Conference misery::feline_v1

    I don't know if this will help but years and years ago my husband
    and I wanted to get our first cat and our landlord didn't allow
    pets.  The couple didn't really know anything about cats but if
    memory serves they were concerned with the idea of fleas.  To get
    them to agree to our having a cat (we got another one six months
    later) we promised to have the house fulmigated when we moved whenever
    that turned out to be.  I don't know if this will help in your case
    or whether you would want to spend the money but it worked for us.
    It was well worth the money.  The first cat lived 17 years and we
    still have the second and she will be 19 in two months.
    
    Cheryl
    

    I spent several years as a landlady (who had two cats, by the way!)
    who advertised apartments as "no pets" etc.  As .0 indicated, the
    main concern was possible property damage.  I was concerned about
    dogs chewing on woodwork, cats leaving urine scents, etc.  However,
    there was one family who appeared to be *excellent* prospective
    tenants (and you seem to be already proven!!!) who had a cat.
    
    Being sympathetic to cats, cat-owners, and people in general, I
    was willing to discuss the situation.  (In this case, my main
    concern was urine soaking into beautiful hardwood floors -- the
    apt. was unfurnished, so if kitty used sofa for scratching, that
    was not my worry.)  I met the cat as well as the family (I lived
    upstairs so it was especially important that we all got along),
    and we agreed upon an extra security deposit.  Kitty caused no
    problems and later the full security deposits (regular and kitty-
    based) were returned in full.
    
    These days, I am renting again (semi-furnished; most of my furniture
    is in storage) and there were supposed to be no pets.  Once again,
    I asked, offered a steep security deposit (declined!!) and we have
    been happily situated for over 2 years.
    
    Everyone is different -- your landlord may just not want the bother
    of dealing with this, but you might try reminding him of how careful
    you are with his and your property and offer whatever deposit might
    ease his mind that he will not be stuck with financing repairs.
    
    THEN GET THE PERMISSION IN WRITING.  I gave permission in writing,
    and I received it in writing.  Much better for peace of mind.
    
    Good luck!  (Another trick in negotiating might be to tell him of
    your request and offer, and suggest that you will call him back
    in X days to get his answer.  An initial reaction of "no" may
    change, and he won't feel that he needs to "publicly" change his
    mind.  I once tried this in another context, and began the request
    with a statement that I did NOT want an answer now, but would call
    back in 24 hours and please let's wait til then.  (I received an
    unexpected favorable response!)
    
    	Penelope

    I have a similar situation going on with me right now.  I live in
    a rented home with four cats.  My present landlord wants the cats
    outside but I want them indoors only.  At the present, I am breaking
    my rental contract by keeping them inside.  As an alterative, I
    asked to be able to build an outdoor enclosure in the backyard off
    the garage so that the cats would be protected outside.  He refused.
    
    I am now looking for another house to rent.  This time it will be
    with te understanding that my cats will remain indoors only.  It
    is not easy to find someone willing to rent to a person with one
    cat let alone four!  Also - since I am breeding, I can't be held
    to exactly four cats.  If I ever have a truly great kitten, I want
    to be able to keep it myself rather than having to sell it.
    
    I called a lady about a house the other day.  She had advertised
    for no pets but the house sounded like it might be perfect for us.
    She was reluctant at first, but since the house has been vacant
    for a while she agreed to consider us.  After we meet in person
    and see her rental, she will come to our present home and see how
    the place looks.  The idea being that any damage at our present
    home can probably be expected at her rental.  I think this is a
    very fair way of handling our problem.  We will also give her a
    hefty security deposit.
    
    I know this does not help your situation much.  I think that your
    main strongpoints are that 1) you are being honest in asking permission
    rather than just going ahead and getting a cat, 2) you have been
    great tennants for the last two years and have proven to take good
    care of his property, 3) if he disagrees and you decide to move
    somewhere else where you can have a cat, he may end up with new
    tennants that trash his property, 4) it would be very costly to
    him if you were to decide to find another place to him, since he
    would have a vacant house on his hands for X amount of time.
    Jo
    
    

    Bernice,
    	I can not offer any suggestions as to what to do about your
    landlord except to move and follow the above suggestions.  I do
    however have a beautiful cat in need of a home.  She is 10 months
    old and is spayed.  She has a great loving personality.  She is
    a housecat with red stripes on light red hair with white under and
    paws.  She really enjoys people and is a really good pet.  I don't
    know what I will do if I don't find her a new home.
    
    	Good luck with your landlord or whatever you decide to do.
    
    				Cecilia
    			CONS::GARBARINO
    
    	PS. We currently live in Marlboro
    

        After renting for 10 years, (I now own, thank heavens!), I had
    run into that problem myself. I was able to remedy the problem quite
    easily each time, by reminding them of a few basic facts.
              1. Cats are by nature very clean animals. And if you're
    pets are altered, there shouldn't be any spraying problems. I would
    say that letting the landlord know they are fixed is an important
    point.
              2. A real biggy -- Cats are much cleaner and less smelly
    that children, no offense to children in particular, it's just a
    fact. The damage a cat can cause is minimal compared to what a child
    can do too. This fact always clinched it for me. 
              3. Definatley offer a deposit to cover any damages. And
    get a receipt and written change on your lease stating it is ok
    for you to have X number of pets.
              4. Don't be afraid to let the landlord know that you love
    animals and would love the company of that special pet.(They usually
    end up falling in love with the cat themselves anyway.)  Your having
    a pet actually should prove to the landlord that you are a warm
    and caring person and must have some sense of responsibility in
    order to care for another life.
        Well, I hope this helps, if the landlord knows you are willing
    to pay for any problems and will comply with cleanliness,etc., they
    have no reason to refuse, even if you had to wait a bit until they
    saw you were a good tenant. The above facts always swayed the opinion
    of the landlord for me.
                                      Good luck,
                                                 Denise
    

    After my husband recently retired from the Navy, we were faced with
    finding real housing in a normal community (civilian, the ONLY way
    to go!), we found that nearly all ads said "No Pets!", however most
    times when we told them it was two cats (age 9 and 10) they didn't
    object *EXCEPT* for unaltered males.  That spray is malodorous and
    as far as my experience, permanent.  We were only looking at
    unfurnished places so there could not be furniture scratched (mine
    demolish at least two scratching poles per year so furniture is
    save).  Your landlord may be much more agreeable than you think
    if you just ask, expecially if he knows a cat's normal behavior.
    
    Good luck and let us all know how it comes out!
    
    Ellen (now with three cats - see note 454)
    

    Just an update on the situation.  The landlord decided not to come
    in person with the lease.  Instead he sent it by mail, so when we
    sent it back to him, we attached a letter requesting permission
    to have an "adult, altered, housetrained, declawed cat" (the declawed
    was my hubby, I don't think we need it).  We are now at the "wait
    and see" stage of the game.  Thanks for all the GOOD suggestions.
    I will keep you posted.
    
    Bernice

    Finally, I have an answer and a cat.  The landlord had to see us
    about something else, so I approached him again, and he reluctantly
    said yes.  Then I called a friend whose neice was having to find
    another home for her cat, who met all the restrictions, and brought
    her home Sunday afternoon.  Trouble is black and white (mostly black
    with white socks), 6 years old, and seems to be adjusting fine.
    She ate tonight, but I have not yet seen her drink.  She is using
    her litterbox, so I am not concerned.  So far the only problem is
    that she is still somewhat nervous.  The previous owner's other
    cat was terriorizing Trouble and I think that that along with new
    surroundings and people accounts for this.  
    
    Thanks to all for your helpful suggestions.  
    
    Bernice
    

    Congratulations!  I would be interested in knowing what types of
    restrictions he wanted fulfilled.  Did you have to talk him into
    it?  I have been trying to get up the nerve to ask my landlord if
    I can build an outdoor enclosure in the backyard for my kitties.
    So far he has turned me down, but I still want to talk him into
    it.  Anybody have any good strong arguments as to why he should
    let me?
    
    Jo Ann

    RE .9
    
    Jo Ann, the restrictions were that the cat had to be adult, altered,
    declawed, and house-trained.  The cat I got has had all four paws
    declawed.  I had never heard of this and, just for the record, strongly
    disagree with having it done.  But don't ask me to give her up now.
    Trouble is anything but what her name implies.  Now that she is
    a little more used to us she is very affectionate.  
    
    As far as talking the landlord into it, I was just so frustrated
    that he had never answered my letter that I decided to ask him and
    get a definite answer (fully expecting a no).  I pointed out that
    we have lived there for over two years, as well as that I wanted
    a cat instead of a kitten.  Of course getting on my knees may have
    helped :-) .  Seriously, I think he could tell I *REALLY* want a
    cat.  Don't know if this helps any, but it did work for me. Just
    remember perserverance does pay off.   
    
    Bernice