I’m quoted in this article about the invasive and cruel procedure of declawing, which I’m so glad is almost completely curtailed now in California, as it should be. Unlike spaying/neutering and the removal of dew claws, there is no life extension or injury avoidance with declawing. It is an amputation and can endanger cats if they get out and need to defend themselves, and can also limit their climbing ability. There are several ways to humanely discourage cats from scratching furniture, which is the primary reason why some people have resorted to surgically amputating feline paws.