Cat Lovers! Ethical question concerning declawing. [View All]

[HERVEPA]

Now don't jump to conclusions before reading this. It is an ethical problem for me.

We lived with a cat for fifteen years. He died about 1 1/2 years ago.
He was declawed while a kitten.

I would like to get 2 cats. The cats would be indoors cats.
Presumably I'd get them from the local shelter. The problem is that my wife insists on a cat being declawed, because of the furniture and such.

Any suggestions as to how to train the cat so this wouldn't be a problem, or other such solutions, will not fly.

I know declawing is not very nice, is painful, unnatural (well, so is neutering), and really not very ethical.

So the ethical dilemma is:
--------------------------

Is it better to get the cats and get them declawed
or
to not get them at all, which will probably mean 2 cats (the ones I would get or others) would presumably wind up being euthanized?

Thanks for any opinions