A sentence should NEVER begin with "A cat is better off declawed..." This is a ridiculous statement by an uninformed commentator.
I'm a retired veterinarian with over 25 years of experience as a feline only practitioner. Declawing is a brutal, inhumane procedure with life long negative consequences. The idea that shelters will fill up with unwanted cats if declawing is banned is incorrect - Shelter admissions actually went DOWN in LA during the five years after the declaw ban went into effect.
The solution is simple. If you don't want a cat with claws, don't get a cat. Buy a stuffed toy.