Also, if cats need their claws to stretch, then its cause the claws stick into the carpet or whatever giving them a good grip?
A kitty can still get in a good stretch with the soft paws because it is still able to retract it's claws, it just can't really dig them into anything.

Am I the only person on PT with a cat that is declawed..??
We have had a few pet talk confessionals were a few members have stated that they had gotten their cats declawed but now that they know more information on it and the problems that it can cause later in life they have regretted it and would never again declaw a cat.