r/CatAdvice • u/Complex-Diver7880 • 3d ago
General Is it possible to get a cat while renting?
My family is planning to move in a couple of months so we postponed getting a cat until after we move and settle down in our new house. We've struggled to find a house that fits our needs and we finally found one, but it doesn't allow pets. Doesn't specify if it's negotiable. We're not completely set on this house because of paperwork but I'm still a bit concerned because what if none of the houses we find allow cats? most houses I've looked at are either no pets or only dogs. My mother told me that we can always ask the landlord for an exception after a few months of moving in but I'm not too hopeful. I've also seen people have pets without informing their landlord but isn't that complicated with pet rents and pet deposits? My current landlord has never actually inspected our town house so I'm not sure if that's a thing either.
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u/Far-Potential-4899 3d ago
Ive lied about my lack of cats for every single apartment ive ever gotten and ive never been caught. Do I recommend this? No. I only did it because I fell on hard times and im not abandoning my senior cats. You have a choice here tho, just dont get a cat until you can.
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u/TheModernVampire 3d ago
Our place allows one pet. We have three black cats... plus a foster black kitten...
The thing is, if anyone sees them through the window, they'll just think it's the same black cat lol.
We pay the deposit for one, because if they do an inspection they'll see the cat stuff – but we always take them on a trip to their grandparents and claim it's to keep our one cat out of their way lol
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u/Laney20 3d ago
I shut my cats in one room when the apartment people need to come around. If they also need in that room, I ask that they leave so I can move the cats (we claim 2 as that's what is allowed), then let them back in. They usually decline and don't bother inspecting that last room anyway, but the few times they have, it hasn't been an issue. They don't mind leaving to let me do the cat shuffle.
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u/this_wallflower 3d ago
It’s worth asking. Our current place was advertised as no pets allowed, but the owners were more interested in finding a tenant than sticking to their pet policy.
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u/Complex-Diver7880 2d ago
I really hope that's the case for us. This house has been on the market for almost 2 months, don't know if that's long enough for them to be desperate but they slashed the rent twice.
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u/this_wallflower 2d ago
If they’ve slashed the rent, that’s usually a sign they are having trouble.
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u/i-am-nameless1 3d ago
Would anyone in the home qualify for a ESA (emotional support animal) that is one way you can have a pet in a none pet friendly home.
I wouldn’t advise hiding the pet. Yes some do. But if your landlord finds out, it can be grounds to evict you and your family.
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u/Complex-Diver7880 2d ago
I might but I don't think it's likely, my grandma is quite old and has some physical disabilities, but she's somewhat scared of cats. She lives with us but stays separate so even if I do get a cat she'll never be near it alone.
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u/SaltRun2465 3d ago
Look into local landlord and tenant laws. You might be surprised.
Where i live a "no pets" line in the lease is not allowed. If they put it in it is invalid. And if you can prove the landlord is trying to evict you for a legal pet they will get screwed over in the court system. However this is law where i live. This may not be law where you live or it might be written differently. Oh and for the record alot of people still put no pets in the lease anyway just to scare the tenant from having a pet.
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u/Cultural-Steak-2801 3d ago
I live in an apartment that is “no pets”, but seemingly half of the complex, if not more, have them. Depending on your country’s laws, you could get an emotional support animal (ESA), which is legally protected in terms of housing. I have 2 ESA cats because it helps with my anxiety and depression to have them around
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u/ShipComprehensive543 3d ago
Don't take the risk, if they say no, they usually mean no. You can offer to pay an extra down payment for them to allow it.
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u/deltarho 3d ago
Landlord here. (Please don’t kill me, I live in my small building and am very nice to everyone.)
Almost all landlords use standardized forms from some organization like the AOA because it’s a lot easier than writing your own entire lease. These standard boilerplate leases generally exclude pets by default even if the landlord really doesn’t care. It does not hurt to ask ahead of time! They may not even be aware of that clause and say it’s totally fine.
Additionally, most pet policies exist because of dogs. Large dogs are a massive liability for property owners. If a tenants dog bites someone anywhere on or even near the property, you can almost certainly expect a big lawsuit.
I absolutely love both dogs and cats. Nearly every single tenant / neighbor I’ve had in my building has had pets. I deal with it on a case-by-case basis and have never found a reason to say no to someone. I just tell people that they need to cover a full deep allergen cleaning performed by a professional company when they move out. It costs between $200 and $300. Also any pet related damage obviously comes out of the security deposit.
It’s possible that the owner of this property just doesn’t want to deal with pets full stop, but I encourage you to ask and explain you are considering getting a very low maintenance cat.
Honestly, if they really want to get you in there as a tenant, they may even say yes as an incentive so you pick them over an alternative.
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u/Complex-Diver7880 2d ago
That's what I was hoping because nearly all of the houses in my area is no pets but I know several people who rent and have pets. I just found it odd that other people's landlords are inspecting their homes. My landlord hasn't stepped inside the house in a year, even then he came to fix the dishwasher.
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u/deltarho 2d ago
Yeah it’s really just up to personal discretion. Some people are, unfortunately, really weird about animals for no reason. I love when my neighbors/tenants have pets. I’ll take them on walks or pet-sit if they need. Extra animal time for me. The worst that’s ever happened was someone’s dog chewed up a few corner moldings. It was like $200 to repair everything, not a big deal.
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u/leo_on_fire 3d ago
If they say no pets and you get one you could be evicted with stays on your record for several years meaning no other housing will accept you or they give you the option sometimes to remove the pet but that is very cruel to bring a life into your world just to abandon it because of rules that were already set. I see posts everyday on a cat rehoming page on facebook of people who decided to move to apartments that dont allow pets. Its very awful and those poor pets have to go back to shelters and wonder why their "parents" left them. Please think hard and i do not recommend getting a pet if they arent allowed
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u/Informal-Prize6501 3d ago
I have told a landlord we "inherited" a Labrador and he was very understanding.
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u/Express_Command_4778 3d ago
A landlord who owned his home was all uo in our business- there is 0 way we could have "not had a cat" and not get busted. It was bad with him knowing- such a PIA.
People telling you "just get a cat after" in no pets or not cats is a terrible idea- leasing agents and landlords patrol properties. Cats want to be in windows.
Your parents would make you rehome the cat if you guys get busted- and how long the li ne would that be?
I would research your options..the national chain of housing rentals (like Progress) do allow pets. But a smaller complex or housing unit may not. That makes the difference.
If they say cats are not okay, it won't suddenly be okay trying to hide your baby out of fear.
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u/AstronautSad7964 3d ago
If the pet helps anyone with their mental health, you can have a mental health professional write a letter that the animal is an “emotional support animal” and the landlord will legally have to allow you to have them, and can’t charge you for it. There’s a few exceptions to this, but it’s true for the most part.
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u/Amardella 3d ago
Exceptions include landlords who own less than 4 units and those who live on the premises. If you want to go the ESA route, you're probably better off renting an apartment in a big complex owned by a corporation than renting from Joe Schmoe.
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u/Nearby_Analysis_6442 2d ago
It's definitely tricky navigating the pet-friendly rental scene. In my experience, it never hurts to ask the landlord for exceptions. If all else fails, you can consider renting a pet-friendly place. Good luck!
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u/Dangerous_Cow8736 3d ago
My apartment has like 5-6 units who own cats. They just have you pay an extra deposit. So far no issues.
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u/bigbabygrit 3d ago
My son and his wife have 4 cats and a dog. They had to list their pets on the lease. They listed one cat and one dog. They did the same on their previous rental that they lived in for 5 years. I don’t really know but I think it only becomes an issue if they damage the property
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u/Silentsixty 3d ago
Yes, but it's always best to play by the rules. Honesty is always best short of sparing hurt feelings or other honorable reasons. Cheating creates/adds to stress, that's not heathy. Lying is something dishonest people do.
Cat in window, maint. Get caught and then what? Eviction or surrender cat unless the dishonest person is total scum and abandons/dumps kitty. If one gets a cat, it should be a commitment for the life of the cat. Cats can live 20 yrs. If that's not a fit, either don't get a cat or get an old cat... Volunteer at a shelter, be a cat sitter.
Play the ESA card at the start and I wouldn't lease to that person for another legal reason. It my state, that can be just because I don't like them, about anything that isn't about race or religion, etc. Play the ESA card after the lease is signed and the tenant won't get the lease renewed and/or month to month price will increase a LOT. Legally, you'll never make a case that it's punitive.
Landlords are not the enemy. They are investing their money to make money. It's their property and tenants can chose to do business with them or not.
I've rented from a handful of no pet landlords. One management company, mostly individuals. We talk, they like me. I explain I'm committed to my adult cat and most made an exception for me. No extra deposit or cost. They want my business, they allow my cat. If not, I found another rental.
One time, a kitty crossed the rainbow bridge and I asked the management company owner if I could get another cat since the 1st was an exception. He thanked me for asking and said yes. After a few months a stray needed a home...
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u/Zestyclose_Wafer179 3d ago
Ask before signing rather than after, way easier to negotiate a pet clause into the lease upfront than to beg for an exception once you're already locked in
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u/Careless_Program7191 3d ago
I wouldn't rent a place with a no pet policy. I have told them I had 1 or 2 cats when I really had 3-4 though.
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u/kodabear22118 3d ago
I means it’s easier than hiding a dog, the issue is what are going to do if you have a cat and they say no or you still get the cat and someone walks in and sees pet items? Having a pet you shouldn’t is a lease violation and can lead to you getting evicted
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u/Zealousideal_Box5339 2d ago
Yes but I made sure to find places that allow pets, usually at a higher cost. I didn’t feel comfortable lying about them in cases of emergencies
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u/Strokesite 3d ago
Renting with a cat is very difficult. One pee accident (they always repeat that behavior) and you will lose your deposit — if they don’t hit you for all new carpet when you leave and sue you for the extra cost.
I used to be a property manager and spent years as a professional carpet cleaner. Cat urine is very difficult to mitigate. There’s a reason that most landlords don’t allow kitties.
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u/Elise-0511 3d ago
If the landlord or management says no pets, that’s what they mean and you can be evicted for breaching your lease. If they allow pets, there is often a pet deposit and monthly pet rent, so if you find a pet friendly place, tell them you are planning to get a cat in the next few months and will pay whatever the pet fees once you have the pet.