I have only read the first page of responses so far. Personally - as you all know I don't know much about cats and have just now got my first one - I would not say no matter what I would not declaw. I don't think it is a good thing to do and wouldn't want to do it BUT there are situations that I would not want to include in that statement. I was at the Animal Control shelter looking at the cat I adopted and there was a beautiful cat looking at me. I asked about her and they said she was not adoptable because she was pregnant and too pregnant to get an abortion so they would not adopt her out. The next day I went back to pay for the kitty I have taken home and the beautiful cat was not there - I asked the lady and she just looked at me and finally said they had already killed her. Now if this had been a situation of if she was declawed they could adopt her and if not they would kill her - well I'd say declaw. As a matter of fact the declaw ones do have a better chance. Most are killed in 24 hours if it is an owner release and 72 hours on a stray. Be careful to make such a blanket statement - if your leg was caught under a rock and the river was rising and you had a knife wouldn't you cut off your leg before you drown? Debbie