Would it be better to declaw? or to Give the cats up?

JunoBear · 01-24-2012, 03:49 PM

Painstakingly and non stop, my boyfriend, my room mate, and I have been looking for a new apartment to move into once our lease is up in a month, because we are simply not able to afford out current one anymore.

Most apartments in the area that we need and the price range that we can afford are non-pet friendly, so we passed right over those. We have two adorable cats that are just as much a part of the family as a person would be.

We were finally able to find an apartment that allowed cats, but NO dogs. I asked the owner what the policy was, he said they had to be neutered and they also had to be declawed.

I, like most people on here, am disgusted even at the thought. It is getting down to nitty gritty though, and this place is perfect in every way for the three of us, except the declaw rule.

Honestly, if it would be better for the cats, I would give them up before declawing them. It would absolutely break my heart to do so, but I honestly would hate to have them suffer the rest of their lives in my care than to potentially be happy in someone else's care.

And if that is the case where we will give them up, maybe we will go back to some of those no-pet apartments to take a look. I'm really torn on what to do and need some advice

Thankyou

shan841 · 01-24-2012, 03:59 PM

Please don't declaw. If you can re-home them with someone who you trust will take good care of them, it would be better for them. You don't want to see them in pain or develop health/behavior problems because of the declaw. Also, maybe you could try educating the land lord? or suggest you give him a deposit instead of declawing? Does he know that declawed cats will be more likely to develop issues with not using the litter box??

Muzby · 01-24-2012, 03:59 PM

I would discuss with them SoftPaws and an additional pet deposit to cover "scratch" damage. Do they mean front or four paw declaw?

JunoBear · 01-24-2012, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzby

I would discuss with them SoftPaws and an additional pet deposit to cover "scratch" damage. Do they mean front or four paw declaw?

He said the front only, and he was pretty rigid on his answer. There was already a pet deposit for cats, and i offered to pay more, he basically said absolutely not. I did not try to show him softpaws, although maybe I should.

The dudes a short little ******* though, I'm not sure if he's ever owned a cat in his life. I don't think he would understand even if I cut the tips of HIS fingers off.

JunoBear · 01-24-2012, 04:06 PM

Also, to add in, Juno, our girl, was in an abusive home before us. It has taken her these past 8 months to warm up to us, and she still runs and hides whenever the door opens or when we have guests. I'm confident that if I rehomed, Caesar, my boy, would be able to adjust to new people and new family, but I am very worried about Juno being able to readjust, or just being able to find her a home at all (she's been nicknamed by outsiders as "the mean one" no matter how much I defend her behavior)

my4kitties · 01-24-2012, 04:10 PM

How is he going to know whether the cats are declawed or not? Is he going to check their paws himself? How are you supposed to prove that you declawed them?

JunoBear · 01-24-2012, 04:14 PM

He said he needs copies of nueter and declaw paper work as proof. I have the neuter paperwork already for both of them obviously. I don't know if he is going to physically examine them, I'm a little afraid to ask.

my4kitties · 01-24-2012, 04:19 PM

If I were you, I'd see if what other cat owning tenants have done. Knock on a few doors of your potential new neighbors. If that fails, I'd find an article that explains what exactly declawing is and what it does to a cat. Then, I'd find the most disturbing pictures I could. I'd print the article and pictures and give them to him to read and look at. he probably thinks that declawing is just removing the claw and not the actual knuckle, too.

JunoBear · 01-24-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my4kitties

If I were you, I'd see if what other cat owning tenants have done. Knock on a few doors of your potential new neighbors. If that fails, I'd find an article that explains what exactly declawing is and what it does to a cat. Then, I'd find the most disturbing pictures I could. I'd print the article and pictures and give them to him to read and look at. he probably thinks that declawing is just removing the claw and not the actual knuckle, too.

I would go through that, but i honstly don't think it will get anywhere. From the conversation I had with him the well-being of the cat is the last thing on his mind, he's a stout business man and a difficult one at that. I have a friend that referred me to this place who lives there, and i didn't make the connection before i inquired that her cat is declawed.

princessbear · 01-24-2012, 04:33 PM

Perhaps this isn't the right place for you? There MUST be an apartment with a landlord who has some sensitivity toward cats?

01-24-2012, 03:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
JunoBear Jr. Cat Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 39	Would it be better to declaw? or to Give the cats up? Painstakingly and non stop, my boyfriend, my room mate, and I have been looking for a new apartment to move into once our lease is up in a month, because we are simply not able to afford out current one anymore. Most apartments in the area that we need and the price range that we can afford are non-pet friendly, so we passed right over those. We have two adorable cats that are just as much a part of the family as a person would be. We were finally able to find an apartment that allowed cats, but NO dogs. I asked the owner what the policy was, he said they had to be neutered and they also had to be declawed. I, like most people on here, am disgusted even at the thought. It is getting down to nitty gritty though, and this place is perfect in every way for the three of us, except the declaw rule. Honestly, if it would be better for the cats, I would give them up before declawing them. It would absolutely break my heart to do so, but I honestly would hate to have them suffer the rest of their lives in my care than to potentially be happy in someone else's care. And if that is the case where we will give them up, maybe we will go back to some of those no-pet apartments to take a look. I'm really torn on what to do and need some advice Thankyou

01-24-2012, 03:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Muzby Senior Cat Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 841	I would discuss with them SoftPaws and an additional pet deposit to cover "scratch" damage. Do they mean front or four paw declaw? __________________ Kelly

01-24-2012, 04:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
my4kitties Premier Cat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, CA, USA Posts: 4,377	How is he going to know whether the cats are declawed or not? Is he going to check their paws himself? How are you supposed to prove that you declawed them? __________________ Cats are grace and beauty in feline form. RIP, my beloved Smokey. (3/23/09-01/14/11) ---------- Renée

01-24-2012, 04:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
my4kitties Premier Cat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, CA, USA Posts: 4,377	If I were you, I'd see if what other cat owning tenants have done. Knock on a few doors of your potential new neighbors. If that fails, I'd find an article that explains what exactly declawing is and what it does to a cat. Then, I'd find the most disturbing pictures I could. I'd print the article and pictures and give them to him to read and look at. he probably thinks that declawing is just removing the claw and not the actual knuckle, too. __________________ Cats are grace and beauty in feline form. RIP, my beloved Smokey. (3/23/09-01/14/11) ---------- Renée

01-24-2012, 03:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
shan841 Tom Cat Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Parkville, MD Posts: 490	Please don't declaw. If you can re-home them with someone who you trust will take good care of them, it would be better for them. You don't want to see them in pain or develop health/behavior problems because of the declaw. Also, maybe you could try educating the land lord? or suggest you give him a deposit instead of declawing? Does he know that declawed cats will be more likely to develop issues with not using the litter box??

01-24-2012, 04:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
JunoBear Jr. Cat Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 39	Also, to add in, Juno, our girl, was in an abusive home before us. It has taken her these past 8 months to warm up to us, and she still runs and hides whenever the door opens or when we have guests. I'm confident that if I rehomed, Caesar, my boy, would be able to adjust to new people and new family, but I am very worried about Juno being able to readjust, or just being able to find her a home at all (she's been nicknamed by outsiders as "the mean one" no matter how much I defend her behavior)

01-24-2012, 04:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
JunoBear Jr. Cat Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 39	He said he needs copies of nueter and declaw paper work as proof. I have the neuter paperwork already for both of them obviously. I don't know if he is going to physically examine them, I'm a little afraid to ask.

01-24-2012, 04:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
princessbear Tom Cat Join Date: May 2011 Location: Hudson, Massachusetts Posts: 341	Perhaps this isn't the right place for you? There MUST be an apartment with a landlord who has some sensitivity toward cats?

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
CatForum.com Advertisement