Very well put Soledad.

When we go to the shelter and see that a newly arrived cat is declawed (and at least 70% ARE) I get really sad. I feel so badly for the poor animal. And I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to adopt a declawed cat and bring it into my home with four cats that DO have claws. I think that would be really cruel.

Maybe if there weren't alternatives to declawing, there would be SOME validity to choosing to mutilate your pet. But there are so many alternatives...there is NO excuse.

Out of our four cats, the only cat that went near furnature was Noah. As soon as we got Sticky Paws, he stopped.