I've had good luck with *Cosmic Catnip*
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=453_1448974423&comments=1
Cats are really great pets. I’ve had cats, two at a time, for the last 35 years and have loved each of them. The clawing thing, however, really is their worst habit. For the furniture clawing: Get cellophane tape that is wide and two-sided. It’s at Walmart. It’s made for clawing prevention. Cats hate sticky things. Put it where the cat claws—every place the cat claws. Then get kitty a nice scratch pad or two or three. Don’t yell at kitty, they really do need to scratch to shed the claw sheaths. They don’t connect the dots with yelling and clawing—they just pout, as you’ve noticed. Good luck and enjoy the love.
Adopt a coyote.
You could get her a rug or piece(s) of carpet to scratch. Rub it with catnip, generously. Put them in the places she is scratching. You can cover a chair she’s honed in on with a blanket until she’s trained to use her carpet patches. I have a cat post covered in carpet.
You have to be loudly disapproving and consistent whenever she scratches where she should not. Take her to her rugs to scratch and give her some extra catnip when she uses the right place. They don’t like doing things wrong. Keep her claws trimmed, too. They can grow into the paw if they get too long and then you have to do surgery to remove it. It’s real painful.
If you don’t know how to clip them go to a vet and get them to do it while teaching you. Ask them how often you should cut the claws. It’s a pain. If it does not cost too much, just let them do it. It’s only a year. Use a carrying case to transport cat anywhere.
I can’t find anything for that in my Betty Crocker.
Drape a sheet over the chair she is scratching.
My catalog prefer the scratch boards made out of cardboard. The paper pieces get on the floor, but I’d rather pick that up than buy a new couch. And catnip on it works too.
There is a spray product called Boundary that makes the area smell bad to cats so they don’t want to be there. We put it on a towel and put the towel on the chair that one of our cats liked to tear up. Try some of that and see how it works.
Also, try a little incentive on the scratcher — some catnip that she has to dig for or something of that ilk.
On the other hand, I have had declawed cats and none has shown any indications of arthritis even at the advanced age of 15.
When a friend of mine transferred to Japan, they thought their cat ran away when the packers were there.
Instead, they found out when they returned to the US a few years later that the cat had crawled into a box that was in long term storage.
Oops.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3297923/Cats-neurotic-probably-trying-work-kill-say-researchers.html
Making the scratching post more attractive by putting some catnip on it can also work but not all cats are attracted to it and in some cats, it makes them go a bit crazy for a time or even in some, they become can become very aggressive while "high" on the catnip.
Positive reinforcement like giving her a treat as soon as she's scratched on the scratching pad is also good.
Also the squirt bottle, but keep in mind that this only works if you catch them in the act. I've also used a coffee can with some pennies inside - when they are scratching on something they shouldn't be, rattle the can - they hate the loud noise, but again that only works if you catch her in the act and balanced by positive reinforcement for scratching on what she should.
Keep in mind that scratching on furniture and also rubbing their heads against you and against other objects in your house is their way of marking their territory (they have sent glands in the paws and on their face) and her territory is new to her so she might feel like she has to mark it as her own. And also understand that scratching is a way of dealing with overgrown claws, so keep them trimmed and also understand that scratching sometimes can be their way of dealing with, relieving stress.
You made mention of your boys playing "rough" with her at times.
A word of caution here - cats are predators by nature and playing rough with them, although some seem to enjoy it, rough play can also over stimulate them and cause them to become overly aggressive and even more territorial. In my experience, cats like catch and release games but not getting teased. They have to eventually win. As someone else mentioned, if you play games with your cat, be it with a laser or any other type of toy, the cat must come out as the winner and get to catch their prey and with a reward at the end.
You also have to find the type of scratching post or pad she likes. I've had many cats over the years and some don't like the sissel type or the cardboard type but IMO, the carpeted type unless it is of an outdoor type carpet and not at all like what you have on your floors, it only encourages them to scratch on the carpets - sort of like giving a dog an old shoe to chew on and then being surprised when the dog chews up your brand new pair of shoes - like the dog really knows the difference between the 20 year old shoes you're just about to put in the dumpster or in the Goodwill box and the $300 pair of Nikes you just bought.
Boiling oil. I’ll let you work out the procedure. ;-)
Adopt a shelter cat!
I've had good luck with *Cosmic Catnip*
Don't have the cat de-clawed. I've read of cats bleeding excessively from that. Trim the claws regularly. Mine, at least, submit to the trimming procedure without any protest. Just gently take their legs, one at a time, press on the paws to extend the claws, and use a trimmer made for the purpose.
I also recommend brushing them daily. Every hair you brush off is one that won't have to be swept up later.
Hope you enjoy your cat. I'm really fond of mine.
Determine if she is a sky or cave cat and then get her either perching carpet covered climbing things or hut like cat cave.
Don’t worry about your furniture. You can get it upholstered when your daughter takes the cat back. Unless a couple hundred bucks is worth crippling and maiming a cat. Declawing should be illegal. It is the equivalent of removing a dogs larynx so he doesn’t bark. No sane person would do so.
Squirt the scratches on the boys with 70% alcohol. Cats are carriers of bacteria which yields easily to alcohol. The boys will learn and avoid scratches if it really bothers them.
First catnip where you want her to be.
Second, get a phermone diffuser for the room the chairs are in. Feliway or Comfort Zone. You might have some sticker shock, but they are 90% effective.
Third, double sided pet tape on where she is scratching.
Cats don’t take well to direct correction (yelling, water bottles, etc.). They are creatures of comfort and gently making the scratching item less desirable workks. You can also try foil over the scratching area as well.
LOL! not really... I ain't got much, as I always have a dog around to 'git that cat'... Once the dog knows what the cat ain't 'sposed to do, he will enthusiastically enforce your wishes, even when you are not present. The downside is that the dog enjoys going on tootsie-roll hunts in the litter box - so keep some breath mints handy, and take him to the car wash and spend about 4 bucks before you let him lick your face...
LOL! sommore... no really - without a dog to keep them in line, catnip where you want scratching, capsaicin, or sour apple, where you don't...
or you could just nail dead birds and fish to the scratching post - but most women won't stand for that for very long. I think they're jealous.
I’ve got a block of wood on my lounge-room floor, my six year old female loves it, uses it several times each day. They NEED something on which to maintain their claws, yes, she does sometimes try to scratch the furniture, but a spoken rebuff is enough to make her stop.
A piece of timber about 4 inches by 4 inches and 18 inches long should do the trick for you. A little rough, not planed smooth...