| $ $ Scalpel or Guillotine Clipper: $100 - $300 | $ $ $ Laser Surgery: $350 - $600 |
Cat declawing is a polemic medical procedure that has been constantly on the news in the last few years.
It has been banned in several U.S states as well as in more than twenty countries all over the world.
But what does it mean to declaw a cat?
When is it necessary? Should I declaw my cat? How much does this procedure cost? Are there any alternatives?
We’ll review these questions in the next sections.
Table of Contents
What Is Cat Declawing?
Cat declawing refers to the surgical removal of the cat’s nails or claws.
But to fully comprehend this procedure, you must understand that cats don’t have nails as we humans do; their claws are attached to the last bone in their toes.
This means that simply pulling out the claw it’s not enough: a veterinary must remove that last bone so the claw can be removed as well.
Is It Necessary To Declaw A Cat?
Declawing a cat can be medically necessary for some circumstances, like when there’s an infection on the cat’s bone or toe, or when there’s cancer and the affected area needs to be removed.
On the other hand, there are also cases when a veterinarian might advise the owner to declaw a cat, for example, if the owner has a medical condition that could be made worse by the cat’s scratching, or if the cat has had consistent behavioral problems that haven’t been resolved in any other way.
How Much Does Cat Declawing Cost?
The cost of cat declawing must be calculated after considering elements like the cat’s physical exam, anesthesia, the procedure chosen or recommended by the veterinarian, antibiotics, and hospitalization if the cat needs it.
Cat declawing is usually performed using a scalpel or guillotine clipper to remove the cat’s bone and claw.
This procedure can cost from $100 to $300.
The other alternative is using laser surgery to amputate the cat’s bone and successfully declaw the cat.
It’s generally the most expensive option, costing between $350 to $600.
Consequences Of Cat Declawing
If your cat meets one of the previously mentioned conditions and its claw must be removed, this procedure has a few negative consequences that you should be aware of in advance: chronic pain in the paws, risk of infection, necrosis, or death of the affected tissue, and maybe even nerve damage.
Cats without claws should not be let outside the house, since they won’t be able to defend themselves anymore.
Alternatives To Cat Declawing
There are some alternatives to cat declawing that will certainly benefit not only your cat but also your home.
Training Your Cat
The first one would be properly training your cat, the sooner the better.
Scratching surfaces is a natural and normal behavior for cats: they need to do it constantly to groom their claws, maintain the motion used in hunting, and stretch their bodies.
You can change the behavior of your cat by getting scratching posts and redirecting the cat towards the post or surface specially meant for that use -instead of furniture or even yourself!-.
Nail Or Claw Trimming
A second alternative is to trim the nails or claws of your cat as much as they need it.
Kittens, older and cats that are always in the house, will probably need their nails to be trimmed more often than outdoor cats, so it’s something to consider.
Nails Caps
A third option would be getting nail caps; these are plastic or vinyl covers that are glued to the cat’s claw.
Although the caps must be replaced every four to six weeks, it’s still a good alternative if none of the other options seem to work, and they even come in different colors, so your cat will look even more adorable!
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