How much does declawing a cat cost?

Question

My family just recently found a kitten outside, the owners contacted us and said we could keep it. He's about 9 weeks old.

Answer 1

If you must declaw your cat - then don't have one.  It is an unnatural thing to have a cat declawed.  Simple discipline will prevent any damages from claws.  Cats are one of the most intelligent species, and they can be taught to respect furniture, drapes and bedding.  It is amazing how quickly they understand 'NO!'.  

Answer 2

If you want to declaw, don't let anyone here talk you out of it. It is completely your decision. I'm getting my 3 month old cat declawed when he's a few months older and not as active. OH and also, my cat hasn't really used his claws against me or my furniture. He likes to scratch at the rug in my kitchen and the mat by his litter box, but he's never touched my couch or anything else.  If this good behavior continues, I don't think I will get him declawed, but I'm not ruling it out.

To answer your question, declawing can cost anywhere from $50-$100. Around here (outside Houston), I could get my cat neutered and declawed at the same time for $143, and another place quoted $60.75 for declaw. Places vary, and while you want a good price, you do get what you pay for. Pay a little extra for a vet that is recommended or that you trust to do a really good job. All of those terrible things you hear happening during and after declawing happen when it's not done correctly.

Some places will do a laser declaw, where they simply sever the muscle that causes the claws to extend. Nothing is cut off. It's a little more expensive, and it's kind of hard to find places.

Answer 3

Any reputable Vet won't declaw till your kitty until he/she is 4 months old.  I know that a lot of people are giving you grief about declawing, but I personally believe that if you are going to make this a life long pet, and he/she will ALWAYS be in the house then declawing is a better choice than the kitty ending up in a shelter.  A home as a declawed cat is better than no home at all.

Depends on where you live.  But from what I have seen..anywhere from $175 to $250

Answer 4

Please reconsider declawing the cat.  It is an extremely painful procedure, and continues to cause the cat pain throughout their lifetime.  Many cats will develop behavioral problems after the surgery is performed.  See the link below.

Answer 5

Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.

Answer 6

There is alot of controversary and opinion regarding the declawing of cats.

I have 2 cats, both declawed and my best friend has 3 cats, none of which are declawed. My cats are completely indoor cats, and hers are inside/outside cats where they need their full set of claws for protection.

If a vet does the procedure correctly, then the cat has no problems in the future. However, as with any operation, if not done properly, complications like infection can occur.

When I brought both of my cats home from the vet, I was told to provide newspaper shreddings instead of litter in thir box to prevent dirt getting into the incision. I was also told to watch if they limped or favored their two front feet (I only declawed the front). Both of them acted as if nothing happened. The played as usual, used the litter box with the newspaper without problem. I only did the front, because they use their back claws to help them climb and jump on their tall kitty condo.

They never lost their need to scratch, so even today 10 years later, without claws they will attack the edge of my bed or the couch with a fury as if they were sharpening claws. They get their physical release and my furniture and my legs are intact.

The cost will vary on the vet and the procedure. the least expensive is usually the removal of the tip of the paw which grows the claw, ($75-$150 in los angeles) to a laser procedure which is more costly, but takes less of the paw tip.($200- $500).

Take time to find the right vet. Some vets will do the procedure even though they diagree with it and do a lousy job. Other vets will refuse  and there are numerous vets who feel it helps the cat adapt better to the indoor invironment and they do wonderful jobs.

wishing you many years of loving cats.

Answer 7

It depends on what your vet charges, and you can ask around. I think it cost us about $400.00 dollars.

We had our kitten front de-clawed  a couple of months ago to protect my 17 year old who was front de-clawed when my aunt owned him. Trust me, the old one needed that protection from the young one.

To those who said their is never a medical reason to declaw, I beg to differ. I know a cat that had to be fully declawed due to a skin condition. Medications failed (you really cant force feed a cat meds that can throw up at will) and diet change didn't cure the problem. She was scratching her head so bad that she would develop bleeding lesions. Trim the nails? Every 2 days, still didn't stop her. Now she is safely declwaed and perfectly fine.

DON'T FULLY DECLAW, they need those back claws for balance. Also, if you do this, that cat is FOREVER an inside cat. There is no going back. I honestly think you should own the cat for at least 3 months before you decide to declaw the kitten. It can easily wait until its 2-3 years old before you go that last step. Also, consider this, its a kitten, and kittens don't always know how to keep their claws in, so you will need to let it get adjusted to living with people and when not to scratch. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but it will only happen once in a blue moon, and then because it was an accident.

Answer 8

JUST SAY NO TO DECLAWING. It is horrible for the cat and renders him or her defenseless. Would you want to be defenseless?! Neither does the cat. There are so many issues involved with a cat's claws.

To the person who wrote that it is your decision: declawing your cat is as much your decision as mutilating another person. You could do it, but why would you want to?

If you want to put a cat through this process, then you should reconsider whether or not you are ready for the trials of a life with cats. Don't want your things scratched? Then take the time to teach your cat not to scratch your things...or consider another companion.

Can't deal with cleaning random vomit, hairballs, or f***s off the floor or bed or chair or...? Then do not live with a cat.

Can't commit to actually spending time with the cat and playing with it?

Not ready to deal with the feeding, litterbox, meowing in the middle of the night, vets, the expense, etc? Then you should seriously rethink keeping this kitten in your home.

An exerpt from the last article cited below:

"Some of the cons of declawing are the risks involved with the declawing surgery. There is a chance the cat could die from the anesthesia, although this is rare, but more likely there will be a complication of some sort. After the surgery, the cat’s paws are bandaged to stop the bleeding and these bandages can come off if the cat tries hard enough. Long term effects are varied where some people say the cat will bite more as it lost one method of self-defense, its claws. Others have said their cats, since declawing, have become anti-social, unable to climb or have problems walking. There are also some unverified reports of cats no longer using cat litter due to paw sensitivity. The effects of declawing are varied with many successes and also many failures. Studies have not proven biting and anti-social behavior are a result of declawing but many individuals it has happened to their cats after declawing. As a result many countries including England, Germany and Japan have banned the declawing of cats."  

Answer 9

I'd imagine that would vary from vet to vet, so you'd have to call around and see. I urge you to reconsider though.

Do you realize what goes into declawing? It's not a simple removal of the claws but a full blown amputation of healthy toes. Declawing a cat means removing the entire first joint/bone of each toe. It'd be like cutting our fingers off at the first knuckle. Declawing causes extreme pain to the cat and often problems down the line (litter box issues from associating the litter box with pain after surgery, personality changes/biting/and skittishness from having their first line of defense removed, arthritis from having to learn a new way of carrying their weight etc.). I hear people say all the time "better declawed than in a shelter", but in actuality many declawed cats end up in shelters anyway because of the behavioral problems many experience after being declawed.

Did you know it's illegal and considered inhumane mutilation in most countries outside the U.S.? I've personally observed a declaw surgery at a vet and it's not a pretty sight to watch a vet take guillotine nail clippers and lop off parts of toes... very barbaric looking (laser removal has less healing time and pain, but really isn't that much better in the long run). Please don't put your furniture over your cat's wellbeing, it's just selfish. Declawing has no benefits to the cat, only the owner. There are numerous alternatives including scratching posts and surfaces, sticky tape, deterrent sprays, Soft Paws nail caps, and nail trimming. Please read more on this awful procedure before you consider it:

http://www.declawing.com/

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?ac...

http://www.softpaws.com/

Answer 10

Good grief.  Babies scratch themselves, but no one chops off their fingers to

prevent it from happening.  They do clip their nails though.  Simple procedure.

No surgery required.  The same applies to cats.  Clip their nails.  Problem

solved.

Would you trade freedom for security? They have.

Losing ones freedom is a bigger price to pay than losing ones claws. Think

about it.