Clawing at the Furniture and the Carpets.

I think you need to explain to your wife that training takes TIME. No behavioural issue will disappear overnight. As Lexi seems to prefer softer surfaces, you could look at getting some cheap fleece blankets and wrapping the sisal posts in them. We have also used folded fleeces to protect furniture when we have a new cat (or new furniture! New pieces always seem more tempting ). Another option would be using carpet remnants to wrap around furniture legs/corners to protect them. Carpet can make a great scratching post surface too.

She WILL learn where not to scratch in time - you just need to stay patient.

No slight intended towards your wife @Greg Dolecki  and my apologies if this is how my post came across.   Believe me, I am one person who does not need persuading on the ideas of the home looking good and if kitty furniture has to come in it has to look just as good and fit in with everything else!   Oh, and all should be colour coordinated to go with my cat, though if I had to do it the other way round I might think about it - just I usually have to decorate more often than bring in a few kitty.    Very much hope you can find a solution other than your kitten going through declawing.  

For me, the very regular claw clipping has been the choice, and I have started to clip my cats' claws as soon as I have brought them in to my home so it is something they understand and get used to.

I have to admit that Mouse is a very unusual cat as although he loves his cat tree and does 'scratch and claw' on the posts regularly, he does not use his claws at any other time.  Almost to the point it is worrying as he takes some nasty tumbles as a result of sliding / falling off things due to only gripping with his digits. 

@Columbine,

I don't think you understand what I'm working against here.  Lexi is  feanow 6 months old and has been in the house for slightly over 2 months.  The cat should be trained to scratch only in designated places by now according to my wife.  She house trained our now 7 year old dog in 2 months (That is true in fact and not an exaggeration.)  So she doesn't see why the cat isn't trained by now.  She expects me to remove the plastic scratch protectors and double sticky tape from her living room furniture now so that "things can get back to normal." 
This was a terrible afternoon for my side.  My wife was going through the front hall to get today's mail and take it back into the kitchen.  Lexi decided to scratch on the back corner of one of the couches.  There is no tape or guard or spray there because she has never shown an interest in it before, plus she has to walk just to the left of her scratching post to get to it.  I scolded, "No, Lexi!  No!", took her to the post and rubbed a feather up and down to get her scratching.  Lexi turned and went right back to the couch and resumed clawing it!  Of course, I scolded again, etc. while my wife laughed and said something uncomplimentary. Why didn't I even get Lexi's attention that time?  Why would she do that IMMEDIATELY after I just told her not too??  As my wife remarked, Lexi and I have been training 2 months.

I do appreciate you're in a difficult situation. Unfortunately, scratching performs several necessary functions for a cat. If she doesn't have access to appropriate scratching surfaces in socially significant areas then it's going to be really hard to get on top of the problem. Scratching is NOT the same as house training. It isn't a problem that has a quick fix solution.

It is possible to get some truly stylish scratching furniture these days. Maybe a compromise would be to find some pieces that fit with the design aesthetic of your home. That way everyone might be happier.

I'm sure your wife loves Lexi, just as she did your previous cats. If she understood the implications and reality of declawing she might change her views and become more patient with the process. Declawing is amputation of the first joint of each toe. It can have lifelong health implications, and the majority of declawed cats will spend the rest of their lives in pain - even if it's well hidden. This is fact, not just a line made up by the anti declaw lobby. Please try to pursuade your wife to look at just one of the declaw articles I linked to before - my recommendation would be [article="29668"]​[/article].

I agree with the above. She's not doing it to be naughty, it's part of interacting with her environment. Perhaps your wife could compromise on scratching boards for the time being while she's learning?

Also I believe that @catwoman707 has a barely noticeable solution using contact paper.

talkingpeanut Columbine I want to thank you 2 and everyone else who has tried to help me out. Tensions are high in our house at this point. I refuse to have Lexi declawed and my wife says that time is up. She wants the tape and plastic furniture guards off of our couches, etc. It is clear to her after seeing what happened yesterday that "that cat will never learn."
All I can do now is return Lexi to the Animal Protective Association and give up on the idea of having another cat as a pet. Obviously, I can't do so today as it is Thanksgiving here in the States. It will have to wait till tomorrow or Saturday.
Thank you all again very, very much for all of the advice!

I'm so sorry it has come to this. I applaud your determination not to declaw Lexi...at any cost.

You might want to look into giving a home to a shelter cat that has already been declawed. It won't be Lexi, but you'd be giving a home to a cat in need.

That's really sad for Lexi, I am pretty sure she loves you guys so much already. Why not trim her nails?

My cats scratches everything too and I am not giving up. Their vet will do the trimming because I a afraid to hurt them.

That is one very difficult decision, but one many cat lovers will respect you for.   If you do not feel that your wife will relax and accept cat behaviours even with clipped claws then this may well be the kindest decision for your kitten.  The stress you describe is not good for you and your wife and it is not good for your cats either.   I am sad for you that you are having to say goodbye to your little one, esp as you obviously adore her.  Many people would struggle to do what you are planning as it is such a hard thing to do, but thinking of her in another home where she can run free and behave naturally you will be able to feel more comfortable in your self that you did not allow something to happen to her which you felt uncomfortable with in your heart.

I hope you are able to bring another cat in to your home should you still want to do this, perhaps as Columbine has suggested, one who has already been declawed and needs a safe home.   

MServant said:

 
That is one very difficult decision, but one many cat lovers will respect you for.   If you do not feel that your wife will relax and accept cat behaviours even with clipped claws then this may well be the kindest decision for your kitten.  The stress you describe is not good for you and your wife and it is not good for your cats either.   I am sad for you that you are having to say goodbye to your little one, esp as you obviously adore her.  Many people would struggle to do what you are planning as it is such a hard thing to do, but thinking of her in another home where she can run free and behave naturally you will be able to feel more comfortable in your self that you did not allow something to happen to her which you felt uncomfortable with in your heart.

I hope you are able to bring another cat in to your home should you still want to do this, perhaps as Columbine has suggested, one who has already been declawed and needs a safe home.   

Click to expand...

     MServant has put this really well.  @Greg Dolecki we appreciate that you are in an unenviable position and this has been a difficult and well-thought out decision.   Perhaps, as was suggested, you may find an already declawed cat in need of a home and that will be more suitable for your wife.  So sorry you have to give this girl up - it must be very hard.

We will now lock this thread but you are more than welcome to start another on any situation that may arise.