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| Typical costs: | - Declawing a cat using one of the two common conventional methods usually costs between $100 and $250, depending on the veterinarian and which procedure is used. The "Rescoe clipper" method is more common and usually falls at the lower end of the cost range because it is a simpler procedure and takes less time. The "Disarticulation" method, which is more involved, usually falls at the upper end of the range.
- Declawing a cat using the laser method usually costs between $250 and $450, depending on the veterinarian.
- Declawing a cat can be a controversial procedure, and some veterinarians do not offer the service. Other veterinarians offer it reluctantly, believing it should be a last resort. If you know you want to declaw your cat, ask about the veterinarian's stance on the procedure.
What should be included: | - In the "Resco Clipper" method, the veterinarian uses a sterile clipper to cut off the tips of the bones in the toes, from which the claws grow. Then, the incision is closed with stitches or glue. This method usually has the fastest surgery time, but there is a slight risk the claw will re-grow, which can cause infection and require more surgery.
- In the "Disarticulation" method, the veterinarian entirely removes the bones from which the claws grow, by disconnecting each of the ligaments attached to those bones. This method is more complex, and alters the cat's feet more, but eliminates the risk of re-growth.
- In laser declawing, the veterinarian uses a laser, instead of a scalpel, to entirely remove the bones from which the claws grow. With this method, there is almost no bleeding and less pain.
- VeterinaryPartner.com offers a description of the three types of declawing procedures, as well as alternatives to declawing.
- The cost of declawing includes anesthesia, pain medications, antibiotics, a two-day hospital stay and a post-surgical examination.
Additional costs: | - A pre-surgery blood test, to check liver and kidney function, is recommended for all cats and often required for older cats. It costs about $40 to $50 extra.
- For a few days following the surgery, most veterinarians recommend that the cat wear a patch that releases pain medication. It costs about $40 extra.
Shopping for cat declawing: | - To find a good veterinarian, ask fellow cat owners, breeders or humane associations. Or, check the American Veterinary Medical Association to find your state's veterinary medical association for a referral.
- Ask the veterinarian how long he or she has been practicing, and how much continuing education he or she receives each year. Then, visit the clinic to look at cleanliness and attitude and ask about policies and prices.VeterinaryPartner.com offers a guide on how to find a veterinarian and a list of questions to ask.
- Ask which type of declawing procedure the veterinarian uses. If the veterinarian uses a laser -- which requires a certain level of skill and experience -- ask how long he or she has been using it and how many laser declaws he or she has performed. Also, ask to talk to the owner of a cat the veterinarian has declawed.
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Article updated October 2007 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $150.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: a user in Marietta, GA. | Purchased: February, 2007 |
| Breed: Short-haired | Type of Procedure: Resco Clipper |
| I used cat care animal hospital in Marietta, GA, and they were wonderful! They kept him for 3 days to make sure he was okay and by the time I picked him up he was already playing with toys and using his paws like normal. He still uses his paws to "scratch" and play like normal, not like many people would have you believe that try to scare you away from the procedure. |
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| Amount: $200.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: jevyn in Rome, GA. | Purchased: 2005 |
| Breed: siamese | Type of Procedure: declaw |
| both of my cats were declawed and have never had any problems and are actually nicer and more loving than they used to be. they still sharpen their paws as if they still had claws, it is really amusing. |
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| Amount: $300.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: Cat Lover in Marietta, GA. | Purchased: 2008 |
| Breed: Angoran/DSH | Type of Procedure: Declaw |
| I had both of my cats Declawed in 2002 with a laser procedure. They both recovered with no bandages, no blood, No Problems, they just didn't like torn paper in the litter box for 10 days. 6 years later at age 14, they still have had no problems, still like to scratch but no claw marks. Don't allow others to scare you with horror stories that continue to be passed on. |
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| Amount: $200.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: user in Youngstown, Ohio in Austintown, OH. | Purchased: July, 2008 |
| Breed: Medium haired tabby | Type of Procedure: Declaw |
| I used a facility in Youngstown, Ohio called Animal Pet Clinic and they were fine. They kept him for a day and a half (per my request not to stay longer) and he was okay by the time I brought him home. After just one day, he was jumping on furniture and so forth. I was suprised. As stated above, don't worry about the horror stories other state. My cat was a loving cat before and has the same temperant after. |
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| Amount: $200.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: Mommy of 4 feline babies!! in Baton Rouge & Lafayette, LA. | Purchased: 2002 |
| Breed: DHS & DLH | Type of Procedure: Declaw |
| I have 4 cats and all 4 have been declawed. I had 3 cats declawed in Baton Rouge, LA and 1 was declawed in Lafayette, LA. None of my babies had any trouble except they refused to use the shredded paper instead of litter, so we had to let them use their regular litter and then clean their feet. All 4 cats are super loving, and still use the "scratching post" regularly. It's quite cute to watch! I believe that people who post horror stories about how awful and painful it is for cats have never actually had or seen a cat after it's been declawed. My cats were groggy for a couple of days from the anesthesia, but other than that, played and acted perfectly normal! |
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| Amount: $120.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: a user in Nebraska in Hastings, NE. | Purchased: 2008 |
| Hey.. I had my 6 yr orange tabby declawed with a laser when he was 6 mo old. The vets say its better when they are younger. He barely noticed and is doing fine to this day. My mom had her cat that was 1 yr old done with the older method.. not sure which and that seemed to be more painful to them. Quite a bit of healing was involved. Laser is better... i think, but I just talked to my vet today about it and she said that it can actually hinder healing because it burns the site shut??? I dunno what she was talking about because codderizing(sp?) it would do the same i think. |
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| Amount: $150.00 |
declawed cats
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| Posted by: m in boylston, MA. | Purchased: September, 2008 |
| Breed: DSH | Type of Procedure: disarticulation |
| Ihad three cats that were all declawed when they were four months old.We had just their front paws done and there was never a problem with infection or pain that we could see by their running and jumping the following day. The all lived very long lives. Two to 18 years of age and one 21 years. They even got outside a few times (we tried never to let them out, but sometimes they slipped by us) and lilled chipmonks and birds! One of them even climbed a tree. We now have two new babies that have been declawed and they are still loveable and crazy. We, of course have started training to make sure that they don\'t got outside. This time around the cost was 225 each for the disarticulation surgery. I hope this helps anyone that is considering having this done. |
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| Posted by: Susie in Tucson, AZ. | Purchased: 2009 |
| Breed: mix | Type of Procedure: |
I had a large cat declawed and he had a hard time because he had multi toes. I have a new cat and he's ruining my furniture. I put soft paws on him, he ripped them off. I didn't want to have the "normal" declawing so when I checked about laser declawing it's $450.00 in my area which is more than I can afford.
Does anyone know of a GREAT vet in the Tucson, Arizona area that does laser? |
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| Amount: $0.00 |
Need advice
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| Posted by: Lindsey in Powell, OH. | Purchased: March, 2009 |
| Breed: Short Hair Mixed | Type of Procedure: - |
| So, I just adopted my kitty (well shes 1)from the humaane society and she is not declawed, i cant decide which procedure to do laser or traditional or just buy soft claws? My roomates kitty is declawed and I'm afrid she may hurt her when playing, plus a new kitty is joining our family soon? Any helpful ideas or tips? |
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| Amount: $0.00 |
already declawed
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| Posted by: marci ghorley in dallas, NC. | Purchased: February, 2007 |
| Breed: long hair | Type of Procedure: ??? |
| My kitty was declawed front and back when I adopted her from the pound two years ago. She still scratches on things like a cat with claws would do. It is very amusing seeing her play like she is "a vicious kitty" knowing she can't claw me. |
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