Cat Declawing Procedure

Cats have a natural tendency to scratch their body as well as household furniture, especially with their front paws. In fact, most pet lovers are worried about this cat behavior and some even have given up the idea of keeping cats as pets. A practical, yet debatable solution to this issue is cat declawing procedure or onychectomy. While some people propose it as a safe method for the pet and a great help to owners; others are of the opinion that declawing is inhumane. Scroll down in order to decide whether it is right for your pet or not.

Cat Declawing Facts

For better understanding about the procedure, let's try to learn the anatomy of a cat's toes. The claw of a cat is not like human toenails, rather it is the distal end of the last toe bone (called distal phalanx). Function-wise, claws are used for balancing, digging, climbing and defending purposes. Refer to the following points to have a brief idea about declawing, when to do cat declawing and cost of the procedure:

Age
The ideal age for cat declawing procedure is when the kitten is between 8 - 16 weeks old. In fact the younger the pet is, the better will be the results of declawing. If done at an early stage before 6 months of age, the pet gets adjusted to the declawed toes properly. Performing it at a much later stage is still possible, but the recuperation and/or recovery time period is lengthy.

Method
In maximum cases, only the claws of the front toes are removed. And for this, the last joint of each toe has to be amputated partially or completely. Accordingly, there are two primary procedures, first is excisional method and the second is guillotine method. The former involves amputating the whole of last joint; whereas in the latter procedure, the last joint is severed into two, after which the claw and distal portion is circumcised. Some vet practice laser feline declawing procedure for completely removing the claws.

Aftercare
After declawing procedure is over, the kitten or cat is kept at the clinic for 1 - 2 days. The vet will check for any usual side effects such as bleeding, excess swelling and pain. If everything goes well and good, the pet will be discharged after 1 day. For the pet owner, declawed cat care includes giving proper rest, feeding favorite food, supporting during movements and checking for signs of infection.

Cost
The actual feline declawing price differs based on many aspects, like location, veterinarian experience and the procedure you have selected. The conventional cat declawing procedure may cost approximately USD 100 - 250. Some vets do perform declawing at a very low cost, as cheap as USD 50. In case of laser method, the charges may be between USD 250 - 450. This pricing is excluding of the cat examination, which the vet usually does prior to declawing.

Pros and Cons of Declawing Procedure

Associated with certain benefits and side effects, cat declawing procedure is very controversial. Frankly speaking, the only plus point with it is owner's convenience and nothing more than that. As per the opponents of the procedure, it changes the personality and stature of the pet. And the worst part is the pet can no longer defend himself from the predators or clean himself properly. Also, there are chances of nail bed infection, claw regrowth and limping.

Thus, cat declawing is a serious matter and should be decided carefully. No wonder, many countries ban performing the procedure. Since the method is irreversible, it is the question about the quality of life for your pet. On my personal note, indulging in correct cat training and teaching him not to scratch at the right time are far better than opting for cat declawing procedure.