I have a confession to make. Please keep in mind that this was LONG before I knew how the procedure was done or any of the other gorey details.

I had just gotten a new livingroom set. First one in 25 years. At the time I only had 2 cats, Mollie Rose and Casey. They had been using an old beat up chair that I didn't care about. My landlord at the time was doing repairs in the bathroom and said he noticed my cats scratching my new couch. I called my vet and told her and she said that cats don't know the difference between old furniture and new furniture, and suggested that they both be declawed. In a panic, off to the vet they went where they were both declawed.

When I picked them up, I was horrified!!!!! My precious babies paws were bloody and I could see they were in alot of pain!! I was up all night crying at what I did to my babies. I promised myself I would NEVER EVER do it again, and I haven't. I have never forgiven myself for hurting Mollie and Casey. But I learned a HUGE lesson.

I now have 7 cats and they all have their claws. I took the time to train them to scratch the scratching post and that's what they do.

I hope you'll send your friend that link so she can see EXACTLY what is involved in the procedure. Not only that, but cats who are declawed may have litterbox problems, resort to biting because that is the only defense they have left, and may develop arthritis in their paws because of it. I was one of the fortunate people in that none of that happened to either of my cats.

I only wish I had learned 9 years ago and had saved my babies the pain and agony. It's a lesson I will have to live with for the rest of my life.