Your cat will scratch to mark her territory using scent glands in her feet. This scratching leaves both a scent and visual marker for any interlopers to take heed. She will also scratch to remove old worn out nails to reveal the sharp new ones underneath. Thus your may never eliminate your cat’s scratching completely but you can redirect it to something more appropriate than your furniture, drapes and carpeting. Trim your cat’s nails frequently so she has less tools to do damage. Cover the inappropriate scratching areas with strips of aluminum foil or double-sided tape. These surfaces feel strange to your cat and deter her from scratching there. Put a scratching post or pad nearby so you can redirect your cat to these appropriate surfaces. Praise your cat if you catch her scratching the post or pad. Be patient and never punish your cat as she is learning. Contact your Racine, WI vet for more information.