Rhino wrote:
I have a conventional box spring and mattress that I am looking to
replace because it is just too hard.

I'd like to know if anyone knows any ways that I can reliably
cat-proof the new mattress so that my two cats, both of which have
their claws, don't sharpen their claws on it the way they did with
the current mattress. (I say "did" because they don't scratch it a
lot any more but I suspect that is because they are out of places
that they can scratch on the mattress that aren't already shredded.)

While the mattress still works fine, it looks *awful*. They have
shredded it so badly that they can literally stick the top half of
their bodies into the holes they have made - I saw Bebop, the larger
of the two cats, do it once!
I will not consider declawing them so please don't even suggest it. I
do not want to banish them from my bedroom or bed either. I'm looking
for some way to deter them from sharpening their claws on the wood
frame of the mattress. In case it makes a difference, they are both
10 years old, one is male and one is female, and they are both
neutered.
Does anyone have any reliable techniques for protecting the bed from
their claw-sharpening? If so, I'd love to hear from you!

First step is to buy a couple of sharpening posts, and put them at the foot
of your bed, at the corners. the cats will, or at least should, use these
because they are better suited for the job. Then, whenever you catch a cat
using the mattress, pick him up and put him in front of one of the posts,
and take his front paws and work them against the post so he gets the idea.
(say, good kitty, and reward him with a treat afterward) As time goes on,
when he still uses the mattress, throw a pillow at him and scream at him.
Cats are not stupid....They will usually get the idea pretty fast that what
they are doing displeases, or pleases you.