Cat Declawing Price

Cat declawing is actually surgical removal of the claws of the cats. This operation is also called onychectomy and is very common in North America, Japan, China, Korea and such countries. cat declawing is mainly performed on the house cats as they can damage household possessions and even injure the owner, with their claws. To prohibit this, all the lateral bones of the cats are amputated, however, this leads to permanent damage to the cat paws. More than 25% of all the North American people declaw their cats.

Cat declawing is still performed despite it being illegal and against animal rights. People having certain disease (like AIDS), that may get spread to others by cat scratching, argue that cal declawing must be legal and a forceful law. All in all, it is not proper to deprive an animal from following their natural behavior and hence, it is against the law. As far as the price is concerned, it actually depends on the number of factors that can show up, once the veterinarian examines the cat's health condition.

Feline Declawing Procedure

Commonly performed on the house cats, declawing is a process that is also very common on circus animals including tigers, bears and lions. Cat declawing is certainly more than just a declawing of cats. It is a painful surgical removal or amputation of the last bones from the cat's paws. As a result, the normally functioning tendons, muscles and nerves of the cat's legs are severed. In case of bigger cats hind as well as front legs are declawed. Cat declawing means that they get unable to protect themselves on their own, which makes them impaired as compared to a normal cat.

There are several methods of cat declawing like the one mentioned above, named onychectomy, tendonectomy (cutting the tendons and keeping the nails intact), disarticulation, which involves use of serious amount of anesthesia that increases the risk factor. Laser therapy is also used, which actually has long term effects, quick recovery and less pain, but it is the most expensive process of cat declawing. Physical examination performed by the vet actually decides what procedure would it be for declawing, which also decides the price. The cost of examination must also be included in the estimate about the cost to declaw a cat.

Things to Consider for Declawing a Cat

There are several factors that affect the cat declawing price, which affect greatly on your estimate about the same. As a matter of fact, price for declawing a cat hugely depends on the veterinarians in your area, as they are very reluctant to act against the law. However, there are a few veterinarians that offer the service, but they are very few, and hence, they charge a lot of money. Besides their fees, charges of anesthesia, hospitalization, number of visits to the hospital, indoor treatment period for the cats, cost of antibiotics and other medications, etc. must also be considered.

Another factor is the aftercare that you need to take for the cat, which adds up the charges of the special bedding for cats, adequate hygiene measures and any other injury or health related complications after operation is performed, must be considered in the estimate about the price. Now, 'What is the age to declaw a cat?'. Well, it is often stated that cats, that are well in shape and not-to-fat, are the best to undergo the process of declawing. Cats aging from 4 months to 8 months are better candidates. They are of course bound to feel the pain but they tend to recover sooner than overweight and older cats.

Actual Cat Declawing Cost

Two of the above mentioned feline declawing procedures used are 'resco clipper' and 'disarticulation', amongst which the resco clipper method falls at the cheaper end and requires less time as well. Both these methods cost almost same, which is in the range of $100 to $250. remember that cost of disarticulation is always at the upper end of the above estimation. Laser declawing is very expensive and can cost around $250 to $ 450. As I said earlier, all the above prices actually depend on the veterinarian and their visiting charges in your area.

I would suggest you to ask a fellow cat owner, having experience of cat declawing. This will give you clear idea about the procedure, complications, requirements and price to declaw a cat. Depending on the condition of the cat, that there could be a pre-operation blood test and/or x-ray to be performed, just to check the health of your cat. Hence, make sure to estimate $100 more for these mentioned requirements for declawing the cat.

Cat declawing price is not an issue but the decision-making that is involved in it, regarding the cat behavior, after the operation, is worth considering.