You can protect your furniture by taping aluminum foil to the arms, or I think putting carpet tape (the kind that holds two pieces of carpet together at a seam) on the arms. It would be inconvenient for a while, but if it saves your furniture... You can also put throws over the arms, too, although that probably would not be a deterent.

Cats love those corrugated cardboard scratchers, usually. They're cheap.

Cute kitties. Makes me want one. Until I think of my furniture. lol.

Karen