Getting Cat Declawed?

Question

Does anyone know the average cost of getting a cat declawed at Petco or Pets mart? I was wondering how much for all 4 paws. Thanks.

Answer 1

Don't do all 4 paws. That is just horrible. My moms friend got her cat front declawed for $75 at a local animal hospital. Your best bet will be to go to a local vet or animal hospital. Or the humane Society.
I personally will never declaw or fix my cat. Period! It is so cruel. Maybe we should start Neutering people and ripping of their finger and toenails.
Lucke

Answer 2

Have you tried trimming the cat's nails? My cat's an antisocial little darling most of the time, but if I catch her when she's been asleep in the sun I can trim her nails with a pair of clippers without a problem. Or the wax things that go onto the tips? Honestly, I find declawing inhumane. Every last local clinic in our area has banned the practice, because they ALL feel that it is grossly cruel, and inhumane. And I don't buy you're hyperbolic "it's be declawed or killed" scenario. While dumping a cat at a shelter might be the easy way for you to get rid of it, it's not the only answer. Local vets offer adoption services. You could put "free to a good home" adverts up. My sister found a home for all five of her cat's kitten in under a day. When my neighbours moved they found a home for their 10 year old, cranky bastard of a cat in three days. So my answer is no. I would not get my cat declawed rather than finding it a new home. But instead of going "Whoops! The couch might get damaged!" and having it put down, I would put in the leg work and actually find it a home. YOU adopted the cat, YOU are responsible for it, and YOU should have thought about the couch before you got the cat. Adopting a cat is making a promise to that cat that you'll protect it, love it, and do your best by it. What you've got to do is decide what that promise means to you, and how much it means to you to keep it. And in the future, if you already know the answers you want, don't bother asking the question.

Answer 3

I am an ex Vet Assistant - I implore you, PLEASE DO NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT OR GIVE IT A TENDONECTOMY!! Basically what you are doing is handicapping your cat - it will never be able to go outside. Cats can live 20+ years, so there is a chance that you may not be the sole owner of this cat, don't handicap him for the future. In a declaw, the last knuckle of each finger is actually cut off - can you imagine if someone did that to you? In a tendonectomy, the tendons are cut so the cat cannot protract the nails, but neither can it grip onto surfaces so it may slip or fall off of chairs, tabletops etc. Seriously, from my professional opinion, I believe it to be cruelty to animals and is just a money-making scheme. If your cat is young and still using it's claws, perservere and it will pass as it grows up. If your concern is your couches or curtains, you should reconsider having a pet before your alter it's life for the worse. I am not a religious person, but I believe that God gave cats have claws for a reason. Don't mess with that.

Answer 4

I have actually had 2 good experiences with declawing. I have a 9 yr old male (strictly indoors since birth) that was declawed back in '03 (only the front paws) and healed very well and very quickly. He has never had an infections, swelling, or trouble adjusting to the change. I also have a 4 month old kitten that was declawed this week and she is doing great. We did all 4 paws (our vet recommended it) and she is walking and jumping as normal. We do have to restrict the amount of exercise she does for the first 3 days, but she's great! It ran about $200 for all 4 paws.
Speak to your vet, and he/she will recommend the best procedure for you and your kitty, and give you the prices.
Good luck!

Answer 5

I don't know the average cost as it has been awhile since I had a kitten, but I do have some knowledge on declawing. I currently live with two wonderful cats both of whom have been declawed. However most vets will only recommend declawing the front paws rather than all four. The reason being is if your cat gets out it can still defend itself and can climb.

Both of mine were declawed at a very early age, I believe it was when they were about 6 weeks old. Neither have had a problem and both still think that they need to sharpen their claws and basically just paw at the furniture.

Now I have heard the horror stories and I guess I'm one of the lucky ones that have not had any problems. My cats have never turned on me or had behavioral problems.

When a cat is declawed it is recommended that you use a special litter known as Yesterday's News until they are healed. This is basically paper pellets that act the same was as cat litter does but without the sand.

Everyone has their opinion on this procedure and from what I read most are against it. I am for it but only if the cat is very young. Both of mine live indoors at all times are never allowed out. Granted if one of them did get out they would just sit on the porch and cry because they are both terrified to go out in my arms and would prefer the safety of their carriers.

Answer 6

Getting a cat declawed does not involve simply removing the claws. Let's be honest. It isn't deCLAWing, it is deTOEing your cat. Look at your hand. The knuckle below the nail is the point of amputation. Now remember that your cat walks on his toes. For the entire recovery period he will be walking on those amputated toes. He will also have to use them in the litter box. This is one reason that many declawed cats stop using the litter box. Another reason is that even after the surgery many have tender feet from unnatural sharp edges and certain litters cause them pain to use. Others become highly defensive and start biting. On average, 70% of cats turned in by their owners for behavioral reasons are declawed cats who bite or refuse to use the litter box.

There are other complications also. Some vets screw up. It happens all the time. I have had 2 cats that came to my rescue declawed. One had to be declawed a SECOND time as her claws had actually grown back INSIDE her feet. Her owners gave her up because they were tired of blood on their couch. She chewed her feet to bleeding every day.
The other was Punkin. Punkin was brought to us nearly starved to death. She could not hunt and when she did find a feeding station, the feral cats that had claws wouldn't let her near it. She was in the ICU for 2 weeks before she had regained enough weight and nutrients to survive without assistance. Punkin could also barely walk. Her vet had cut some toes not at the first knuckle, but at the second. She was basically walking on the stubs of her legs. She needed surgical implants to give her some feet back. She never walked right again and was always on pain medication.

Before you take your beloved friend in to a surgery that will change her life forever, do some research into what happens and what can go wrong. A few links on declawing are:
http://www.declawing.com/
http://www.pawproject.com/html/faqs.asp
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html
(These are just the ones that don't include highly graphic images of cats like Snowy and Punkin who suffered for life from being detoed.)

Declawing is considered animal cruelty in nearly every civilized nation. The US is one of the VERY few that allows it, and the vets don't just do it, they PROMOTE it. It is not however, the only option.

At Petsmart or any other pet store, as well as online, you can buy "softpaws". These are soft tips that go over the cats nails. They come in a wide variety of colors including clear, pink, red, purple.. etc. They are easy to apply and the cat can not do damage to furniture or scratch people. If the cat ends up outside however and needs his/her claws for survival they can get the tips off.

You can find the tips at http://www.softpaws.com/

Answer 7

Well, you got some negative responses!

I'd like to offer you another alternative. Apparently the vets around here don't like to do declawing any more. They do something called 'de-tendonizing'.

In order for a cat to extend his claws, he must pull on a tendon; their relaxed state is 'in'. Snip that tendon, and he cannot do it. It's an easy procedure, much shorter recovery time, and less chance of complications. No stitches, either. It's also not an amputation. I've watched a declawing, and will never forget it. Imagine a wee instrument that's got a hole ... and a blade ... you get the idea?

The drawback to de-tendonizing is that you do have to maintain the claws, trimming them every couple of weeks. They get smelly, because they're constantly retracted, yeasty-bugs can grow in there.

Another poster mentioned softclaws. A friend of mine uses them, and as long as she keeps up on them they're effective. Come in cool colours, too.

Another person recommended only front claws, and I'd like to add my voice there too. My cat had a horrible problem with clawing furniture, nothing worked. She was also rather vicious - no off-switch for agression, she'd snap every now and then and attack for little to no reason. But I only had her front claws de-tendonized, and it's worked fine. My ankles and wrists are no longer full of kitty scratches, and my 'new' furniture shows no sign of kitty-wear after over a year.

So I've not answered your question. Your best bet is to call them - they may even not do declawing. Here, de-tendonizing was less expensive than declawing would've been.

Answer 8

This is a major surgery best done by a vet in a clinic. Most cats need a chance to prove they can live sensibly with humans. Of course, some cats are un-trainable, but not many. If you do ANY declawing on your cat (kitty is not going to be happy) you need to make absolutely positive this cat NEVER goes outdoors, because it will be defenseless. I don't agree with declawing except in the most extreme circumstances, and then only the fronts.

Answer 9

I agree with the Phoebe, why did you get a cat if you have an issue with the claws?? Declawing is illegal in most parts of the world cause it is simply cruel. My cat scratches her scratching post and only that, not me, not the furniture, nothing but the post. If you had a child and it was a boy, would you cut the penis off cause you really wanted a girl, if you wanted a pet without claws then you should have gotten a pet without claws. I hope someone cuts your fingers off and then we can say "well at least she wont scratch anyone".

Answer 10

imagine having to go to the doctors to get all your fingernails and toes nails pulled out ..PAINFUL you wouldn't be able to touch or walk properly for about a week .. hands and feet dressed in bandages.. uncomfortable and aching .. you can take pain killers .. that might help to make it all feel a little bit easier.
NOW think again about having your cat declawed ..
If you have problemes with her scratching at the furniture why not invest in a few cat scratching posts .. or clip her claws so that they aren't quite so sharp .. its easy to do with a ordinary pair of nail scissors .. just do not cut to close to the veins in the claws otherwise they will bleed.

If you really feel that she is too distructive with her scratching they maybe you should consider rehoming her..she will not thankyou for the declawing torture.

Answer 11

Only a vet clinic will do declawing. Petco & PetSmart are not capable of doing it.

Also, declawing can only be done to the front paws. No vet will agree to declaw the back paws as well.

Why are you wanting to declaw your cat? Please research declawing and what it consists of.

http://www.declawing.com/