Jen your article is very well written and I agree with most of it. As I have mentioned here at PT before, Trevor and Andy are both declawed, something that I did *way back when* and I really didn't know any better as I was new to cat ownership and all of my friends/family with cats had them declawed.. For what it's worth, I would never do it to any future kitties. That said, I have read tons and tons of articles about the behavioral problems that this supposedly causes and have to stress that I have not had any of these problems with either of my two. Trevor is 10 years old and Andy is 7. In addition, the people who I knew when I got Trevor and Andy, who also have declawed cats, have not had any of these problems either. I am not trying to play devil's advocate, but I think sometimes people may embellish a little in the way they present their arguments against declawing. I think the surgical pictures speak for themselves. As I said, I would never do it again, but I have yet to hear of any problems in my immediate circle of family and friends with declawed cats. I don't think I am the only "odd" one but I just wanted my voice to be heard too. Thanks for letting me vent.