After waiting 5 MONTHS, our new sofa was finally delivered on Saturday.  We haven't had furniture (other than random extra chairs) in our living room since July and ordered this new on labor day weekend.  Strange to have furniture again.  I put quilts over all to make them smell like home, hoping to help Ranger acclimate (and hopefully discourage scratching too).  Well it worked - within an hour this is what I found.

   

Nothing like the kitty stamp of approval.

all cat!!

He looks comfey.

Beautiful!! It's funny, we had a sofa against a wall and my cats would at times run behind it. didn't scratch though. Then later we moved the sofa out into the room and not against a wall, that seemed to mean all bets were off and scratching post sofa saga began!! Grrrrr. or should I say MEOW.

DH really wants to get him declawed and I do not, so I'm trying all the tricks possible.  He never bothered the prior sofas but started messing with the random chairs - I think it had more to do with all the changes/construction we've been doing.  I'm hoping when the rooms settle down he will as well.

Point out to DH that it would be totally unacceptable to declaw a cat that has to live with those huge dogs.  Find a new home for Ranger instead.

I have pointed out that the dogs have also done plenty of damage over the years to the house.  & Ranger has not ever been a big scratcher on the furniture.  He has however done significant damage to the door frames, even the one right next to his cat tree, dumb cat.  Periodically I have put up foil to discourage him which works well.  We may have a knock down drag out over it as I do not want to declaw him.  

declaw?  oh no no no!!   Research on how to discourage Ranger from scratching things that should be left alone.

AND ... work on re-educating DH.  Of course, you need to pick your battles, but on this one, I'd stand firm.  AND keep Ranger.

they have those glue on covers for cat's nails. the come off over time though of course and need to be done again. removing claws is so hard on the animal. hurts them a lot. whom ever suggests it should try it on themselves first!