23-year-old finds out her roommate has been stealing $25 dollars a month from her for "pet rent" by hiding her ESA cat from their landlord and lying to her about it: 'This entire time I trusted my roommate'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
May 6, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Okay, so look, we understand the hesitation when it comes to some landlords and cats. We have heard some serious horror stories - everything from landlords evicting people because of their cats, landlords asking their tenants to declaw their cats even though it's literally illegal, all the way to some landlords being so superstitious about black cats that they demand their tenants get rid of them. We get it. But you still have to let your landlord know that the cat is there. 

If they don't allow cats, then this is not your apartment to live in. And if pet rent - which is already ridiculous - is too expensive, then again, it might not be the right apartment for you. What happened here, in today's story, was way beyond not okay. Not only did the tenant lie to the owner and tell them that they don't have a cat, they were also demanding half of the nonexistent pet rent from their roommate - who's been paying it for 10 months before she found out that she was being scammed. 

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  • 01

    "Roommate lied about reporting her cat to the landlord, need advice"

    "I thought I was paying for half his pet rent the whole time!!"
    via Unsplash / Felippe Lopes - pires128

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    I (23f) have suspected my roommate hasnt been telling the truth about a number of things and have been checking her (24F) bulls
    via djembae5
  • 03
    Basically, at the start of the lease, I offered to split the pet rent for her cat ($25 a month) as a good will gesture, but since we had a falling out, I refused to pay it this past month because this cat isn't mine and she's not my friend anymore (because she was lying about me behind my back).
    via djembae5
  • 04
    Last week, I got a passive aggressive Zelle request for $25 because "* insert cat name * is an ESA animal, actually, so doesn't qualify for pet rent " Considering she lied about a ton of things before, I naturally called the leasing office to confirm the cat was an ESA, and lo and behold, they've never gotten record he existed in the first place!!
    via djembae5
  • 05
    What do I do? The leasing office lady was cool and said that if I decide to disclose the cat officially (she won't do it automatically because she could see I was close to tears) I could be held liable for not reporting an unregistered animal sooner.
    via djembae5
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10501282816
    via Unsplash / Felippe Lopes - pires128

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • 07
    We're 10 months into a 14 month lease. That's got to be a shton in back pet rent before fees. But can we get evicted? This entire time I trusted my roommate told the landlord he was there...and I thought I was paying for half his pet rent the whole time!! He's not my cat. What do I do??
    via djembae5
  • 08
    EDIT: People are confused about the $25 Zelle request: basically, I paid everything all at once to my roommate, my rent share + the pet rent. This time I paid $25 less; she's saying there never was a pet rent (even though we talked about it at the start of the lease) and that the amount I paid was the total amount of my share of the rent.
    via djembae5
  • 09
    I did go back to the lease to see what the base rent was there, but because my landlord is one of those conglomerates, they didn't fill in the base rent on the lease agreement. I am going off my own memory here of what things should be.
    via djembae5
  • 10
    Yes, I know I'm stupid and will not make these mistakes again...do I report the cat? Is there a way I can report the cat without this blowing up in my face? I'm worried they'll find out because my roommate never even bothers to hide the cat during maintenance requests...It's like she's daring to get caught. I'm terrified of eviction here.
    via djembae5
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10501282560
    via Unsplash / Felippe Lopes - pires128

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • So, you're roommate was stealing from you and lying to you. That's the worst part of this thing for us. Honestly, we don't think that anyone should live with a dishonest thief. You sound like a decent person, and you should not be going through anyof this. Whatever you decide to do, we would get out of there the sooner we could. 

  • 12
    FreudsID so your roommate basically has been stealing 25 dollars a month from you for 10 months so 250?
    via FreudsID
  • 13
    SnooGoats7454 Why would you offer to pay the rent? Stop offering things. That's completely insane.
    via SnooGoats7454
  • 14
    Unable-Recording-796 Bro...she been stealing money from you basically
    via Unable-Recording-796
  • 15
    Destoran Send her a $250 venmo request for the money she has been stealing from you, if she doesn't pay, report her a to the leasing office
    via Destoran
  • 16
    Rude_Dish_261 I'm sorry. I think the best way out of this is to just continue paying your half of the money that you agreed to for the next 4 months and then do not sign another lease with her and move elsewhere or sign a new lease with someone else.
    via Rude_Dish_261
  • 17
    If they ask for back pay, tell her that's on her bc you've given her your promised half every month. That's my best advice with the details I got from this post. Either way she's not a good roommate.
    via Rude_Dish_261
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10501282304
    via Unsplash / Felippe Lopes - pires128

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Maybe confronting her about the pet rent and asking for the money back is one of the better options as to what you could do. Or maybe you should just stick it out. Don't pay anymore, don't confront her, don't risk it. Wait it out, and then get the heck out. 

  • 19
    lilygreenfire Id add up every single month of 25 bucks and take it out of next months rent. The thief!
    via lilygreenfire
  • 20
    Cuckhold247 Personally, I would get the $250 back since she's been stealing from you. If she doesn't want to pay that back, report the cat ☑
    via Cuckhold247

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cat drama pets interesting cute cats story roommates Cats
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