Getting a cat declawed is not a nice thing to do. The procedure involves removing the bones at the tip of a feline’s toes, which can result in long-term issues, such as trouble walking, and chronic pain. A study found declawed cats were seven times more likely to pee in inappropriate places, four times more likely to bite people, three times more likely to be aggressive, and three times more likely to over groom themselves. Study author Nicole Martell-Moran is a Texas veterinarian and says, “The result of this research reinforces my opinion that declawed cats with unwanted behaviors may not be ‘bad cats,’ they may simply need pain management.” She urges people to try training their cats before resorting to declawing them. Martell-Moran suggests getting a scratching post, and positioning it near your cat’s favorite sleeping spot or near the furniture it likes to scratch the most. You should then cover the post in catnip to make it more attractive than the sofa, and reward the cat with a treat (or some petting) each time it uses the post. If your cat scratches the sofa, just say “no” firmly and relocate the animal to the post. She says you should talk to your vet if the problem persists.