HOW CAN YOU STOP A CAT FROM SCRATCHING YOUR STUFF

​Cats need to scratch, they have a natural instinct to claw at things. Cats scratch for decompression, to clean dead skin from their nail beds, to mark their territory, and to communicate. Not a issue behavioral. Cats don't learn from physical punishment but will learn through strategic behavior redirection. The way cats announce themselves or leave messages when cats walk into a room is by scratching on surfaces along the way. This allows them to leave messages. If your cat is scratching your stuff because they don't have enough scratch pads available to them. Try a few different kinds of scratchers like cardboard, sisal, wood, and cork around your home. Domestic cats need variety in texture. Cats can get bored with the same things. Try to rewrap the post with fresh rope and sprinkle on some silvervine.

Cats are very intelligent your cat will be able to recognize the hand holding the bottle as a source of discomfort. This will create fear between you and your cat, it will not teach your cat anything. Do not shout or use a spray bottle as a punishment remember scratching is very natural to cats.
Homemade vertical scratcher post wrapped in a carpet.
Homemade scratching post
Large cardboard box
Duct or masking tape 
Box cutter and straight-edge
Cut the cardboard box into 4” strips. Roll a strip. Roll a strip of cardboard up very tightly. When you get to the end of it duct tape it to another strip of cardboard. Continue doing this, rolling and taping until your scratching pad measures at least 16” across. Sprinkle the top of the pad with dried catnip. When the cardboard wears out, flip it over for a whole new scratching pad.