Is your cat into the nip? I have one cat that loves catnip and it mellows her out enough for catching purposes....the other seems to be immune. We also sprinkle it on new scratch materials, which gets her interested in them...we have success with jute and sisal and cardboard scratchers.

I have had success with a double sided tape that I put where my cat has chosen to scratch, mine likes to scratch on the door casings & my couch. I got mine at Chewy.com

Did the vet give you a reason why he won't give you something to mellow him out? A single dose of gabapentin should do the trick.

Maybe try an over the counter calming supplement,

https://www.chewy.com/rescue-remedy-stress-relief-pet/dp/135502?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12791146288&utm_content=Rescue%20Remedy&utm_term=&show-search=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsOjIqI38_gIV8gOtBh0shQR9EAQYASABEgJwQvD_BwE

"Ninapearl: Thanks for your nasty post... an indoor cat needs human interaction. You know, feeding, litter provision, trips to the Vet, etc, etc.

Your continued nastiness adds nothing of value!

I'm older than the OP and told it like it is... you should try to be helpful instead of initiating ad hominem personal attacks on those that try to help.

Another personal attack by you! Classy!

@Stax - where does it say that the OP has no interaction with her cat or doesn't take care of it? She merely stated she couldn't catch it to get him to the vet.

I'm a lot younger than 77 and one of our cats is a challenge to catch to administer medications, let alone to get into a carrier. I just have to think about getting him into the carrier and he is gone.

Who said the OP has no interaction with her cat - or does not take care of it?

What I did say was, " an indoor cat needs human interaction. You know, feeding, litter provision, trips to the Vet, etc, etc. "

The OP posted and so far has ran... classic.

Do you have a scratching post? We put this one next to the couch our kitter likes to scratch, and it seems to have solved the issue. It's very nice and sturdy and easy to assemble.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QG6V42S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Also, I will second the recommendation for the double sided sticky tape stuff. It comes in large sheets which you can stick to his favorite off-limits scratching places. Then I would put the scratching post next to that.

I appreciate all your hints, suggestions and sources cited! Stax, you have asked a question I have often asked myself!! How he came to us at 7 weeks is such a long story - TMI. I used to write little stories about Harley Catfish (his name and therein another story) as he was so comical. I used double-sided tape extensively when he was very small as well as any other thing I could purchase or imagine. He is well loved and has this old lady completely in love! He does like catnip and has catnip-filled 'cigars' (my and his name for them) from Amazon, has catnip on all scratching pads. Yes, he knows all his toys' names.

The problem, Stax, is that being an indoor cat his nails get very long now and I worry about that. It is more or less a recent problem. Maybe nails get more dense with age? as regular scratching pads always seemed to take care of this.

I'm thinking I have shifted into being too wordy but I got a little defensive due to one poster's comments. I don't blame her; I did not explain well in the original post.

Thank you all so much!

Glaserberl, thank you for that suggestion! OTC may be the answer!

About sharp cat-nails: our cat vet told me that the reason cats scratch is to actually remove the outer parts of the nail so that it is more pointed, sharp and lethal. They're not wearing down their nails by using a scratching post. That's what she explained to me.

I would invest in a selection of cat toys and scratch pad stations throughout the house to keep him entertained, especially if he is an indoor cat only.

Maymay, could you get someone to help you catch the cat and take it to the vet for a trim? Maybe even a vet tech or someone from a pet care service. Seems to me that would solve your problem.

Anyway, the sisal pad shown in another post would be perfect. Also there are cardboard horizontal scratchers, and your cat might like the variety of having both.

Sorry about the comments about age and having a pet. Silly!

We have a two-story cat house. the outside is sisal rope. She doesn't use it. She has destroyed the cover of the ottoman I got at Sam's club. It wasn't expensive, so I don't care. I sew, so I could just get a couple yards of upholstery fabric and sew up a new cover. I think every cat tower I've seen has scratching surface on it.

One of the cats I owned liked this:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SmartyKat-Scratch-Scroll-with-Feather-Toy-Multi-Surface-Sisal-Carpet-Cat-Scratcher-Interactive-Scratching-Outlet-Lounger/8110821?from=/search