Renting with a cat: setting up your home without causing damage
Renting with a cat doesn't mean giving up a comfortable setup, but a few precautions avoid scratched walls, ruined carpet, or marks on the floor that could weigh on your security deposit. All our pointers are in the cat bedding and habitat section, on the cat page.
What kind of damage can a cat actually cause in a rental?
A study by Wilson, Bain, DePorter and co-authors, published in 2016 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery based on an internet survey of owners, found that scratching furniture and vertical surfaces remains the most commonly reported cat behavior, far more frequent than damage linked to marking or biting (study on Google Scholar). In a rental, that mostly shows up as scuffed wall corners and sofa arms, rarely as heavy structural damage.
How do you protect walls, floors and doors without redoing the apartment?
- Felt or clear plastic corner guards, removable without leaving marks, around €5-15 for a set
- A cheap rug or runner laid over high-traffic areas instead of exposing the landlord's flooring directly
- Anti-scratch corner panels fixed with suction cups or removable adhesive rather than screwed into the wall
Which scratching post should you prioritize to protect furniture?
A vertical scratching post placed near the targeted piece of furniture, as covered in our scratching post guide to save your sofa, redirects most of the behavior within a few weeks if the cat discovers it naturally, without needing to be forced onto it. Add removable anti-scratch protectors on already-marked spots during the transition.
What if damage happens anyway?
Photographing the move-in inspection as soon as the cat arrives, keeping receipts for the protections installed, and acting on the first scratches limits how much repair is needed by the end of the lease. A paint touch-up or a small carpet patch usually costs far less than a full redo negotiated at move-out.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord withhold the security deposit over scratches?
Yes if the damage exceeds normal wear and tear; protections in place and regular upkeep limit that risk.
Do you have to tell the landlord you have a cat?
This is usually covered in the lease or building rules; check the clauses before the animal moves in.
Does home insurance cover damage caused by a cat?
Rarely beyond liability for damage to third parties; scratches on the rental itself are generally the tenant's responsibility.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Cats universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.