While scratching is a natural behavior for cats, it can often cause problems for cat owners. For years, the standard solution was to declaw the cat. It's All About the Cats has taken a pro-active stand against this practice.

Declawing may "solve" the problem of cats scratching on your furniture, but it may lead to more serious problems. Many declawed cats turn to biting as a defense when their claws are removed. In addition, the procedure sometimes leads to permanent discomfort in the paws which then leads to the cat eliminating outside of the litter box. Both of these problems are serious behaviors that can result in the cat being turned over to the animal shelter where they usually end up being euthanized.

Please have a look at the following link which explains what declawing is and why it should be avoided...

http://maxshouse.com/Truth%20About%20Declawing.htm

Now THERE IS A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO DECLAWING. Soft Paws are vinyl caps that were developed by a veterinarian. They slip over the claws and are held in place with a drop of glue - similar to acrylic nails worn by many women. They are painless to apply and are rounded on the tips so that the cat cannot scratch. Many of our foster homes use these wonderful inventions.

We strongly recommend that anyone who is thinking about having their cat declawed first try Soft Paws to see what a difference they make.  Please visit the Soft Paws website at www.softpaws.com for more information. You can order the product on-line or purchase it at most pet stores or veterinarian offices.