Can You Declaw A Cat In Florida

Im Looking For Vets That Declaw Cats What Questions Should I Be Asking

Be sure to ask whats included in the procedure. Always confirm that:

• Nerve block will be used in each of your cats paws that will be declawed.
• Pain medication will be prescribed for 7 days after the declaw surgery.

These are must haves regardless of where you go for the procedure.

If you come to Cherished Companions, well make your cat as comfortable as possible.

Looking for vets that declaw cats?

If you want to discuss cat declawing and you live around Castle Rock or Denver, call our cat vets at 303-688-3757 or:

How Is A Cat Declawed

The standard method of declawing is amputating with a scalpel or guillotine clipper. The wounds are closed with stitches or surgical glue, and the feet are bandaged.

Another method is laser surgery, in which a small, intense beam of light cuts through tissue by heating and vaporizing it. However, it’s still the amputation of the last toe bone of the cat and carries with it the same long-term risks of lameness and behavioral problems as does declawing with scalpels or clippers.

If performed on a human being, declawing would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.

A third procedure is the tendonectomy, in which the tendon that controls the claw in each toe is severed. The cat keeps their claws, but can’t control them or extend them to scratch. This procedure is associated with a high incidence of abnormally thick claw growth. Therefore, more frequent and challenging nail trims are required to prevent the cat’s claws from snagging on people, carpet, furniture, and drapes, or from growing into the cat’s paw pads.

Because of complications, a cat who has been given a tendonectomy may require declawing later. Although a tendonectomy is not actually amputation, a 1998 study published in the “Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association” found the incidence of bleeding, lameness, and infection was similar between tendonectomy and declawing.

Yes It Is True That Young Kittens Seem To Recover Faster Than Older Cats But It’s Not Because They Feel Any Less Pain Or Have Suffered Any Less Trauma

If your kitten is already spayed or neutered, we may perform the declaw surgery earlier. It is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat. Declawing a cat, also known as onychectomy, has been banned in most european countries, along with some canadian provinces and u.s. A kitten can be declawed at the age of 5 months. Like any surgery, infection is a possibility, especially because this is not a sterile surgery.

You May Like: Cat Scratching Door

Can You Declaw A Cat In Ny

Can You Declaw A Cat In Ny? Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation banning the performance of declawing procedures on cats, making New York the first state to prohibit the practice.

Do you know the answer to this question? Help our community by submitting an answer.

Can Apartments force you to declaw your cat? Sometimes landlords require cats to be declawed in order to agree to rent a property to their owners. Many times, this is a case of not understanding what declawing is or that it isnt necessary to protect homes from cat scratching.

What are alternatives to declawing a cat? Nail caps or claw covers, such as Soft Paws, can be a great and immediate way to protect your surfaces while youre working with your cat to redirect any undesirable scratching behavior. The nail caps can be applied by you, your veterinarian, or a cat groomer, just place adhesive inside the nail cap and slide it on.

Can you declaw an indoor cat? Do you know the answer to this question? Help our community by submitting an answer.

Are There Side Effects From Declawing Cats

Sometimes.

Be sure to discuss all the potential side effects with a veterinarian upfront!

Some cats that are big clawers can turn into biters.

Theres a risk of neuropathy numbness in your cats paws. You may notice your cat limping.

And in older cats which we dont recommend declawing there is greater chance of infection and the need for ongoing pain medications.

Talk to our vets about cat declawing

If you live in or around Castle Rock, Colorado, we welcome your call. Please call us at 303-688-3757 or:

Cherished Companions Animal Clinic is a veterinary clinic in Castle Rock, Colorado. Specializing in the care of cats and dogs, our goal is to help you and your pet feel more comfortable, keeping your stress to a minimum.

This article is intended to provide general guidance about declawing a cat. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact your local veterinarian.

Read Also: Determine Cat Gender

What Age Should I Declaw My Cat

Between 3 and 6 months of age is ideal.

Typically, our veterinarians suggest you .

For many cats, thats around 5 or 6 months of age. If your kitten is already spayed or neutered, we may perform the declaw surgery earlier.

The recovery time is much quicker when cats are young. There also are fewer potential complications.

We do not recommend declawing older cats.

You Can Cover Your Cats Claws With Caps

Using a product called Soft Paws, which are plastic coverings that can be glued onto a cats nails to prevent them from causing damage when scratching, is another option to consider.

If all of these measures have been tried without success and the only alternative is giving up or euthanizing the cat, then declawing can be considered.

Also Check: Shirts With Kittens On Them

Do Vets Declaw Cats Anymore

Many countries ban declaw surgery in cats. Declawing is outlawed in the United Kingdom, much of the European Union, Australia, and at least ten other countries around the world. It is still legal to declaw a cat in most of the United States. The American Veterinary Medical Association does not oppose declawing in cats.

Floridians Might Not Be Able To Get Their Cats Declawed After July 1

Gainesville Cat Owner Kylie Doherty said, “I’ve had him for a year now. He’s definitely the light of my life.”

Doherty’s cat, Simba, is an orange fluffy cat with claws. She said she’ll never get him declawed.

This controversial topic is being brought back to light in a Florida bill. It proposes a statewide ban on declawing cats.

“We at the humane society support the bill for a number of reasons,” said Marion County Humane Society Executive Director Eddie Leed. “One of the main reasons is you’re actually amputating the cat’s toes.”

“It’s not like trimming a human fingernail,” he said. “And then, cats can also be prey and you’re taking away one of their defense mechanisms.”

But at the end of the day, who’s choice is it the state of Florida’s or the owners themselves.

“I do understand that a lot of vets are already unwilling to complete the procedure so I think it’s already kind of difficult for people who want to get their cats declawed to actually have that happen, but regardless of that if the owner wants to that then that should be their choice,” Doherty said. “That’s their right.”

If the bill passes, as of July 1, anyone who gets their cat declawed can face a $1,000 fine and veterinarians who complete the procedure could see disciplinary action from the Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Most Read

Read Also: How To Get Matts Out Of Cat Hair

Florida Bill Would Ban Cat Declawing Statewide

TAMPA, Fla. â Lawmakers in Florida are looking at joining New York in banning cat declawing.

• Florida bill would ban cat declawing
• Vets say declawing is painful, causes psychological effects
• New York is the 1st state in the country to ban it

âMy first day on the job, they did a declaw, and I was so horrified I was physically ill,â said Dr. Debra Moon, shelter veterinarian at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

Which is why she opposes declawing cats.

âYou push out the claw like that and you would actually fit this over beyond that third bone, that final bone, and cut. And youâre cutting the bone off, youâre cutting between bones. So the bone is coming off. Youâre also cutting the tendons and the ligaments,â said Moon.

Dr. Moon says the practice is extremely painful, and can also have psychological effects since the procedure removes a catâs first line of defense.

âIf theyâre warning you or another animal, theyâll bop with the foot without the claws. And if you donât back off, the claws come out, thatâs the next warning sign. And then the third would be bite. And so when you take away the ability to do that, then there is a possibility that the first thing they would do would be to bite you,â said Moon.

The American Veterinary Medicine Association does not outright ban cat declawing, but says the procedure should only happen after pet owners get a full education on cat behavior, the procedure and the consequences.

What Are Alternatives To Declawing A Cat

Nail caps or claw covers, such as Soft Paws, can be a great and immediate way to protect your surfaces while youre working with your cat to redirect any undesirable scratching behavior. The nail caps can be applied by you, your veterinarian, or a cat groomer, just place adhesive inside the nail cap and slide it on.

Also Check: Lifespan Of Tuxedo Cats

When Can You Declaw A Cat

When Can You Declaw A Cat. Most of the reasons people express when wondering, can you declaw a cat in florida? are related to simple convenience for the owner. Many countries ban declaw surgery in cats.

There is a variety of litter for declawed cats you can choose from. Declawing a cat used to be a very routine thing to do but as more and more people are educated on what this procedure actually entails and the potential damage it can cause to a cat, it has fallen out of favor among cat lovers and veterinary professionals. That’s the ideal time to train kittens to use a scratching post and allow nail trims. Englar is of the opinion that if an owner must declaw her cat, it should be done when the cat is very young or the owner risks behavioral changes. This painful surgical procedure involves the amputation of the last bone of the toe from which the nail grows.

Cs/sb 4: Declawing Of Cats

GENERAL BILLbyAgriculture Book

Related Bills

No Chapter Law citations.

Identical bill Companion bills that are identical word-for-word, not including titles. However, Resolutions and Concurrent Resolutions are considered identical if the only difference is the word “House” or “Senate.”

Similar bill Companion bills that are substantially similar in text or have substantial portions of text that are largely the same.

Compare bill Bills that have selected provisions that are similar in text.

Linked bill A bill that is contingent upon passage of another bill within the same chamber, e.g., a trust fund bill, a bill providing a public record exemption, or an implementing bill.

Also Check: Can Cats Eat Mayo

Position Statement On Declawing Cats

The ASPCA is strongly opposed to declawing cats for the convenience of their owners or to prevent damage to household property. The only circumstances in which the procedure should be considered are those in which all behavioral and environmental alternatives have been fully explored, have proven to be ineffective, and the cat is at grave risk of euthanasia.

Cats’ claws are a vital part of their arsenal for both offense and defense. They use them to capture prey and to settle disputes with or escape from other animals or people who are hurting or threatening them.

As part of their daily rituals, cats instinctually pull the claws on their front paws through surfaces that offer resistance. They do this to mark their territory, exercise muscles normally used in hunting, relieve stress and remove worn sheaths from their nails.

A variety of alternatives exist to manage natural scratching behavior and to prevent injury from cat scratches. These include having a cats nails trimmed regularly in order to blunt the tips, providing scratching pads, posts and other appealing structures for the cat to use and employing behavior modification techniques to induce the cat to use them, using deterrents such as double-sided tape to protect furnishings, and covering the claws with soft temporary pads . Owners should also be familiar with cat behavior and proper handling techniques to avoid being scratched.

Do They Declaw Cats Anymore

Many countries ban declaw surgery in cats. Declawing is outlawed in the United Kingdom, much of the European Union, Australia, and at least ten other countries around the world. It is still legal to declaw a cat in most of the United States. The American Veterinary Medical Association does not oppose declawing in cats.

Read Also: Can Cats Eat Mayonnaise With Tuna

Why Should I Declaw My Cat

If behavior and environmental modification efforts fail, declawing your cat can ensure the safety of your family, pets, or property. For your family, this could be for the safety of your infant, elderly, or family members with health issues that cannot risk infection from a scratch.

In some situations, your vet may recommend your pet to be declawed for their own safety, such as in the case of a tumor, chronic infection, or other health complications that require being declawed.

What Are Alternatives To Declawing

If your kitten is around 8-weeks old and has started scratching, this is the moment they need to start using scratching posts. This is also around the time to get them used to regular nail clipping. If they are older, there are still a number of ways to train your cat not to scratch your furniture.

All our staff are happy to discuss alternative options to declawing during your furry friends visit, but here are some alternatives to consider before declawing:

• Scratching Posts & Toys

Read Also: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food

Young Cats Deal Best With Declawing

The best candidates for declaw surgery are young cats. Younger animals tend to heal better and typically weigh less than older cats which means less stress will be put on the paws after surgery. A young cat can be declawed at the same time he/ she is neutered/ spayed, thus sparing the cat from going through a second anesthetic event.

Cats Need Special Care After Being Declawed

Cats undergoing declaw surgery are given medications for pain and inflammation before and after surgery. They stay one night in the hospital. For optimal recovery, it is recommended that cats be kept confined to a large crate or small part of the house for 14 days after surgery.

It is also best to use litter made of paper pellets for 2 weeks after declawing, as it is softer on the cats paws. The pet is sent home with an elizabethan collar to wear so that they cannot lick their incisions.

Don’t Miss: How To Get A Kitten To Calm Down

International Bans On Declawing Cats

Making the declawing procedure illegal is not just a hot topic in the US. In many countries, the practice of declawing cats for nonmedical reasons has been illegal under their animal cruelty laws.

In 2011, Israel amended the Law Against Cruelty to Animals to include a ban on the practice of declawing cats. Australia, New Zealand and Brazil also have restrictions in place to prevent declawing as well.

A ban is also in place in the United KingdomEngland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Irelandunder the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.

Under the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, the following countries have restricted or banned the declawing of cats:

• Austria

• Alberta

Whats The Recovery From A Cat Declaw Surgery

Typically, well keep your cat for 2 days.

We want to make sure the bandages stay on, and your cat has a confined and quiet space to begin healing.

When your cat comes home, give your kitty time to rest and heal.

We suggest you use paper litter for a least one week.

Regular kitty litter can get into the area thats healing and cause infections.

Cats are very good at hiding discomfort. Be sure to give your cat the pain medication, even if he or she is acting normal.

Don’t Miss: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food

Can Declawing Lead To Any Medical Complications Or Problems

We all understand how hard it is when you are at that point and you ask yourself the question, should i declaw my indoor cat or why should i declaw my cat. For many cats, that’s around 5 or 6 months of age. That’s the ideal time to train kittens to use a scratching post and allow nail trims. Declawing is outlawed in the united kingdom, much of the european union, australia, and at least ten other countries around the world. The american veterinary medical association does not oppose declawing in cats. Some cat experts call the procedure, known medically as an onychectomy, cruel and unnecessary and liken it to removing. Far too often, cat owners believe declawing is a simple procedure that removes a cat’s nails â sort of like when we have our fingernails trimmed. Young, immature cats declawed at less than 6 months of age heal fastest, experience the least pain, and have the lowest risk of complications. Englar is of the opinion that if an owner must declaw her cat, it should be done when the cat is very young or the owner risks behavioral changes. However, times are changing, and a movement to ban the declawing of cats has emerged. Your vet might recommend doing a month or so earlier or later depending on the growth of your kitten. Many people assume that having their cat declawed is a routine and necessary activity. My answer is always the same, never!