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CostHelper.com > Pets & Pet Care > Cat Declawing
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Cat Declawing Cost |
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How Much Does Cat Declawing Cost? |
 | Medium: $100-$250 |
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 | High: $250-$450 |
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| Typical costs: | - Declawing a cat using one of the two common conventional methods usually costs between $100 and $250, depending on the veterinarian and which procedure is used. The "Rescoe 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 $450, depending on the veterinarian.
- 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.
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 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 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 and a list of questions to ask.
- 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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Article updated October 2007 |
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
Page 2 of 2 - << Previous 1 2
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| Laser Declawing |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Grace in Whiteville, NC. | Posted: April 14th, 2010 11:04AM |
| Breed: short-haired tabby | Type of Procedure: |
| I'd like to know if anyone has had a 3yr old cat declawed. |
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| laser declaw |
| Amount: $180.00 |
| Posted by: Watson's mommy in Warren, MI. | Posted: May 10th, 2010 12:05AM |
| Breed: persian | Type of Procedure: laser declaw |
| I had my cat declawed 4 days ago. He seemed a bit out of it for a day but he seems to be doing fine now. He\'s more annoyed with the e-collar than his sore paws. He\'s just as loving and sweet as he was prior to the surgery. He wants to jump and play already but I\'ve been discouraging this in order for him to heal. He does not like the Yesterday\'s News litter...at all! I\'ve noticed he\'s been very restless and at first I thought it was due to his sore paws. No, it\'s because he won\'t use the litter box with the new litter. I let him use his regular scoopable litter then cleaned his paws afterwards. Needless to say, that solved the restlessness. The cost of the declaw included the laser fee, pain meds (during surgery and take home meds), and IV fluids. I wouldn\'t necessarily listen to the horror stories about changed personality and lack of litter box use as this was not the case with our cat. |
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| changed temperment |
| Amount: $225.00 |
| Posted by: Krissy in Carrollton, TX. | Posted: May 15th, 2010 01:05PM |
| Breed: Tabby | Type of Procedure: Regular Declaw |
| I had my male orange tabby declawed at age 3 and it did definitely change his personality. He used to be very secure and loving but sadly he did change; he is not very secure and he is very afraid of everything, which makes him act out. He is very mean to strangers and he bites. He is generally not a very happy cat. I love him dearly, our whole family does. That will never change. But we have to put him up when people come because they are afraid of him. I know it's only because he's afraid...but it is still hard. I've had cats for 20 years and have had other cats declawed with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I think this is a rare instance but it really hurts me to know that he changed. He did not come home the same. I don't know how I feel about declawing anymore. |
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| I regret it |
| Amount: $300.00 |
| Posted by: Consuelo in New Orleans, LA. | Posted: June 8th, 2010 08:06PM |
| Breed: Tabbies | Type of Procedure: Declawing |
| I researched and thought long and hard for months before I considered even deciding on declawing. The vet did not send me home with pain meds, I thought that was odd, he said the anesthesia for surgery was enough. My cats howled for 1 week straight. A year later one of the cats has "phantom pain", she holds her paw up,Im a nurse and asked a patient who has phantom pain what it feels like and he said shooting pains through his body, and the other cat's skin will shake if i touch her paw where her claw used to be. I wish I would of gotten Laser Declawed |
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| Posted by: a user in Cynthiana, KY. | Posted: July 8th, 2010 06:07PM |
| Breed: Domestic | Type of Procedure: Declawing |
| I was given a kitten who was just weined as a birthday present and he is constantly climbing the curtains. I'm thinking about declawing him but am unsure because he is so young. What's the youngest anyone has declawed their cat? I was thinking about the laser type since its supposed to be less painful. |
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| Cat Declawing |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: cat couple in Seattle in Seattle, WA. | Posted: July 31st, 2010 12:07AM |
| Breed: 6 different type over 30+ years | Type of Procedure: |
| We have had at least 1 cat in our home over a span of 30+years, total of 7 cats in all. When we got each cat we had it fixed and all 4 paws declawed. Don't believe the horror stories and hype that the cat will have all kinds of problems. None of our's did and each lived a long and healthy life (19-21 years). Now we have adopted a 2 year old cat that was fixed and declawed on the front paws only. We live in the Seattle,on a fixed income, so surgery costs are very important to us. However we are trying to find a veterinarian who will do back paw declawing but have not had any luck. Any suggestions? |
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| Declaw nightmare |
| Amount: $300.00 |
| Posted by: Cher in Omaha, NE. | Posted: September 26th, 2010 10:09PM |
| Breed: Domestic Short hair | Type of Procedure: Declaw front and back |
| I took my new 2 yr old cat to be declawed 5 days ago. Had 2 other cats declawed back and front no problems and spent 1 day at vet. My cat went in Thursday and it is now Sunday and still not ready to come home. Went to see her Friday and almost cried. I saw bloody mutilated paws that I never have seen in my other 2 cats. Did I make a mistake or was this a screw up? They are not giving me any answers just that she is still bleeding. I did not realize the extent of this surgery until I read about it. Since the other 2 cats had no issues I felt I was doing the right thing. Why is it 5 days and she still is at the vet? |
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| Declawing Experiences Have Been Good |
| Amount: $170.00 |
| Posted by: Dan Kelly in Rochester, NY. | Posted: October 8th, 2010 08:10AM |
| Breed: Domestic Short Hair | Type of Procedure: disarticulation |
| I have had 11 cats over the years. 4 of them with claws and 7 front-declawed. My declawed cats (some were adopted that way) act no differently at all than cats with claws. In the past I've taken kittens to get fixed/declawed and they were home the next day like nothing ever happened, running and playing. Now the vets want to charge more and keep them overnight for 3 nights to "observe them". I think it's more traumatic for the cat to have to stay in a cage at the vets than it is to be declawed. Don't believe people who tell you that declawing is cruel. They are spreading a lot of lies and misinformation. Observe for yourself how cats act that have been declawed. Have you seen a child scratched up and scarred by a cat? How about $2000 worth of furniture/carpeting/clothing/window screens destroyed? What a cat can do with his/her claws is much crueler, and every declawed cat I've ever seen acts like it doesn't even know it's claws are missing. My first declawed cats lived 19 and 20 yrs, and they had full lives of love, fun, and play. I have a 13 yr old and 1 yr old now, both front-declawed. The older one still plays and jumps and pounces on toys all the time (when he's not busy eating salmon fillet for dinner). I'm sure if my cats could talk they'd say they are quite happy! |
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| Declawing |
| Amount: $218.00 |
| Posted by: Deborah J in El Paso, TX. | Posted: October 26th, 2010 01:10PM |
| Breed: Siamese | Type of Procedure: Declawing/Neutered |
| Just brought our baby home and he is doing well. The e-collar disturbs him more than the surgeries. He is 19 weeks old and the amount spent included the collar and post surgical care with pain meds. However, his sister (same age) will not go near him and hisses when he is anywhere near her. |
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| Posted by: Jan G. in Mayer, AZ. | Posted: November 7th, 2010 10:11AM |
| Breed: various | Type of Procedure: declaw NOT done |
| I would never subject any cat of mine to this needless and disfiguring surgery!! Cats have their claws for a reason; several in fact. The atrophy of muscles in cats after delawing is real; I've seen it firsthand with my mother in law's two cats. Their shoulders and backs are very flabby and reduced and their gait is stilted and short. They can no longer run. Her cats were very outgoing and friendly before they were mutilated. Now they are reclusive and run and hide when visitors arrive. I tried to explain to her what happens in the"procedure" and tried to recommend a tendonectomy(claws kept intact but useless), but to no avail. Please, if everything has been tried honestly, and you feel you must do this barbaric mutilation, please consider the tendonectomy instead. The cat's nails will still grow and need trimming, but at least the feet will not be horribly maimed. Also, how would YOU like to have all the tips of YOUR fingers lopped off just to save some stupid furniture that doesen't love you or can't feel pain? People with declawed cats are too lazy to take 10 minutes every other week to properly trim the nails, and train the cats to use appropriate scrating sites or Soft Paws nail caps. I have 5 cats, all happily with claws, thank you. We have been using Soft Paws for years, and bought all the cool colors. PLEASE use these instead of taking the lazy way out and sujecting your cat to this heinous torture. |
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| Never had a problem with declawing |
| Amount: $150.00 |
| Posted by: a user in Cary, IL. | Posted: November 12th, 2010 09:11AM |
| Breed: Various | Type of Procedure: Front declawing |
| My family has had cats for the last fifty years ranging from common farm cats to purebreeds. All have been indoor and outdoor animals and have had their front paws declawed. Not one of them has ever had a problem with arthritis or climbing a tree if they wanted to (they wrap their arms around the truck and dig in with back claws). I have also never noticed an aggressive change in personality or temperament. Quite the opposite actually, as once they have healed from the operation (usually two to five days) they can now be a lap cat or need with their paws without hurting their owner which leads to more time being held and cuddled, better for evernyone. Some people may claim declawing hurts / changes the animal but I have never witnessed any negative side effects from my pets. If you are thinking about declawing then I would say go ahead and have it done. |
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| Posted by: Bonnie41 in Mpls, MN. | Posted: December 3rd, 2010 10:12AM |
| Breed: Orange Tabby | Type of Procedure: Declaw |
| I adopted a cat back in 1990 and had him declawed. He turned out to be the coolest cat EVER! He was under a year old when I had it done and it did not alter his personality. I never saw any blood. He seemed fine and I never saw signs of discontentment over not having claws. He was very playful and active, being declawed never affected that or really any other regular things cats do on a daily basis. His paws did not look disfigured, he just didnt have nails. I just adopted another kitty as that Tabby passed 7 years ago. I am going to do the same thing If i can find a vet I like and trust. |
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| Declawing Costs |
| Amount: $1,100.00 |
| Posted by: Ridiculous22 in Palm Desert, CA. | Posted: December 28th, 2010 02:12PM |
| Breed: Domestic cat | Type of Procedure: Declawing - front only |
| I have had declawed cats all my life. We just put our last cat down at age 19.5 years, so it's been awhile since I checked out this procedure. Now we have two kittens from the animal shelter and the CHEAPEST quote I got is $560 per cat for declawing. The highest quote is $1,100 per cat. We live in Southern California. Is this really high or is it just me??? |
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| Posted by: Autumn in Manteo, NC. | Posted: January 11th, 2011 06:01PM |
| Breed: Domestic | Type of Procedure: ?? |
| I am getting a kitten on the first my mom said it has to be declawed but I want to know if this is the right thing to do. Please help me. |
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| declawing |
| Amount: $125.00 |
| Posted by: budnpunk in Port Richey, FL. | Posted: January 13th, 2011 12:01PM |
| Breed: 3 month old kitten | Type of Procedure: declaw |
| I've had many cats over the years and currently have a 3 yr. old declawed cat. I adopted him this way. Before that I had a declawed cat that lived to be 18 years old. and saw no ill effects from the declaw. Before that while growing up, my mom was getting remarried and her new husband said our family cat had to be declawed. She was declawed at 10 years old. She lived to be 16. She was fine also. No problems. Now I have a 3 month old kitten that I found outside, had him neutered and have decided that I want to declaw him as well, but I am having guilt over this. |
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| Posted by: janet jubilee in atlanta, GA. | Posted: March 13th, 2011 08:03PM |
| Breed: none | Type of Procedure: none |
| I see a lot if denial here. Cats need their feet in order to walk and jump right. Declawing is illegal in all other countries for a good reason. Don't have a cat if you are to life long harm it. The excuse to chopping off a cat's toes is pathetic. |
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| Concerned Cat Lover |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Jem1981 in Richland, WA. | Posted: March 14th, 2011 07:03PM |
| Breed: Tabby and Siamese Torti | Type of Procedure: Declaw |
| I have recently been considering the procedure to declaw my two cats but I have many concerns. I have been "training" them for years to not scratch the furniture and use their scratch posts. Somedays they do great but cats will be cats, and other days they find the furniture ohh so scatch terrific!! It's in their nature and they don't know any different. I love my babies but I've tried everything from constantly keeping their claws clipped, soft paws (which are hard to put on while they fall off all the time so they still claw things up) to annoying sprays that stink up my furniture. I feel like it's the last resort but I don't want to hurt my cats. They are lovey indoor cats and are age 6 and 7 which I've had since they were babies. Does anyone know if the procedure harder on them since they are older? Most of the time you hear cats getting declawed at early ages. Would love to get some feedback or suggestions. Thanks!! |
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| what to do |
| Amount: $150.00 |
| Posted by: jdack in saint paul, NE. | Posted: March 19th, 2011 07:03PM |
| Breed: calico | Type of Procedure: |
| I had my first cat declawed and had no problems. Now I just had my second cat done and she will not use the paper I'm just worried that when I go back to litter she won't use it anymore. Has any one had that happen? Do they use litter when they can again? |
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| Posted by: Sara519 in San Diego, CA. | Posted: April 8th, 2011 08:04PM |
| Breed: short hair | Type of Procedure: |
| I'm planning to move back east, into my Mom and Dad's home. They live in a 130 year old historic house with 3 Pommerainians and an old, blind cat. I have one incredibly loving and affectionate "scratcher." I've decided to declaw her to avoid any fights between the animals. Is it cheaper on the east coast than here in San Diego? Are the procedures comparable? |
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| Declawing |
| Amount: $210.00 |
| Posted by: Bridget - Grand Rapids MI in Grand Rapids, MI. | Posted: April 20th, 2011 09:04AM |
| Breed: Domestic Medium Hair | Type of Procedure: Front declaw |
I have had cats all my life. All our previous cats were indoor/outdoor so, we never had them neutered/spayed or declawed. It did not seem like the thing to do 20-25 years ago. Now, it is the only thing to do.
Over the past 10 years, we have adopted six new cats - ages 3-4 years to 14 years old. 4 girls and 2 boys. All stay indoor only. All are neutered and spayed. All are now front declawed too. Last one is being declawed today.
When you research and read about declawing it sounds like an absolutely terrible procedure. Most websites make you out to be a monster of a human if you do this to them.
I agree with almost everyone else at this website that they get pain meds during and after surgery and if they are kept in a confined space for a few days to heal and improve, within 7-10 days they they are all back to normal. Cats are extremely resiliant.
They pretend to scratch their claws on furniture and doors and the like for the balance of their lives so, they don't know the claws are gone. They do not seem to loose their sense of balance as many claim and we have not seen any personality changes. That's not to say it can't happen, but we have yet to experience any strange or unusual final side effects.
Of coures, make sure you use a reputable vet with a good history and try to get to know them well before a surgery. Most animal lovers already have that in place. Find out what is involved in the surgery and prepare to help your cat recover with proper care for a few days.
On a side note, if I had a cat that was both indoor and outdoor, I would choose NOT to declaw as to allow them to defend themselves. Also, with FIV and FLeuk heavy in the outdoor world with male unneutered cats now, I would choose NOT to let my pet outside anymore as they can easily get infected nowadays.
All our cats are doing A-Ok. Just ask Harry, Emmy, Elliott, Abby, Trixie and Bernie. Our land of fur persons are living large and loving it.
Good luck! |
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| Posted by: a user in Pomeroy, OH. | Posted: July 17th, 2011 11:07AM |
| Breed: Tabby | Type of Procedure: Declaw |
| I had my male tabby declawed and neutered at the same time when he was 6mo old, six years ago using the traditional declaw method. The clinic kept him overnight and other than not liking the newspaper litter and being a bit sore for a couple of days, he wasn't affected and retained his same temperment. Six years later, he has no problems, is an inside/outside cat and plays well with my cat that has claws. |
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| cat declawing |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: miss kitty in new hope, MN. | Posted: September 4th, 2011 06:09AM |
| Breed: american shorthair | Type of Procedure: front and back |
| i adopted my cat with both front and back feet declawed he has no prblems in fact he is a master mouser when the mice get in the house in the winter |
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| Vet Tech Against Declawing |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Kathleen Hickman in New Orleans, LA. | Posted: September 26th, 2011 06:09PM |
| I'm a former veterinary technician, and my experience of assisting with declaw surgeries and patient aftercare has convinced me that there is nothing humane about this procedure. Regardless of the method used, declawing has a high risk of complications, and is still 10 or more amputations that result in a permanent alteration to the skeletal structure and the way the cat bears its weight on the paws, and thus the potential for long-term musculoskeletal disorders to develop over time is the same regardless of method. There are numerous humane alternatives to declawing. People with declawed cats will tell you not to listen to "horror stories" because *their* cat happens to have been one of the lucky ones, but for every cat that recovers well from this radical and painful procedure, there are others who are now living their lives in chronic pain, and there is no way for even the most skilled surgeon to predict beforehand which cases will be horror stories and which will not. |
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| Declawing is animal abuse in my country and many others too |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: kattaddorra in london, LA. | Posted: September 27th, 2011 04:09AM |
| The article is all about the cost of declawing in monetary terms, what about the cost to the cat ?\r\nBy whichever method used declawing is the amputation of the cats end toe joints, it is a cruel and unnecessary operation which disables cats for life. Cats need their claws for walking, balance, exercise and for playing as well as for self defence. It\'s very wrong that little kittens can be declawed thus depriving them of the chance to learn to use a scratching post. It is very simple to teach a cat to do so and to have a happy healthy cat instead of a crippled cat.Some cats may seem to suffer no consequences from declawing but any true cat lover knows that cats hide their pain. Many declawed cats are right now suffering in silence ! Even before declawing was banned here in the UK our vets would not do it, they did not break their oath to cause no animal to suffer. Cats NEED claws, if you don\'t like claws DON\'T get a cat !!!! |
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| Posted by: SarahBeth in Bean Blossom, IN. | Posted: November 23rd, 2011 02:11PM |
| Breed: Black | Type of Procedure: Front Declaw |
| This vet clinic is located in Bean Blossom, IN (just north of Bloomington, IN). This is by far the best price for a declaw; however, the vet does not take appointments. The clinic opens at 1pm. I was there at noon and had to wait for 2 hours until they took my year and a half old cat in. They kept him overnight and he is doing great! A little wait is worth a ton of savings! |
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| laser declaw |
| Amount: $800.00 |
| Posted by: a user in colorado springs, CO. | Posted: December 5th, 2011 04:12PM |
| Breed: siamese/lynx | Type of Procedure: laser declaw surgery (front only) |
| I have had my cat Tiffany for 13 years now, i got her as an 8 week old kitten and tried everything i could from training her to soft claw caps to sprays, etc she eventually got to the point where she was ripping up entire sections of carpet and ruined 1,000s of dollars of furniture. I finally gave in when she was about 4 years old. I about 800 total with the pre op blood work, the surgery, anesthesia, pain medication, special kitty litter and antibiotics etc. i paid a lot i know but it was worth it, she can't scratch anything and it never seemed to bother her. |
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| Declawing-Overnight stay or not |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Trish Wyatt in Pinellas Park, FL. | Posted: December 12th, 2011 09:12AM |
| Breed: Domestic kitten | Type of Procedure: Declkawing-Front only |
| I am getting prices and information on declawing my kitten. He is almost 4 months old. Surprises me the cost difference. My concern is some vets declaw and keep them only for the day, they say they do not intubate the kitten. I am concerned about that, sending them home with no overnight stay and would like some folks comments on this!! |
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