mmmm iams says cats hate oranges and to use a piece of orange peel

http://www.iams.com/iams/pet-health/cat-scratching.jsp?gclid=CNOTuIC95ZoCFSQeDQodMRZoCQ

Pepper works too, my neighbor uses it in her garden to keep the strays out .......but who wants to sprinkle pepper all over their furniture or house?

just use a plain water gun or air gun to deter the bad behavior

Cats claw things because it is instinct. Unfortunately for you, your cat may claw YOUR things. Don't expect your cat to be trained to never claw anything because the cat needs to shed its nails, which is why it has the urge to claw. This does not mean you have to de-claw your cat I personally believe that de-clawing cats is cruel and unnatural. It affects their personality and is very traumatic. I can, however, provide some easy tips on how to keep your cat from ruining your furniture. Here are three easy steps to keep your cat from scratching up your things and give you peace of mind.

Step One: Provide plenty of things that your cat is allowed to scratch. You may try different types of scratch pads and posts to see which ones your cat prefers. You can find such items at your local pet supply store and prices vary, however, most scratch pads are fairly inexpensive. To help coax your cat to the new scratch post, you may try sprinkling some cat nip on the pad or post to entice your cat to rub its scent on it. This will lure your cat back to the scratch pad or post over and over again.

Step Two: Use double-sided tape on your furniture. Your cat may like its new scratching toy; however, it may find itself still interested in a piece of your furniture. If this is the case, try putting some double-sided tape in the places the cat likes to scratch and once the cat puts one paw on the tape it will quickly try to get away. Cats don't like sticky stuff, so they won't try to paw at the tape more than once. Pet stores carry large pieces of double-sided tape specifically for training cats not to scratch your furniture. The tape does not have to stick around permanently. After attempting to claw at the taped furniture your cat will likely not return again. I suggest keeping the tape on the furniture for about a week.

Step Three: Keep your cat's nails trimmed. Because cats needs to shed their nails, they find that scratching things helps to remove the loose layers of nail, hence why your cat claws at furniture or other items in your house. Your local pet supply store sells clippers and nail files that can be used safely to trim your cat's nails to help with the shedding process. Your cat may not like it at first, but if you keep it up on a weekly basis your cat will eventually get used to the process. I suggest giving your cat a treat or a good petting after clipping its nails. Because your cat's nails are trimmed your cat will be less interested in clawing at things to shed its nails. The difference is noticeable. A cat with long un-trimmed nails will constantly claw at things to help the shedding of its claws, but if you keep the trimming up, you'll see how much less often your cat will have the need to claw or scratch on surfaces.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-Your-Cat-to-Stop-Clawing-the-Furniture-in-3-Easy-Steps&id=1757477

I don't know what they're called, but you can get these rubber things to put on their claws so they can't scratch. It's a great alternative to de-clawing.

Some alternatives to really look into are scratching posts, cardboard scratchers, cat tree construction, cat-friendly end tables and furniture, soft paws, nail trimming, training cats, and simply more exercise. There are many ways to improve the chances of each of these alternatives to work. For scratching posts, cardboard scratchers, cat trees, and cat-friendly furniture, it is recommended to sprinkle catnip on these areas to make them more attractive and to add unfriendly scratching material on the furniture usually scratched. Also remember to keep these items close to the family active areas, and to feed and play beside them so the cats enjoy using them, while slowly moving them to the areas where the cat would be alone most of the time.

A water spray bottle has been effective.. one little spray, and VOOM!!! anyway.. ya still cant stick em in a safer room though when ya leave in my house.. the leather couches are ruined.

haha.. i just looked back and saw that, now i dont feel as bad.

There are a couple of things you can do-

There's the tin-foil on the furniture thing, which works quite well except for the fact it makes you look like a conspiracy nut to your visiting friends.

There's also the tried-and-true squirt bottle thing, which will serve as means of negative reinforcement. You could also blast air at them with one of those bottles of compressed air you use to blow dust out of computers with. If anything, cats hate the compressed air thing more, as they hate loud hissing noises. Just keep in mind that you'll have to be consistent with the negative reinforcement, or it won't stick.

Get the hose!!!

Or the taser.

Oh how I can relate!

Scratching post!
In every room!
2 cats "Tink" and "Callie"
My cat (Callie) likes to scratch the wall paper!
I'd like to kick her little tail..but I love Callicat more than the furniture, etc. BUT when my 2 cats are... gone...there won't be any replacements!

I wouldn't declaw a kitty anymore than I would cut off my kids fingers

Put them outside. They will get used to it eventually. Plus they get to enjoy themselves hunting around the yard.

i hear that there is a citrus spray that is excellent, but i'm not sure of the name......you can always rub oranges or lemons on the area, and it will deter contact....they hate that and it's safe....worked with my ex's 8 cats with the chrismas tree. they left it alone.

...smelly cat..smelly cat...

This worked for me too. A squirt gun also helps in the training. Some blankets or cardboard around the furniture helps too till the training is complete. However, every now and then, the cat will walk over, stretch, bear those claws, put them on the furniture, and turn to look at you, just to let you know who is boss!

my vet told me once that the lifespan of an indoor cat is about twelve years

and the lifespan of an outdoor cat is qbout two years