Canada

Because that's what the people doing it told us it was and kids don't know better.

Because the sole reason for having animals is the emotional fulfillment of humans, however much it is dressed up as "for the animals." So whatever is annoying about these little fur balls is just removed as it serves no purpose.

Cat's claws are for hunting, fighting and climbing. They are extremely sharp, and can rip your skin and make you bleed without even trying.

Dog's claws are for traction and digging. Usually dogs claws are dull, they might still cause a big of damage to the top most layer of your skin, but they have to make an effort to draw blood. Dogs hunt and fight with their teeth instead of their claws.

Sure, but their nails aren't typically as sharp as cats' claws, so there is that.

Scratching is part claw maintenance and part territorial marking / decorating. And it feels good for them! If you catch a cat scratching the furniture, scolding them will usually get them to stop. Most cats will quit scratching the furniture entirely if you give them more appealing things to scratch. It has to be a good height, very stable, and have a texture they like.

Simply clipping the tips of the claws goes a long way to prevent furniture destruction, when combined with a scratching/climbing tree. Some cats like sisal but others prefer carpet on the posts. I have a routine with my present cat where she knows if she jumps to a certain place she'll get a couple Dental Treats, but before she jumps I briefly check her front paws. If there's a longer, sharper nail, I clip it, just the tip. Then I put up the treat. That way she never has to put up with more than one or two snips. I use a regular toenail clipper, but a big sharp quality one. And turn it because claws are taller than they are wide.

Cat nail caps are not a perfect answer to this problem, but still an infinitely better one than amputation (please don't use the term declawing as it's extremely misleading).

There's also ways to encourage your cat to use scratch pads and the like instead of your furniture (cats hate citrus for example, so a bit of that where they want to scratch and they'll find a new spot immediately).

I wonder if and how many get put down simply because fewer adopt them when de-clawing is banned.

I wonder about this, but in regards to the housing crisis. It’s hell trying to find a new place to live, but trying to find an affordable place that ALSO allows pets? As someone looking for a home myself, it seems like almost everywhere has “No pets, no smoking” as a rule.

I don’t have a pet so it doesn’t apply to me now, but I know people stuck in a shitty apartment that’s falling apart, just because they adopted a puppy (of unknown breed origins) a few years ago. That puppy grew, and now even places that allow pets say that he’s too large to be permitted.

I would love to adopt a pet. But this human housing situation spells bad news for strays and shelter pets everywhere.

The US opinion doesn't count, that country is an insane shithole

It's legal in Russia too, but it's accepted as unethical and a few ostracized clinics can do the "soft paws" surgery

USA! USA! USA!

If the cat is that fierce I think it's time to talk to a vet anyway.

That one doesn't help them, though. I just mean the dogs are all scratching up everyone's floors, but then they declaw the cats? I can get a couch cheaper than getting the floors refinished. And puppies CHEW stuff too. Our dogs have done more damage than our cats.