The fact that declawing is legal does not make it less barbaric. Slavery was legal once. Laws are not perfect and are constantly changing. There are a lot of stupid laws out there but it's not a reason to create more.

Refundable pet deposits are very common. We got ours back when we moved out with 4 cats. There are always better ways than mutilation.

Well I could live with this. Glad I bought my house instead though!

Does declawing really hurt the cat? I'm really asking because I've never owned cats and that's new to me. I always assumed it wasn't a big deal. Educate me.

Tell ya what Anna go to a shelter sometime and ask them if they'd like the cat or if you should get it declawed instead. Some of them will tell you just declaw the cat because your cat has about a 32% chance of making it out of their shelter alive, others will say give us the cat we might be able to find it a home knowing that it will likely not make it out of their shelter alive because they feel like you do that a declawed cat is far crueler than a dead/homeless cat, and the final group will say give us your dog which has a much better chance of finding a home than your cat and find an apartment that will allow cats. The final option of course if finding an apartment that allows dogs of any size and cats with claws. Good luck with that.

I still won't say it's not your landlords right to dictate what conditions must be met to rent from them just like non smoking, cars in running condition rather than on blocks, and not leaving trash on the lawn. In our case it wasn't that you couldn't own a cat, just that it had to be declawed if you did. It was our right at the time about 20 years ago and however you feel about it, just like any other landlord. Your landlord isn't there to coddle your feelings, they are there to protect their investment and earn money.

 Quote: Spencer Martin

Does declawing really hurt the cat? I'm really asking because I've never owned cats and that's new to me. I always assumed it wasn't a big deal. Educate me.

You are kidding, right? Chop off your fingers at the last joint. Does it hurt? If you are not very careful and chop through the bone, not through the joint itself, the sharp piece may poke through the skin later, will have to work on it some more. Give it some thought. Try to visualize.

it is extremely painful to the cat. many cats have lifelong trouble with using the litterbox because using after declawing irritates the sore and healing toes, they carry that with them.
also, cats get loose, they escape out of the house. cats are small, and sneaky, lol. you can try, but there will come a time when they slip out of the door, or even likeone of my aunts cats, accidentally knock the screen out of the window while sunning, and fall out.
Once outside, they cannot defend themselves very well, and if something is after them, climbing a tree is no longer an option for them.
And for those of us with cats and dogs, a housecats stinging swipe is one of the best ways for young pups and new dogs to learn to respect the cat. Plus even in the household, cats use their claws to climb furnature, their cat trees, etc to get relief from pestering children and other pets.

http://www.maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/

Many cat owners trim their cat's claws as an alternative to declawing them.

I'm not clear on why not the refundable pet deposit. I manage some rental real estate and that's what we do: a refundable pet deposit.

Wow! Thanks Debbie for those links and the education!
I have never owned a cat, so I never knew much about declawing and how severe it is! If I ever do own a cat, I can tell you, I would never declaw one, after reading this info. Thank you.

Connie, What happens if real estate is destroyed beyond the deposit? What if you can't collect on it? I guess there is the ability to file the insurance claim but how many claims should a landlord put up with before they just say "forget it, either guarantee there won't be X damage type or no dog/cat?"