At what age can a kitten be declawed?

Answer 1

Please do not declaw your cat. It is an incredibly cruel practice, it is banned in over 2 dozen countries and many vets refuse to perform the operation. Declawing involves 10 separate, painful amputations. It is a serious surgery, not just a manicure. Declawing a cat involves general anesthesia and amputation of the last joint of each toe, including the bones, not just the nail. The following are possible complications of this surgery:
• Adverse reaction to anesthetic
• Gangrene, which can lead to limb amputation
• Hemorrhaging
• Permanent nerve damage
• Persistent pain
• Reluctance to walk
• Scar tissue formation
• Sequestrum (bone chips), requiring additional surgery
• Skin disorders

After surgery, the nails may grow back inside the paw, causing pain but remaining invisible to observers. Declawing results in a gradual weakening of leg, shoulder, and back muscles, and because of impaired balance caused by the procedure, declawed cats have to relearn to walk, much as a person would after losing his or her toes.
Without claws, even house-trained cats may urinate and defecate outside the litterbox in an attempt to mark their territory. Declawed cats may be morose, reclusive, and withdrawn or irritable, aggressive, and unpredictable. Many people think that declawed cats are safer around babies, but in fact, the lack of claws, a cat’s first line of defense, makes many cats feel so insecure that they tend to bite more often as a means of self-protection. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) reported that of those observed, 33 percent of declawed cats developed at least one behavioral problem and 80 percent had more than one medical complication. Declawed cats are also more likely to be surrendered to shelters.
You do have another option. You can get something called SoftPaws. These are basically fake nails for your kitty. Your vet will have to put the nails on the first time to find the proper fit, but after that you can replace any that fall off(they fall off just like acrylics nails that you may get for yourself). Even if you cat still tries to scratch, he won't be able to do any damage since these nails are dull. They even come in assorted colors if you feel like making kitty pretty while protecting your home. You can find more information regarding the SoftPaws at their website: http://www.softpaws.com/

Answer 2

The clinic I work for requires animals to be 12 weeks or 4 lbs before they are spayed, neutered or declawed (unless they are a toy breed). If you have to declaw them, you should do it before they are full grown. Most clinics in my area charge less for younger animals as well, as an incentive for owners to have it done when they are young. The older, and larger, they get the harder it will be for them to recover properly. Imagine the difference between a 4 lb cat walking on fresh incisions versus a 12 lb cat. If you are going to get this procedure done, I would search for a clinic that has a laser to do the surgery. The clinic I work for has a laser, and there is a marked difference in the comfort of cats when they are declawed with the laser. Often these animals are walking around, batting at things, and sticking their paws through the cage doors the same day as their surgery.

Answer 3

Please please please check out this link! They are totally safe for cats, and they work! Once they get used to them, it only takes a minute or two to put them on.

If you do have to declaw, make sure to do it under one year old, preferably at the same time as when you spay/neuter them. Your local vet can tell you the youngest age to do so.

However, I'd really like to urge you not to declaw. It can change their personalities, make them more defensive, more prone to biting, etc. Plus, it's not just removing the claw (as if that weren't bad enough), it's actually removing the end section of the digit! If you look at your own finger, it's as if you were to chop off the tip of each finger at the end of the knuckle.

Just one more thing...watching a cat play on one of those inclined cedar scratching posts is so adorable! They have tons of silly fun, you get a giggle, and it can save your furniture. :)

Answer 4

Can you guarantee 100% that you will outlive this kitten? If you don't where will she go? Can you guarantee 100% that she will never end up in palce where she will need her claws (for protection or to catch food)? Declawing is cruel and should be illegal. This is a painful procedure and results often in behavioral issues. You should read up on it first.

Answer 5

A kitten can be declawed after its had its shots. The kitty has to be 6 months old before you can do that.

Answer 6

Asked my vet this at one time. No cat should be declawed because it is very painful operation for them to have.

Answer 7

Please don't declaw your cat. It's a very inhumane practice that can render them defenseless against other cats and often leads to behavioral problems. Before you declaw him/her, ask yourself if you can live without the last joint on each of your fingers, because that is basically what declawing does.

Answer 8

why on earth would you want to declaw a kitten for ???? they are born with them leave nature alone. Its cruelty !!!!

Answer 9

When they are young from 4 months to 8 months. They recover from the pain better than older and overweight cats

Answer 10

Declawing is such a painful procedure please dont get your little kitty declawed. It will be fine with its claws.