Please have a look at the following article which gives an extensive explanation of what declawing is and why it should be avoided...

                                                     The Facts About Declawing

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats.  However it can cause problems for cat owners. The solution for most cat owners has been to declaw the cat.

Declawing may eliminate one problem, cats scratching on your furniture, but it may have more serious repercussions for the cat and you. Please research this procedure so you fully understand how it is performed. Declawing is not just the removal of the nail, it is the amputation of the first knuckle on each toe. It is a very painful procedure for a cat to go through and can have complications.  Many cats begin biting as a defense when their claws are removed. The surgeries can also lead to permanent disfigurement and constant pain/discomfort if not done correctly.   Both of these problems are serious behaviors that can result in the cat being turned over to the animal shelter where they could end up being euthanized.

There are alternatives to declawing. You can keep your cat's nails trimmed so they can't harm furniture when they scratch it. You can train your cat to use a scratching post and place several in your house. Soft Paws are vinyl caps that were developed by a veterinarian. Much like a lady's fake nails, Soft Paws slip over the nails and are held in place with a drop of glue. They are relatively simple to apply and completely cover the tips of the cats nails so that the cat cannot scratch.

We strongly recommend that anyone who is thinking about having their cat declawed try Soft Paws first to see what a difference they make.  Visit www.softpaws.com for more information. Or check this site out for details:

                                                     Claw Trimming & Soft Paws