[header] How to train your cat not to scratch the furniture [title] Pay attention to what your cat scratches and when. [step] Typically, cats scratch to mark their territory, sharpen their claws, and stretch their bodies. Pay attention to when and what your cat likes to scratch to figure out how to offer a suitable replacement that will be equally enticing. 
[substeps] Many cats have a preferred place and time to scratch, like right after a nap or when you come home. They also have preferences for the type of texture they like to scratch (often some type of nubby fabric that gives just the right amount of resistance).