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This is a very common problem as clawing is a natural behaviour for cats so they can remove the outer sheath of their claws. What you must do is provide her with a more attractive alternative. If your cat does not have a suitable scratching post to ‘strop’ her claws this will cause her to claw inappropriate items. Make sure any scratching facility you supply is stable enough so it won’t rock or tip over, has a rough surface, and is tall enough for puss to stretch out when using it. Teach puss  to use the scratching post by playing games on and around it, so that he/she knows it is OK to use it. There is no harm in providing a scratching post at both ends of the couch to help save your furniture.

If your puss still persists in clawing the couch, try repellent sprays or strategically placed double-sided tape (cats hate the feel of anything sticky on their paws). Startling your cat when caught in the act by squirting a water pistol or spray bottle, loudly rattling a can containing pebbles or coins, or even throwing a light object (one that won’t hurt puss) will also act as a deterrent.

As with everything, prevention is better than cure. Cats don’t like smooth, shiny surfaces. These are also more difficult to get a good clawhold on, so remember this when selecting fabric for curtains or buying a new couch. Similarly, when purchasing carpet or wallpaper, go for a smooth rather than a very textured finish, and choose a tight rather than a loose weave.

You can also clip your cats nails. Look for the pink blood vessel which runs along the nail and be sure to clip on the other side of this. If your cat has black nails, just clip the sharp tips off.