Q: We read your column about the importance of not declawing cats—or, as you put it, amputating their toes. We’re convinced! Now our question is: What can we do to prevent our cats from scratching our furniture? A: Multiple toe amputation, euphemistically called declawing, causes long-term medical and behavioral problems in cats. Readers who missed the column you cited are welcome to contact me for a copy. The best way to teach cats not to scratch furniture is to attract them to more appropriate surfaces through behavior modification and pheromones. Punishment isn’t effective. Start by filling your home with a variety of cat scratchers, such as scratching posts and cat trees. Provide at least one more scratcher than the number of cats in your home. Position them near doors and windows and where your cats socialize with the family, nap, and sleep. Make sure each scratcher is tall enough or …