No.

Don't declaw. All methods are the same--amputation of the last joint
of the fingers. I had this done to my first cat, and she became a biter,
and stopped covering her poop in the cat box. It deforms their feet
and it is not necessary. I have two cats now, keep their claws trimmed,
and have no damage at all. Perfect "one-two" strategy: trim claws and
get stuff they like to scratch more than the sofa. Tall posts (32 inches or
better) and an Alpine Scratcher work for us.

Trim their nails short and they will not damage it.  There may be surface
scuffs, but unless they use your leather as a scratching post, they won't
tear it.  The rivets on your blue jeans will cause more damage.  Make sure
you have several tall scratching posts available for them to use and teach
them not to scratch the leather.  It works in my house just fine.

You had the cats before you had the leather.  Considering performing a
barbaric and cruel procedure on them to protect an inanimate object is
reprehensible.  Just don't do it.  Or, if you are still considering it, cut
your own fingers off between the last two knuckles first so you'll get an
idea of what it's like for a cat to be declawed.

Before you go thru with the can of worms  try Google the subject of
declawing.  That subject will get you in serious water with cat lovers
specially over a materialistic concern.

But before the cat lovers cut your throat.  Try these first instead of the
butchering process you suggested

Softpaws
Train your cat to use a cat scratching post.

There is no humane way to de-claw a cat.  Learn to trim your cat's claws,
provide adequate scratchposts and scratchpads, and train the cat.

ep

There is *no* "better way" to declaw a cat.  Any method of declawing results
in the same situation -- that is, you have just performed amputation, a
cruel and unnecessary procedure.  Worst of all would be to declaw all four
paws (which you are considering).  That compounds problems such as lack of
muscle control and possible early onset of arthritis.  Ironically, you may
also cause an even worse problem *for yourself* than scratches on furniture.
That is, approximately 1/3 of declawed cats begin to urinate outside the
litterbox.  How will you feel if you begin to find fresh urine in your bed
or on your carpets?

Your selection of the leather sofa was probably a poor choice, but it is
done now.  From your description, it does not sound as if your cats are
using the sofa as a scratching post.  Instead, it appears that their claws
leave marks because they need some traction.  You can help to reduce this
problem if you look for an attractive (but sturdy) cover that you can wrap
around the cushions.

Whatever you do, please *do not* let your husband talk you into declawing
the cats.  Think of it this way.  If you had small children who damaged your
furniture, would you consider cutting off their fingers to the first
knuckle?  Well, of course not!  The very suggestion is outrageous.  But that
is what you would actually doing to these helpless kitties.  They are part
of your family, and they rely on you to love them and provide *good* care.

I would like to include a short quotation from a message that Lauren posted
some time ago:  "Cats can develop declaw related problems years later, like
developing arthritis, muscle atrophy and nerve pain. A declawed cat is much
like someone who is clubfooted. Since a cat is digitigrade, meaning walking
on tip toes, the cat can't walk normally with his weight back on the rear of
his pads. His posture is changed and his gait is now off.  Cats use their
claws as a means of communication, much like we use our voices.  A declawed
cat is much like a person without a larynx...."

Here are some web sites that look at the issue of declawing.  Please share
some of this information with your husband:
http://www.stopdeclaw.com
http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html
http://www.cara-adopt.org/declaw.html
http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawvettch.html
http://www.maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=002

MaryL

Photos of Duffy and Holly:      >'o'<
Duffy:  http://tinyurl.com/cslwf
Holly:  http://tinyurl.com/9t68o
Duffy and Holly together:  http://tinyurl.com/8b47e

DO NOT HAVE YOUR CATS DECLAWED, I REPEAT, DO NOT HAVE YOUR CATS
DECLAWED.

for most people the fact thatit is cruel, nasty and barbaric woudl be
enuogh to put them off the idea but you seem tobe someone who cares
rathjer more about his furniture than the welfare of a living creature
who loves you and has put their trust in you to protect them and care
for them and to keep them safe from harm and not put them through
unnecessary and painful mutilation (poor misguided creatures eh?), so i
will use another argument.

Declawed cats will show some rather unpleasant behaviours after the op
due to not being able to mark their territory, inability to communicate
their presence to other cats, and possibly also ongoing pain after the
amputations. These behaviours will include urinating around the house
(to replace normal marking of their home), and also defaecating too in
inappropriate places, they may also start to bite you as they are
incapable of defending themselves with their now non-existent claws.
since you don't want your kitties leavign marks on your obviously far
more beloved furniture how will you feel about the same kitties coming
back form the vets and peeing and pooing everywhere instead and
possibly also becoming vicious little biters because their main line of
defence (their claws) has been taken away from them? Will this argument
convince you it is very bad idea indeed?

btw I have leather sofas, dark burgundy leather, and had 2 cats (just 1
now) and the one who passed away summer 2005 had been in a car accident
we think and could not retract his back claws at all but he never
seemed to scratch the sofas at all, not sure how he managed that but he
did. Jessie is always on them, either perched on top looking out the
back window into the garden or climbing on them or (most fun) trying to
catch a pingpong ball or scrunchy ball on one (usually failing as with
the slippery leather surface they just go flying as does she), and i
can't see a mark on them.

christ if you are that bothered about your f*cking sofas then why do
you not try to get your cats rehomed with someone who does put the
priorities and needs of a living creature above that of an inanimate
object. better they go to a new home than get mutilated for the sake of
a sofa.

bookie

ps i live in a rented house, part furnished, the sofas are mine so i
dont care what happens to them, the bed in my room came with the house
though and therefore if it is damaged in anyway then I/we may well lose
our deposit on the house if/when we move out. both jasper and jessie
have ripped the covering on the side of the bed base (boxspring you
call it in the states? not sure) to shreds, not much left to rip now,
so unless I go out and purchase a new bed base for when we all move out
and the place is inspected we will definitely lose the deposit. I
reckon i will just be going out and buying a new double bed for the
house when we go, simple as that, but to be honest i couldn't care
less, it is no big deal, nobody has died have they? it is only a bloody
bed.

I am sure some anal yank would probably have whipped both J and J off
to be declawed ages ago to prevent further damage but to me life is
just too f.cking short to get stressed out about furniture etc and as i
said it is only a bloody bed. I would rather have happy cats able to do
whatever comes naturally to them and a shredded bed base than miserable
mutilated cats and pristine furniture anyday.

pps yes they have both had scratching posts, jasper ignored his, jessie
loves hers, both go outside and scratch trees inthe garden, but they
also liek a good scratch onthe side of the bed as it seems to get me
out of bed inthe mornign and downstairs to serve breakfast quicker than
normal methods