How do you feel about allowing tenants to have cats? What are your requirements, additional fees, etc? What damage have you seen? Thanks

Not a fan of cats. How many? How old? are they fixed? I wouldn't consider it unless I could tour the inside of their current property to see how well it's kept up. Be on the lookout for smells (tenant may have all the windows on to cover the odor), torn up couches, mangled mini blinds and/or drapes. Details please.

Although I volunteer in animal rescue (both cats and dogs) I am hesitant about allowing cats in my rentals. To allow them I must have proof of all vaccinations plus spaying or neutering plus monthly flea prevention. Indoor cats only and the owners must provide adequate litter control (and no dumping of such down toilet or sink drains) and some type of cat tree or other "scratching" device to save the door casings from being used instead.

Last place I finished had a cat, or probably multiples in there. At that time I only charged a reg fee. It wasn't enough.

Cat pee everywhere. Plus they dumped the litter in the yard, in piles.

Now I watch closer, but it seems cats can be more destructive than dogs at times.

Well, I am a "cat person". I have two of my own.

It is the same as dogs - it's the OWNER who is good or a problem.

My property recently has been "animal inclusive", so no additional deposit or rent for animals (up to 2). That means the rent & deposit are already higher than a similar no=pet property.

If there is carpet, they could claw on that - but I don't have carpets. They can claw on their owner's furniture all they want, if they are allowed to.

The decision would be based on the in-home visit which would include viewing the litter box area. If it's kept clean, like mine, there is no problem.

Of course all animals need to be altered & have a vet, et.

Below are two sections from my Anima Application, regarding cats. So they already know what's expected when they apply.

">Cats must use a litter box, and must not scratch on the wood trim, walls or any part of the house."

and

If animal is a cat:

Dinah,

I LOVE LOVE LOVE animals in our homes, including cats.

The 2 Minute In Home Visit makes all the difference. I have seen the cats, smelled the house, examined the litter box BEFORE final approval.

Before doing visits, yes we had horror stories. But the visits changed that.

We have over 64 animals in our homes with ZERO problems - because we screened the OWNER (like DJ said) and the care of their current home.

Yes, I HAVE denied some applicants due to poor animal care.

We advertise WE LOVE PETS and bring in quality applicants with pets. Our normal maximum is 2 animals but some qualified for 3.

$150 Non Refundable Animal Registration Fee per animal

$35 Animal Fee (not rent!) per month per animal.

The last 3 leases we signed had 2 animals each,

$150 x 2 = $300

$35 x 2 x 12 = $840, + the $300 = $1140 the first year.

If they stay 3 years that's $1140 + 840 + 840 = $2820 pure income into my pocket without spending a PENNY! to upgrade the home.

Find what people want and let them pay you for it. 82% of applicants either HAVE pets or WANT pets.

Find a way to work this in your biz.

BRAD

I allow them. I have been in fewer places that smell of cat than I have that smell of dog. In SFH we allow 2 pets.

I have on occasion let 3 in. It does seem like pet owners stay longer than non-pet owners.

Here's the verbiage on our animal policy form

Animals are allowed on a case by case, and rental by rental basis with size, type, and number of animals being a possible dis-qualifier. We do not accept animals on the forbidden dog breed list (see below). Puppies and Non-Neutered / Non-Spayed animals are not allowed.

No reptiles, fish, birds / fowl, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, or any other type animal.

Tenant must possess equipment sufficient to clean up all feces on and off property.

Duplexes are limited to 1 cat or 1 small dog.

Non-Refundable Total Animal Registration Fee of

$200 for animals under 40 lbs. or $300 for animals over 40 lbs.

Additional Animal Rent of

$25 per animal per month for animals under 40 lbs

$50 per animal per month for animals over 40 lbs.

FORBIDDEN DOG BREEDS:

Akita Alaskan Malamute / Husky Bull Terrier

Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff) Chow Chow Doberman Pinscher

Fila Brasileiro German Shephard Great Dane

Mastiff Pitbull Presa Canario

Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Shar Pei

St Bernard Staffordshire Terriers Wolf Hybrids

Or a mix of any of the above - List compiled from Center for Disease Control on dog breeds involved in dog-bite-related fatalities and is disallowed by our property insurance company

To have an animal be considered in your rental application, you must include the following:

1. Photo and name of the animal.

2. Recent medical letterhead from a local vet which includes:

a) If your animal is spayed or neutered

b) Up to date on vaccinations

c) Breed type and weight

Brad,

Why call it a pet fee instead of pet rent?

I understand having a registration fee instead of a deposit.

I don't like to have cats in my rentals. If they are clean and well cared for, they are fine, but if they do damage, it is expensive damage and a big project to repair it