At one point I had a cat that didn't like the posts. However, I found this cardboard-thing that was laced with 'nip. Just sorta a tightly packed box of corrugated cardboard. Kitty loved it.
Also agree with Jack. Cruel and unnecessary. I have three cats, and my furniture is fine... they just use the scratching post. A little care to clip the claws once in a while, and a nice post is all it takes. I also had to sign agreements to never get my adopted cats declawed.