I have had (I think 15?) cats over the years and all of them were declawed with ZERO problems. I always felt it was THE proper thing to do for an indoor cat - along with neutering - never gave it another thought except that I was doing what was best for my cat. It was NOT to protect my precious furniture - my furniture is shredded from their BACK claws! If furniture were that important, I would not have cats, or kids for that matter. Furniture is just furniture. BUT - education has to come gradually - and I have to say that at this point, after learning more about the procedure, I would NOT chose to declaw a cat in the future.

That said - I also want to comment that I came to the decision from careful reading and study and NOT because of the passionate ranting of declawing activists, some of whom I believe go overboard in their attempts to educate. THIS thread has been civil, but many have been accusatory and blaming in nature - pointing fingers of blame and judgement on people who have had the procedure done as if they were cruel and awful people for doing so.

I am going to digress a moment: I am an RN who worked surgery in the late 70's. I can recall a time when I was still in clinical with 2 other students and the patient assigned was a woman who was scheduled for an abortion. The others refused to care for her because they were Christians. I was NOT a Christian at the time and took care of the woman. Her husband had died recently, she already had four children, and she chose to have the abortion. The others stood around calling her a baby killer, etc. What did this accomplish? For one thing - it took me MANY years to become a Christian!! Secondly, even though I am now very much *against abortion*, it did not happen because of those name calling people but INSPITE of them! And, I would STILL take care of that patient today! Does calling people names help them change their mind?? No, it takes gentle teaching and understanding. Many PT folks, I have noticed from the Doghouse - are Pro-Abortion. They take offense at the Christians and others who (wrongly) use the tactics of calling them baby killers and the like. But the same is happening here!! Do you see where I am going??? Change happens gradually and namecalling, etc hurts the process and slows it down because it hurts people.

If I were to get a new cat, I would try the homemade scratching posts that someone mentioned and start them at at early age. There are plenty of sites that give good suggestions about how to provide the opportunities that cats need to use their claws. The claws can be kept trimmed. There are softpaws, etc. But, if you have already declawed your cat, for heaven's sake, do NOT feel guilty for doing so!! It is NOT a PT law that only anti-declaw folks are allowed to be here! (although after awhile, I suspect many will become anti-declaw unless they are shamed off the board) THAT is what I hope to avoid - having anyone so shamed and guilted that they feel like they are not part of this exclusive group with so many *rules* and not good enough to stay around. I am NOT trying to be snotty or smug or lecturing - just trying to be reasonable - OK??? I still suggest NOT to declaw
Ok, I am done now