Does anyone have any suggestions?
I like the two sided tape idea, and hate declawing a cat. Some chicken wire over the couch while you are not using it will protect it, but you have to carefully loop all the wire ends so they do not snag the couch. I am using oven racks on the benches outside to keep the cats off them. Window screens, anything that will catch their claws stop them. Get a scratching post or one of those cardboard scratching pads with catnip scent in it. I am not a cat person, but I love animals, really hate to see any cat declawed, as if it does get out or goes out, it cannot defend itself. Our little dog tore up a declawed cat, and I felt horrible about it. I did not know it had been declawed or I'd have reached in and pulled it away from the dog.
Scratching is an instinctive behavior of cats.Scratching objects is one of the ways cats communicate because they have glands their paws. If your cat can't resist the soft sides of your couch or the nap of your best rug, choose a carpeted cat tree or perch.Cats' paws are extremely sensitive to touch,This acute sensitivity makes sticky surfaces exceptionally annoying, and cats will avoid scratching any place so uninviting. So you can cover them with plastic. You can also use cat-beds as they love to rest on a peaceful place with comfort.
My cat did this when I first brought her home so I put a scratching post right by the couch and now she will very rarely scratch the couch.
Your kitty can scratch through the plastic. I would suggest a scratching post. There is also a spray that you can apply to the couch to try to prevent scratching.
When my cat had this problem, I tried using a special two sided tape (for pets of course). It worked like a charm- every time she went to go scratch the couch, she hated the feeling of her paws getting all stuck to the tape. She stopped scratching in no time! Although I do suggest getting a scratching post of some kind since cats do need to scratch things in order to wear down their nails, and keep them sharp. The nice thing about this pet 2-sided tape is that when your cat is thoroughly trained not to scratch the couch, you can easily remove it without any damage being done to your couch. (: Hope this helps!!
