I have declawed cats in the past. I would never do it now.

I learned that if you supply them with alternatives to your furniture and woodwork, they will use the alternatives. Also, keeping their nails trimmed is another way of changing their need to use their paws on your fine furniture.

Here is how I did it.

I bought several posts. This in itself is expensive, but not as expensive as a new sofa! Each morning, after getting up from my sleep, I would walk around to ALL of the posts, cats following of course, and I would scratch on the posts with my fingers. The cats would do the same....one right after the other.....It was like a game. I had one post right near my front door, so that when I would come home, they would use the post then.........

Every now and then one will use a carpet or the side of the sofa and I will clap my hands and say NO....but for the most part, they much more enjoy the sisal posts to my furniture.

You have to encourage the good behavior and discourage the bad.

Every cat I have had in the last 15 years has learned to use the posts.

If you don't have posts around, what else are they supposed to scratch on?

So get yourself a good manicure, clip the cat's nails, buy a ton of posts and start scratching!

Good luck!