The destructive scratcher.

By nature, cats need to scratch. It helps remove the dead outer layer of the claws and lets them mark their territory. Preventing your cat from scratching isn’t really an option, but redirecting their scratching to an appropriate object is. Start by covering the inappropriate object with something unpleasant, such as duct tape sticky side out or the pointy side of a plastic carpet runner. Then place a more appropriate object right next to it. Choose a scratching post based on your cat’s scratching preferences, and encourage your cat to use it. Once your cat has started using the appropriate post, you can move it gradually to your desired location. Only after your cat has successfully used the new scratching post for a length of time can you remove the coverings from the inappropriate object.