Declaw

When?
Although it is possible to perform this surgery any time during a cat’s life, we strongly recommend that it be performed as early in a cat’s life as safely possible – usually at the same time of spay or neuter, which is prior to 6 months of age. The benefit to this is the one time use of anesthesia, versus two.

What is the surgery?
Declaw surgery is the removal of the bit of bone in your cat’s toe (the last phalanx) where the cells that create the claw or toenail originate. The removal of this bone, results in the inability of the toenail to re-grow and form claws.

Discomfort?
There is some pain associated with this surgery; therefore, we use a painkiller with this procedure. Our protocol usually depends on the extent of development of the toenail and associated tissue; thus, older cats with more developed and bigger nails require more pain management, younger cats usually require less. Pain management will be customized to your cat’s specific needs to minimize any pain caused by this procedure.

Your cat’s feet will be bandaged following the procedure to control any bleeding and provide a cushioned pad during his or her recovery. These bandages are usually removed the following morning, and the surgery sites are checked before your cat is released from the hospital. Surgical glue is used to close the incisions, so there is no suture removal required.

Post-surgical Care?
We will provide you with a special type of litter to be used for the first 3-4 days when your kitty goes home. We recommend that you use this litter in place of your regular litter at first so that the clay or sand doesn’t get stuck in the incisions and cause infection.

Your kitty should be kept in a small, confined area for the first couple of days and monitored for any large amount of bleeding. Younger cats usually recover quite well with no problems.