Poor Baggy made homeless by landlord’s no pets policy.

10-year-old cat Baggy was made homeless after her owner was forced to give her up due to a landlord’s no-pets policy. 

“It’s a really sad story,” said Lynne Pothecary, Publicity Manager at Cats Protection’s Anglia Coastal Branch. “Baggy’s owner didn’t want to relinquish her but she had to move home and couldn’t bring her cat with her. She was devastated when she heard that her new landlord had a no-pets policy.” 

Baggy came into the care of our Anglia Coastal Branch just before lockdown began in March. Her tale then took a turn for the worse when she was diagnosed with kidney disease. Her condition has now stabilised and, with the right care, diet and medication, she could enjoy a happy life for years to come.

The branch started looking for a quiet home without children where Baggy could be the only pet, and she would need to stay indoors, which she had been doing quite happily in foster care during lockdown.

Lynne said: “Being a fluffy girl, she’ll need someone who will keep her lovely coat in good condition with regular brushing, which she loves. She’s a very sweet natured lady, although she's slightly nervous of strangers to start with and will need time to settle.”

After an appeal to find Baggy a home appeared in the local media, the branch were overwhelmed with offers and soon found a new owner who could offer her all the love and care she needs. 

Sadly Baggy’s story is not uncommon. Research by Cats Protection showed that less than half (42%) of the UK’s private rented housing allows cats and issues over finding cat-friendly housing are among the top five reasons for cats being handed into our adoption centres.

Our Purrfect Landlords campaign encourages more pet-friendly tenancies, with online resource providing guidance and wording for landlords and letting agents to add to tenancy agreements, setting out simple conditions to protect and benefit both landlords and tenants.

Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations, said: “More people are renting their homes, yet too few rented properties accept cats. Often the reason is simply habit, with landlords not proactively choosing to ban cats, but instead following a standard template or advice from a letting agent. We aim to transform renting by helping landlords to see the benefits of happy, settled tenants who enjoy sharing their lives with a feline friend. 

“We also offer advice to help tenants speak to their landlords to ask for permission to own a cat. Landlords are often willing to be flexible, especially as tenants with pets are likely to stay for longer. Sadly, this was not an option for Baggy.”

For information on Purrfect Landlords, please visit https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigning/purrfectlandlords