Cat Declaw Issue-Heard of this?

[Mickeypooh99]

When I first moved into my brand new house 12 year ago, my cat clawed up the carpet in a couple of rooms. Brand new carpet! He also clawed furniture and wood trim. I don't blame the apartment for not allowing cats with claws.

We have 2 rescue cats that we front declawed. There is no way I will ever have another cat with claws destroying my house. The cats we adopted would probably have been put down if we didn't take them home so I figure being declawed is better than being dead. They are happy, cuddly, and healthy cats who never bite. They are also indoor only cats.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

That actually would be a problem for us because we cannot declaw one of our cats period. Don't get me wrong, we tried because she's a polydactyl and has problems walking on carpets when her claws are longer. But it turns out she has a slight heart murmur that is aggravated by anesthesia. The vet actually stopped before touching her claws because her heart was freaking out when she went under.

Her brother had a severe heart murmur so this wasn't surprising to us. But it means she can't get declawed. Thankfully we haven't come across this problem with renting apartments yet.

 

[dakcp2001]

You have a blind cat? How sweet. I read the book "Homer's Odyssey" a few months ago, a great story about a blind cat. Have you read it?

No, I will addd it to my list!

The only damage this guy has done here is to the blinds. if we forget to put them up, he stuffs himself through anyway and bent some slats. I guess it makes sense that if he cant see, he doesnt "look" for things to scratch. He has never scratched our carpets or walls!!

They have offered to take a letter from a previous landlord stating that there was no damage when we left and a much higher security deposit. I have owned a home for the last 5 years, but we were able to track down our prior landlord who said she would be happy to write my kitty a recommendation letter (lol sounds silly) . He was younger then and could still see (he has retinal degeneration which is a condition that progresses) and he didnt do any damage to anything. Even with the letter, we are going with our second choice apartment. I feel like they may just use it later to charge us for everything when we move out even if not cat related. The prior tenants said they got a huge bill after moving out (they had no cat) and told me all the issues with the landlord and he is not someone I want to deal with on a regular basis. Hisn online reviews say no one ever gets their deposits back anyway.

It is illegal in several cities in California as well as a few in Virginia to declaw cats. I would never have a cat declawed I agree that it is barbaric and inhumane. Where I live it is unheard of, I am surprised to see it is so common in other areas. Not in the cards for me anyway, my choice it to keep my kitty as he is, a loveable little lump of fur and claws.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I called my vet to ask if she had ever heard of this and she told me that declawed cats tend to stop using the litter box & also start to bite. So that would be more damaging to an apartment.

BS. I've grown up with cats, most of which were declawed. None have ever had litter box issues. Only one ever bit (and only when she was really annoyed). One was a perfectly effective huntress while clawless. One climbed trees without front claws. Cats will do what they want, and a failure to properly eliminate or act with respect towards their humans is a result of poor training on behalf of their owners.

I have two cats now. One who came to me fully declawed and is the sweetest animal ever. The other just joined our family last week, after being abandoned very young. She still has her claws, but our plans are to take her front ones off once she's of age so that the two house felines will be on the same playing field.

All that being said, a declawing requirement for apartment renting is not the norm around here. Make sure it's not spelled out in your contract (which includes any reference to the apartments rules and regulations).

 

[Shyvioletisme]

my cat isn't declawed and I would never do it to any other cat. He only scratches on his scratching posts. He does chew holes in blinds though, but it's not a problem, we've just always bought new blinds before we've moved out of apartments.

now my parents have 2 cats that have scratched up the carpet in their house.

 

[superme80]

The only cat that I was ok with being declawed was my friends cat. She adopted him from friends who were heavily into drugs and the drugs in the air sort of screwed the cat up mentally. She had him declawed in the front and the back on the vet's recommendation. That is the only instance I would have a cat declawed. My other friend had a declawed male cat and he was pretty good about the litter box, but he did bite if provoked.

 

[Planogirl]

I've had a lot of cats and only had one declawed. He was weird and very destructive and yet sweet natured. I couldn't get him to stop clawing everything even though what I do works with other cats so I got him done in desperation.