Cats primary defense is climbing and that ability is impaired by declawing. Next defense is too grip the adversary with front claws while ripping them with back claws. With no front claws they cannot grip.
The lifespan of a declawed cat is roughly half that of one not declawed if cat is allowed outside.
“...cannot grip...” Tell that to the dead mice, vols and birds our declawed Sammy has caught. Only two of our declawed cats go out, and at that they’re not out very long. They don’t go more than 100 feet from our property. Granted, we prefer they don’t go out. We don’t let the clawed cat out at all because he’s too friendly and will wander far from the house looking for new friends.