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

[LaRana]

I live in Austin, Texas at a "luxury" apartment complex on the south side of town. About 4 months ago, a new property management group named Management Support took over. They have issued a few outlandish requirements about pets. 1) no kittens allowed. 2) ALL cats must be declawed. 3) all cats must be spayed (and it is assumed that they also mean neutered).

I have a 5 & 1/2 year old Bengal cat who has been neutered but not declawed. Obviously the only issue I have is with #2. I have lived at this apartment complex for almost 2 years now, and my lease expires at the end of January. I have a contract with the previous property management, so they cannot enforce these rules on me - until I try to renew my lease. I have loved living at my apartment complex, and would be willing to renew if the price was right and if my cat could retain his claws. I absolutely refuse to declaw my cat in order to maintain residency here. My cat has never destroyed carpet or furniture. He uses his scratchpost like a good boy. This "zero tolerance" policy is wrong on so many levels and are really pointless to discuss. That is not the purpose of this post.

I have tried talking to the management at the office, and their hands are tied. The only alternative they have provided me is a complaint form to send to the management company's main headquarters in California. Before I send the form back, I was curious to see if anyone else has encountered this issue and if they know of any good resources to help me fight the good fight. Ideally, I would like to see this property management company change their policy. I would hate to see someone get bullied into spending extra money on a completely unnecessary and inhumane procedure for their cat.

[Freedom]

Check with the state SPCA for some ideas. Ask your vet for suggestions of which associations may help. (Some vets will know, others won't; doesn't make them bad vets, just depends on their interests and focus.) Call the state bar association, they often will give referrals to 3 attorneys who work in the area you are interested in- animal welfare. Then check with those attorneys of which groups they think could help. (I am not suggesting you hire an attorney, you should be able to do all this free.)

I have never heard of this before and can't believe this declaw requirement can stay in force.

[LaRana]

Thanks for the suggestion. I went to the SPCA's website and submitted a request. I'll see if they can help. Other suggestions would be greatly appreciated as well!

[Karen]

I would also speak to other tenants that you know who have cats. This seems like it is completely unfair, and cruel. Maybe write anti-declawing vets if you know any, who can speak to the unnecessary nature of it, and tell others about the plastic claw covers they can get for cats, too, called "soft paws" that lets them keep their claws but not do any damage.

[catmandu]

THAT IS TERRIBLE NEWS AND ONCE AGAIN THE RESPONSIBLE PET GUARDIANS ARE PRAYING FOR THE BAD ONES.

WE HOPE YOU WIN AS DECLAWING IS TRAUMATIC ENOUGH ON A YOUNG CAT, AND MUCH WORSE ON AN ALREADY MATURE CAT

[susanswatlin518]

That Is Absolutely Mind=boggling That Any Decent Human With Any Heart At All Would Even Think Of Making A Tenant Have Her Beloved Declawed!!!! Don't Let This Rest-they Probably Don't Realize The Pain It Causes A Cat To Be Declawed. It Is Not Unlike Ripping The Ends Off One's Fingertips. I Don't Think The Cat Ever Forgets The Painful Trauma Of This. Press The Issue And Why Not Get On Your Local Public Access Tv Station If You Have One Near You. My Lease Had The Spay/neuter Needed Claus-and Both Of Mine Are Spayed/neutered. Anythings Else Is Cruel. Let People Know This Is Wrong! Public Access Is There For All To Use! :d:dsusanswatlin518

[momcat]

You might want to consider joining forces with other cat owners and start a petition explaining how cruel this is and include statements from sympathetic vets graphically explaining the actual proceedure and long term effects on the poor kitty. I'll sign it in a heartbeat!

[Ginger's Mom]

I have never heard of an apartment complex being able to tell a tenant they must surgically alter their animal. I wonder how they intend to enforce it. Are they going to go to all of the apartments every few months and demand to see their animals toes, or lack thereof? Quite frankly, it would be easier, and probably more defensible to just say that the new management does not allow animals.

[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.

[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.