Well my cat used to run after declawing. I am not supporting declawing but probably you may be right. The doctor took my cat in surgery and anestheisthetic was injected and he took a little time to declaw it.

Anyways i think that there may be a better substitute to declawing that does not put the animal in much pain, but cat used to scratching a carpet never gives up this habit untill you find a solution to it.