My mom made me declaw my cat Nala for the same reason she was tearing everything apart! The vet said it would be fine. She cant feel it they said. It won't hurt a thing they said! Well something did go wrong. It is a thing where they asidently cut a nerve or two! It didn't cause any long term proublems but she was extreamly sore for a couple of months! The vet said it is verry rare and maybe it is but I think you should try other things first. My neighbor's cat used to jump on the the table when you were eating. So when ever he started come up to the tabe they would say aght aght and then squirt him with a squirt bottle. So now when he is doing something bad all you have to do is sat aght aght and he will imedeatly stop! Maybe you cant try it when your cat starts to scratch something! Good Luck!!