All this is unfortunate, because, if you own a cat that claws furniture, it doesn't have to be the end of the world for either the cat or the couch. Cats claw furniture for different reasons. Let's examine some of them. The playful cat is usually a young energetic type that seems to have come with extra batteries. This cat views furniture as take-off landing zones.
Walls are things to run across and bounce off of and floors are things only humans walk on.
It may appear that the cat is in commando training by the way it climbs the drapes and his owners have given up walking barefoot through the house for fear of guerilla warfare inflicted on tender toes. Clawing furniture is only one bad habit this cat possesses, but it can be the most expensive. Many cats have trained their owners exceptionally well. If the cat wants breakfast and the owner is asleep, he claws the bed. After a few unsuccessful attempts at swatting the cat, the owner finally gets up and breakfast is served.