Declawing a cat might seem like a solution to prevent scratching of your furniture, but the process can be painful and traumatic for your pet. That’s why many places have banned declawing and the city of Austin in Texas is the latest to follow this trend.

Declawing will still be allowed for medical conditions but if you’re still worried about cats scratching your furniture, consider getting your cat a scratching post of its own. Another option is to put nail caps on your cat’s claws to keep them from scratching anything. As long as your cat can be happy and your furniture safe, that’s all that matters.

To learn more about the city of Austin banning declawing, click here.