Q&A for How to Convince Your Landlord to Accept Your Cat

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Will this also work for dogs?

Community Answer

It would depend on the size and nature of the breed. If the dog is petite, calm, and well-trained, the landlord would most likely allow it.

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I leased a home that did not contain a 'no pet' clause, but I just saw the rental ad that mentions "no pets." Can I keep the cat or do I have to void the lease?

Community Answer

I would talk to the landlord directly. If the no pets clause isn't in the contract, then you don't have to abide by it legally, but the landlord may want to break the lease themselves if you aren't willing to get rid of the cat. However, some landlords are only worried about certain types of pets, so you may have some luck convincing them to leave the lease as is so you and your cat can keep the home.

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I'm only a kid, so I don't think the landlord is going to listen to me. Any suggestions?

Andrew Serrano

Top Answerer

A lot of adults find it harder to say "no" to a kid than they would another adult. Walking up to the landlord and asking shows responsibility, and maybe showing the landlord how well you plan on taking care of the cat would help.

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I got a kitten. There is nothing that says no pets on my lease (the house is in bad condition anyway, and I do repairs). Should I tell my landlord or neighbors?

Community Answer

Whether you tell your neighbors is up to you, but definitely tell your landlord! You don't want him to discover you have one and think you've been keeping it a secret. The worst that can happen is he'll say you can't keep your kitten, but it's more likely he'll just say it's fine or add a pet fee to cover possible damage.

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I'm in a foreign country and I don't speak the language. Any suggestions?

Community Answer

Listen. If you hear people talking in your language, go to them. If they know the language, ask if they can teach you some common phrases to help you get by.

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I'm looking at a home I would like to rent and possibly rent-to-own. The house is perfect, but the limit is 2 cats, I have 3. Plus, there's a $200 each deposit. What can I do?

Community Answer

"Cat negotiating" may be the way to go. If your landlord does not do that, you may have to hide your cat in a separate room. If you don't want to do that, contact a close friend/family member to help out when convincing him. Try talking about how much you love them, and he may open up to you.

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I had my cat for years in my apartment before the no-pet policy. Can existing pets still be kept?

Upnorth Here

Top Answerer

Not after your current lease expires and you agree to the new form with new rules. You can certainly ask the landlord to make an exception, in writing, for your particular situation, which may be acceptable if you're an otherwise welcome tenant or if you offer to pay additional fees.

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We are planning on moving soon, but the house I am interested in allows pets by arrangement. Does that mean they would allow cats?

Upnorth Here

Top Answerer

Yes, it means they may be willing to make an arrangement to allow you to have cats (or other pets), perhaps with additional damage deposit, monthly fees, additional rules for inside/outside cats, etc.

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