How ungrateful!
My guess is that some critter was thinking about a snake snack. I hear they taste like chicken.
Glad you are second-guessing the declawing. I didn't realize how traumatic it was, either until I read this. I've always been afraid to do it just in case the cat got out of the house. (The BB and FFF cats are indoor cats like Smudge was because of their long, fine fur.)
I do look forward to the FFF cat getting out of the kitten stage. He still likes to play the Venus flytrap game, where he rolls over on his back, exposing his tummy (which has recently become enormous.) You can't help but rub a giant kitty tummy. But then he clamps down with all five of his sharp ends--chomp. It's very cute, but it's also difficult to escape unscathed.
He more than makes up for it by licking my toes. That's some of the best tickling in the world!