Scratching is a natural thing all cats do in their lifetime. But the question is, should you get rid of the claws your cat has been using all their life. The answer is "NO." If your kitty is not in any harm with you such as scratching you or scratching up a storm with your furniture, then you don't need to declaw them. But, if your cat has a problem with their claws (scratching furniture), then declawing is the only option.
The only claws you should keep on your cat is their back claws, which help them run with traction. If your cat would ever get into a fight with another cat, their back claws is the only protection they have.
If you ever decide to declaw your cat, they will be going through surgery (my cat is declawed she had a problem with scratching our furniture). After the surgery you will need to let your cat relax for about 7-10 days at the most, nor do not let your cat jump on or off of furniture, it will hurt them when they land on the floor. You will need to change the litter in their litter box with shredded paper, if you would to leave the litter in the litter box, their paws would get an infection. You would want to keep the litter box close to them so they wouldn't have to walk very far. And if you decide to declaw your cat, wait atleast till their 12 weeks old. Or, if you don't want to declaw your cat, you can always TRIM their claws. If you would decide to trim their nails, it would not stop them from scratching, but it may diminish the damage done by the claws. Trim them atleast once or twice a month.
