How old does a kitten have to be before it can be declawed?

Question

PLEASE don’t tell me it’s mean! I already know!

Wow this is a hot topic. I know what is means to have it done. I already have a big baby that had it done 6 years ago when he got neutered. I used shredded paper for in his litter box until he was fully healed. He had no problems and he is strictly a spoiled indoor cat and that’s what I wanted from the start so I wasn’t worried about him having to protect himself. So, I’m not saying I ‘m going to do it to my new indoor only baby but I’m looking into and then I will decide.

Metalhaid - There is no need to be rude and to attack me! I’m only thinking about it. When I had my big baby done I didn’t fully research it first, but he did do really well, and either way he was going to be an indoor cat. I take GREAT care of my fur babies and you don’t even know me so why call me a name and be so mean?

Answer 1

http://www.winrosevet.com/Feline_Declawing.htm
(An animal hospital)- eight weeks and up

http://www.cpvh.com/Articles/9.html
(Another animal hospital)- 3-5 months and up

http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=137
(Veterinary College)- Any age, as long as the anesthesia is safe.

(Many anti-declawing sites)- NEVER!!!!!

Seems like 3-5 months is good. Younger cats better adjust to the surgery, and cvm.uiuc.edu suggest that you get it done when you neuter or spay your cat. Obviously you need to talk to your vet and arrange a surgery at the time your vet thinks is best. (If the vet will agree to do it, most will but some won't)

Edit- I'd declaw rather than use soft claws. *Quotes stories from amazon reviews* (To be far, there were more positive reviews than negative)

"I got vinyl nail caps to curb the scratching (of me and of furniture) of two indoor cats. While they did this successfully and both cats are comfortable having their nails trimmed, neither cat took to them in the ways described by other reviewers. In fact, they mostly chewed at them...both immediately after application and much later. Even after two years of continued application, the cats still occasionally chew them off, sometimes taking part of their skin or the root of the nail with them. This has produced bloody, sensitive paws which make me worry about infection and about how ethical they are. PAINFUL OPEN WOUNDS are exactly what we all try to avoid by not declawing! This might be a rare thing and obviously doesn't happen to everyone, but I checked the medical literature and the American Veterinary Medical Association website and found that the safety of these nail caps has never been tested (in fact the AVMA removed nail caps from their position statement on declawing). Now I'm stuck between risking pain and infection for my cat at least once a month and worrying about the damage they could do to people and children if I don't. I urge people to consider a more humane option if one is available."

"I noticed an increase in the occurrence of them falling off the cat tree because they couldn't grip as expected when climbing about. The second reason is because of the natural nail growth; the gap left as the nail grows did indeed (as other reviewers mention) catch on all sorts of things; requiring human assistance to free them. I think they would be a very helpful tool while you are training a cat to not scratch furniture, but not for permanent use."

"CONS: 1)As the nail grows out the soft paw allows for strings to get wrapped around nail and is very painful for kitty. I had to rescue kitty several times from rug strings, toy strings, blankets...ect."

"Horrible! As another reviewer has stated, these nail tips work fine when first applied. After just a couple days of having them on, and the nail beginning to grow, my cat managed to catch his nail in the lace edging of my rather expensive bedding. 'Rags' couldn't free himself, nor could I extricate the nail ........ ended up having to cut the bedding. Just a few moments ago, it happened for a second time, only this time he wrapped his leg around one of the vertical supports to my brass bed and was hanging off the side by the caught nail! Again, had to cut the expensive bedding!

Poor 'Rags' nail is so sore now from this last episode. Soft paws? They can keep them!"

Answer 2

The veterinarian will tell you 6 months is the best age to have a de-claw surgery on a feline. However I strongly suggest you rethink the idea. claws are a cats # 1 source of protection and if you take that away they will quickly become biters! Not to mention the removal of their claws is an invasive surgery that requires the removal of the entire first segment of each digit of their toes, this web sight will help you understand the complications that go along with such a procedure (Shows actual pictures so beware, it isn't pretty) http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm There is a great alternative theses days that is fairly cheap (as low as 15 dollars for a 4 to 6 month package) called softclaws (softpaws in some brands) that I use on my cat (can be applied by owner at home.) Not only are they FAR more humane they are totally cute! Here is the web sight for them! http://www.softclaws.com/ best of luck with your new friend!

P.S. I live in government owned apartments where part of the pet policy is to have your cat de-clawed, I gathered my information as well as the soft claws and took it to my land lord and and showed her and they agreed to allow the soft claws. A little effort goes a long way!

Answer 3

I think a vet may tell you about 6 months - about when they can be spayed/neutered. If you do do this be nice to kitty and have it done all at once. I believe it's easier on kitty to have the declaw and spay/neuter at the same time that way they only have to go thru the anesthetic one time

My personal belief - don't declaw. Train your cat to have you clip it's nails every 2 to 3 weeks. I'll tell ya why, 1) if kitty escaped outside he/she has no way to defend itself against an attacker. 2) when the cat is declawed the vet pulls out the entire nail - PULLS it out - or removes the first joint. It depends on the vet him/herself. I have had cats with both types of declaws and have had cats that have not been declawed. They do understand(for the most part) to use a scratching post. They tolerate me cutting their nails even - once they got used to it.

Since you know it's mean though I won't tell ya that. I just wanted to let you know what my experiences were.

Answer 4

I would say about five months old, but I'm not totally certain. I got both of my cats declawed, but we didn't know at the time that cats shouldn't get declawed. Even though some cats will ruin furniture otherwise, there are some alternatives. One that I happen to know of that I read about in a cat fancy magazine, are these special caps for claws. That way cats can still have their claws, but since they're just plastic, they won't ruin furniture and such. They even come in different colors. They're called soft paws. Here's the website:
http://www.safepetproducts.com/pilot.asp?pg=softpaws_info&gclid=CO6phvXu048CFQGRPAodxQHZ-w

Answer 5

Ok, I won't tell you it's mean.
How about instead, I tell you about the very long healing process and very expensive surgery and all the follow-up vet visits which adds to the expense and the cost of the medication, and the inability to keep your cat from jumping down from anywhere without confining it to a cage where it meows pathetically at you because it's confined for six weeks?
If knowing that it's "mean" as you put it doesn't already deter you, then I suggest you get quotes from vets in your area about how expensive this is going to be.
And you can NEVER EVER EVER let your cat outside alone for the rest of it's life, NO MATTER WHAT.
Please try other alternatives like keeping them clipped, scratching posts, and SoftClaws first. Please. (Especially keeping them clipped...SO much less expensive, and so much less trouble).
Technically, it CAN be done as soon as they're old enough to be away from their mother. But you really shouldn't until about 4 or 5 months at LEAST (and most vets won't). Most people who refuse to listen to anyone else about getting their cat declawed will do it when they get them spayed. Your vet will recommend a good time for this.

Answer 6

Vets really don`t like doing this. What declawing really is is amputating the first joint of each toe of each paw and you have to make absolutely sure your cat does not jump off of anything during the healing period and you`ll have to change the bandages daily. Have you considered claw caps ? Your vet will explain them to you, but it would cost about $12-$15 every 3 months and it`s more humane then declawing.

Answer 7

it would be best not to declaw the kitten, sometimes the nails will grow back and be very painful for the kitten because every time they take a step it's like a nail is jabbing the bottom of their paw from within. another alternative that works just as well as far as the cat not being able to do much damage when they scratch you is just to clip the nails and get them a scratching post so it wont claw at the furniture as much. If you do clip the nails be sure to watch out for the vain near the bottom of the claw and cats with trimmed claws are best kept inside as tey wont be able to defend themselves very well

Answer 8

I can tell you right now, that this is going to be a hot topic,. It would be best if you google declawing and do some research on the subject..it really is like amputating a finger from the joint up...I have attached a site that you should read before you make that life altering (the kittens, not yours)decision

Answer 9

Never do this to a cat. It is amputation at the first joint of the claw. The cat can never protect itself against any predetor. It will hurt like hell. Do you want your toes or fingers cut off at the joints? Don't think so. Therefore do not do it to your cat if you love it! If it ever gets outside and is chassed by another animal, it will not be able to climg a tree to get away or defend itself.

Answer 10

It can be done at any age but not at the age of 2 years old.

My cat is declawed and she had been doing things normally. She is a very happy cat.

http://www.geocities.com/declawing/index.htm