Anyone else frustrated by "no cat" apartments?

[yottabit]

I've been living in a mobile home for the past few years so I haven't been subject to too many pet regulations. Now I'm looking at moving into a nice apartment and it's so frustrating that so many apartments in my area are either no pet, or even "no cats" specifically (but dogs allowed). When I got my cat 1.5 yrs ago I didn't think I'd ever have a problem moving around because of him, and now I'm forced to pretty much choose between getting a nice apartment and ditching him, or getting one of the lower end Section 8 area apartments.

I realize cat's can cause damage, but I'd be willing to pay any reasonable amount of refundable deposit in order to keep him... I'm not asking for a free lunch, I'd just like these PREMIUM apartment complexes to work with me on something that I'm willing to pay for, rather than "no pets no negotiations" clauses

 

[Ichinisan]

How can cats cause more damage than dogs?

 

[Arkaign]

Weird. I'm in Plano, TX, which has apartments up to around the $2k range for 1BR, and I've only seen one complex that has a strict no-pets-at-all policy, and it seems to be tailored towards people keeping expensive 2nd apartments here in town for the corporate midlevel types that are common here (Frito Lay, EDS, etc).

Check more apartments?

Also really expensive apartments are a huge waste of money. I don't advise going super cheap either, but something in the middle ground is good. All that cash you pay in rent vaporizes forever into the ether though, so if you can find something decent that is a little cheaper/older, it's a bonus to you in savings.

 

[Anubis]

How can cats cause more damage than dogs?

people have some misconception that cats pee/shit on more things then dogs do. and or smell worse in general

which isn't true at all. there really is no difference with properly trained animals

 

[yottabit]

How can cats cause more damage than dogs?

I guess on apartments with hardwood floors, cat urine can stain them, and they are supposedly also more likely to tear things up. A lot of the apartments I am looking at have hardwood floors, and I expect that's why they have the "NO CATS" clause. But my cat isn't some 14 year old that can't control his bladder

 

[Ichinisan]

people have some misconception that cats pee/shit on more things then dogs do. and or smell worse in general

which isn't true at all. there really is no difference with properly trained animals

I've never heard of this misconception. Everyone knows that cats are cleaner and they use a litter box instinctively. Though they can destroy curtains and such, dogs are much more likely to destroy doors, trim, and carpets.

 

[yottabit]

Weird. I'm in Plano, TX, which has apartments up to around the $2k range for 1BR, and I've only seen one complex that has a strict no-pets-at-all policy, and it seems to be tailored towards people keeping expensive 2nd apartments here in town for the corporate midlevel types that are common here (Frito Lay, EDS, etc).

Check more apartments?

Also really expensive apartments are a huge waste of money. I don't advise going super cheap either, but something in the middle ground is good. All that cash you pay in rent vaporizes forever into the ether though, so if you can find something decent that is a little cheaper/older, it's a bonus to you in savings.

Thanks, the city I live in the "premium" one bedrooms are only in the ~ $1200 range and $1300-1500 for a 2br, that's the closest we have to "luxury" There are only a handful of apartments in my area that nice and there is one new development opening up soon that I am particularly interested in, that is the one with the non-negotiable no cat policy, even though they have a dog park and encourage dog ownership. I'm going to call them and see if I can change their mind

 

[webdave]

How can cats cause more damage than dogs?

Easily if they have their claws. Scratching carpet, walls, door jams, etc...

 

[Arkaign]

Thanks, the city I live in the "premium" one bedrooms are only in the ~ $1200 range and $1300-1500 for a 2br, that's the closest we have to "luxury" There are only a handful of apartments in my area that nice and there is one new development opening up soon that I am particularly interested in, that is the one with the non-negotiable no cat policy, even though they have a dog park and encourage dog ownership. I'm going to call them and see if I can change their mind

Cool, maybe they will make an exception if you get a reasonable person on the line. Hopefully they aren't run by one of those gigantic faceless corporations that are buying up apartment complexes now, as they typically mete out standards from on high, and the local managers have basically zero say in anything other than what's in the rulebook. Around here most things are run by 'AMLI' now.

What are you in btw? And good on you not to toss your pet by the wayside, a lot of people abandon/give away pets due to policies like you describe, or due to insane deposit requirements. One of the places around here has something like a $1200 pet deposit iirc.

 

[Dirigible]

I've never heard of this misconception. Everyone knows that cats are cleaner and they use a litter box instinctively. Though they can destroy curtains and such, dogs are much more likely to destroy doors, trim, and carpets.

I don't know this. My wife's cats are filthy nasty destructive animals, worse than any dog I've had. If I ever rent out a place again I will not allow cats.

 

[yottabit]

What are you in btw? And good on you not to toss your pet by the wayside, a lot of people abandon/give away pets due to policies like you describe, or due to insane deposit requirements. One of the places around here has something like a $1200 pet deposit iirc.

I'm in a mobile home in a pretty nice community that was my father's home before he got remarried and moved away, I live here and I pay all the bills for him as well as keep up the grounds and we call it even. I got a pretty large promotion now though and can afford to move on up to someplace nicer. I just want to get a fairly nice apartment so I can live there for the next 5 years or so as I save for a house. I'm working 50 hrs/week now and the upkeep of the mobile home is too difficult (snowblowing the driveway, shoveling off the roof, raking/mowing the lawn)

 

[rcpratt]

I'm more frustrated by $50/mo cat fees.

 

[SunnyD]

If I ever am a landlord, there's no way in fucking hell I'd ever let cats in my property. I'd let dogs in in a heartbeat though.

 

[chin311]

either you people suck @ training/raising a cat or you have some real wild beasts.

my cat doesn't claw anything but his scratching post, doesn't shit/piss/vomit all over the place, in his enclosed litter box. you wouldn't even know i had a cat.

that being said, ive never even had to pay more then an extra 200$ deposit (refundable) upon moving in to a place.

I've seen plenty of places that reek from people having dogs before, soon as i smell it i just say no thanks on this place, onto the next.

 

[Numenorean]

If I ever am a landlord, there's no way in fucking hell I'd ever let cats in my property. I'd let dogs in in a heartbeat though.

WTF? That's bullshit right there.

Let whatever pets in, but have pet deposit and contract.

 

[Arkaign]

The number one thing with cats is making sure you train them well, and take care of the litterbox daily. Do both of those, and as chin says, you wouldn't even know a cat existed in the place.

On the flip side, one of my little brother's friends is this really neglectful bitch who seems to virtually never clean the litter box of her two cats. My eyes literally tear up and I get nauseous as soon as the door opens to her apartment. It's like she's got decaying bodies in there. I simply can't believe anyone can live like that, and I wonder how they're going to clear the smell when she moves.

 

[SunnyD]

WTF? That's bullshit right there.

Let whatever pets in, but have pet deposit and contract.

Last time I had to clean up/refurbish after a cat, it involved ripping out the carpets and sanding/refinishing the subfloor, then putting down new carpet to get the stank out.

Last time I had to clean up/refurbish after a dog, it involved getting the carpets shampooed.

So tell me, which one is more bullshit?

 

[Axon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvIHQ22lMj4

No cats, mo' dawgs!

 

[Ichinisan]

Last time I had to clean up/refurbish after a cat, it involved ripping out the carpets and sanding/refinishing the subfloor, then putting down new carpet to get the stank out.

Last time I had to clean up/refurbish after a dog, it involved getting the carpets shampooed.

So tell me, which one is more bullshit?

Seriously, they must not have provided a litter box for the cat.

 

[SunnyD]

Seriously, they must not have provided a litter box for the cat.

I'll be the first to admit that me and cats don't get along. We've had several cats (my wife loves em), but for whatever reason... well, let's put it this way... when a cat goes out of its way to piss on MY side of the bed... yeah. No cats. Ever again.

The only cat I ever liked was my wife's cat when I met her. Of course the cat grew up in a house full of dogs, and thought she was a dog herself.

 

[Numenorean]

Last time I had to clean up/refurbish after a cat, it involved ripping out the carpets and sanding/refinishing the subfloor, then putting down new carpet to get the stank out.

Last time I had to clean up/refurbish after a dog, it involved getting the carpets shampooed.

So tell me, which one is more bullshit?

The landlord who doesn't allow cats.

The problem with cats isn't the cat, it's the owner. A properly trained and cared for cat is far cleaner than a dog.

 

[Numenorean]

I'll be the first to admit that me and cats don't get along. We've had several cats (my wife loves em), but for whatever reason... well, let's put it this way... when a cat goes out of its way to piss on MY side of the bed... yeah. No cats. Ever again.

The only cat I ever liked was my wife's cat when I met her. Of course the cat grew up in a house full of dogs, and thought she was a dog herself.

Had tons of cats growing up and none of them pissed anywhere but outside or in a litter box with the exception of when they were kittens still learning the litter box thing, and it doesn't take them long to learn.

 

[HeXen]

I've never heard of this misconception. Everyone knows that cats are cleaner and they use a litter box instinctively. Though they can destroy curtains and such, dogs are much more likely to destroy doors, trim, and carpets.

They puke. rather often sometimes. Also it really depends on the cat, even a well trained cat can sometimes still pee on oddball occasions in out of way areas like under bed or in closet, especially if they end up with a tract infection.

But mostly i think its cause they puke, sure you can clean it up good if you have carpet cleaner or whatever, but there are many people who don't do a very good job and leaves a stain of some sort or a crusty spot in the carpet. Sometimes the acid can damage wood if left for too long, like when they puke under a couch or something.

Cat hair..it gets everywhere, not a deal but some litter boxes arent designed very well and cat pee can run down the sides or get into the seams of the hood latches and drip onto floor underneath. It will stain lanolium.

 

[chin311]

also my cat is hairless so no hair anywhere, makes it even more stealth.

 

[nageov3t]

I have a penis, so no, I've never owned a cat.