10 Reasons Not to Declaw Your Cat

1. Declawing is major surgery. Like any surgery, there are risks.
   
2. The surgery includes the removal of the claw and the entire first joint (just like removing the first joint of all your fingers).
   
3. Once the anesthesia wears off, the cat is in pain.
   
4. The cat is often confused after the surgery, and may exhibit strange behavior.
   
5. A declawed cat can never go outside. If it gets outside by mistake, it is completely defenseless.
   
6. Some declawed cats become biters or "batters".
   
7. Scratching is natural for cats -- a completely healthy behavior.
   
8. It is easy to learn how to trim a cat's claws.
   
9. It is easy to teach a cat to use a cat tree or scratching post.
   
10. Spraying a cat with a fine mist of water (from a spray bottle) will train a cat to "stay away" or "stay off".

An excellent article about declawing.

10 Reasons to Keep Your Cat Inside

1. There are many diseases that a cat can pick up outside. Some of which are deadly and uncurable.
   
2. There are no adequate vaccines available for many of these diseases.
   
3. Cats can get hit by cars.
   
4. Cats can be hurt by other animals, both wild and domestic.
   
5. Cats can be hurt and tortured by mean people.
   
6. Cats can bring home parasites, like fleas, mites, and fungus.
   
7. Cats can get lost or stolen.
   
8. Cats can accidently get shut in a neighbor's garage or shed.
   
9. Cats can get stuck in trees.
   
10. Cats who wear collars can get hung on just about anything.