Yes, my cat is declawed - front paws only! She's an indoor cat - never goes outside unless in a cat carrier - so she never has to defend herself against other cats or dogs. The benefit is that she can't scratch the furniture! Or people! I didn't notice any change in her behavior! She still paws at the furniture without the claws, and she still buries her business in the litter box with her hind paws. She can also scratch herself if need be! I would never do this to an outdoor cat! That would be cruel! My cat is happy, f...

Yes, my cat is declawed - front paws only! She's an indoor cat - never goes outside unless in a cat carrier - so she never has to defend herself against other cats or dogs. The benefit is that she can't scratch the furniture! Or people! I didn't notice any change in her behavior! She still paws at the furniture without the claws, and she still buries her business in the litter box with her hind paws. She can also scratch herself if need be! I would never do this to an outdoor cat! That would be cruel! My cat is happy, friendly, and a joy to have around the house! She's been declawed for seven years!

I'm afraid you'll find a heated debate with this question- people usually feel very strongly one way or the other. Personally, I'm against declawing... here's an article I wrote about it:

Would you amputate your child's fingers to prevent them from drawing on the walls? Of course not, but many wouldn't think twice about declawing their cats. It is a common misconception that this procedure is harmless and pai...

I'm afraid you'll find a heated debate with this question- people usually feel very strongly one way or the other. Personally, I'm against declawing... here's an article I wrote about it:

Would you amputate your child's fingers to prevent them from drawing on the walls? Of course not, but many wouldn't think twice about declawing their cats. It is a common misconception that this procedure is harmless and painless. On the contrary, declawing your cat may likely cause initial complications, such as infection and pain, as well as long-term problems such as loss of muscle mass, arthritis, and death.

The actual surgery consists of literally removing the first joint of each toe (thats TEN amputations at one time!). Make no mistake about it- this procedure and its recovery period is an excruciatingly painful experience for your cat. Initially, the cat is susceptible to skin infections that could lead to death, not to mention the risk involved with general anethesia.

The more long term problems that will arise are joint stiffness and arthritis, and loss of balance. Cats are digitigrades, by nature- they walk on their toes. Declawing causes balance and joint issues as a result. There is more stress on their joints, as they learn to counterbalance the loss of their toes. Because their claws are essential for exercise, stretching their muscles, and balance, removing them could result in obesity and loss of muscle mass.

The psychological implications are much worse. Since litter is no longer comfortable, cats will oftentimes find another place to elimiate- such as a soft rug or clothing. Because their primary defense was removed, cats tend to bite more, as an overcompensation. Declawed cats will often bite at the most minor of threats to make up for the insecurity of missing their claws. Should a declawed indoor cat slip out the door, chances are slim that they will return unharmed. Furthermore, the declawing procedure may lead to complete distrust for their owners. They may become withdrawn, fearful, and/or aggressive. Cats use their claws to mark their territory. The sight of a marked object produces a feeling of comfort and ease. Taking away this ability may cause the cat to use their other method of marking- urination.

The most popular reasoning behind declawing is the owner's concern for their furniture. What most people don't realize, is that cats are VERY smart, and can be easily trained. Punishment is never an effective method of training- it will only cause a cat to fear and distrust their owners, but continue the unfavorable behavior when the owner is not around. One very effective method for training is the use of a spray bottle. Give the cat a squirt when they are engaged in unfavorable activity. Its imperative that the cat does NOT see the owner squirting them. This way, the "punishment" will seem like an "act of god", and the relationship between the cat and their owner will remain in-tact. This method is also quite effective in stopping the behavior when the owner is not around- because they don't know where the squirt comes from, they are less likely to break the rules.

Another necessity for raising a clawed cat is to give them a suitable alternative to your furniture, such as scratching posts or corrugated cardboard pads. Different cats have different preferences, so its good to give them a choice of both horizontal and vertical scratching areas. Be sure to find posts that do not have similar material to your furniture, as this will only confuse your cat.Interestingly, the U.S. is behind many other countries (most of Europe including England, Japan, Australia, Italy, and many others) in making declawing illegal. California has made the most strides in passing the ban, but so far, only West Hollywood has officially banned the procedure.

Please check out a few links:

http://www.pawproject.com/html...
http://www.declawing.com/

*As a footnote, I have 4 cats- all with claws in tact, and NONE of them claw at the furniture... it's not an impossible feat!

Nope i could never do that it's too cruel I don't think anyone would have their fingernails taken out!