addendum to the lease...

...i had to sign an addendum after i adopted my cat that listed several rules and requirements, including spaying or neutering, and declawing with a letter from attending veterinarian. i flipped out until a friend pointed out the check list at the bottom of the addendum. letter from attending veterinarian was marked off for me. i told the landlord that i adopted my cat, that he was five years old, and that i would bring him to the vet when i got a chance. i did not mention the declawing thing b/c i figured if i kept quiet i wouldn't be bothered. she is very nice and has said nothing about it. she offered to check on my cat for me b/c he was sick for a couple weeks. i concluded that the checked off box means that she does not expect me to declaw, or she does not intend to seek proof that i have declawed. i want to remain quiet about the issue b/c i don't think it is an issue, but if i mention it it will be an issue. this is my first cat and i am against the procedure. i keep worrying about it and i don't know why. my cat is well behaved and has softpaws on his front feet. if she turned around one day and said declaw your cat i would show her the softpaws and fight it. friends have encouraged the procedure, which erks me. would you agree that she doesn't expect me to declaw b/c of the checked off box?

I'm guessing yes; just don't mentioned it. But you might want a lawyer to look it over. Worse case - you'll have to move if they insist the cat has to be declawed.

Is she the owner or the manager for the property? I think you're probably right that she doesn't intend to press the issue--if she's the manager, perhaps she disagrees with the policy and is secretly trying to keep it from being enforced. I lived in one apartment that required a pet deposit (I think it was about $250 per cat)--the manager told me I didn't have to pay it--she was a pet owner too and didn't agree with that part of the lease. (In that case, I insisted on paying the deposit for one cat because I was afraid that if management of the property changed, I could be in violation of the lease.) Your situation is different as it affects the well-being of your cat and isn't just about money. I agree with your decision and your read on what the landlord/manager said.

I'm an advocate of the old adage - if it ain't broke, don't fix it - in other words, I wouldn't even bring the subject up. If at some time in the future the issue is raised by the landlord/management, I would have articles and pictures ready to argue my position on what a horrible mutilation de-clawing is and info on the soft claws.

It's much too stressful to worry about something that hasn't happened and may never happen.

she is the manager of the complex, but doesn't own it. she has to send all my paperwork to the property management office. i adopted in january and as of last wednesday she had still not sent my paperwork. she told me not to worry about paying the pet rent for jan or feb. it's possible that she will just let it go. a lot of people don't notify the management about a cat or a dog, but i had to because i have a studio. they spray for roaches once a month and there's no place safe for the cat for about an hour after spraying. i have to leave him with a friend, and since the day varies i have no way of knowing for sure when they are coming. thanks. i'm calmer now.

I hear ya! I was getting ready to sign a lease with a pet addendum when I noticed that a requirement was to have the cat declawed. I marched down to the office and inquired. I calmly explained that the deal was off if they expected me to declaw my cat and I was sooo glad they didn't press the issue. They told me to make sure that my kitty had plenty of scratching areas, and that I kept the claws trimmed.

I think as long as you don't have any damage when you move that could be blamed on your cat's claws, you'll be fine. Good luck in keeping it quiet.

cool. i'm glad it worked out for you. i trimmed my cat's claws last night. he didn't even whine!!!

Wow. That's good. Our last place required written proof from the vet that they are declawed. My guys were all done by previous owners so I had to go in special and have the vet print out a form saying that. I felt bad for all the kitties who lost their claws living there though. We moved back to a more pet friendly area, and our current landlord just wanted current rabies certificates. Which is enough to weed out most bad people anyway.

My sister's complex changed management about a billion times. They didn't require it when she moved in, but it's been in subsequent leases. She just doesn't say anything. Her cats don't scratch the woodwork or anything anyway.

Just stay quiet about it. If it comes up in the future (I doubt it will), have your vet write a letter explaining Soft Paws and how they are a preferred alternative to declawing. Show receipts for recent purchases of Soft Paws and pictures of them on your cat.

Again, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

That's just my baby-lawyer non-official legal advice.