Here's my two cents worth on the declawing issue ...

First of all, I don't own any cats. Never have, never will. I'm deathly allergic to cats.

My niece owns seven cats, all of which are declawed. They are all perfectly happy, healthy indoor cats. They do not bite, they are not aggressive, they don't have trouble walking, jumping, balancing, etc. They act exactly the same as any cat with claws does. I also own a boarding kennel, and I board hundreds upon hundreds of cats every year. I have never noticed a difference in the clawed and declawed cats as far as behavior goes. So, sorry, but I don't buy it that declawed cats are so traumatized by declawing. I've never seen any evidence of it.

And, most importantly, I have been involved with humane societies and shelters in three different states for over fifteen years. I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that declawed cats are far, far more adoptable than clawed cats. If there are twenty cats in the intake room of animal control, and there are only five open spaces in adoptions .... I can almost guarantee you that the five spaces will be filled with declawed cats, and the clawed cats will be dead.

At our humane society right now, we have four PAGES in our referral book filled with people wanting declawed cats, and willing to be put on a long waiting list to adopt one. A declawed cat stays about one day at our shelter before it is adopted. On the other hand, dozens upon dozens of clawed cats are euthanized at animal control every week, because we don't have space to take them, and they are not in demand. A plain orange tiger cat? They're a dime a dozen, and it is going to be gassed at animal control. A plain orange declawed tiger cat? There's a waiting list, and it's going home today.

So ...you tell me ... what's better? A declawed cat in a loving home? Or a clawed cat dead on top of a pile of clawed cats in the city landfill?