text: You made numerous well-reasoned arguments, especially your comment about the life-span of declawed cats and your second paragraph, and my condolences for your loss of a cat.
  My wife and I have a cat, and we lost one several years ago to disease, and it is emotionally painful.
  Pets are a delight. And I don't care what certain animal behaviorists say, they create a bond with their human owners/companions