People often mistakenly believe that declawing their cats is a harmless "quick fix" for unwanted scratching. They don't realize that declawing can make a cat less likely to use the litter box or more likely to bite. However, infectious disease specialists don't recommend declawing.
Is it cruel to declaw a cat?
After the surgery, the nails can grow back inside the paw, causing extreme pain unbeknownst to the cat's guardian. Many compassionate veterinarians refuse to declaw cats, even in areas where the procedure is legal, because declawing is cruel and of no benefit to cats—and it violates veterinarians' oath to “do no harm.”
How much does it cost to declaw a kitten?
Expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a declaw depending on the age and weight of your cat. A young cat whose declaw is done while already under anesthesia for a spay or castration will be less expensive. As kitties grow older they put more weight on their paws and have larger blood vessels.
Do veterinarians still declaw cats?
AVMAAVMAThe AVMA is the nation's leading advocate for the veterinary profession. Representing more than 99,500 members, we protect, promote and advance the needs of all veterinarians and those they serve.https://www.avma.org › aboutWe are AVMA | American Veterinary Medical Association discourages declawingdeclawingDeclawing is the surgical amputation of all or part of a cat's third phalanges (toe bones) and the attached claws. Most often the procedure involves the front paws only1, but sometimes the claws are removed from all four paws.https://www.avma.org › resources-tools › literature-reviewsWelfare Implications of Declawing of Domestic Cats as an elective procedure and supports non-surgical alternatives. Declawing is a major surgery involving amputation and is not medically necessary for the cat in most cases. The decision whether to declaw a cat should be made by the owners in consultation with their veterinarian.