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Small pets

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Original poster

House cats

22 replies

Betsyboo87 · 28/08/2017 09:22

Does anyone have house cats and do they cause many problems?

Short story is that I have a rental property and the tenant has asked if he can move his three cats in. I said no a couple of months ago but he's asked again. He's said that neither him or his girlfriend can find anywhere to rent that will accept them. The flat is on the second floor so the cats would have no access to outside. He insists they've only ever lived indoors, they're well trained and they have never damaged anything. I'm not convinced but as I'm not a big animal lover I may be biased. Does anyone have a house cat and can offer their experience?

OP posts:

talonofthehawks · 28/08/2017 15:09

No they stink, piss everywhere, spray and damage everything.

emwithme · 28/08/2017 15:23

Where are the cats living now? Could you go and visit there, see how they live - see if it smells of cat etc, how well they're kept and then make a decision?

OrangeJulius · 28/08/2017 15:49

I used to keep my two cats as housecats. If the cats have adquate stimulation and are in good health then all will probably be fine. I would wonder slightly about 3 cats in what sounds like a small space, but if they already live in a flat somewhere else I suppose all the cats will be used to the situation.

Original poster

Betsyboo87 · 28/08/2017 15:50

talonofthehawks yep that's my view too but I'm not an animal lover so trying to be open minded.

emwithme I'm a little confused where they are, I think they've convinced a friend to take them short term. That's a great idea to go round, I did think I would have to get a reference from the previous landlord but visiting would be good to too.

OP posts:

Original poster

Betsyboo87 · 28/08/2017 15:54

Thanks OrangeJulius. It's a 2 bed and new build so pretty small so I did wonder if it's a bit cruel. I'll have to see what stimulation they have, the furniture is all mine so I don't want it being scratched.

OP posts:

talonofthehawks · 28/08/2017 15:54

They truly are nightmare animals to keep in a flat- I wouldn't risk the damage.
You'll have to rip out carpets when they move and change doors/cupboards etc as they will be scratched to pieces.

Orangebird69 · 28/08/2017 15:56

Ignore Talon - serial cat hater 🙄.

It's quite possible for cats to live indoors and not stink, piss everywhere, spray and damage everything. They need suitable toilet facilities (at least 2 or 3 litter trays) that are scooped/cleaned frequently, a good, tall cat tree for climbing and scratching, and a quality dry food diet would be good to keep poo smells to a minimum. 3 cats is a lot for indoors though. Is your flat rented as furnished? Do you have any particularly precious or valuable furnishings? Cats can and do scratch things they shouldn't sometimes but it can be dealt with or kept to a minium.

Orangebird69 · 28/08/2017 15:58

ODFO Talon - I have had many many cats (rescue and pet) and have never had to replace carpets or change doors and cupboards.

Orangebird69 · 28/08/2017 16:01

Look!!! Sofa, not shredded. Cupboard doors not scratched. Carpets, clean and intact. 😮🙄

user1493413286 · 28/08/2017 16:03

I have house cats in a flat and they don't cause any problems. They're litter tray trained and I clean it every day.
We paid an extra deposit and had a clause in the contract that we would fumigate in the event that they got fleas (which they haven't) so perhaps that's an option? Ours don't cause damage to furniture but our flat isn't rented furnished anyway so not landlords concern and haven't caused any damage.

IrritatedUser1960 · 28/08/2017 16:10

My son has two cats and rents a first floor flat, he has already agreed with his landlord that the carpets will be replaced when he leaves and he has given his landlord money for that before moving in.
Otherwise shouldn't be a problem but the majority of cats DO shred furniture so any damage needs to be covered and that needs to be in the contract before you let them move in.
On the whole his cats are far less destructive than my cats.

Lillagroda · 28/08/2017 16:13

I've had two house cats for 11 years, including two years in two different rented flats, for which I got my full deposit back in both cases.

They do not "stink, piss everywhere, spray and damage everything."

They are clean, toilet in litter trays, absolutely do not spray (both neutered females) and my doors and carpets are only damaged because the previous owner of this place had a dog, who merrily chewed every door in the place.

MrsTrebus · 28/08/2017 16:14

I have 2 house cats. Depends on the cat and the owner. Mine have never made a mess and had 100% success rate on litter tray - and neutered so no spray. They're gorgeous and the perfect pets.

Talon - seriously calm down! Why the cat hatred? Chill there are lots of lovely cats

habibihabibi · 28/08/2017 16:19

Insist on a very hefty deposit and . I had a tenant who kept cats ( which I didn't authorise ) and one had kittens and they collectively did significant damage costing me loads more than the deposit covered. They weren't indoor only cats but they ripped off wallpaper and peed enough inside that nearly all the laminate as well as some carpets needed replacing.

Namethecat · 28/08/2017 16:23

Right ok my thoughts/facts about having a house cat. It is 4.5 and 100% a house cat (other than vet visits). She is neutered, has all vaccinations and is flea treated and wormed regularly. The reason for flea treatment is either she picked up fleas at the vets or we have given them to her ( not unusual apparently as we could have taken them into the house via being picked up elsewhere - yuk ! ) She has a couple of scratching posts, plenty of toys and boxes to amuse herself etc. From a kitten she has never toileted outside her litter tray and it is cleaned out daily .She and the house has no smells ( cats are very clean animals )We take her to the vets every 6 weeks to have her nails trimmed (she wont allow us to do it ) so our furniture is not scratched to bits. Yes she will occassionly honk up a hairball but that is sorted easily plus you can get stuff to help stop that happening. I think it depends on the owners to look after the cat in a responsible way. From my view however, 3 cats is quite a handful .

Original poster

Betsyboo87 · 28/08/2017 16:24

Thanks everyone! Really useful advice and pointers that I wouldn't have thought to put in the contract (e.g. fumigate after fleas).

OrangeJulius It is furnished but none of the furniture is either expensive or precious. I had a thorough inventory done when they moved in which has lots of photos of the furniture so I should be ok proving damage if it happens. The same carpet runs through the whole flat so they'll have to agree to replacing it all if it's damaged.

OP posts:

Mulch · 28/08/2017 17:01

Landlord at my previous property allowed me to get a dog if I paid a separate pet deposit on top of my original deposit.

grandOlejukeofYork · 28/08/2017 17:03

No they stink, piss everywhere, spray and damage everything

They most certainly do not! Are you confusing cats with children?

BertrandRussell · 28/08/2017 17:05

How much is he going to reduce your rent by?

BertrandRussell · 28/08/2017 17:06

Sorry, I misunderstood. I I thought your landlord wanted to move his cats into the flat you were renting! Ignore me.

OttilieKnackered · 28/08/2017 17:08

I have a house cat. She has never toileted outside the litter tray and is scrupulously clean. Much more than I can say for my mum's indoor/outdoor cats. She has scratched up my sofa but only one in one place.

I would ask for an extra deposit, make sure furniture is included in it and it'll be fine.

AllTheWittyNamesAreGone · 28/08/2017 17:08

Lucy is outraged at the suggestion that she stinks, sprays or pisses anywhere

I had a few house cats for 14 years in a flat and only one was a bugger. He used to run upthe curtains but tjose were ours not the lanlords

Our old lanlord was fine with cats but we had to get the carpets cleaned when we left-fair enough and promise to replace anything they damaged(nothing in 14 years)

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