Declawing is a topic that can fire up some strong emotions. First, let's talk about what declawing actually is and why people sometimes choose to do it.

The idea behind declawing is that the removal of the cat's claws will eliminate any scratching that may be considered inappropriate. It is a cat's natural instinct to scratch some surfaces both in order to maintain the health of his/her claws and to mark the area as being part of his/her territory.

When a cat is declawed, it is not just the claws that are removed but the entire last bone on the cat's toes. This would be the equivalent of amputating your fingers at the last knuckle in order to remove your fingernails.

Understandably, this can be a traumatic and painful experience for the cat and it involves general anesthesia as well as causing post-operation pain and discomfort. In fact, many countries around the world consider the practice so cruel that they have made it an illegal procedure and even in the United States there are localities that have banned the practice.

There may be other complications that arise from declawing, both physical and emotional.

The Humane Society of the United States lists infection, tissue necrosis (tissue death), lameness, back pain, regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs as possible after effects. They also bring up the possibility of litter box and biting issues: "After a cat is declawed, she can experience litter box problems. Scratching in the litter box after surgery could be painful, leading the cat to associate the box with pain and avoid it. Some cats may become biters because they no longer have their claws for defense."

Most cats given a variety of scratching pads or posts, many of which are easily available and inexpensive, will happily use them and stay away from furniture or curtains. Many cats, especially if you are able to start early in their development, will also allow you to clip their nails so they aren't sharp. There are even products available to put on a cat's claws to provide padding so he/she won't scratch.

The shelter regularly gets cats that have been declawed and then surrendered so it is possible to adopt a cat that has already had the procedure without putting another cat through it.

As someone who shares a home with three cats, I understand the challenges that all cat owners can face, but a little patience and practice can ensure that cats, people and furniture can all peacefully co-exist.

I do strongly discourage anyone from even considering declawing. The APS of Durham has a brochure and information on our Web site offering advice for anyone concerned about their cat's scratching habits. Our mission is to promote the well-being of animals, and declawing runs counter to that philosophy. Hopefully in time, declawing along with other procedures such as ear cropping or tail docking on dogs will be seen as the outdated and unnecessary practices that they are.