There is a reason you didn't pick them up until Thursday after having the surgery done on a Tuesday. It was so you wouldn't hear their screams from the pain. They may claim it to be less painful but I can guarentee you they feel more pain from that declawing than you will ever experience in your life. I am glad it was you and not me to make the decision to do it cause honestly if it was my husband insisting on it I would be in the middle of a divorce. I would not rehome my cats for him and there is no way in this lifetime or any other that my cats would be declawed.