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Protecting furniture, humanely
Make the target less attractive
Cats dislike sticky paws and slippery surfaces. Double-sided sticky tape (or purpose-made furniture strips) on scratched arms and corners, plastic sheeting or a tight blanket over the zone, and foil for short stretches all make the old target unsatisfying. Leave protection on for a few weeks after the behavior moves - cats test old spots.
Break the scent cycle
Because scratching is scent marking, a spot that smells like previous scratches invites more. Cornell's guidance recommends an odor neutralizer on previously scratched areas to help break that cycle. Ordinary air fresheners mask the smell for you without removing the scent signal for your cat - use a proper enzymatic or odor-neutralizing pet product.
Deterrents that work when you're not home
Effective deterrents are consistent, immediate, and not linked to you. Cornell's classic example is a tower of plastic cups balanced on the scratched spot that topples with a clatter when bumped. Motion-activated air sprayers aimed at the zone work the same way. What these have in common: the spot delivers the consequence, so the lesson holds whether or not you're in the room. Squirt bottles and shouting fail that test - the cat learns only to wait until you leave.
The other half of the job
Every protected spot needs an approved alternative within easy reach - this is where the post placement guide and post training come in. Protection without an alternative frustrates a normal need; an alternative without protection lets the old habit keep rehearsing. Together, most households see furniture scratching fade over a few weeks. Track it with the scratch map.