Declawing of cats actually involves not only removing the claw, which cats are created with and need in order to defend themselves and to be themselves psychologically, but also the amputation of each toe at the first joint.  It is comparable to whacking off a person's first finger joints and first toe joints, except that, in cats' cases, as they are quadrupeds, they use all four of their feet for walking, and these amputations maim them for life.  The operation, even if done correctly, involves physical and psychological pain and suffering and often results in ongoing trauma to the cats, which can manifest in litter box avoidance, aggression caused by the fear due to being deprived of an important defense (claws), and other psychological and physical problems which can be lifelong in nature.  This in turn results in abandonment of cats in their millions, and "euthanasia" of otherwise healthy, loving cats because their caregivers cannot or will not cope with the issues brought about as byproducts of the operation.  When badly performed, the declawing operation can cause infection which can lead to severe illness and even death.  It can leave a cat disfigured and in chronic pain. 

There is NO good reason for ANY cat to be declawed, and most other nations have rightly outlawed this procedure.  It is high time this nation progresses past the point of maiming companion animals for human vanity or intolerance or failure to understand and deal compassionately with the fact that cats were born with claws, need claws, and use their claws.  A wide variety of scratching pads and posts and cat furniture exist to allow cats a healthy and nondestructive outlet for their very natural urge to exercise their claws and mark their territory.  Anyone who is unprepared to treat a cat compassionately and understandingly should never have a cat. 

Let's make cat declawing illegal, and join the growing number of nations who put cats, not inanimate objects and human vanity and intolerance, first.