Hello my Name is Sandra, I am from Germany. I have heard about this article and I am disgusted about the opinion of Mrs. Kafer. In my country, declawing is forbidden by law since decades and I am proud of being a part of a country who animals have rights without legal cruelty! To declaw a cat in the U.S. is not only for the welfare of couches or to prohibit human beings from scratches and infections. Declawing a cat is like amputating toes from a human being. Without toes you can't walk properly or holding your balance. Also that means phantom pain like a veteran of the US Army. Declawing is unnecessary, painful, a torture and inhumane! Mrs. Kafer should educate herself before tweeting or writing an article! Shame on her!......Cats are more likely to end up in shelter because of declawing! They can't use the litter box or are more likely to bite! All arguements who are PRO DECLAWING are proofed as WRONG!!!! I know it better, I am german and I have 3 cats and all of them have nails.....