No pets

[SpaceBootz]

Dear friends, please help with this dilemma. All i want is to be able to have a cat. About a year ago, maybe longer, I asked the landlady if I could have one. I didn't really think it would be a problem. One of my neighbor's has a dog and another has ferrets. So basically she started asking me questions like have I had a cat before, would it be male or female, how old would it be, etc. Then she said she'd call back and let me know. She called the next day and said I couldn't have one. Ever since that little incident I've not cared much for her. But anyway, time went by and I've been trying to find a new place but it isn't so easy. Fast forward a bit to earlier this year and some new guy moves in. He has a dog! Now, I should mention that my landlady has moved to another state. So she isn't really around much other than for repairs or stuff like that. There is a "property manager" who is also a tenant who kinda looks after things for her. I'm thinking that the landlady might not even know this new guy has a dog. See, her reasoning for my other neighbor being allowed to have a dog is because apparently he had it before the "rule" came into effect. And the ferrets, well we are allowed to have caged pets. But this new guy with the dog, I don't see how she could justify it. I want to say something but on the other hand, if I do and the guy is forced to move out I supposed I'd feel bad. And my neighbors would all probably hate me for it. I don't know what to do. The obvious answer is to just find a new place but as I said, it's kinda difficult and it's a lot of trouble. Any thoughts?

Thanks for reading this, by the way.

[buffcoat]

Unless you think the landlady would immediately throw you out if she found out, I'd just get a cat.  If someone says something, say that a friend needed your help or something and you had to take the cat, then point out that the new guy has a dog.

Life's too short to worry about jerky rules, and if this is high on your priority list, I'd go ahead and do it.  Remember the popular business maxim of a few years ago: "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission."

[SpaceBootz]

I am definitely considering that option. Other people have said that to me, "You should just get one." I don't know that she would immediately kick me out if she found out. I'm a little worried about that though because, well, that would be horrible.

[Laurie]

If you're a first time cat owner, I recommend getting a girl cat. They're more easily tempered and less likely to dart out the door every time you open it. That's my experience anyway.

[Josh]

Ask the new resident if he received permission to have the pet. If he did, then you should not feel wrong about getting a pet of your own. If he did not, then maybe you can form an illicit pet coalition.

Secondary question: could this be a dogs vs. cats thing?

[Sarah]

If the landlady isn't around, I bet the property manager couldn't care less if you have a cat.  I'd go ahead and get one (although. unlike Laurie, I recommend a neutered male for sheer placidity; I find lady cats, even spayed, to be much more independent than castrati).  If you ask permission, you might easily be turned down, even by the manager.  But I bet if you exercise reasonable discretion--for example, hide the litter box when you know the manager is going to be in your apartment for some reason--a kind of "don't ask, don't tell" spirit will prevail.  In any case, that's what happened to me the last time I lived in an apartment with a no-pet policy:  had a cat there for five years attracting nary an objection.

[SpaceBootz]

Josh, you think the landlady might have something against cats? I suppose this is possible. In my own personal opinion though, I just feel either you say no one can have any pets or everyone can have all pets. Why should some be allowed and others not? Waaah.

[SpaceBootz]

Sarah, I kinda feel that way, too. I don't think the property manager would really care. He's really just another tenant almost. I mean, he does have a couple extra privileges and tasks but he's not like the landlady. I guess the only thing holding me back is what I mentioned to buffcoat: that fear of being thrown out onto the street with no place to call home.

[Sarah]

But, just think:  if you were handed an eviction notice, you could take the case to small-claims court and present the evidence about the new bedogged tenant.  I bet you'd win.

Of course, I'd hate to have to do this.

[Laurie]

Ooh, I was on American Airlines recently (ew, gross) and flippin' through the Sky Maul. They have a litter box PLANTER. Turn it around when Pearl the landlady comes around and VOILA, it's a potted plant.

[Tim K in DC]

Get two cats. They tend to be happier and more friendly that way.

[SpaceBootz]

Laurie, I just looked up the litter box/planter.. it's brilliant! It could work. But still, all this subterfuge..

[kenkwan]

Laurie, I just looked up the litter box/planter.. it's brilliant! It could work. But still, all this subterfuge..

is exciting as hell!

[Stan]

Laurie, I just looked up the litter box/planter.. it's brilliant! It could work. But still, all this subterfuge..

is exciting as hell!

 You should automate the litter box, food and water dishes so they can be hidden by remote control. Just think, everyday life with your cats
could be like an episode of Hogan's Heroes.

[erika]

I am definitely considering that option. Other people have said that to me, "You should just get one." I don't know that she would immediately kick me out if she found out. I'm a little worried about that though because, well, that would be horrible.

In college we had a cat and moved into a place that didn't tell us we couldn't have pets til the day we signed the lease and were moving in. So we really had no choice but to have the cat...

The landlord found out one day and told us we had to get rid of her. (Left us this eerily cheery and polite message about something else ending with "And ya gotta get rid of the cat, ok?") So I offered the lanlord a non-refundable "deposit" for the carpet. Like 150 bucks. (It was a crappy apt) He took it, and it was worth it not to be traumatized by the loss of my roommate's pet.

PS You should definitely get at least one kitty now and then get another when you can live in a place with pets. They're the best company there is. I used to feel self-conscious saying that,* but my cats are wonderful creatures to hang with. People are awesome, but they don't lay on your chest and do pushy-paws and purr. If they do, it usually involves a fracture of the sternum, which is generally BAD news.


*because I'm a 27 year-old cat lady