DECLAWING
Declawing is a very painful & inhumane surgical procedure that involves cutting the tendons & nerves that control the extension & retraction of the claws. In other words...it's just like amputating the lower part of each of your fingers, where the first knuckle is. There are many Veterinarians that will not do this procedure anymore...what does that tell you??? Cats need their claws for protection against other animals and for climbing, even if they only reside indoors. Cats claws are a natural growth just like hair & nails on a human. Declawing may lead to a very emotionally disturbed cat who may resort to biting.

There are so many other alternatives to declawing:
1) You could easily trim your kittys nails at least once a month.
2) Purchase a sisal or carpet covered scratching post.
3) When you catch your kitty going to scratch your furniture, shake a metal can filled with pennies. Your kitty will learn to associate his actions with the loud sound, & eventually won't do it anymore.
4) You can even try nail covers made by SoftPaws.

NAIL TRIMMING
If you start training them when they are kittens, they learn to accept it. If you have an older cat that resists, you can trim his nails when he is asleep, do as many as you can till he wakes than continue another time. You can use your own nail clipper or buy a special nail trimmer made for cats. Hold the cats paw in your hand & push down gently until his nail comes forward, than just cut only the very tip of the nail. Do not cut into the quick of the nail (the pink vein) this will hurt & make him bleed a little.
After a while you will become a pro at it & when kitty learns to trust that you are not going to hurt him, it will become a lot easier.