If you're a tenant living in social housing, you might be keen to encourage your provider to allow cats. Many social housing providers are happy for you to own a cat, but it’s important to check what the conditions are first.
Social housing providers recognise the positive impact cats have on their owners' lives and are happy for their tenants to own one. If you rent your home from a housing association or local authority, you’ll want to make sure your cat doesn’t cause any issues for you and your community.
Having your cat neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for fleas is the best way to protect your cat’s health and welfare, and prevent problems such as unwanted kittens.
If your housing provider does not allow cats, there are steps you can take to talk it through with your landlord. By taking a reasonable and responsible approach to cat ownership, there may be a way to ensure everyone is happy.
Ensuring a cat is well cared for is in the best interest of tenants, landlords and cats themselves. We recommend that tenancy agreements include conditions on cat ownership to avoid any issues arising, protect the cat’s welfare and ensure everyone knows where they stand. This includes requirements that cats are:
Neutered – a simple procedure to prevent cats from breeding. If you are on a lower income, we may be able to offer financial assistance with this
Vaccinated – to protect cats from illness and disease
Microchipped – to ensure cats can be swiftly returned home if they become lost or injured
Treated for fleas and other parasites – to keep your cat healthy and comfortable, and maintain good hygiene levels in your rented home
Cats make fantastic pets and can thrive in many types of homes. From cosy flats to houses with gardens, the right match depends on the individual cat’s personality and needs. While many cats will enjoy having access to the great outdoors, others may be better suited to indoor living, making them ideal for flats or homes without gardens.
Cats who are blind, deaf or have some other disability may be best kept as indoor cats, while other cats with certain illnesses can lead happy, contented lives indoors.
Put together a Pet CV to tell prospective landlords about your cat. It should include vet records so they can see your cat has been neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and protected against fleas and other parasites. It may also include details about your cat’s character, how they like to spend their time, if they use a litter tray and how they interact with people and animals. If possible, provide a pet reference from a previous landlord to confirm the cat had not caused damage.
