Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Sorry I asked a question then had to go run some errands. I will trim his nails and look into soft paws, I don't mind tape on the furniture either.

He scratchs the furniture on his hind legs with his front paws, he scratchs the stairs sort of scrunched up. I bought one of those walmart scratchers, my rb gigi loved those, although she would scratch that AND the couch.