What should I do if my Exotic Shorthair scratches the side of the sofa?

First off, don't assume scratching furniture is some sort of rebellion-your cat's just following instincts to mark territory and keep claws healthy. Instead of scolding, put a scratching post right next to the sofa's scratched spot; cats often pick surfaces based on texture and location, so mimicking that vertical fabric feel with sisal rope or cardboard can redirect the behavior. I'd argue covering the sofa corner with double-sided tape or a slipcover for a few weeks works better than yelling, since cats dislike sticky textures and will choose the post if it's more appealing-just make sure the post is sturdy and tall enough for a full stretch, or they'll ignore it.

Put a scratching post right next to the spot and rub some catnip on it. Your fluffy couch potato might just be trying to tell you the current scratching options aren't cutting it-literally.