What's a reasonable price to have my cat declawed?

Question

***Cat owners, veterinarians, or knowledgeable people on the subject ONLY should answer! I don't want anyone just taking a guess.

I live in Orange County, NY...

Jesus, people - I asked a question and wanted an answer, not a damn lecture. There's NO way to stop a cat from clawing leather furniture in the middle of the night, or all day when I'm not home or busy, other than keeping him in a cage overnight AND all day long. Now that is cruel...I think my cat would rather have freedom to walk around the house, rather than have his nails. He doesn't need any damn self defense - he's indoors 24/7!!
And I've heard from a few people that those nail "caps" don't work at all - they fall off, and/or still ruin delicate furniture such as leather couches.

So, NO MORE LECTURES - just answer the question.

Answer 1

I work for a veterinarian in KY and our average cost for a Front foot declaw runs about $100 or $120 for all four feet. Although I do not suggest have all 4 feet declawed (How will your poor kitty scratch his ears or belly when they itch?!?) Also if your cat is not a kitten the price could be more expensive because declawing an adult cat is very painful and would have to stay at least a few nights at the vet office(If they don't require that your adult cat stays, request it for 2 or 3 nights or your house will have blood every where!!!

Also take into consideration that this kitty must be completely and indoor cat after it is declawed.

And last, but most important, make sure you ask the vet you choose how he/she does the declawing. It is most appropriate to remove the whole claw and part of the first "digit". Vets that just cut the claw very short and then super glue is dangerous for your cat. I have 6 cats (4 declawed and 2 not). 2 of my declawed cats that were done the wrong way by a different vet years ago, had to have toes amputated because the nails try to grow back and it is very painful for them and became infected!!
Good luck
Make sure you use shredded paper or paper towels for a week after the surgery because litter can get in the feet and cause infection...hopefully your vet will tell you this!

Answer 2

Absolut_sicilian - While I don't really endorse declawing across the board (my cats aren't declawed, but they don't really scratch), I agree that your situation could require it. Any good vet or animal behaviorist would agree that declawing is a valid option once all others have been exhausted. It's far better for the cat to have this albeit painful surgery than to be euthanized, or worse, just dumped on the side of the road, which does unfortunately happen often. If you truly love your pet and this is the only way for the two of you to live in harmony, by all means. Just be sure your vet is worth their salt!!! I would recommend getting some references from them if you're not familiar with their work already.

Answer 3

When I was manager of a Humane Society we saw a LOT of cats brought in because they had become mean, crazy, biting, psychocats after being tortured...I mean declawed. The old owners still had a high vet bill and no cat. The price the cat paid....
If the cat is scratching the furniture, keep a bunch of squirt guns around and give him a spritz when he does something wrong. It takes about three days.

Answer 4

Declawing is inhumane. Speak with a vet, there is a new procedure that's less invasive and expensive. But no matter what, all vet costs are high. For the most reasonable price, contact the Humane Society. Perhaps you might want to consider your local PETCO or other animal store that sells the spray to keep your cats claws away.

Answer 5

A lot of places wont even do this now, its supposed to be a very painful, inhumain procedure (worse than neutering by far).. The SPCA by our home in Florida charges $80 for fake nails - they cover the nail completely, like a cap. I just cut my cat's nails though, works well but hes also a super tolerant cat. If you can find a place to do it, they can way overcharge now because so many places refuse to do it. Im guessing the cheapest you will find will be around $150

Answer 6

A 1994 study by the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine found that of 163 cats who were declawed, 50 percent had one or more complications immediately after surgery, such as pain, hemorrhage, lameness, swelling, and non-weight bearing. Of the 121 cats whose progress was followed after surgery, 20 percent had continued complications, such as infection, regrowth, bone protrusion into the pad of the paw and prolonged intermittent lameness and palmagrade stance (abnormal standing posture).


Seventy percent (70%) of cats turned into pounds and shelters for behavioral problems are declawed cats. (Clawed for Life, ©1997-2003 by www.sniksnak.com - link to article below in our Articles and Links section).


The declawing of a cat is toe amputation, and it is painful and traumatic for both cat and owner. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales have all banned declawing except in the case of medical necessity. It is illegal in these countries. Why? Because these countries have determined that declawing is inhumane and an unnecessary mutilation. Declawing makes us think that we are removing our cats claws, which most of us think of as simply a form of toenail. This is not the case!!!!! When we declaw, we are amputating our cats toes and putting him at risk for many potential immediate and future problems.

Scratching is not a behavior problem. It is a natural function of a cat, and as cat owners/guardians, we must address their need to scratch. There are MANY alternatives to declawing. Alternatives to Declaw: Scratching Solutions, Claw Protectors, Claw Care and More.

Answer 7

I live in Pennsylvania. I paid $105 to have my cat declawed. My cat was from Pet Smart. I later found out that rescuers of cats take a dim view of declawing,deeming it cruel. I wouldn't have had any furniture left. He still tries to claw the furniture,and I say "knock yourself out,buddy. Scratch as much as you want!"

Answer 8

That's cruel. A lot of veterinarians will not do that operation because they found that the cat suffers in pain for the rest of their life.
It's like having your last knuckle pulled off. please don't do that.

instead: get some cat furniture with a special rope on it called SISAL ROPE. cat love to claw that and will leave your furniture alone (you might have to spray an anti-cat repellant on that furniture to help the cat move to using the sisal rope.

I provide my cats with scatching posts in every room and I don't have a problem with them destroying furniture.

I also take fresh green catnip and rub it on the sisal rope. oh boy do they LOVE that! and it's great entertainment for me!! LOL!!!!
(cats on drugs. what a riot!!) Ya gotta use the fresh stuff. if you use the dry stuff it'll just make a mess on the floor, if you use the fresh stuff, the green liquid gets into the rope and stays there.




PLEASE DO"NT DO THIS OPERATION.

tom

Answer 9

I have three inside cats, all of whom are declawed. It cost me roughly $100 each, as it was done at same time as their spaying. They've suffered ZERO ill effects from the procedure, and since I don't EVER let them out, they are perfectly safe. Also, they now offer to do both front AND back claws. I'd recommend leaving the back ones. They don't seem to scratch with them, but at least it leaves them some method of self-defense, just in case...

Answer 10

Its painfull and inhumane . The human equivilent is the same as cutting a humans fingers off at the 1st joint. It often cause behavior issues. Try soft paws nail caps they work fine .
If you have the need to declaw a cat then you should NOT own one. Do some research before you do this . And please do try the soft paws nail caps first.