[trebb]

Don't know that it should be outlawed but I wouldn't do it. I came home from work one day and got a call (pre-cell days for us) from the vet wanting to set up an appointment to declaw our cat. I informed him he was mistaken and hung up. When the wife got home, I told her we weren't doing it. She said she was glad but was worried I might get upset about the furniture. I told her he could have the furniture and it it got bad enough we would either get it refinished or replace it.

He was there for the whole conversation and I find it amazing that he stopped using the furniture as an exercise object. He's gone but the furniture remains with just a few punctures to help us remember the best cat ever - "The Bubber" was a 16 pound pure black (face disappeared when he blinked) alpha male cat with huge paws (that stayed sheathed even when we were forcing the most godawful pills down his throat if he needed medication) that never poked either of us but which took a swatch of bloody skin off another cat with a most casual swipe as it tried to invade his porch. We have a few acres and he liked to stay outside (another good reason to not declaw him) but would run to greet us as we polled in and would lead us to the front door like a dog might.

Before him, I was a dog guy but I have to admit I miss him more than any other pet we had.

He's the only cat I ever saw that hated to use the litter box - he would use it, then brace on the edges to keep his feet out of the "stuff" as he buried it. Then he would scrape his paw off on the edge of the box.

[Daffynition]

We’ve had some GREAT cats too.

My stories about them could fill a book.

I have an ancient sofa in my rec room that bears the scars from one of the cats scratching it. No big deal ....I happen to think it adds character to the furniture. :)