I am going to be moving in about 2 months (apartment complex) and I will be taking my 5 year old cat with me! The rule at every complex is that the cat must be declawed! Well that is not an option for me and most vet's in my area are highly against it, as well as me (my cat is a poly who has always had his claws... I wouldnt subject him to such cruelty)! Im soon going to take him for his yearly and I was wondering if I could have the vet write up a form saying my cat has been declawed! All the complex needs is verification in writing from a vet saying the cat has been altered! What are my chances of a vet doing such a thing for me? I love my cat and I won't get rid of him or declaw him (I will pay the deposit and monthly wage for his residence at the complex) he never messes with furniture or wood work... He is a scratching post fanantic! What should I do? Would it be out of the question to ask my vet for such a favor? (The vets love him because he has the polydactyl gene)!
2007-02-01 01:54:27 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
I snuck him into the complex I have now, Im just afraid it would be harder to sneak him in this complex... The complex I am in now charges a $250-500 and $30 a month, must be declawed! Crazy I say!
2007-02-01 02:02:46 · update #1
I have no choice I can only afford apartment living and even duplexes require declawing... Where do you suggest I live then? The streets????
2007-02-01 02:03:39 · update #2
My friend is a vet tech and said in some cases they will do this for you (her vet would do it but considering he doesnt have previous records on my cat it would seem fishy)!
2007-02-01 02:05:16 · update #3
DECLAWING is not an option!!! I will pay the deposit and monthly wage as stated before but I am not declawing my cat! I found a link to a pet resume for clawed cats to give to complex managers... Should I try this?
2007-02-01 02:06:39 · update #4
The complex does not inspect the kitty I told them I dont have a cat at the moment (we are in no contract) and asked if I wanted to get one how would I go about proving it has been declawed and she said they just need it in writing... No inspection!
2007-02-01 02:10:58 · update #5
People are misunderstanding I do not want to declaw my cat i think it is cruel (so saying im not looking hard enough for a vet that will do it has nothing to do with my question)! If you dont believe me I will tell you my location and you can go on forrent.com, apartments.com and look at all the apartment pet policies!!!!
2007-02-01 02:15:34 · update #6
I called around complexes and asked if they accept soft claws and I was told that really nowhere in wisconsin (where I live) will accept anything but a declawed cat... Soft Claws or not! Pisses me off!
2007-02-01 02:37:26 · update #7
My friend is a vet assistant and one of her male cats has his front paws declawed (Im sure if she has the receipts she would copy them for me) think that will work since they dont want to meet the cat?
2007-02-01 02:57:24 · update #8
I've checked out every apartment complex that I am interested in that meets the standards that I have! Im not going to live in the ghetto... I have checked all the apartments in about 5 cities I would consider living in! Trust me I have been researching apartments for over 4 months! Everyday!
2007-02-01 05:37:17 · update #9
Why would a complex want only declawed cats? It's your furniture, not theirs! LOL
I don't know what I would do but knowing myself..I would attempt to be sneaky about it or find another place to live.
I'm sure there are other complexes that wont have this stupid rule.
I don't think I would ask a vet to write a letter like that. It's too unprofessional.
2007-02-01 02:00:01 · answer #1 · answered by KathyS 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Edited to add: if you have checked them all, try my last suggestion! Pick whatever complex sounded the most apologetic or has the most vacancies, print out those links and try to convert them to at least accept soft paws! Good luck!!!
Did you personally check every apartment complex in the area? I know there are a lot of myths people tend to believe (I go barefoot and hear a lot that it's illegal and/or that 'every store' in the US has a no shoes, no shirts, no service sign and that's not true either, many do but there are also many who do not -see www.barefooters.org). So if you asked around at a few places that do have this rule, it's quite likely they said 'oh, but EVERY complex requires this' while that isn't the case. Lots of people are missinformed about stuff, some believe that their view of things is the only correct one so everyone else naturally shares it. Plus they probably wanted you to rent their appartment, if they said 'sure there are others that allow clawed cats' you'd go there, this way they think you'll be more likely to stop looking & sign their lease!
So, take out the yellow pages, call every single apartment complex and real estate agency (get some friends to help if you live in a larger town & it's ten pages!) and I really believe that you'll find one that allows unmutilated cats. There are more & more people against declawing and *some* of that information must have trickled through to these agencies, there must be *some* complexes that are owned/managed by catlovers who know how cruel declawing is!
If you really can't find any, pick the ones that sounded most apologetic/most eager for another tennant and try to talk them over using some of the anti-declaw info on the internet.
2007-02-01 13:24:45 · answer #2 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read in my old apartment's listing that you could only have a declawed cat but they never checked, we paid the deposit (we didn't have a pet rent...if we did our cat would have had to get a job!) and since he used his cardboard thing to claw we never had a problem & got his whole deposit back when we left. Do you know anyone in the complex to ask, did they give you paperwork to fill out for cat? Chances are they are hoping to put out the image that the cat has to be declawed to maybe deter people w/animals from wanting to live there. Sorry its my best guess
2007-02-01 11:56:22 · answer #3 · answered by wyatt.rebecca@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A vet could lose his license for falsely declaring the surgery had been done and I am sure a vet you don't know really well would not risk that. Could it be possible to find someone who had had it done and use their vet receipts. I always save all of mine for each of my cats and many people probably don't do that.
You are a very admirable person not to allow this multilating surgery on your cat to satsify a landlord. I am sorry that you will have to "pay" on a regular basis to keep your cat in his natural state.
Could you possibly have someone draw up a legal document that you will take financial responsibility for any damage done by the cat? That might not work if the landlord sticks to his "policy". I think the monthly fee might be challenged in a court if you were to provide such a document. I wonder if the US Humane Society or a local one would be willing to support you in this suit. Or if you could find a local lawyer, a senator or representative who is an animal rights' activist. I think if is fair for animal owners to take responsibility for any damage their pets might do to property and I feel the monthly fee is very questionable from a legal standpoint.
And pets do damage to carpeting and woodwork on rental property and landlords do have a right to receive recompense from such damage and not before such damage has taken place.
2007-02-01 10:38:28 · answer #4 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've always declawed my cats when I got them spayed or neutered, and they've never run into trouble because of it. But I can see where you're coming from, especially since your kitty is so good about using the scratching post.
It would be very difficult if possible at all to get a vet to write such a letter: It would be unethical and it would leave him open to a world of legal trouble if he got caught falsifying records.
Like you, I question the sense AND the legality of this landlord's requirement that you declaw your cat. It's your cat after all, not their's. But unless you're prepared to take him to court, you would probably be better off finding another apartment to stay in.
2007-02-01 10:23:32 · answer #5 · answered by Tigger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
woah! there is no way anyone would suggest such a thing here in the uk. rspca would prosecute someone for doing that and you would serve time in prison for cruelty to animals. I doubt very much if your vet would lie for you, his reputation and career would be at stake if found out and you probably shouldnt put him in that situation. To declaw a cat is just darn right cruel, you need to either blag the lanlord or just find somewhere else. If its a tenancy where he should never need come to your home then just move the cat in as far as im concerned what he doesnt know doesnt hurt
2007-02-01 10:34:42 · answer #6 · answered by kelly c 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm against declawing cats too - gee, how would they scratch a genuine itch?
Anyway, I have heard somewhere that it is possible to get claw guards - these fit over the cats claws and stop them causing damage when they attempt to claw at something. This may be an option to investigate.
2007-02-02 06:36:27 · answer #7 · answered by Heyes' Gal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the apartment complex isn't going to physically examine the cat- I haighly doubt they will launch an investigation into the vets statement. I am sure they have bigger fish to fry than making phone calls to vets and examining cats.
Yes, its a lie, and not the right thing to do, but getting a cat declawed isn't the right thing to do either. Regardless of how much the vet loves your cat, it still is a lie, and still up to him to provide you with a statement or not. It won't hurt to ask at least, just state your position as you have here.
I applaud your dedication to your cat. Too many owners would just ditch the cat....
2007-02-01 10:31:39 · answer #8 · answered by rottymom02 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I totally understand you wanting to bring your cat with you. I never, ever lie about anything. I can not tell you how many times this has worked to my disadvantage but it is just the right way to live. This is exactly what you would be asking your vet to do and it is not right. It is also wrong to put your vet in that position to begin with. I would look for a different place to live.
2007-02-01 10:06:25 · answer #9 · answered by Born2Bloom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I cant imagine a vet doing this, simply because ethically lying may jeapordize their reputation and/or liscence. Have you considered using soft paws? Perhaps you could get your vet to write a letter endorsing these, and sign some sort of contract with your complex saying you'll keep him in these? Or possibly your vet would be willing to write something saying your cat is not a canidate for surgery because of his age/weight?
2007-02-01 10:01:54 · answer #10 · answered by cs 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋