Interesting posts on the subject, Admin, but I never got to see them until now. Thanks for the links.
Fishbone, I'm also torn on the subject. My husband is adamant that our next kitten will be declawed. The two youngest cats which were NOT declawed have destroyed expensive leather furniture, drapes, carpeting and put scratches on the wood floors. The Tonkinese has scarred the faces of the Bengal (clawless) and the DSH, plus my own feet and legs and other places I won't mention. I try to keep their claws clipped, but it's difficult at best, especially when the Tonk bites, kicks and scratches during "manicure" time. The DSH runs away and hides as soon as he sees the clippers.
The cats we declawed before these two who have full claws, were done as kittens. There wasn't any problem as they were quite little and got quickly over the surgery and life went on with them playing and functioning fine without claws. They grasped toys with their toes, they "marked" all their favorite places with their toes and scratched various items as if they had claws. They were happy and loved and well cared for by us as indoor only cats.
Now there DID come problems when the first cat we had was front declawed as a baby, but then back declawed (ripped scratches in the wall from getting up in the windows) when he was older and heavier. THEN we did see behavior issues with that poor darling! I'd never declaw an older cat again. It needs doing when they're as young as possible, if it's to be done at all.
I just don't know if it's the right thing to do in the future for us...
I know the hype is that it's inhumane and cruel and can cause behavioral problems, which is why our two youngest have not been declawed, but a lot of it is just that - "hype", in my opinion, anyway.
