"Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle."
My cats are all quite good when it comes to nail clipping time. There may be moments of complaints but gentle persistence and positive reinforcement work wonders. Treats and praise are the rewards.
If you've thought about starting to clip your cats nails I highly recommend it. It is actually a lot easier than you think, and I find it cuts down on their need to claw immensely!