I have posted this before but it was a long time ago. Trevor and Andy are both declawed. Trevor was my first cat and I was totally 'cat ignorant.' My friends who had cats at the time I got him all had declawed cats. I assumed it was "the norm." I am fortunate that I have never had any behavior problems with either of them. In fact they have been really good, sweet kitties their whole lives.
I do believe that declawing a cat is better than the alternative - being put down at a shelter. There are just too many cats and not enough homes. If that is the only way they will find their forever homes I can't see why not allowing it. My two have certainly been loved and spoiled for years in spite of what I did to them. That said, I would not declaw again. As I said, I was ignorant at the time. I really have some concerns about declawing an older cat though. A kitty that has had his claws for years and years and then suddenly doesn't have them must certainly go through unbelievable adjustment problems and therein might come some of the bad behaviors that are reported.
I feel badly about what I did but there is no use crying over spilled milk. If informing a potential adopter about training methods, soft claws, etc. doesn't change their mind, I would still prefer to see a kitty go to that home rather than be put down. I really think tolerance is the key here. People who declaw aren't monsters. Mostly they are uninformed. (my two cents)
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