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How much to declaw a cat? ***UPDATE***

L

Lucky

Lifer
I was under the impression it usually cost about $200, but today I scheduled my cat for the procedure and they told me it would only be $70 or so. Im now concerned my vet may be cutting corners. How much did you pay?


UPDATE


Cat was declawed today. Vet says she is fine, she is staying there overnight. I paid $13 for pain medication (injection?) for her after she woke up from surgery, and $25 for a series of blood tests done at time of surgery that will detect any liver, kidney, etc. problems. I figured it was worth the extra money. :/ So I think it was around $100, and tommorow we will see how she acts mentally and physically. Im gonna be home with her just in case.

I'll post pics tommorow when I pick her up.
 
You realize what they do when they do that, right?


Yes.



If I were you I'd buy a toenail clipper & keep your cat clipped.



I do that currently. She hates it with a passion and I've gotten many a nice shirt torn from it.
 


<< Im now concerned my vet may be cutting corners. >>


That's not all he'll be cutting 🙂
Don't declaw your po' kitty 🙁
 
Please please please! reconsider. Look at your hand. Now imagine chopping off your fingers at the first knuckle. That is what declawing is.

Declawing is a very painful procedure that can lead to a host of problems, including, but not limited to, litterbox problems (it hurts them to get into the box and paw at the litter so they go elsewhere, ie your floor/carpet), biting (with no claws their only defense is biting and so they resort to it), and various other behavioral problems. Also, if your cat ever goes outside, he/she will need claws to defend itself against predators.

Declawing has been deemed so cruel that it has been made illegal in some areas.

Have you tried providing kitty with a scratching post or have you considered claw caps?
 
we had a cat that had these things called "soft paws"

there were like glue on acricilic nails applied by the vet that went over the existing nails. So the cat still had claws, and no surgery was done. Basically the same as those press on nails that chicks wear somtimes. ONe set would last about a month, then new ones would be applied. They worked great
 
Link with some good info.

Lucky, I have another link and I think you should see it. It will show you *exactly* what you'll be putting your cat through.

PM me for details, it's probably too graphic to post here.

<Edit> If nothing else, consider getting all the facts about declawing, the pros, cons, possible complications, etc. It's the least you can do for your cat if you plan to mutilate her (yes, I'm being harsh).
 
I declawed the front paws of a cat recently and the cost was $45. For both front and back it would have cost $75.

We clipped for about 6 months, but the clippings didn't solve any problems.
1) The cat hated to have the claws clipped, so you could only get 1 or two claws at a time - making the whole experience frustrating and time consuming for both cat and human.
2) Clipped claws still can shred carpet, furniture, and other items. (Sanding down clipped claws is impossible especially if the cat is angry about the clipping experience).
3) Clipped claws only stay good for about a week or so - then you have to do the whole thing over again.
4) If you declaw at the same time you get the regular checkup/shots then you don't have to pay the office visit charge twice - making the declawing cost even less.
5) Back claws are even harder to clip than front claws (cats generally are more protective of their back paws).
6) If the cat jerks during clipping, you will break the claw blood vessel, the cat will bolt, red blood drops will be all over your carpet. This is as painful for the cat as the declaw (yet the clipping will continue for life while the declaw is a one time pain).

If you can, consider just declawing the front (most of the time only the front claws do the damage).
 
If you can, consider just declawing the front (most of the time only the front claws do the damage).


I think that is what she is scheduled for. I was under the impression that is the norm for cats, just the front claws. Your experience mirrors mine concerning clipping and the usefulness of it.


Have you tried providing kitty with a scratching post or have you considered claw caps?


she doesnt use the scratching post, and (2) vets say the claw caps are pretty useless-the caps will come off at all different times, they dont reliabably stick on, etc.
 


<< Link with some good info.

Lucky, I have another link and I think you should see it. It will show you *exactly* what you'll be putting your cat through.

PM me for details, it's probably too graphic to post here. >>




I agree with AZ on this one. Declawing is ,imho a terrible procedure 🙁
 
My mom is dumb and after a while gets their front claws removes, she won't even try a scratching post, she says they will still tear up things. My poor kitty has no front claws, oh well when I get older and get cats of my own they won't have claws removed.
 


<< she doesnt use the scratching post, and (2) vets say the claw caps are pretty useless-the caps will come off at all different times, they dont reliabably stick on, etc. >>


Try a cat tree. Something she can climb in and that has dangly things she can bat at. She'd most likely use that as a scratching post. Also, have you tried water therapy? Spray her with water when you see her scratching something she shouldn't be. They usually come around pretty quickly with that technique.
 
Lucky,

DON'T DO THAT!!!

It's about the meanest thing you can do to a cat. I know clipping is a bitch, but it's a hell of a lot better than lopping off your cat's fingers and leaving them defenseless.
 


<<

<< she doesnt use the scratching post, and (2) vets say the claw caps are pretty useless-the caps will come off at all different times, they dont reliabably stick on, etc. >>


Try a cat tree. Something she can climb in and that has dangly things she can bat at. She'd most likely use that as a scratching post. Also, have you tried water therapy? Spray her with water when you see her scratching something she shouldn't be. They usually come around pretty quickly with that technique. >>




Bitter apple mixed with some water in a squirt gun works pretty well too, you might wish to pick up a gun for each room, it'll take a few days and you'll need to be consistant but it works pretty well.
 


<< Your experience mirrors mine concerning clipping and the usefulness of it. >>


I would have normally not declawed Sweet Pea, but she attacked my other cat and destroyed the house with her front claws. Sweet Pea was once a street kitty, before we found her - so she wasn't trained as well as we wanted. We tried to give her away for 6 months and we tried contacting the animal shelters nearby (all of which said they would put her to sleep). So my choice was to put her back on the steets, let her be put to sleep, or declaw. She is the nicest, most loving cat. The only option I would ever consider is the declaw - certainly more humane than the other options.
 


<< ... leaving them defenseless. >>





Im not going to get into a debate..because I really dont want to. But I will say that she does not go outside.
 
We have two cats and both have their front claws de-clawed. Back ones are not what they use to damage furniture although a cat running across bare skin still can rip it up.

We had them done a few years ago and didn't really know much about declawing. We shortly after realized that it does cause problems in some cats because it isn't fun. One of our cats still "sharpens her claws" on things although she has nothing to dig into. It's kind of sad seeing it, although maybe not as sad as seeing furniture ripped up.

That soft claws thing sounds good.

I'm not sure what I'd do now. Although it's nice having a cat without claws it is a pretty nasty time for them and can cause behavioral problems in some as far as I know. Obviously if your cat is an outdoor cat you'd never ever ever do this.
 


<<

<< ... leaving them defenseless. >>





Im not going to get into a debate..because I really dont want to. But I will say that she does not go outside. >>



Lucky, I understand that.

However, I just adopted a stray that someone lost. It has no front claws.

Sh1t happens, Lucky, and kitties CAN get outside. Do it a favor and don't do something so cruel to the kitty.
 
Honestly I wouldn't declaw the cat for the reasons stated above.

My GF wanted to do it as well becuase her Mothers cats were all de-clawed, but after showing her the website and then hearing the cost to do it here in DC ($200) we decided it was much better to just trim the claws, which once they get used to it isnt all that bad..you just have to be tough with them.

They also love to scratch something called the Alpine Cat Scratcher made by cosmic? it is a piece of cardboard which is textured.
 
I wish you'd give it some thought Lucky. Get all the facts at least. My cat has his claws, and he has never intentionally scratched me, nor has he torn up the furniture (he has a cat tree). Scratching is a natural instinct/impulse for a cat. You should have realized that when you got her. You need to work with her on this, not hurt her.
 
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