my apartment complex will make me have my kitten declawed.

[OsnobunnieO]

Did they ask to see your first cat for inspection? Even if they did, maybe they'll trust you on the second one.

I don't see how its legal that they make renters declaw cats. I can't really say it sounds legal that they must be spayed/neutered (although I completely think its important that they are).

I wonder if they know that your furniture is much more likely to be damaged than their walls or floors (assuming you don't train them at all).

I say hide it. Many people have snuck cats (and even small dogs) into apartments with no pet policies, and a ton have gotten around the declaw issue. Maybe now is the time to try to educate this person in charge of your apartment on what declawing REALLY is and why it isn't the best option

[yoganut]

I can't really 'hide' her.
We have a basement apartment (I wish my husband had pushed for 2nd floor!) and the cats will both sit in the window - our older one does now.
The apartment manager is quite stern and I dont' think talking to her will do any good. guess I'll just have to wait and see...

[yoganut]

Oh I just remembered, my original lease said 'no pets', but we did ask and were told the 250 dep and declawing etc. We also asked about paying the deposit in instalments with our rent and the management company said no, so that shows they're not very flexible.

[AddFran]

If you keep her nails cut and make sure you are diligent about it..the chance of your landlord catching a glimpse of her nails is very, very slim. It's not as though cats regularly sit with their nails out. They are tucked away very neatly for the most part and are not noticable unless they are retracted (wrong word i think but you know what I'm talking about). Just sitting in the window, you shouldn't be able to see them. I'd take my chances if that's all you have to worry about. If she finds out or somehow sees them, I'd make something up, like she was sick, or better yet that your other cat had the procedure done and had some major complications and your scared to do it again. You could also provide some literature about the alternatives.

I don't get it, what is in an apartment that can really get torn up by the cat? It's usually furniture and that belongs to you. It's pretty rare for a cat to scuff up the floors or scratch the walls to bits, isn't it??

[mismodliz]

<< Another advocate for soft paws. While I have never been forced to use them by a landlord, it really was the only option with Stephen as I tried everything to get her to use a scratching post.

Here's a picture of her with them on. You could get clear ones so that they wouldn't show. I personally like the colored ones so that I can tell when one has fallen off (she's missing one in the picture). I don't put them on her back paws, but it might be a good idea if you did.