[Vigilanteman]

So any advice on getting kitty used to the new scratch pad would be greatly appreciated . . . or anything else yinz feel inclined to throw in.

[Rodamala]

get a cheap, mechanized squirt gun for the living room cofcee table. When kitty claws, squirt her. She won't like it and will run away (read as: will stop clawing the recliner). Eventually, the sound of the gun alone, even if the thinv has no water in it, will make kitty stop. Eventually all you will have to do is look at the squirt gun and kitty will behave. This worked very well for my brother and SIL.

Do not declaw the cat... cats need their claws.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It’s usually easy to trim a cat’s claws with a human style nail trimmer if you can see well enough at close distances to aim it short of nipping the vein. This in turn will encourage the cat to scratch, in order to regain the points on its claws. Test various products to see if you can find one the cat prefers. Oh, and remember the gainful attitude towards cats is that, while dogs have masters, cats have staff. You can train a cat but you have to put much more effort into pleasing it first.

[SisterK]

Declawing is traumatic (like us getting amputated down a finger joint). But the claws can be trimmed or there are little caps to slip over each claw. Your vet can help. Another option is to pick one room, the cat room, filled with furniture of little value. And visit the cat. Use the cat’s room for your napping, reading, watching TV. This way you can still love the cat and protect your better furniture. I am a part time animal sitter so I get to see a lot of what works and what does not work.

[Titan Magroyne]

Well thank yew fer askin cause I need to know too. LOL

Darn cat has somewhere on the order of 3 different scratching posts but wants to shred good furniture. Won’t play with toys, either. Leaves papers & books looking like we have a teething puppy.

Our girl is ~5 y.o. so maybe too late to change her patterns. She’s never had a sense of humor, the least playful cat I’ve ever met. (3 y.o. when we took her in.) She seeks attention (for instance, by deliberately biting shower curtains when we’ve in the BR or book corners while we’re reading) even tho she anticipates a negative reaction.

[Yosemitest]

Get a large cage for the cat, large enough for a sleeping pad, a feed bowl and water dish, and an appropriately sized litter box, with a little room left for moving around.
They sell a cage that is great for cats that is about 5 foot tall, 3 foot long and about 2 foot deep, that can sit on a wheeled platform, that has shelves inside it for the cat to jump around in.
After the first few days or even weeks, the cat should not be allowed out, without being on a leash that's long enough, that if it darts for the door, you can catch the leash.
Once the cat becomes relaxed after a little period of time, you can leave the door of the cage open, but always feed and water the cat inside the cage.
This cage is its "safe spot".
Later on, if a friend brings over another pet, you can simply lock the cat inside its cage, and it will feel safe.
Trust me, even after a few months, and even if you allow the cat free roam of your home, both the cat and you will grow to love the cat's cage.
But always feed and water the cat inside the cage.
Get a pooper scooper, and clean the litter box often.
If you get a good quality litter, you can sift out the clumps and still keep a fresh litter box for a long period of time, IF you clean the litter often.
Get a "complete diet" cat food, and an "indoor diet" cat food will high be appreciated by all others who live in the house.
Don't get a "seafood" cat food very often, because of the strong oder it gives the litter.

Remember, you can't "OWN" a cat.
They agree to "live WITH you", and they are NOT as trainable as a dog.

[Bellflower]

I have a cat tree that has heavy duty ruff rope tied around the limb. My cats have enjoyed scratching at that a lot. I have to get some more and recircle it and secure it as they have scratched the rope clean off from the tree limb.

[little jeremiah]

I live very rural, my cats LOVE logs with rough bark. If you can get a log with rough bark, and set it up, they’ll know exactly what it’s for.

[Fawn]

Buy a few carpeted cat scratchers and put near the furniture kitty likes. Then cover your furniture arms with throws until kitty likes and learns her scratching post.