'I also specifically picked a pet-free preference': 29-year-old grad student opted for a no-pet apartment, but ends up with a cat for a roommate and a lease full of drama

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Aug 3, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

This incoming grad student found herself in a bit of a lease litter box dilemma. She carefully picked a no-pet unit and made it clear she preferred a pet-free space. Her past experiences with pets in student housing left her pawsitively wary, especially after a roommate's anxious dog caused quite a mess. Now juggling grad school, she prefers peace over unpredictable pet chaos.

Enter the potential roommate with a surprise cat cameo. The lease was no-pets, but suddenly a feline friend was on the scene… or at least trying to be. When she checked with the leasing office, no cat was on record, leading to some lease confusion and an attempted pawsible transfer. The roommate claimed the cat was approved, but the situation felt more hissterical than harmonious.

Our grad student is sticking to the lease and communicating through official channels, not wanting to stir the litter unnecessarily. Her partner thinks she's being a bit catty, but she's just trying to keep her paws clean and her study space peaceful. In this lease cat-and-mouse game, she's just trying to keep things pawsitive and stress-free.

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  • 01
    'The cat isn't on the lease or moved in yet'
    via Samuel Maciel / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hi! I (27F) am an incoming grad student who found a sublease through a "primary" leaseholder at a shared student apartment. The lease was for a no-pet unit, and when I applied, I also specifically picked a pet-free preference.
    via Safeara2943
  • 03
    I don't have a pet allergy and I really love animals, I just have a discernment for how parents care for their pets, especially in student housing (it can get bad). *** (backstory, skip if you want)* ***
    via Safeara2943
  • 04
    I've had a roommate in the past who babysat a dog. The first time I ok'd it, the dog literally shot projectile diarrhea from inside his own crate from anxiety while she's at work. I'd come home from class, clean him, let him run in grass fields for his bathroom, and feed him. After it happened multiple times I was done.
    via Safeara2943
  • 05
    Afterwards I had (new) roommates who were attentive, communicative, and available for their pets, and I've even volunteered to babysit. But now that I'm juggling grad school, it's hard to live in that kind of uncertainty. So I stick with no-pet apartments.
    via Safeara2943
  • 06
    (continued) Fast forward, I get paired with a potential roommate. She seemed nice, and we started texting. Then casually, she states she's bringing a cat and asked if I have allergies.
    via Safeara2943
  • 07
    I didn't respond, because I was confused since in my lease said no pets, and in my prior leaseholder's agreement was no pets too. So I thought I'll ask to transfer myself to a different unit before we get too familiar with each other.
    via Safeara2943
  • 08
    CHEE LEASE AGREEMENT STATE OF COUNTY OF 1. PARTIES: (Seller) agrees to sell and convey to (Purchaser), and Purchaser agrees y from Seller the Property described below. (a) Land: Address: 2. PROPERTY: [insert full address] or more specifically described as: or all other fixtures and improvements llowing permanently installed and awnings, wall-to-wall carpeting, m and equipment, heating and g fixtures, chandeliers, water bery, landscaping, outdoor scribed real property. (c) units, stove, fireplace
    via KLH49 / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    But when I checked with the leasing office, they were confused and told me there was no pet listed for our unit and no pet application submitted. They actually advised me to pause my move-in while they figured out what was going on.
    via Safeara2943
  • 10
    Wanting to be transparent, I let her know that I had asked about a transfer and that it had came up that her cat wasn't on the lease. I wanted to ensure she knows I didn't say snitch or do anything malicious, and just giving her a heads up before they reached out.
    via Safeara2943
  • 11
    She responded that she had "mentioned" to them about the cat and that they were fine with it. Then she added I "wouldn't be able to change anything unless it was medically necessary".
    via Safeara2943
  • 12
    To point, I never mentioned trying to "change" anything, I was trying to explore a transfer when I found out. And technically, I'm not changing anything, the cat isn't on the lease or moved in yet. She then proceeded to ask if I could take over a different lease and whether my decision was allergy based or preference based.
    via Safeara2943
  • 13
    I didn't respond as I felt the question wasn't fair, relevant, and passive aggressive. What if I asked her whether she was planning to sneak her cat in for ESA reasons or preference (rude). So I'm currently communicating only through the leasing office.
    via Safeara2943
  • 14
    My partner thinks I'm mean and warn it's going to cause tension in our apartment once we move in. "She's just a girl who wants to live with her cat." And I get that. I really do. But I'm also just a girl who's trying to live and grind where she signed up for. AITA?
    via Safeara2943
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10537316864
    via corelens / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 16
    Hail-to-the-Sheep NTA. You don't need to justify not wanting to live with a pet, and she should have been upfront with the housing office and avoided this situation altogether.
    via Hail-to-the-Sheep

  • It sounds like she should’ve been honest with the housing office about having a pet from the start. That way, this whole messy situation could’ve been avoided before it even began!

  • 17
    HushabyeNow NTA - No pets means no pets. I love animals. I have five dogs and two cats (not all by choice, my in-laws passed and left us with three of the dogs). I can't imagine inflicting them on someone else who didn't choose it. I feel like it's a telling character reference.
    via HushabyeNow
  • 18
    RoseFyreFyre NTA. You picked pet-free housing. It doesn't matter why. Pets aren't allowed in pet-free housing. Ergo she's the a hole here.
    via RoseFyreFyre

  • You picked no-pet housing for a reason. It’s only fair the rules apply to everyone. Allowing her pet when it’s clearly not allowed isn’t just unfair, it disrupts the whole living situation.

  • 19
    ArbitraryHigh NTA she caused this problem for herself by not putting the cat on the lease, as she wouldn't have been matched with you if she did.
    via ArbitraryHigh
  • 20
    ResearcherLopsid... An incredibly similar thing happened to me, basically the exact same story except I was SEVERELY allergic to cats. You are NTA. Protect your peace and get out of that apartment assignment.
    via ResearcherLopsided48
  • 21
    I love animals, but a year (or more) of being in an environment that isn't conducive for your preferences is not worth it! Also, your boyfriend should have your back! Good luck, and set those boundaries queen!
    via ResearcherLopsided48

  • Boundaries are definitely important! Especially when it comes to roommates and sharing a space. This situation sounds like a rocky start to any pawsible roommate relationship, and that’s no way to begin living together!

  • 22
    Pixichixi NTA. I love my cats so much. But I wouldn't be sneaking them into specifically pet free shared housing for this exact reason (solo housing, well lets not talk about that). If she does need the support, then she needs to get a prescription and do it properly, or just go through the clearly available "pet" option.
    via Pixichixi
  • 23
    tiredsquishmallow NTA. I never want to live with pets again, and I get a lot of flack for it. I don't think most pet owners recognize how they may be mistreating their animals, and I don't like being around it. You made the right call.
    via tiredsquishmallow

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house roommates Cats college school drama pets feline argument apartment
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