Will a cat ruin or beat up a brand new luxury condo with brand new hardwood floors, cabinets, carpets?

Question

I recently bought a brand new luxury condo that's over 1,000 square feet in a major city. I was relocated with work and this potential home is now an investment property. There hasn't been much interest to rent, and now we have a tenant ready to move ASAP. Here's the catch: the tenant has a cat. I'm worried the cat will beat up the condo over time even if it's de-clawed. There is carpet in the bedrooms and high end finishes throughout. I'm unsure if it's worth the risk.

Answer 1

No. If her kitty is properly litter trained there is no problem.

Just ask for a 3 month inspection - see how it's looking. Then you can put her on a one year lease assuming all is well. Most pay an extra $20/month per pet.

You can also pick a time each year, say October 1st to replace the batteries in the smoke detectors. That's an opportunity for you to get into the unit and make sure all is well.

I agree with the lady above, children do more damage than a well-behaved cat. Cats are some of the best pets. Dogs would scratch the heck out of the wood floors.

People can damage units by smoking, partying, tracking in grease, BBQ'ing on decks and breaking things or starting fires. The people upstairs stink up their unit with cigarette smoke, we don't smoke but it filters thru the vents.

So all in all, I would not hesitate to rent to a person that has a pet ktty assuming it's litter trained and the person is tidy and responsbile. Get good references. Like most things in life, you have to take "some" chances.

Perhaps renting is not really for you if you have undue anxiety regarding the rental issues.

Answer 2

if the cat is declawed, they will not do any damage at all. If the cat has claws, it could be a problem. The hardwood floors will be fine, human shoes will beat hardwood floors up better than little cat claws. The walls and high end finishes will more than likely be fine. Your carpet can suffer with a cat who has claws. If the cat is old but has claws, you will probably not have to worry. A kitten is more likely to use her claws.

By the way, I have 3 cats and two of them have claws and one does not. My previous cats were declawed too. The declawed ones did NO damage at all. The cats with the claws did the most damage on the couches and some on the carpet, but not much

Answer 3

The cat will not ruin your condo. I would take plenty of pictures before move in and charge a fee for having the animal. The cat wont scratch the floors, but carpet on the other hand they can't resist. Atleast my cat, they kind of have there own mind. If you don't feel comfy I wouldn't take the risk. You can always find another tenant in a big city.

Answer 4

declawed cats cant ruin furniture. I manage properties with the same ordeal. I ask for proof of shots, declawed (depending on temperment of the cat), fixed and litter trained cats. I also ask to see the cat and witness its behavior in a home setting. I have even come across a cat that uses the toilet.

During monthly bug spraying, I evaluate the unit for damage caused by the cat. I have yet to evict anyone! Cats are clean compared to dogs (and sadly, children) As long as the owner keeps up with clean litter...odors are non existent. Sometimes I forget the tenant has a cat.

I say give it a try....but take a pet deposit. Say 4-5 hundred dollars.

Answer 5

In my state, a landlord can ask for a pet deposit of 1/3 the amount of rent over the regular deposit. That is- you rent this unit for $900./mth, you can ask for a deposit of $900 + $300 for cat damages. Check the law where you live.
How much damage can one cat do?
Fixed cats and cats that have their own trees and posts to scratch cause very little damage to their caretakers property.
Ask the prospective tenant if you can talk to their current landlord. If they say that kitty behaved herself-no worries. Look at tenants furniture- is it all ratty and ragged? Or no. A big battered scratched up cat tree is a GOOD sign. It means kitty is scratching that not the furniture.

Answer 6

I really can't believe how ignorant some people are about cats. Let me educate you; no cat should EVER be declawed. That is very cruel and no good vet does them anymore. I have had cats all of my life and never had one that destroyed anything. As a former landlord, I would take a deposit for animals. But the truth be told, children are destructive and I would worry if they had a few of those! My cats are clean, use the box every time, have no fleas and are very well behaved. More so than most adults and children when it comes to living in a home.

Answer 7

No, they will not beat up the condo. But, make sure you get a pet deposit each month in the lease. Also, make sure they are spayed or neutered. Be sure to get a copy of the veterinarian paperwork that states, spayed/neutered, shot records. That way it eases your mind and ensures the prospective tenants to be more cautious about the cleanliness of the condo. I declawed cat can only be distructive if:

A) It is not neutered or spayed

B) The tenants never clean the litter box

C) The tenants never vacuum the carpets, and washes the floors.

Answer 8

Relax, we have tenants and I would rent to a cat owner clawed or declawed before one with kids anytime.

I wouldn't be concerned at all about declawed cats, cats with claws insist on a pet damage deposit and put in the lease that the litter box must be on a hard plastic surface. IE a mat must be under the box at all times to protect the floor from any occasional drips or spills. (hey, they happen, especially with male cats, I have two)

I rented for a short time and my landlord at first was hesitant to have my declawed boys. I offered a damage deposit, he turned me down. Since the apartment was fully carpeted I offered to place hard plastic mats under all food,water and litter. Assured him the litter box would be cleaned daily and changed at least weekly. AND twice yearly to have the carpets professionally cleaned by a company of his choice. He was happy! These are all the type of reasonable accommodations pet owners can make to good landlords.

If you like this tenant and the market is tight, go ahead and sign the lease with a few changes.

Answer 9

Art, you need to check and see what is under the carpet. If she has shag, then it is really old, as this was popular in the 1960's-70's. If there are hardwood floors underneath, be prepared to rent a floor sander, as it will surely need to be refinished. She may want to stain the hardwood. Go to Home Depot or to Lowes for advice on this. If no kids, hardwood is better appearance than shag carpet, but is a matter of taste, too. Be sure that there are no squeeks in the floor, too. Good luck. Regards, Dan

Answer 10

YES!! That cat will ruin the hardwood floors and stink up the carpets and you will NEVER get rid of all the cat hair.

I bought a house where the former owner had a cat and I had to replace 3 window sills and have my hardwood Christian doors (expensive)repaired from all the cat scratches.I've had to replace all the screens due to the cat crawling on them. There was a corner in one of the rooms where the cat had used for a scratching post and I had to replace the carpet. I know, I didnt' have to buy the house, but these were repairs paid for by the owner when I pointed them out.

The house was worth it. I would NEVER rent to a cat owner. I wouldn't rent a box to a cat owner.

I've had dogs my whole life and have never had any problems with them damaging property.