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CostHelper > Pets & Pet Care  > Cat Declawing

Cat Declawing Cost


How Much Does Cat Declawing Cost?

 
average costDeclawing the Front Two Paws: $140-$500high costDeclawing Using Laser Method: $250-$500
Typical costs:
  • Declawing a cat using one of the two common conventional methods usually costs between $140 and $500 for the front two paws, depending on the veterinarian, the age of the cat, and which procedure is used.
  • The "Resco Clipper" method is more common and usually falls at the lower end of the cost range because it is a simpler procedure and takes less time. The "Disarticulation" method, which is more involved, usually falls at the upper end of the range.
  • Declawing a cat using the laser method usually costs between $250 and $500, depending on the veterinarian.
  • Declawing four paws can add another $50-$200, but is usually not recommended.
  • Declawing a cat can be a controversial procedure, and some veterinarians do not offer the service. Other veterinarians offer it reluctantly, believing it should be a last resort. If you know you want to declaw your cat, ask about the veterinarian's stance on the procedure.
Related articles: Cat Spay or Neuter, Cat Teeth Cleaning, Cat Vaccination, Owning a Cat, Buying a Cat

What should be included:
  • In the "Resco Clipper" method, the veterinarian uses a sterile clipper to cut off the tips of the bones in the toes, from which the claws grow. Then, the incision is closed with stitches or glue. This method usually has the fastest surgery time, but there is a slight risk the claw will re-grow, which can cause infection and require more surgery.
  • In the "Disarticulation" method, the veterinarian entirely removes the bones from which the claws grow, by disconnecting each of the ligaments attached to those bones. This method is more complex, and alters the cat's feet more, but eliminates the risk of re-growth.
  • In laser declawing, the veterinarian uses a laser, instead of a scalpel, to entirely remove the bones from which the claws grow. With this method, there is almost no bleeding and less pain.
  • VeterinaryPartner.com[1] offers a description of the three types of declawing procedures, as well as alternatives to declawing.
  • The cost of declawing includes anesthesia, pain medications, antibiotics, a two-day hospital stay and a post-surgical examination.
Additional costs:
  • A pre-surgery blood test, to check liver and kidney function, is recommended for all cats and often required for older cats. It costs about $40 to $50 extra.
  • For a few days following the surgery, most veterinarians recommend that the cat wear a patch that releases pain medication. It costs about $40 extra.
Shopping for cat declawing:
  • To find a good veterinarian, ask fellow cat owners, breeders or humane associations. Or, check the American Veterinary Medical Association[2] to find your state's veterinary medical association for a referral.
  • Ask the veterinarian how long he or she has been practicing, and how much continuing education he or she receives each year. Then, visit the clinic to look at cleanliness and attitude and ask about policies and prices.VeterinaryPartner.com offers a guide on how to find a veterinarian[3] .
  • Ask which type of declawing procedure the veterinarian uses. If the veterinarian uses a laser -- which requires a certain level of skill and experience -- ask how long he or she has been using it and how many laser declaws he or she has performed. Also, ask to talk to the owner of a cat the veterinarian has declawed.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

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Declawing
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Lucinda Britton in Bronston, KY.Posted: October 24th, 2021 10:10AM
Breed: DomesticType of Procedure: Declawing
I have had several cats. I’m 65 years old. I have declawed every single one of them. They lived happy, healthy lives. Most passed away or cancer. All my cats were never hungry, mistreated nor were they left alone. They were like children to me and I would never do anything to hurt them. I called a place and they said it was cruel because she said would you like your fingers cut off by the knuckles? Cats adapt to declawing very easily, as long as you use the correct litter and medication to keep them clean and loved 🥰 as I always did! I love all cats and the one I have is ripping up my new furniture! I called many places and they want anywhere between 400.00 and 650.00! I don’t have that kind of money nor do many other people. That’s a lot of money for anyone! The cat I have is 17 pounds and quite healthy. Declawing is not cruel. My cats were all happy and I miss ALL of them terribly. One I had cremated and in cased in my dining cabinet in a ceramic cat shaped piece with his collars .
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To people who think declawing is bad
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: [email protected] in Beverly Hills, CA.Posted: September 9th, 2020 03:09PM
Breed: CatType of Procedure: Declawing
All I can say is WOW to ignorant idiots who say don’t declaw a car!! I have 3 cats and love them dearly and they are all declawed. They are also inside cats. If you use laser then it doesn’t truly hurt the cat, furthermore they won’t mess up the furniture. I mean boys get circumcised when they are babies right?? WTH.. I’m glad I was.. geez. There is totally nothing wrong declawing a cat at all. Saves you from scratches and save the furniture. My cats destroyed over 12k in furniture before I decided to get them declawed and it was well worth it to say the least! Now I can love my cats and dog and my furniture.. I guess everyone needs to stop circumcising their boys when they are born... once again nothing wrong with loving a cat and your household items.
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Best investment (similar to human circumcised process)
Amount: $350.00
Posted by: [email protected] in Omaha, NE.Posted: July 28th, 2020 07:07AM
Breed: MixedType of Procedure: Regular Declaw under General Anastesia
Cat had no problems with anesthesia (chose gas -vet stated it as less risky) we noticed the cat was miserable from regular trimming, always biting at its claws or soft paws. It was torturous to us and our kids. We decided to declaw. Anyone who doesn’t and should consider not circumcising their child.. why? Because they don’t remember but the rest of their lives are better circumcised. So do it!
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Declaring - Hell yes
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Morrie in Fulshear, TX.Posted: July 21st, 2020 08:07PM
Breed: AnyType of Procedure: Declawing
So I have read enough comments to know that that declaring is not torture. If I was starving I would kill and eat my cat. They are not human. They are animals. I have yet to go to a hospital run by dogs or cats.
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My cat is an obnoxious dick head
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Huckleberry Finn in Bangkok, NM.Posted: April 30th, 2020 09:04PM
Breed: TabbyType of Procedure: Haven't paid for one yet
I hate my cat. He never shuts up. If it wasn't for my wife he would of been gone by now. All you cat lovers that say declawing a cat is wrong well I feel the opposite. My wife and I just bought a brand new couch and I keep catching that bastard on it. He has already destroyed the carpet on the stairs. If he so much claws on our brand new couch... well he will either be declawed or put down. I care more about my furniture than an animal. Think of the two, which one lives longer or should I say lasts longer.
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Don’t declaw your cat
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Zoe M. in Hollywood, MD.Posted: April 23rd, 2020 11:04AM
Breed: N/aType of Procedure: None
The amount of people on here that have declawed their cat/are thinking about doing it is sad and honestly just disgusting. If you care more about the well-being of your furniture than the well-being of a beautiful living, breathing animal, don’t get a cat. Cats come with claws. If you don’t want claws, get a fish. They are great!
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Cat Declawing: Mutilation vs Eviction
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Was it all a waste of time? in Hello my name is human, IL.Posted: April 20th, 2020 11:04PM
Breed: MainCoon mixType of Procedure: Luck of the draw
No one here seems to wish pain and suffering upon their pet. I like to imagine how human beings all thoughout history would respond to this debate. Anything born has greater chance of a far more painful life than that of a declawed cat with loving owners. Although a perspective of its sadistic, self-serving and multilating nature is understandable, it can only come from refusal to see that pain,suffering and death were always parts of almost every life until just recently. Is protecting your valuables by causing your pets to have long term pain worth the cost of the surgery? Or is true pain not even in this equation. Either way we are all one and while no one wants to suffer, suffering granted us the strength we would never have survived without. Everyone should be free to voice their perspective, but without consideration of where we came from we wont be able to go together as one, free of poisons like judgment and indifference.(An open mind can seem narrow when text limits are impos
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Declawed cats are WONDERFUL!
Amount: $100.00
Posted by: RobertMD in Severna Park, MD.Posted: September 6th, 2019 08:09AM
Breed: SiameseType of Procedure: Declaw
Fronts only, $100, wonderful wonderful experience for all involved. Took maybe 2 weeks before cat was back to normal. No fuss, no muss! Yippy!
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cat declawing
Amount: $300.00
Posted by: a user in Rochester, NY.Posted: July 22nd, 2019 06:07PM
Breed: tuxedoType of Procedure: laser front
I have had 3 cats front paws declawed and saved many scratches and much furniture. never ever had a problem and all happy cats! Never went outdoors and would never have another if I would have known that it was going to outlawed. I even called around before hand to make sure it was possible. Had an appointment all set and guess what! My husband is on blood thinners, I have small Grandchildren with more to come. One older cat that was declawed. If for one minute I would think that my cats were suffering I would never do it. This poor little guy has so many toes on his front claws, he walks bow legged now because his claws get stuck in the carpet when he walks. I love my cats VERY much!!!!! I think it really stinks when the laws are better for animals than babies that can be killed at 9 month old. Who is speaking for the babies. Please... there will be many babies and many cats and kittens unadopted now. Be proud New York
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Declaw
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Jen5338 in Raleigh, NC.Posted: March 3rd, 2019 01:03AM
Breed: CalicoType of Procedure: Declaw
To crazy lady who says that declawing is torture and how would I like it if someone cut the tips of my nails off? I don't know about you, but I cut my nails as a part of my daily hygiene. Psycho, judgmental witch! How dare you come on here and judge other cat owners! Grrr!
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Spay and front declaw Litter of 4 female kittens 5 mo.
Amount: $1,200.00
Posted by: DogandKittyMama in Clinton, OH.Posted: February 2nd, 2019 07:02PM
Breed: Siamese mother; father ?Type of Procedure: Spay and front declaw
Over the last 50 years I've brought in several stray cats and delivered 3 litters. One stray a neighbor gave me turned out to be pregnant and the 4 kittens are now 5 months old. Until watching Jackson Galaxy I didn't know declaw was considered inhumane. So all my cats have been spayed or neutered and front declaw. The kittens came home from surgery just yesterday and the only change in their behavior is they aren't climbing my legs, tearing my bedding or wicker furniture or accidentally myself, the dogs or each other. One tom cat siamese I had constantly fought with a male stray that was much larger but even without front claws he always won the fight. Contrary to what Galaxy says, cats fight on their backs, cycling their hind claws into the attacker's stomach while holding on with front paws and teeth in the neck. The attacker just struggles to get away. All my cats climbed trees and furniture without hurting anything or anyone. The kittens' toes look normal-all joints present.
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Sorry but no choice
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Sad but is essential in Blakeslee, PA.Posted: January 10th, 2019 08:01AM
Breed: TabbyType of Procedure: Declaw
We found a kitten only 3 wks old and took him in. He almost died twice and now after his seizures he is blind. This was scaring him and causing him to scratch and bite. He has since gotten over that unless picked up. However he is having a lot of trouble with getting his claws caught and stuck. When you try to help him he fights harder and bites. We will have to declaw for his own protection as well as ours. We have two seniors in the house and both on blood thinners. I have an autoimmune disease and can't get an infection. He is an indoor only cat of course and it saddens me to have to do this but with his health issues I wouldn't rehome.
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Declawing
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Christmaszorro in Ventura, CA.Posted: July 23rd, 2018 12:07AM
Breed: TortoiseshellType of Procedure: Declawing
I have put off declawing as an option,in light of the situation I am revisiting it.My 10 year old tortie has always been temperamental.I worked her consistently for 2 years,she would hiss and scratch,&successfully kept it up.She has never gotten along with my other 2 cats,&they were all raised together as kittens.She is attached to me&I her,it would be cruel to give her to someone else, even a family member. I am a consistent with consequences for her scratching the other cats(which all I have to say is her name&she stops), but when I am not here I will find the other cats fur around.Expensive vet for wounds.I started to keep them separate when I am gone,but she is so clever & can open doors.As she has aged she lashes out at people, which I work on with her, she recently scratched my grandmother, needed stitches & antibiotics.New babies in the house is a concern.I tried caps, but they still cause damage to people & cats & furniture.
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Wants to know what Vet in NH does declaw?
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: a user in Dover, NH.Posted: February 28th, 2018 09:02AM
Breed: MainecoonType of Procedure: Declaw &nuter
Hello all,
We are having a really hard time finding someone to declaw my kitten. I have 2 other cats that are already declawed. My new Kitten, who is 5 months old, has a lot of energy and likes to play with my other cats but because of his claws he ends up hurting them. My other cat Bentley’s both eyes have been hurt by the kitten and I’m afraid as he’s getting bigger and stronger that he’s only going to hurt them more. All My cats are hundred percent indoor cats. We are a military family and has traveled all over the country. We had no issues getting them declawed in California. But we cannot find anyone in New Hampshire to do it for us. We have used Banfield in the past but no Banfield in Connecticut and Massachusetts will do it. If you guys know of anyone in New Hampshire area that will do the declaw I would really appreciate your help. Thanks,
Monika
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Declawing vs. Any other surgery
Amount: $600.00
Posted by: Joli in Oceanside, CA.Posted: January 10th, 2018 01:01PM
Breed: SiameseType of Procedure: Declawing
All my cats have been declawed my entire life. I keep them indoors and do not believe claws are necessary for their happiness. I also do not believe that it affects them after they heal from the surgery! My cats walk, run and jump just fine! They do not have deformed feet and I do not believe even for a second that they are still in any kind of pain. My cats are the happiest cats I've ever seen. I can tell you that I have seen what an eyeball looks like that has been scratched by a cats claw and I would much prefer to remove claws than one of my cats eyes!
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cat declawing
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: New kitten owner in Avon Lake, OH.Posted: December 24th, 2017 07:12AM
Can anyone tell me a good place in Lorain county Ohio to take my kitten; so I can have him declawed. Looking for a place that's a reasonable price.
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cancer
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: monsta kitty in Boise, ID.Posted: December 11th, 2017 09:12PM
Breed: cute strayType of Procedure: need declawed
due to my cancer I cannot have my body scratched with claws that have been in feces and urine. I do not want to declaw my cat - but cannot keep him otherwise. Do you think I'm being selfish?
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Slaying and neutering for owners sake??
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Really? in Louisville, KY.Posted: December 7th, 2017 06:12AM
Breed: FeralType of Procedure: Fixing
For Pete’s sake , fixing is for owners benefit? Really? Yeah, I don’t like a male cat spraying things, true. And females going into heat repeatedly is actually painful for them. Have you ever seen one in heat? Plus, it’s scientifically proven that spaying cuts dramatically down on uterin cancer. Fixing is the responsible thing to do so they don’t breed and then have an overpopulation and have to be euthanized because the owners are not knowledgeable or just irresponsible and/or too cheap to properly care for their cats therefore shouldn’t own any. I worked at a vets and if declawing the lazer method is the least painful and heals quickly. Other methods are more painful and can get infected if not cared for properly.
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Long life
Amount: $170.00
Posted by: Kittylover92 in Salem, OR.Posted: October 25th, 2017 09:10AM
Breed: CalicoType of Procedure:
I had my calico declawed and she was fine. She was in pain for a while but recovered. And she lived 20 years. Declawing is fine and it is not abuse.
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Cat declawing
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Ellen Cantarow in New York, NY.Posted: September 12th, 2017 03:09PM
Breed: tabbyType of Procedure: consultation/no declawing
If you are told to declaw your cat, keep a stiff upper lip and give your cat to someone who does not have to declaw it. It is beyond cruel to declaw a cat. It is like removing the first joint of all our fingers, from nail down to first joint. The cat needs its claws to defend itself, climb, and balance.
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Cat Declawing , Cruel Inhumane
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: a user in Detroit, MI.Posted: July 24th, 2017 07:07PM
Declawing a cat for any reason is essentially cutting off the cat's "fingertips" at the first joint knuckle. It's cruel, painful and causes hypersensitivity to their paws their entire life. Most end up with crippling, curled up paws because of years of walking on amputated nails that were cut at joint.
Plastic cat claws can be used instead of declawing. Please consider. Do your research. Just because a Vet offers this procedure does not mean it's humane. Think for yourself.
Horrible procedure that humans use for convenience. Please please reconsider and do not do this to your poor cat. Would you like to wake up from a surgery and have all your fingers cut off at your first knuckle? Just left with stubs? All your nails gone and most of your finger? So unnecessary.
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External Resources:
  1.  veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951448
  2.  www.avma.org/about/state-vmas
  3.  veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951363
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