@COVEN, I was just thinking the same thing.
I think part of the problem is vets are not going to discourage the clients requests. Our first line of contact setting an appointment is always the receptionist. Even if the receptionist felt it should be highly illegal they are not in a capacity to otherwise turn away the 'business' unless it's already policy (meaning fired). So the appointment gets made, the doc goes to work and it is no business secret, certain ethics get curbed for a bigger bottom line.
I wonder how if at at all a client is informed of anything. Are they even told of the possible after effects?
Litterbox aversion - (may go to shelter if owner cant figure it out or deal with it)
Aggressiveness - (your once sweet loving kitty is now a mean kitty)
Biting - (you took away their primary defenses, this is all they have left)
Aloofness - (your once closely bonded buddy ain't yer buddy anymore)
Bullying - (aggression toward your other pets)
Outdoor survival seriously jeopardized - (all it may take is just once)
Much less of a chance if faced with adoption or rescue - (in other words more likely to be pts)
Can anyone think of anything else I missed?
I just went and got out the original owners vet book/binder welcome kit that came with my adopted Bengal. While it is nicely comprehensive in other areas I'm floored by one section in particular. They call it 'elective surgeries' with absolutely no mention of what I listed above. Below is a so called educational excerpt for the uninformed straight from the book.
"Many people who keep their cats indoors prefer to have their front paws d (<truncated) . The surgery is done under anesthesia and requires 3 days of hospitalization. We recommend that it be done as soon as your kitten has started his or her vaccination series, has been tested for internal parasites and weighs at least 2 lbs."
3 days of hospitalization plus whatever negative side affects.
Hardly seems worth it to me
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) that live in this area. When I go to the animal shelter there are at least half the cats that are declawed. It makes me sick and I wish we would get caught up on the times and make it illegal also. If the majority of the vets wouldn't offer it then I would refuse to go to one that did, but if I did that I wouldn't really have much to choose from. One of my friends has a savannah that used to be fearful of strangers and his vet actually told him that he wouldn't treat the cat anymore unless he got him declawed. The vet was upset that they had to wrap the cat up in a towel to give him shots. Ridiculous!!!! 
