UPDATE August 13, 2026.

 KSU's Health Center has finally stopped performing declawing.

In August 2026 one of our researchers asked the Health Center for the cost of a neuter/declaw and the employee said they do not declaw cats.  The researcher asked why and the employee asked another employee and they said because it is inhumane.

Just to confirm we reached out to the Dean of KSU on August 6, 2026 and asked her if they stopped declawing.  

Dr Elizabeth Davis, Veterinary Health Center Hospital Director and Executive Associate Dean, wrote back and said, "In accordance with  AVMA policy and veterinary licensure best practices, the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine recognizes animal welfare as a fundamental priority.  For this reason, procedures that are medically indicated and intended to support the health and well-being of animals are included in the veterinary curriculum. Decisions regarding individual patient care needs are made based on the patient’s medical needs, applicable professional standards, and clinical judgement. "

Since we didn't receive a clear answer we emailed her again and asked if KSU's Veterinary Health Center stopped declawing and didn't hear back.

After two emails we finally received this answer. "Consistent with AVMA policy, KSU CVM follows the practice of veterinary medicine to provide services that are medically indicated and support animal health and well-being.  The practice of feline declawing is not in alignment with AVMA policy and is not practiced at KSU CVM."

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Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Health  Center is the last veterinary college clinic that performs declawing. Here's our story. https://citythekitty.org/why-is-kansas-state-university-so-backwards-compared-to-all-the-other-veterinary-schools-in-the-world-ksu-still-performs-the-inhumane-procedure-of-declawing-cats/

How can KSU call their small animal hospital a “health” center and have the word “heal” under it when they regularly perform such a cruel, inhumane, mutilating, and unnecessary amputation procedure?

We reached out to KSU in 2019 and 2021 to ask them why they allow declawing in their animal hospital but never heard back.

We sent an email to all their veterinary staff members, including Dr Bonnie Rush, on January 29, 2025 and never got a reply.

Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine is in Manhattan, KS.  The Dean of KSU's College of Veterinary Medicine is Dr Bonnie Rush.

Please send her a polite email and ask her why is KSU the last vet college that is declawing cats. Email- brush@vet.k-state.edu and dean@vet.k-state.edu

Please send a polite email to KSU's two declawing vets and ask them why they are still declawing cats. David UpChurch- upchuda@vet.k-state.edu and Dr Emily Klocke - eklocke@vet.k-state.edu

Let us know if you get a reply. Citythekitty@gmail.com

January 2025.

Our researcher asked what is their cost for a neuter/declaw and the employee asked, “Do know if you are wanting to do it like they normally do it with a scalpel or do you want to do it with a laser?” The researcher asked what the difference is. The employee said that the scalpel is what they normally they would do in most clinics and the laser is a little bit more precise. Researcher asked if they do declaws regularly and the employee said, “I believe so, yes.”

The employee said they would put the researcher in touch with the surgery scheduler to answer the specific questions about the declaw.

The surgery scheduler said that a laser neuter/ 2 paw declaw $414-$425.  A scalpel 2 paw declaw/neuter is $280-$285.

They said that Dr Emily Klocke ( https://www.vet.k-state.edu/academics/clinical-sciences/faculty-staff/faculty/klocke/ ) and Dr David Upchurch ( https://www.vet.k-state.edu/academics/clinical-sciences/faculty-staff/faculty/upchurch-david/ ) perform the declaws with a laser or scalpel “safely.”

The employee said either the scalpel or laser is fine and the laser cauterizes as it cuts and but the scalpel is a litter cheaper. They said that with the laser there is “less trauma on the nails ” and they take the first joint off.

The researcher asked if they do declaws regularly and the employee said yes.

Researcher asked if the cats are ok long term after a declaw and this person said, “They seem to get along just fine.”

They said they haven’t had any problems, but they said that they aren’t saying that’s not a possibly to have problems, and said they have had “pretty good success” with their declaws.

They said the cats go home the next day with pain meds for around 3-5 days.

They said the laser cauterizes as it cuts and there is less trauma on the nails and they take out the first joint off and that the scalpel method is cheaper and either method “is fine.”

The two employees at this KSU Veterinary Health Center did not mention anything about the humane alternatives to declawing like nail trims, behavioral training, scratching posts, or nail caps.