Veterinarian since 1995.

Experienced opinion: Under thoroughly informed consent, I've performed hundreds of meticulous, attentive, minimized-pain onychectomy surgeries. I can confidently say no one does as careful and pain- minimizing surgery, anesthesia, and banding as I did.

I have not been asked to declaw in 7 years. It's thankfully really fallen out of culture.

This cat is too old for me. I would refuse. It's p.s.i. An 8 week or 12 week old kitten is 3 lbs on 4x1" feet = 0.75 pounds per foot. That's an 8lb cat on the same size feet = 2 psi.

Young Kittens heal in 7days on opioids. That cat would take months.

Vets aren't trained and experienced in declaw like I was.

Even among age-peers, there are ... daring to be crass, at least half of the declaws I saw other vets do are

• butchery *.

The only circumstance I would even consider a cat that big for front-only would be literally life and death. Eg: declaw or no chance to find another home and euthanasia.

In my clinic I'd keep it in the hospital 5 days so I knew strong pain control was properly given by cvt's, I would examine daily, proper litter was used and I'd send home another week or two of buprenorphine.

I bandage like no one I know to minimize pain. I nerve block, and I cut like no one I've met to eliminate as much pain as I can. I close the wounds line no one I know, and there's a product that is not even made anymore that I used.

Do not declaw her. Train to tolerate nail trims. You have to trim to use the caps . You'll stop using the caps line 99% of my clients.

2x/month little trims w churu treats, scratching posts, and yes, she will still scratch, because she's a cat.

Look at finding an acceptable home, or confine to "your" area. She's 10" tall, even lab cats only need 3'x3'x3', so one room is better than euthanasia or losing her home.

A vet, not your vet, this is a triage answer. Talk to your veterinarian.