Cats-Declaw or Don't Declaw?

I have always had my cats declawed when they were spayed/neutered., so they didn't have to undergo two surgeries. I now have a 14 month old female who needs to be spayed. She has all of her claws. The breeder dislikes declawing, as do several people I have spoken with. I am interested in your input. She is in heat now and will be spayed in March, so I must decide by then. Financially it is prudent to have both done in the same surgery ($141). If she is just spayed it is $125, and to have her declawed at a later date is $130. But cost is not the basis for my decision. If there is no need for her to be withour her front claws I will not have it done.

The dilemma is this. My DH and I are sometimes gone for hours at a time and can't be here to watch everything Kismet does. We have a leather sofa and sheer curtains as well as some antique hardwood furniture. I have a friend who's cat ruined two pieces of wooden furniture by using them for scratching posts..............even tho there was a cat tree, as well as toys and scratching posts, in the house. And her sofa and recliner were shredded on the sides.

What would you do? Is it a painful, inhumane surgery to put her thru, or is prevention of clawing the best thing? My other cats never appeared to have sore feet or any discomfort after their frontclaws were removed.

Palmbob? Everyone?

Thanks!

Cathy