Arranging House Showings with Cats: Tips for Smooth House Showings While Keeping Your Cats Comfortable

Arranging house showings when you have cats at home presents a unique set of challenges. As a homeowner or real estate agent, you want to create the most welcoming and distraction-free environment for potential buyers, but also ensure your feline friends remain safe and stress-free. Start by considering your cats' personalities—some cats are sociable and adventurous, while others get anxious around strangers or noise. Whenever possible, schedule showings during times your cats tend to nap or are least active. Before each showing, tidy up litter boxes, remove toys or scratching posts from prominent areas, and vacuum any fur from furniture or fabrics. Not only does this create a cleaner presentation, but it also helps reduce allergen exposure for visitors.

As a designer, I understand how essential it is for prospective buyers to visualize a home as their own, unmarred by the current owner's belongings—including evidence of pets. Many professional stagers recommend relocating pets entirely for showings. If that’s not feasible, consider confining your cats to a single, comfortable room with their essentials and a sign on the door requesting privacy during showings. This not only safeguards your pets but also helps buyers freely wander and imagine their future space. In such situations, integrating pet accommodations discreetly into your layout—like built-in hideaways or cleverly camouflaged litter areas—can even showcase your home’s thoughtful design. For inspiration on merging practicality with aesthetics in spaces shared with pets, tools like Home Designer enable you to explore various layouts and creative furniture arrangements that keep pet zones seamless yet functional within your overall design.

Tips 1:

Prepare a “showing kit” for quick clean-ups, including lint rollers, air freshener, and a mat to catch litter. Being ready for last-minute visits means your space can be shown at its best, with minimal pet traces and maximum buyer appeal.

FAQ

Q: How do I keep my cats safe during showings?

A: Confine cats to a secure room with water, litter, and a note for agents to prevent escape. Alternatively, remove them from the home if possible for added safety and reduced stress.

Q: Should I hide all signs of cats in my house?

A: Minimize visible pet items to promote a neutral, appealing space. However, completely removing certain essentials (like a litter box if cats are present) isn’t practical—just keep them clean and out of main living areas.

Q: How can I keep my home smelling fresh when I have cats and showings scheduled?

A: Use odor-neutralizing sprays, keep litter boxes scrupulously clean, and open windows prior to showings if weather allows.

Q: What if my cat gets anxious with strangers in the house?

A: Set up a quiet retreat room with their favorite bed, toys, and some background music. Notify agents to avoid opening this door during tours.

Q: Can pet-friendly design features add value to my home?

A: Thoughtful built-ins or hidden pet nooks can attract buyers who are also pet owners and subtly emphasize flexible, well-planned spaces for all members of the family—including pets.