Declawing is an amputation of the end of the toes, like removing your fingers at the last joint. We have to be very careful about pain relief and bleeding after this surgery. Cats would have to stay in the hospital for two days, and some days, frankly, we’d arrive in the morning to find a kennel painted in blood.

Let me repeat: Declawing is an AMPUTATION.

None of my cats have been declawed (except two nails removed from Max because of health issues). My furniture has a few blemishes, and I’ve used some tools to help minimize unwanted damage. And I have a five foot tall cat tree in my living room.

When we decided to stop doing cosmetic declaws at Richmond Veterinary Clinic, it felt a bit dangerous — we were telling folks they couldn’t have something they wanted, and the conversation about the alternative is long and sometimes does not end well. (To be clear, if there is a health reason, we are still going to look after your cat.)

However, if you want your cat declawed, if there is no other acceptable alternative, if educational materials and some really great tools just won’t do it for you, then we’re not your clinic.

And that’s part of why I’m here, online. To make sure I don’t waste your time finding the perfect veterinary clinic for your pets.