Cat Information

Putting home up for sale - what should we do with our 2 indoor cats?

Do buyers care that we have pets? Should we mention that we will have the carpets cleaned upon closing? We have 2 sweet indoor cats. We clean their litter boxes daily. And Febreeze too. Should we hide them when we show the house or just not worry? My realtor is very wishy-washy about the whole thing. "whatever you think".

Public Comments

1. You might want to put them away.. Potential buyers might not like pets or they may be allergic to them..
2. You should let the people entering your home know that the cats are there so that they take extra care in not letting them outside.
3. You could try finding a boarding kennel to keep the cats in for a few days while you're showing. Either way it would definitely be beneficial to say you'll clean the carpets before you leave. We showed a house with 5 cats and several reptiles and had no problems closing, so you should be fine.
4. I would put them in carriers whenever someone is coming to see the house. I know someone whose cat got so freaked out when strangers came that they puked. Potential homebuyers would not like to see cat puke when they walk into a room.
5. Ask someone to watch your cats or keep them at a cat sitter for the times you are showing the house. Remove all signs of cats and odors of cats from your home. Just the sight of a cat can prejudice some buyers into believing your home is unclean, even though it is not.
6. I wouldn't worry about putting the cats away, that will be unneccesary stress for you and them. Just make sure it doesn't smell like cats. And yeah, it is a good idea to tell them you will have the carpets cleaned.
7. I just went through that. I just placed the cats in a crate while the people were looking. And as it turned out they had indoor cats too. So you never know. they will only be the crate for half hour - if that.
8. As long as your house isn't trashed (it doesn't sound like it is), I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure the realtors know to keep the doors closed behind them!! People will see that you are clean and organized and if your kitties are shy, they may not even see them.
9. Boarding them is too expensive every time your house is shown. How about a neighbor or a relative that lives nearby? I'm sure there's some one your close with that can help you by taking them for a short while. As for perspective buyers, be upfront with them, but let them know the cats have been sent away for awhile. Fabreeze make an allergen spray, use this on everything fabric to help with the animal dander and other allergens. Use scented candles in the main areas of your home just before a buyer is to come. This will add a little relaxed feeling for the buyers. Use your favorite scent or try lavender, it's good for relaxing. A relaxed buyer is more likely to be the one. Also depending on where the litter pans are kept, mine are in my bathrooms, light the candles for about an hour before they come, blow them out 15 minutes before their to arrive (long enough for smoke to fade) and close the door to keep the scent in the room. Vacuum everything from curtains to floor and don't forget the tops of shelving, cabinets and the likeness. Tall people look at a higher eye level. Good luck on selling your home.