I have been looking for a one bedroom co-op on the Upper East Side for a few months (looking for pre-war in a particular region so very few condos in inventory). So many buildings are "no pets allowed". I understand why buildings would not want dogs (barking, jumping up on people in elevators) but am curious what boards have against cats...most never leave apartments and make no noise. Any thoughts?

Many people have allergies and/or don't like cats.

many apt bldg"s smell of cats

True, there should be more no cats but dogs allowed buildings.

the building doesn't want to discriminate. watchout with that hamster.

It's gerbils that are the real danger.

Smelly litter boxes.

Yes, some people are good about keeping them clean. Others not so much. So some buildings just figure better to guarantee you won't have a problem. Certainly hasn't hurt the price of units in such buildings as far as I can tell.

R roaches pets?

go ahead and get a cat. or 2 or 3. There are 1000s of buildings in that dont allow cats but that doesnt mean cats arent in the building. No matter what a rule says what cant be seen, heard or smelled outside of your unit cant be prohibited.

most important is "smelled". If you don't clean your litter box they will know you have a cat.

"If you don't clean your litter box they will know you have a cat."

"They" who?

Unless they're coming into your apartment on a regular basis, NO ONE will "smell" the cat, regardless of how infrequently the litter box is cleaned.

Amen NYCMatt! And no Stevejhx, roaches are not pets if you have cats. They are even better roachers than mousers.

I was about to sign a contract on a CO-OP recently when I discovered that they have a no pets policy. We have a cat. My lawyer advised not to proceed. Tried to get wriiten exception but to date no luck. We really like the place, though...price and location to match our budget. SOL

Good for you Bloomsday. Too many people think they can get away with "don't ask don't tell" and end up in heartbreaking situations. Most NYC co-ops/condos allow pets, especially cats, you will find the true apartment of your dreams, and your cat's!

Just find a truly pet friendly building, there are plenty of them, you won't have to lie on the application when it asks about "pets," and IMHO you will have a better apartment for resale. That being said, you can usually tell the "no dog/cats ok" building in the listing by the come on description "pets allowed" as opposed to "pet friendly." The former usually means no dogs, but the broker just doesn't want to be honest about it up front, and the latter means dogs and cats are fine.

Reasons for no cats that I have heard include:
1. Damage to plumbing as people flush litter box content.
2. Cost associated with removal of increased trash from the building-- no daily trash pick-up from the City but litter output DAILY from different apartments in the building.

I never understand why people in NY buy coops. What goes on in my apartment is my business. If my dog happens to bark once in a while and somebody hears a muted bark for 5 seconds once a week, it doesn't hurt anybody anymore than my neighbors kid who talks loudly when he walks by my door. We live in NYC; if you want silence, move to a farm in Nebraska. Coops have too many rules - I can['t renovate my apartment the way I want, I can't sell it to who I want, etc. etc. NFW I would ever even consider buying a coop.

If I am being such a nuisance that I unreasonably bother my neighbors, the management company can get involved. Personally, I don't know a single person who lives in a condo who has a neighbor who has been a problem but I know plenty of people in coops who have had major inconveniences b/c of unreasonable coop boards. And I have never heard of a coop resident complaining of a neighbor and say "thanks god I live in a coop b/c the coop board took care of things".

"2. Cost associated with removal of increased trash from the building-- no daily trash pick-up from the City but litter output DAILY from different apartments in the building."

And non-cat households produce no trash on the non-trash pickup days?

"What goes on in my apartment is my business."

Insofar as it doesn't affect me and MY business in MY apartment ...

"If my dog happens to bark once in a while and somebody hears a muted bark for 5 seconds once a week, it doesn't hurt anybody anymore than my neighbors kid who talks loudly when he walks by my door."

And yet again, it's not about *barking*. It's about the noise the dog makes when it runs, leaps, gallops, etc. through the apartment above.

"And yet again, it's not about *barking*. It's about the noise the dog makes when it runs, leaps, gallops, etc. through the apartment above."

Any one know of buildings that ban children? In my experience it's more often the human beings that are a nuisance and not pets.

How does the board know if someone has a cat? It's not like you take your cat outside every day for a walk. And a cat's meow is so low nobody is going to hear it. I would have bought that apt bloomsday.

"If my dog happens to bark once in a while and somebody hears a muted bark for 5 seconds once a week, it doesn't hurt anybody anymore than my neighbors kid who talks loudly when he walks by my door."

5 seconds a week? Really?

And a dog bark can get a hell of a lot louder than a child.

Socialist, Alpie whatever, what happens when maintenance has to come in to fix something? Even if your cat is a hider they are likely to see food bowls, litter box, scratching post etc. I'd hate to have to be dealing with something like a stuffed toilet and scurrying around trying to hide all evidence...only to be busted by cat hair. New York City does have a law that says you can't be forced to get rid of a pet if you live "openly and notoriously" with it. I'm not sure however if the law applies to co-ops or just rentals. Regardless, the best policy is to buy into a building that "buys into" the choices you have made including have a cat as part of your family.

"I'm not sure however if the law applies to co-ops or just rentals."

Does not apply to co-ops.

Breach of contract.

Talk to me socialist....the wife (and the seller;s broker) says the same thing. The board wouldn't know...and there are plenty of pets in the building (grandfathered) before the "NO PETS" policy. I think it is better to get something in writing....but I probalby won't get it. Let me add this: It is the best space in the best location that fits our budget that we have seen in Manhattan (and we've been looking for a while).

"And a dog bark can get a hell of a lot louder than a child."

I did not know that kids usually bark!

"And a dog bark can get a hell of a lot louder than a child."

My neighbors children are a lot louder than my dog. And as I said, you aren't entitled to silence. This is NYC. If you want silence, move to Nebraska.

"And yet again, it's not about *barking*. It's about the noise the dog makes when it runs, leaps, gallops, etc. through the apartment above."

Unless somebody has a great dane, a 5 year old is going to make a lot more noise than a dog. On occasion, I hear the woman in the apartment above mine walking in her high heels. Should we also ban women (and NYCMatt!) from wearing high heels because the person in the apartment below might occasionally hear a little click-clack? No, you are not entitled to silence. Common courtesy and respect, yes; but not silence!

It is definitely possible to smell cat. Our neighbors keep their litter box in a powder room next to their front door, and sometimes I have to hold my breath when I walk past. The cat smell can be worse than smoke smell.

I'd be among the first to buy or rent in a child-free building.

Bloomsday, I would only try it if you have someone you trust who is willing to take your cat if you are found out and have to give it up. No kill shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed, so the alternative would probably be the city shelter and almost certain euthanasia.
Lad, your neighbors need to clean their litterbox more frequently or use different litter. A well tended box (using scoopable litter daily for one cat, twice daily for multiple) should not smell.

I can imagine a no kids building aka a mid 50s to 80s playa only building (angelo mozilo tan preferable).

lol.

Some people empty the litter boxes in the toilet which backs up the building's plumbing. Sorry I do not know all the technicalities of plumbing, but one time in my building, many years ago, the Management put up a big notice about how to properly dispose off kitty litter because toilets had been overflowing for some reason.

Later that year, they turned it into a "no pets allowed" building, grandfathering those who already had pets.

Good one Alan!

It could also be that a board member is highly allergic to cats.

We used to have a cat and taught her to use the toilet bowl, and she learned to do so. We were heart broken after she passed away and never got another one.

we used to have a cat and taught him to flip burgers. he's off on his own now, one of the five guys

why would anyone have any pets? only rational reason is companionship and security.

I'm sorry Ricardo but there are many, many families, couples of all orientations and men (straight and gay) with cats who are integral and loved members of the household. There are also many instances of single women with cats who married men who weren't cat fans previously but now are the most vocal cat supporters. You are relying on a cruel and outdated stereotype. Cats deserve better.

As someone who works with an animal rescue group, I can only say, don't buy in and bring the cat, unless you are absolutely certain you know someone to take the cat if you are found out! (as NativeRestless said also)

I see so many people come in and tell me, "oh I moved and they won't allow cats, and now i have to get rid of them." It seriously pisses me off. The cat cannot make decisions, YOU make the decisions. And by adopting (or buying) a pet, any pet, you made a commitment to them to take care of them. And that means no, you cannot dump them bc you just found your dream apartment but is has a no pets allowed policy. Another better place will come along where you can bring your cat!!!

and cat smell, ugh, people need to clean the litterboxes more. how hard can that be??

okay / end of rant

*oops, should have proofread before hitting reply. hate typos.

THANK YOU, ACH!!

A pet is a LIFETIME commitment.

And yes, the only apartments with "cat smell" are apartments that are filthy in the first place.

Are there buildings that are for mature adults, no kids except visitors?

"THANK YOU, ACH!!......A pet is a LIFETIME commitment......And yes, the only apartments with "cat smell" are apartments that are filthy in the first place."

Agree on all counts. Well-said, ACH. And Matt. These are family members we're talking about.

and they don't talk back!

ACH (and others) - totally agree. Well said. I wish more people realized this.

Well I guess anything is possible, I am in complete agreement with Matt.

I would not abandon the cat...I have a friend who will take the cat if necessary. I am not an animal lover but it is the "family" cat...small, quiet, inside only, litter box dutifully maintained. Note: Its an HDFC building (if that makes any difference).