Renting With Cats
If you are looking for a rental unit and you have pet cats, then you may find it more difficult to find a place that will accept you and your cats. There are even some rentals that don't have a problem accepting most dogs, but when they hear the word 'cats' they tend to shy away. One of the reasons many property managers don't like to rent to someone who owns cats are that cats can spray in the house and cat spray can be extremely difficult to get out of the flooring and the walls. Cats have extremely sharp nails and the need to sharpen them on just about anything, including the walls and carpeting. Cats can also be very destructive when they want outside, even slicing and dicing the window screens in an attempt to free themselves. However, there are some things you can do to make it easier for you to find a rental when you have cats.
Show the property manager excellent references
Every time you move from a rental, you should always ask that property manager for a letter of recommendation. Also, ask if they can include in it that you had pets in the unit, what kind of pets you had and that the pets did no damage. Also, make copies of your checks you receive for your security deposit reimbursement. You can show the copies to the property manager as proof that you didn't do damage and received your deposit back as proof. The letters of recommendation will also hold a lot of weight with most property managers.
Show the property manager a letter from your cat's veterinarian
It may be extremely helpful to bring in a letter from the cat's vet letting the property manager know that your cat comes in for routine exams, is up to date on its shots and has been fixed. A cat that has been fixed is less of a risk because fixed cats have a significantly lower chance of spraying in the house. Showing that you keep up with your cat's exams and shots will show you are an all-around responsible pet owner.
Show pictures of your cat and their cat trees
With your application, you may even want to go so far as to show pictures of your cat, including pictures showing their nicely trimmed nails to prove you keep up with them. You may even want to show pictures of their scratching posts. Most people who know anything about cats know that cats are generally content to sharpen their claws on scratching posts when they have them and leave the rest of the home intact.
Contact a rental company, like ABA Rental Properties Inc, for more help.
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