Declawing my cats.. I don't know what to do!

[Brandy]

I have 2 cats-one is almost 3, the other is almost 2- and they both have full sets of claws right now. I am moving in July and all of the apartments I have looked at in my new town require that all cats have their front claws declawed. So I signed a lease for an apt now and I have 2 options, declaw my cats or put them up for adoption. My cats are my best friends and it would kill me to give them to someone else (also considering I would never want to split them up). But I've also heard so many bad things about declawing that I don't want to ruin their great personalities with a horrible surgery like that! I don't know what to do! As it is now, they use their claws all the time, hanging from their posts and scratching...I just wanted some input from anyone that has had the surgery done to their pet, is it worth it?? Does it change them?? Thanks for any help you can give me!

[Linda]

Brandy, please go to the discussion about declawing cats in here that I started. It's an awful thing for them to go through. Find another apartment. You need to know what these cats go through. It's very painful. Think about having the tip of your fingers removed.
Can you explain to me why this came up? There are soft paws, they cover the nails and prevent them from tearing up things. Check that out first.

[Linda]

Go to: DECLAWING CATS: MUTULATION ? in Catsville and I have another in Helping Animals group.

[Vladimir]

Onychectomy is not common outside of the US. This is a surgery of convenience and leads to lifelong problems in many cases, and surely, "phantom pain" from what many experts refer to as "de-knuckling" a cat. Every time I read some absurd comment about how an owner "knows" it is not painful or harmful it is incredibly irritating. To equate it with spay/neuter surgery or compare it to elective surgeries that people choose for themselves is senseless and disrespectful.

[Cynthia]

Several helpful, vet-created websites about declawing and its after-effects:

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/
http://www.pawproject.com/
http://www.declawing.com

And I urge you, although they may be graphic, to look at the photos of the surgery, and the photos of the after-effects. You can only make a good decision for your cats if you're informed completely.

[Linda]

That's a great picture from Cynthina Brandy... more information and pictures on declawing at Helping Animals Group...go to discussion: DECLAWING CATS (Onychectomy): MUTILATION? It is very much so.

[Courtney]

Just a thought - when we were living in an apartment and had cats, they mandated that the cats be spayed/neutered. We of course DID spay and neuter our cats, but we never had to show documentation or "proof". The landlord would have never known either way.

I'm not one to advise someone to break "rules", but really - is your landlord going to come around checking their little paws? In our complex, we'd see our landlord once a year - when we renewed the lease. We dropped off the rent at night, and the cats ran away and hid on the two occasions we had maintenance come by.

Tell your landlord they're declawed, keep the kitties scarce when the landlord comes a' knockin', and look for another place once your lease is up. If you pay your rent ontime and otherwise don't cause a ruckus, they are NOT going to kick you out over some kitty claws; they don't want to risk losing a responsible tenant over something so STUPID.

I find it very hard to believe that an entire town mandates having declawed cats in all rental properties. If that really is the case, we need to get some local ASPCA advocates out there, STAT.

[MrsFrijole]

I agree entirely! My apartment doesn't know YET, that I have a cat, thus I haven't had to pay the deposit for her, yet. What is it the landlord's business what you do with your cats? Are they going to come in and check? If so, then...you are at a loss, but I would try to get away with it first. They are YOUR cats, not the landlord's. Besides, what are the cats going to scratch, the wall? The carpets, ok...but they usually rip out the carpets when the tenant moves anyway. I don't know what town you are moving to, but they need to pull their heads out of their butts and let cats be cats.

[NANCY BROWNING]

Brandy please don't do this it will cause them much pain for months on end.

[Amy]

Brandy:

I know the ASPCA advocates do not declaw--but sometimes it is necessary to do so. Case in point, I love my cats dearly, but I have a case where I have one swollen leg and cannot risk infection. My two cats are declawed. It was either doing this or not having my pets who I truly love. They are indoor cats.

It is ultimately your decision. There are vets, even if they are against it, will do it.

Good luck.
Amy

[Martha Jane]

Dont do it declawing is Inhumane .. just image if they took your nails .. God make them with nails because they need them .. just trim them or let the vet do it .. please dont do it

[Dave]

I want to offer an alternative to both sides of this situation. Please take a look at this link and see if it's an option when your not home. I have seen these and they are very roomy. Maybe the landlords concern is the cats activity when your not home, if so this may be an affordable compromise.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753757&utm...

[Linda]

Dave that is an excellent idea! Brandy tell your landlord or manager that you will keep them in this cage....and let them out at night so they can run free and keep them in during the day in case he comes around and check.