Is there an age or weight at which they will no longer declaw a cat? I am moving but i want to keep her!?

Question

My cat is about two years old and she is a little on the heavy side, probably about 10 to 13 lbs. I want so badly not to have to declaw her, but alot of rental places require your cat to be declawed if they are going to allow the cat to live there.

Answer 1

It really is recommended that the cat not be over a year old, this is believed to be "less traumatizing" to declaw if they are under a year old. However, call your vet's office and ask them if they do put an age limit on declawing and I'll bet that 2 years old is still young enough that no one should have a problem doing it. Your cat being overweight won't be a problem either. You could put it on a diet by buying a weight control formula and not allowing her to "free feed".

Ignore the people that tell you not to declaw because it is mean. If your cat is happy, healthy and kept indoors she really doesn't need her claws to defend herself. It is OKAY to get them declawed! (just like it is okay to wear leather shoes, have leather purses, leather coats and to eat meat!)

Good luck with the move and your kitty!

Answer 2

I think that she should be alright if you have to have her declawed. She is still pretty young but a little heavy, that could be a problem.If you can get by without declawing that would be better though I don't like declawing myself and the soft claws are good.. If you can prove that you use soft claws on your cat you might be able to not have to declaw. I moved into an apt. When my cat Gracie was 12 years old and my cat's vet wrote a letter stating that in her opinion Gracie was to old to go through the declaw process. I proved that I used soft claws and I was able to move in with her.Gracie passed away just over a year ago.Gracie was 16&1/2 years old.

Answer 3

I have a big question about this - how does the landlord know if a cat has been declawed or not? Does he require a certificate from a veterinarian? Does he come around and inspect the cat's paws? Does it have to be just the front or all four paws?

I am not by nature a liar and in this case I would just tell the landlord that the cat was declawed. Of course you MUST assume the responsibility for any damage your cat does with her claws - replacing carpet or fixing door frames or whatever. That's only fair.

I think this is something that should be pursued under the Fair Housing Act. They are discriminating against you and the cat. Legally they would not be able to enforce a stipulation that a human have a sex change because they wanted that particular space rented to a male or female. I haven't been a renter for many years - can landlords legally refuse to rent to children anymore?

I know that in the county where I live and the San Francisco SPCA keep lists of "pet friendly" rentals available in the area.

I wouldn't live in a place where I was required to multilate my pet because a landlord insisted on it. Please find another place.

Answer 4

Please do not declaw your cat. It is an incredibly cruel practice, it is banned in over 2 dozen countries and many vets refuse to perform the operation. Declawing involves 10 separate, painful amputations. It is a serious surgery, not just a manicure. Declawing a cat involves general anesthesia and amputation of the last joint of each toe, including the bones, not just the nail. The following are possible complications of this surgery:
• Adverse reaction to anesthetic
• Gangrene, which can lead to limb amputation
• Hemorrhaging
• Permanent nerve damage
• Persistent pain
• Reluctance to walk
• Scar tissue formation
• Sequestrum (bone chips), requiring additional surgery
• Skin disorders

After surgery, the nails may grow back inside the paw, causing pain but remaining invisible to observers. Declawing results in a gradual weakening of leg, shoulder, and back muscles, and because of impaired balance caused by the procedure, declawed cats have to relearn to walk, much as a person would after losing his or her toes.
Without claws, even house-trained cats may urinate and defecate outside the litterbox in an attempt to mark their territory. Declawed cats may be morose, reclusive, and withdrawn or irritable, aggressive, and unpredictable. Many people think that declawed cats are safer around babies, but in fact, the lack of claws, a cat’s first line of defense, makes many cats feel so insecure that they tend to bite more often as a means of self-protection. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) reported that of those observed, 33 percent of declawed cats developed at least one behavioral problem and 80 percent had more than one medical complication. Declawed cats are also more likely to be surrendered to shelters.
You do have another option. You can get something called SoftPaws. These are basically fake nails for your kitty. Your vet will have to put the nails on the first time to find the proper fit, but after that you can replace any that fall off(they fall off just like acrylics nails that you may get for yourself). Even if you cat still tries to scratch, he won't be able to do any damage since these nails are dull. They even come in assorted colors if you feel like making kitty pretty while protecting your home. You can find more information regarding the SoftPaws at their website: http://www.softpaws.com/

Answer 5

Please don't get your cat declawed! If you can’t find a place to live where that accept cats who are not declawed then give her to a friend or family member or try to find a home for her. Even this is better for her then having what is equivalent to the tops of out fingers being cut off, bone and all. If you love her so much, please do not put your cat through this horrible experience.

Answer 6

UM Yes you can get your cat declawed he just has to be 6 months or older so it's ok!! I know bcause two of my cats are declawed and fixed all the vet said is that they had to be 6 months or older so it's ok don't worry and heres a kittle advice if the part of there paws where there nails went looks gross it's ok and don't let your cat jump off the conter or any hi places and don't let your cat step in anything dirty and you have too change there litter you can either shred newspapers or you can buy a special litter and the reason you have too do that is because the little pieces of litter get in the holes where there nails were and it will get infected and her weight doesn't matter and the vet will have too her for 2 days TIP: DON'T get laser surgery done!

Answer 7

If declawing is an issue for the landlord, I suggest to purchase special plastic stubs that covers the cat's nails. That is if it is a problem, and since you don't want your cat declawed.
For the issue of weight and age it doesn't matter. I've went over this in my Vetrinary class, and it shouldn't matter. I will warn you the cats after still think that they still have their claws and try to 'scratch' anyway. They also need to use newspaper for their litter, since actual litter will hurt their sore paws....Also you may purchase the stubs at PetsMart =] (or Caps)
I hope that helps.

Answer 8

I work at a vet clinic, and i know a lot of people that work at vet clinics REALLY don't like to declaw cats. It is a painful procedure in which they amputate the first digit on their toes. At the vet clinic where i work, they will normally not declaw a cat past 6 months of age. But all clinics are different. i know of a clinic that Will do it for any age, and any size cat. Call around to vet clinics in your area and ask them about it. I think because of your circumstance, and that you can't keep your cat unless it is declawed, they will be able to help you.

Answer 9

Consider offering a higher security deposit; and tell them your cat doesn't damage things. It's worth at least negotiating. Chances are you can find someone who will rent to you who is more pet friendly.

She is more likely to cause damage by refusing to use the litter box, a problem so often heard from by owners who declaw adult cats.

Answer 10

Find somewhere to live where you don't have to declaw. If you can't give your cat away. There is no excuse for declawing. This is a really good website with info on Soft Paws and other alternatives. It tells what cats go through after declawing. Can you be certain you will outlive your cat? If not, what if she ends up somewhere where she will need her claws to survive. This should be outlawed.
http://www.pawproject.com/HTML/faqs.asp