Do house cats rip up carpets

[Dingdong99]

I have a rental flat that I've just put new carpets in

I have some potential new tenants that have a cat, but the flat is on the 4th floor so I guess they'll have to keep it inside

Do house cats tend to scratch up carpets? I'd rent it unfurnished so sofas etc wouldn't matter, but I wonder if they might damage the carpets

mine never have but the wallpaper is a different matter

Some do, some don’t. Are the tenants likely to be long term, and are the carpets expensive?

It’s impossible to say really - depends on the cat. My cats don’t but some cats might. It’s certainly a possibility.

Can you increase the rent to cover the cost of any potential damage? Or ask for a pet deposit?

Thanks all!

I’ve had 3 house cats over the years and none of been interested in scratching carpets or furniture.

Three of my cats use scratch posts without issue.
My old rescue otoh ignores scratch posts and wants untreated wood to do her nails. If she can't find wood she does the stair carpet
Take a pet deposit but keep in mind it's random, cats will change the habit of a lifetime to be difficult or contrary!

Mine has wrecked all my carpets. Ignores the scratching posts and uses the carpet. They're not ripped as such but they're all tufted up and look shit due to the cat.

My 2 cats scratch up carpets when doors are closed.

As pp said, it depends on the cat.
Mine has a giant scratching post / kitty castle but does she scratch on it? Does she fuck. Only our sofas and carpets are good enough. Her pristine scratching post laughs at our shredded furniture.

A pet deposit would be a good idea.

Depends on the cat. Mine doesn't scratch anything but the sofa!

Mine do things like scratch at carpets at doorways if doors are shut.

But it doesn’t destroy the carpet, just a little bit more wear than without a cat, my DC on the other hand have destroyed carpets.

Mine do, and they're outdoor cats. I did get a spray to stop them that has been really effective

I have had about 12 cats and only one that did. My current one favours a shut bedroom door

Of my six cats (not all at once), two have (siblings) and four haven’t.

An additional pet deposit that takes the total deposit over 5 weeks’ rent is illegal in England unfortunately (though not elsewhere in UK) but you can charge a small pet surcharge on the rent.

It depends. Loop piles are the most risky. Cut piles are generally ok - they might pull the odd strand out but unless they are manic scratchers it probably won't look too bad.

I have had house cats my entire life and not a one has ever ripped up carpets or walls.

Peed on carpets, yes. That has been an issue with two. One in my childhood. He was fine for years. We moved house and the previous owners had a dog. The cat started marking like crazy and was extremely distressed. My parents actually rehomed him. One as an adult. She was the only cat I ever let also roam outside. She developed a preference for peeing outside and when she couldn’t get out I discovered she was using a spot on the carpet instead of her litter box. I moved shortly after that and made her indoor only. Never had a problem again.

My cat (an indoors/outdoors cat) sharpens her claws on the vertical part of the stairs carpet. She has never used carpet that is horizontal, and she always uses the same step so only one panel of carpet is damaged.

Tenants with pets are apparently less likely to damage your property, because they know how difficult it is to find somewhere that accepts pets, so will appreciate your flat more. Nevertheless, I would certainly insist that they provide a scratching post for their cat, to try and distract the cat from your carpets. These don't have to be expensive, some cats will use coir formats, others the kind with corrugated cardboard

My cat is an outside cat but even when she’s inside she’ll often claw at the carpet when she’s stretching. But Ive had other cats on the past who haven’t done it... but the majority of the cats I’ve had have done this😬

My house cat doent give two hoots about the carpet or his scratching post , my sofa on the other hand has taken a beating !

*doormats! Not formats.

Only the best stair carpet will do for our fat rescue cat!

We have been through a myriad of scratching posts but none satisfy like a stair carpet

As other have said, renters with cats will be long term renters, it’s so hard to find a place that accepts pets. We paid a pet deposit and happy to replace anything they might have damaged but to tell the truth the kids have knocked the place about a lot more. We do have a clause that says when we leave we have to have all the carpets professionally cleaned. If it’s an indoor cat, no likelihood of fleas or parasites.

If possible be kids to those of us who have to rent and love animals.

Mine is practically a stuffed animal I think, he's never scratched anything except his scratch mat. He did get his claw hooked on the carpet once but just screamed at me until I came and rescued him
If it helps my carpets are 15 years old, I've had him 5 years and they won't need replacing any time soon!

I have three indoor cats, one scratches carpet, one loathes wallpaper and rips it and one only scratches shut doors. All depends on that cat. But we paid for the wallpaper and carpets anyway so meh.

Mine destroyed houseplants and that was it. A friend of mine had one that destroyed furniture and wallpaper.