Tips for choosing a cat-friendly rental
Guest Blog
With 29% of households in the UK home to at least one cat, many renters need to find a home that’s pet-friendly. But not all homes are suitable for cats and as a tenant, you may be limited on what adaptations you can make to suit your feline friend. That means that choosing a cat-friendly rental home takes careful consideration to ensure it’s a comfortable, happy and safe space for your cat while also suiting the needs of the rest of the family. If you’re searching for a cat-friendly rental home, here are our top tips to help you during property viewings to ensure you choose the right property.
Type Of Property And Location
When choosing a cat-friendly home to rent, the property type is an important consideration. You’ll need something that best suits your needs. For example, houses tend to offer more space and usually provide cats with access to the outdoors. However, flats can also suit cats, especially if they have balconies or are near parks or green spaces. As many blocks of flats have common areas, some tend to have stricter policies on pets. It’s also a good idea to choose a rental property that is fairly close to a vet clinic and pet shop. You may not always have access to a car, but you still need to pick up cat supplies or take your feline pet to the vet.
Sufficient Inside Space
When it comes to inside a rental home, you’ll want to ensure there’s adequate space for your cat to freely move around and play. Ideally, there should also be sufficient room for its things, such as cat towers, cat beds, and litter trays. This is even more important if your cat is an indoor cat. The rental will effectively be their entire world, so in this case, aim for your cat to have access to several rooms and, ideally, two types of resting places, one at floor level and the other higher. Also, check for any potential hazards within the home, such as a balcony or raised outdoor spaces that you'll need to cat-proof to ensure your feline friend can't get out.
Safe Outdoor Space
If your cat goes outside, you must ensure that the rental home is in a safe area for cats. This means considering whether the home is near a railway line or close to a busy road that could be a danger to your cat when it is out exploring the neighbourhood. Also, take a good look around in the garden to see if there’s anything that could be a hazard to your cat, such as toxic plants or a pond. If there's a plant you're concerned about, speak to the owner, as they may let you remove it. Likewise, if there's a pond, ask them if you can cover it with something to prevent your cat from falling in. Don’t forget to check that the property has a cat flap already or that your landlord is happy for you to install one so your cat can easily go outside.
Be Honest About Your Cat
Honest conversations with the property owner are the best way to determine whether a rental property is the right fit for you and your cat. While you may find that some rental listings do say that you can have a cat, many don't. So, you'll need to ask if having a cat is OK. You must be upfront with a prospective landlord or letting agent about your cat. Don’t be tempted to hide your cat from them, as this could put your tenancy at risk. Instead, find out their policy on pets and let them know how many cats you have and whether they are inside or outside cats. Some landlords may require tenants with a cat to pay a deposit or slightly higher rent to cover potential damage.
When choosing a cat-friendly rental home, look for properties that are a safe distance from busy roads and railway lines and have a garden free of hazards. Ensure the property has enough space for your cat to explore and play, especially if it's a house cat. And lastly, ensure you're honest with the owner about your cat. Most landlords are open to the idea of having pets and who knows, they might be a cat lover too.
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