Things Landlords Should Know Before Requiring a Tenant to Declaw Their Cat

• Declawing is a major surgery that is 10 separate amputations (18 if rear claws are done, too).
• Cats are digitigrade, which means they walk on their toes, unlike humans who are plantigrade, walking on their feet. A declawed cat must walk on 10 or 18 amputation sites.
• Declawing interferes with a cat's balance and can lead to injuries.
• Declawing often results in the development of inappropriate urination and defecation (eliminating outside of the litter box) due to pain and stress. This problem is much more likely to damage a home than scratching.
• When a cat does scratch things, it is usually furniture and drapes, not floors or walls.
• Cat scratching can be very well-managed by providing lots of scratching surfaces, keeping a cat's nails trimmed well, and using Soft Paws®.
• Soft Paws® are vinyl claw covers held on to a cat's claws with non-toxic adhesive. They help prevent damage to items when a cat scratches. They don't interfere with a cat's walking, balancing, or claw retraction, and they are affordable.
• Declawing is a banned procedure in many countries and some US cities due to its inhumane nature.
• Organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals oppose declawing.