Answer:
Aloywischus: Awe! lol. Thanks for the image, she is adorable.
Declawing is a traumatic and debilitating practice that I do not recommend.
Make sure Kitty's claws are trimmed frequently. If she feels her claws are too long she will scratch any and everything in attempts to file them herself.
She looks young and that means she is prolly ornery to boot. Even when her claws are in shape she may still scratch the furniture simply because she likes to (especially if she is an indoor cat - no trees to use) since scratching vertically is a hardwired instinct for all cats. I used to move the end tables to block the corners or throw a blanket or towel over the preferred spot before I would go to sleep or leave house. This worked like a charm. I also put an old area rug rolled up with the rough bottom outward by his litter box and let him scratch the hell out of it. This also worked wonders! He used it after every poo to clean his claws and paws. Eventually he stopped being interested in the sofa all together.
You can try a spray bottle and the like (negative reinforcement) but that only works on cats if you are there to deliver. Once you leave it is Cat Town up in there, so best to address the issue at the root.
Keep nails clipped (I use regular nail clippers to just clip the tip. You'll both get better with practice - hang in there - do only a couple at a time if necessary), provide an alternate scratching location, and take proactive measures to protect furniture. My cat never went for store bought scratching posts, he needed to feel like the spot was his idea (he was a bit of a drama king), so the carefully placed rug was a hit.
Best Wishes!
JC: First, keep her claws trimmed. And get her a sturdy piece of cat furniture with at least two levels and at least one sisal (rope) wrapped post. Cats need to scratch, if you don't give them an acceptable place to scratch, they will find their own. To protect the couch until you've got her cat tree, put double sided tape on the corners of the couch and where she is scratching. Cats hate the feel of it on their paws. Put a blanket or throw over the couch - for now. Don't bother with one of those cheap and flimsy things they sell as scratching posts - she won't use it as they are too short and not sturdy.
Declawing is never the answer. It's likely to cause even worse problems, like biting, and peeing out of the box. Declawing a cat is for lazy people who can't be bothered with training them to do otherwise, getting them something to scratch, and valuing their furniture more than a living creature.
She looks like she has a LOT of personality!
Science Time: Trim nails. If you don't know how, take her in a cage to the vet and have them teach you, you'll get the hang of it quickly.
Put two-way tape where you don't want clawing. I've used foil, too. Don't bother with sprays that say, cat off , they seem to love that stuff. Do get her a huge scratching post/kitty condo with jute rolled around the posts. Everytime she goes near that part of the couch, take her over and show her to scratch on the post, and give her treats you've got right in your pocket for such a teaching moment ;-)
Make her a bed with her own blankies, on part of the couch or a chair just for her - a REALLY comfy bed, irresistibly soft, even softer than the couch is. Maybe with one of your old shirts that you can wear for a day and then give to her as part of her bed. If you have a place that's high up - or the top perch of the kitty condo, that's even better: they love being above everything.
Another thing that can work is to keep a spray bottle of water handy, and just spray her when she's going near that part of the couch (even though you've got it taped or foiled for the time being) - don't say a WORD, just spray her lightly with the water. She'll associate being near that couch (or part of the couch) with nasty water spray.
BTW - she is adorable.
Pamela: You can't,they like to clean their claws,and from their point of view furniture is ideal, if you have cats do not expect to have perfect furniture,buy a throw for the sofa!
Nameless: Clip her nails. It greatly reduces damage done. You can try nail caps. They completely prevent damage.
Get her some scratchers. Try different kinds. Some cats have preferences. Try sisal, cardboard, carpet, vertical, horizontal etc.
Tictic: Exercise your 2nd Amendment right too bear arms. Get a squirt gun and use responsibly when the critter does something it not suppose too. One 'er Two squirts should do too remind the offender that's off limits~!
