A friend of mine was chairman of the board of the local humane society and cat owner. Although by far the preference is NOT to declaw....she believes it is better than the alternative.

Some cats are too old -- or too stubborn when they are adopted to "untrain" or "retrain."

I do not believe that declawing -- in and of itself -- affects a cat's behavior or disposition. I have seen horrid clawed cats and unclawed cats. And visa versa.

I do NOT understand EVER removing the back claws.