You have to consider much more than the physical aspect of declawing. There are several behavioral changes that commonly take place too. One of the main ones is biting.

I was considering a medically necessary declaw for my foster Almalfi, who has a skin disease that attacks his paw pads and nail beds, they were horribly infected. He'll have this condition for life, so I thought, better that he not have nail beds to get infected.
Then our rescue director told me about the behavioral issues, and how he, a not very dominant, small boy, could start biting or become very defensive.

I decided not to ask that he be declawed.
For a perfectly healthy cat, or kitten, I'd just never consider it. No reason to.

Clipping and covering furniture in our house is just fine.

Just my opinion