are, of course, exceptions.  My own feeling is that it is not necessary to declaw any cat.  De-clawed cats must be indoor cats as the only mechanism they have for protecting themselves has been surgically removed.  De-clawing an adult cat is particularly stressful and may have a permanent detrimental effect on the cat's personality.  De-clawing, if it must be done at all, should be done on kittens only.

That said, if you have valuable antique furniture and cannot stand the thought of a pulled thread or scratch mark on it....and if you truly want to provide a loving home for a kitten -- perhaps de-clawing would work for you.  I would rather see a kitten saved from a shelter and de-clawed...than not saved at all.

There are some alternatives to de-clawing.  One simple way to prevent cats from scratching is to provide them with scratching pads or posts. You can shop for a wide variety of scratching posts, including posts that are part of an elaborate condo.

There are certain scratching surfaces that cats prefer -- and carpet isn't one of them.  Thus, avoid the cheaply made carpeted "cat scratch posts" as there is a good chance your pet cat won't have anything to do with a post like that.  Cats are picky by nature....and especially picky about cat scratching posts!

The best post is wound with heavy sisal rope (which you can actually replace after a year or two if needed), which provides an excellent surface for the cleaning and sharpening of cat claws.  Another alternative is to crate a scratch SURFACE if you don't care to have a post visible in your living space.  Such a surface can be a flat piece of plywood of whatever size you want...covered with sisal carpet remnants.  These remnants can often be purchased online very inexpensively.  You will need to glue the sisal carpet remnant to the wood as staples, nails or screws could injure your cat.

Whether you use a cat scratching post or a cat scratching surface you've made, it is critical that you place it near the furniture your cat has been "attacking".  Cats prefer the rough sisal texture and almost all will immediately start using the post.  As your kitten becomes accustomed to the post or surface, you can then move it a bit at a time and relocate it wherever you want in the room.  Just be sure to do so gradually.

Some people recommend using nail caps, but these caps do have a tendency to fall off and will need to be replaced occasionally. The caps are applied in a similar manner to the way manicurists attach false nails. The nails are shortened and then the caps are applied with a non toxic adhesive.  It's a bit like the nail tips popular with many women....regular repair and replacement is a necessity.  Although initially popular, nail caps have been losing their appeal for most cat owners who find that the expense and time spent taking their pet cat in for a regular "manicure" is more than they are willing to pay.