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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: $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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| Amount: $200.00 |
Declawing
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| Posted by: Toni in Alex City, AL. | Purchased: 2009 |
| Breed: long hair | Type of Procedure: disarticulation |
| Had my male cat nuetered and declawed at the same time. He did very well, other than one claw did grow back but has not gotten infected or anything (he likes to sharpen it, lol) Have a female now and tried to just use soft paws. They are VERY hard to apply because she will not stay still long enough and we have to force her to stay put. I'm afraid we are going to hurt her trying to do it, and she won't keep them on for long. Going to get her declawed laser procedure next week. |
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| Posted by: piercezMomma in appleton, WI. | Purchased: December, 2009 |
| Breed: doemestic | Type of Procedure: neuter |
| Great, he doesn'tspray any more and is so much mor well behaved! |
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| Posted by: Bullseye in Little Rock, AR. | Purchased: January, 2010 |
| Breed: Feral short-hair | Type of Procedure: Declaw |
| I just had my 4-5 month old cat adopted. I never liked cats, but when this feral kitten showed up in the middle of a thunderstorm and cried to get in, I just couldn\'t say no. She quickly tore up my brand new living room furniture, my legs, face, and arms, so I had her declawed when she was spayed. I debated long and hard due to the ethical implications of declaw, but it is the BEST decision I could have made for both of us. She stayed over 2 days and by the time she got back the only different I noticed was a few stitches and the fact that I wasn\'t constantly bleeding. If anything, the surgery has improved her temperament! |
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| Amount: $450.00 |
declawing
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| Posted by: K in chalfont, PA. | Purchased: November, 2009 |
| Breed: short hair | Type of Procedure: declaw |
| Included laser declaw, blood work, pain meds. My cat stayed overnight for 2 days. NO BLEEDING AT ALL! He did great! I also did the chip that is inserted in his skin for if he gets lost, I registered him. Lastly,I used yesterday news for litter, he loved it. |
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| Posted by: brandie in southbend, IN. | Purchased: August, 2009 |
| Breed: short hair | Type of Procedure: neuter |
| i had two cats neutered at the neuter scooter when it was in south bend indiana i took them in at 9 am and picked them up at 8pm the same day they gave them pain shots and a tatoo in thier so anyone who found them knew they were already fixed I pyed 50.00 for each cat the day of the appoiintment if you register before that dasy its only 40.00 just go to neuterscooter.com to see when they will be near you!!! |
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| Amount: $89.00 |
cat declawing
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| Posted by: MaryAnn in Albuquerque, NM. | Purchased: March, 2010 |
| Breed: short hair | Type of Procedure: laser declaw |
| In and out the same day, and the first night my cat was pretty sedated. The next day he started hobbling around, and by evening he got the bandages off. By day 3, you wouldn't know anything had been done to him. No bleeding at all. He just didn't like paper shreds in the litter box. |
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| Amount: $170.00 |
Declawing
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| Posted by: JSlaught in Jeffersonville, IN. | Purchased: 2009 |
| Breed: Short hair | Type of Procedure: Laser |
| Thanks everyone for your positive comments, taking my 1yr old cat next week to have his done wiht the laser method. It will cost me about $170. I don\'t want to feel like I am doing something terrible, I love him but he is tearing up furniture and comforters. They can\'t help it, its natural to want to scratch. |
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| Amount: $364.00 |
paper litter
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| Posted by: Allykat in Reynoldsville, PA. | Purchased: February, 2010 |
| Breed: medium hair | Type of Procedure: neuter, declaw, rabies, distemper |
| My cat was kept for 3 days after all these procedures, they wanted to send home the paper litter, but I declined because we had the cat genie, which worked out perfectly fine, the cat genie uses plastic litter that can be washed after every use (flushed actually) but clean it uses safe chemicals, so it\'s actually more sanitary. |
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| Amount: $0.00 |
Laser Declawing
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| Posted by: Grace in Whiteville, NC. | Purchased: 2007 |
| Breed: short-haired tabby | Type of Procedure: |
| I'd like to know if anyone has had a 3yr old cat declawed. |
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| Amount: $180.00 |
laser declaw
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| Posted by: Watson's mommy in Warren, MI. | Purchased: May, 2010 |
| Breed: persian | Type of Procedure: laser declaw |
| I had my cat declawed 4 days ago. He seemed a bit out of it for a day but he seems to be doing fine now. He\'s more annoyed with the e-collar than his sore paws. He\'s just as loving and sweet as he was prior to the surgery. He wants to jump and play already but I\'ve been discouraging this in order for him to heal. He does not like the Yesterday\'s News litter...at all! I\'ve noticed he\'s been very restless and at first I thought it was due to his sore paws. No, it\'s because he won\'t use the litter box with the new litter. I let him use his regular scoopable litter then cleaned his paws afterwards. Needless to say, that solved the restlessness. The cost of the declaw included the laser fee, pain meds (during surgery and take home meds), and IV fluids. I wouldn\'t necessarily listen to the horror stories about changed personality and lack of litter box use as this was not the case with our cat. |
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| Amount: $225.00 |
changed temperment
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| Posted by: Krissy in Carrollton, TX. | Purchased: August, 2004 |
| Breed: Tabby | Type of Procedure: Regular Declaw |
| I had my male orange tabby declawed at age 3 and it did definitely change his personality. He used to be very secure and loving but sadly he did change; he is not very secure and he is very afraid of everything, which makes him act out. He is very mean to strangers and he bites. He is generally not a very happy cat. I love him dearly, our whole family does. That will never change. But we have to put him up when people come because they are afraid of him. I know it's only because he's afraid...but it is still hard. I've had cats for 20 years and have had other cats declawed with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I think this is a rare instance but it really hurts me to know that he changed. He did not come home the same. I don't know how I feel about declawing anymore. |
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| Amount: $300.00 |
I regret it
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| Posted by: Consuelo in New Orleans, LA. | Purchased: October, 2009 |
| Breed: Tabbies | Type of Procedure: Declawing |
| I researched and thought long and hard for months before I considered even deciding on declawing. The vet did not send me home with pain meds, I thought that was odd, he said the anesthesia for surgery was enough. My cats howled for 1 week straight. A year later one of the cats has "phantom pain", she holds her paw up,Im a nurse and asked a patient who has phantom pain what it feels like and he said shooting pains through his body, and the other cat's skin will shake if i touch her paw where her claw used to be. I wish I would of gotten Laser Declawed |
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| Posted by: a user in Cynthiana, KY. | Purchased: 2010 |
| Breed: Domestic | Type of Procedure: Declawing |
| I was given a kitten who was just weined as a birthday present and he is constantly climbing the curtains. I'm thinking about declawing him but am unsure because he is so young. What's the youngest anyone has declawed their cat? I was thinking about the laser type since its supposed to be less painful. |
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| Amount: $0.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: LegalSanta in West Los Angeles, CA. | Purchased: 2010 |
| Breed: Siamese | Type of Procedure: |
I NEED HELP!
Can anyone recommend a vet to have my cat's claws removed? I live in Los Angeles. While we love our cat, we have tried all options and non work. It is time! |
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| Amount: $0.00 |
Cat Declawing
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| Posted by: cat couple in Seattle in Seattle, WA. | Purchased: 2010 |
| Breed: 6 different type over 30+ years | Type of Procedure: |
| We have had at least 1 cat in our home over a span of 30+years, total of 7 cats in all. When we got each cat we had it fixed and all 4 paws declawed. Don't believe the horror stories and hype that the cat will have all kinds of problems. None of our's did and each lived a long and healthy life (19-21 years). Now we have adopted a 2 year old cat that was fixed and declawed on the front paws only. We live in the Seattle,on a fixed income, so surgery costs are very important to us. However we are trying to find a veterinarian who will do back paw declawing but have not had any luck. Any suggestions? |
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