Miami Veterinarian Clinic

Declawing Your Cat

One of the most common surgeries that a cat may undergo is declawing. There are various pros and cons to this type of surgery. Some cat owners are completely against it because they see it as cruelty to the animal. Others swear by it and would recommend it to anyone. Like any surgery, there are risks. It is up to each individual owner to decide with their Miami veterinarian clinic what is best for your cat.

Why Pet Owners Get Cats Declawed

Most people will choose to declaw their cat because they do not want the cat to cause damage to items in their home. Cats have a natural desire to scratch their claws on things and will use anything that is there to exercise their claws. The damage can be costly to the owner so they may take their cat to a Miami veterinarian clinic to be declawed.

Declawing Methods

There are several methods that can be used to declaw a cat. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. An owner should consider all of these carefully and, with the help of a Miami veterinarian clinic, decide which method is best. One method involves removing the entire bone that grows the nails. Another method removes just a piece of the bone. The final method severs the tendons that control the claws so that the cat can no longer use them.

When to Declaw Your Cat

It is best to declaw your cat when she is young. Many Miami veterinarian clinics will not declaw a cat beyond a certain age. The most common ages to declaw are 4 to 8 months old. It is also best if the cat is not overweight. An overweight cat can have more complications from any surgery including declawing. Young cats that are an average weight will recover more quickly than an older cat that is overweight.

If you decide that declawing is the best option for your cat, you will need to watch your cat closely for any complications that may occur. This can include excessive bleeding, nail regrowth and infection. If anything out of the ordinary shows up with your cat, a visit to the Miami veterinarian clinic is important to keep your cat healthy.