I had two cats. One lived to the age of 18, and the other 19. If you are going to declaw the cat, never ever let it outside. If the cat is to be totally an indoor animal, declawing is the only sensible thing to do if you value your furniture.

I haven't replaced my cats because I can't bear to go through the trauma of losing something that I become so attached to again. But I love cats.

It's probably a Republican thing.

DougR