Apartment Complex *requiring* all cats be declawed - Help!

[Catty1]

Glad you contacted the SPCA...I wonder if there are any bylaws or animal cruelty bylaws that would prohibit this? It might be worth noting that declawing has been illegal in Europe and the UK for years.

I like the idea of a few of the cat owners in your building getting together, and finding a pet-friendly lawyer to write a "nice" letter to the management company. Wouldn't hurt to find out about landlord-tenant laws as well.

GOOD LUCK - please keep us posted!

[kt_luvs_kitties]

You could also call the media. They would jump all over this! Please fight this, dont let them determine wheter or not you want to declaw your kitty.

I think the spay part is brilliant!

[moosmom]

Katie is right. Get the media involved. Call every newspaper and tv station there is. If you have lived in the apartment for a while and already signed a lease that did NOT have a declawing clause in it, they have no case and you should be 'grandfathered' in. Get a lawyer. I'd do anything to protect my furbabies. And declawing is abuse.

[Tora Oni]

Wow, that is news to me. I mean my parents pretty much set the rule that um Stormy was getting declawed no matter what I said. On upside to that which there really isn't much is its only is front claws and they knocked him out and such. We used newspaper for longer than the suggested amount of time b/c we didn't like the idea of adding more issues to that. So due to lack of knowledge I have now I would have told them I would have bought caps for his claws rather than that but I didn't make any money back then b/c I was too young. If I could had that choice I would have. So I seriously think that is a kinda of a unnecessary rule, considering their are claw caps that come a reasonable price and fits all diffrent sizes and comes in all sorts of covers on Drfostersmith.com. I still feel bad b/c Stormy is my first cat and somethings happen that are kinda out of my control since he was a stray that we found at the park.

[Anikaca77]

I AGREE 100%!

Katie is right. Get the media involved. Call every newspaper and tv station there is. If you have lived in the apartment for a while and already signed a lease that did NOT have a declawing clause in it, they have no case and you should be 'grandfathered' in. Get a lawyer. I'd do anything to protect my furbabies. And declawing is abuse.

[Tora Oni]

You could also call the media. They would jump all over this! Please fight this, dont let them determine wheter of not you want to declaw your kitty.

I think the spay part is brilliant!

Yeah I have to agree with Katie here too. Plus she is right the Spaying/Nuetering part is brilliant.

[mruffruff]

I'm sure the management doesn't realize that one one of the results of declawing can be inappropriate urination! They might find that to be a worse problem than cats claws.

I hope you can change their minds.

[moosmom]

Tora Oni,

To set the record straight, it ISN'T just like taking out their claws. It's chopping the first link of each digit off and making them walk on it. Try chopping your finger off at the first digit and walking around and see how it feels. I don't mean to be so blunt, but people need to know the facts. Some vets here in CT won't do it. Others do it because it brings in money. I suggest to everyone who is looking for a declawed cat, to find one who is already declawed.

Your cat is stunning. Glad he's okay. Some cats just never recover from it.

[LaRana]

I decided that I should post a flyer at the mailboxes and have people contact me through an anonymous email address. We'll see how long that flyer stays up before they remove it :P I'm going to write one up today and post it tonight.

I have not heard back from the ASPCA yet. I did consider contacting the media on this. Afterall, I live in *Austin* and there are plenty of animal lovers and activists in this town. I'm quite sure the media would have a field day with this one. I don't want to get the spotlight on this unless it becomes clear that it is necessary.

Actually, the letter said that all cats must be spayed - and it didn't say anything about neutering! That tells me that there might be some potential holes to punch in their documentation if they overlooked that. Plus the "no kittens" rule is just ludicrous. You might not be able to tell by looking at him, but my cat was a kitten at one time! I do have an issue with the spay/neuter rule. I'll agree it is best for the pets (mine have all been fixed), but I don't think an apartment should be the one making that decision for the pet owner. If someone wants to wait to fix their cat after it reaches a certain age or certain health milestones, then let them. The "zero tolerance" removes the discretion of the cat owner. What if the cat was already pregnant when moving into the apartment? Are they going to require that they be spayed so that no kittens be allowed in? I could sit here and play the "what if?" game all day long, but I digress. Personally, I wouldn't give them too much credit for having a "brilliant" idea since they obviously don't have the cats' best interests in mind. I tried talking to them to see if they had any common sense in allowing discretion (in not making me declaw a 5 & 1/2 year old cat) and they obviously weren't budging.

[catfamily]

i would move....as quick as possible.
i also have to say...a cat is NEVER EVER the same after declawing it.
The pain is apparent and for life!

[lvpets2002]

OMG this is just Horrible.. Yes dear fight for your baby.. Declawing is so so Cruel.. Like the rest said Call the Media & they will stir up some stink.. Get other tenants to help you fight this.. Oh by the way Welcome to another Texan.. I am up here in the MetroPlex..

[Anikaca77]

I Agree with Katie too! Spay/Neuter should be a must!

Yeah I have to agree with Katie here too. Plus she is right the Spaying/Nuetering part is brilliant.