Yes unless there is a terribly ingrown claw (a real medical reason that a claw might need to be removed) declawing shouldn't be done.

Less and less vets are willing to do it this these days. I'll be glad when we stop doing it here in the US like the UK has!

@RavenCT I have a cat that stays with my mom (I wanted to take him back home but he became buddies with my mom's cat). I told her to never declaw him. She did. The vet fucked it up something fierce! He had several claws that started to grow back. This time growing inward which was extremely painful for SImba! He had to have the same surgery done a second time by a better vet! Poor kitty!

If one is worried about them clawing up stuff, get them scratch posts, put double sided tape on things they claw, get a water bottle to squirt them with (get a new one for like $1 - don't reuse on that was used for chemicals or something), they also make little air blasters that are motion activated to scare away kitty.

Anyways, if a cat gets out they will have about 0 defense. All they have left is bite.

@TheGreatShadow I know I'm an advocate for not declawing.
I'll tell everyone everything they need to not do it.

I know someone who did it and ended up with a cat that bit people. (no other defense but it's teeth). It had not been a nasty cat prior.

Aluminum foil is another thing that will stop cats from using something as a scratcher.

@RavenCT Never heard the tin foil thing, but I bet it works good.

Another thing to keep cats off counters is take some pieces of paper and put some packing tape on it. Kitteahz do not like! They learn to stay off really fast.

@TheGreatShadow Yup cat stores sell a product that similar and probably costs a ton more.