With pets, it's a must that you have a vacuum with a rotating brush for cleaning carpets. Though I'm not sure what you do with shag...craigslist? And then a different one (or an attachment) that can do wood floors. I even have a 3rd - a handheld rotating brush one for furniture and bedspreads.

Even though I don't have a cat right now, my husband and I definitely make choices for furniture purchases with a future cat, and its claws, in mind. No nappy fabrics anywhere. In fact many of our existing furniture, rugs, and bedspreads are grey - the color of our previous cat. Oh - and for accidents, or angry incidents - you must always have on hand some Nature's Miracle. It neutralizes urine - even to a cat's sensitive nose (very important.)

dont wet clean the carpet!!

we bought a house that had cats (we have cats as well), and the previous owners were being nice and had the one carpeted room in the house cleaned before we moved in. there was no smell the 3 times we had visited the house before but after the wet cleaning the room smelled so bad we had to rip out the carpet immediately (not tragic as we were planning on doing it anyway).
the pad was a bit damp and the cat smell was overpowering.

i vote for more powerful vacuum, the dyson we have does wonders on rugs

A good vacuum is a must. When I upgraded to a Dyson I couldn't believe how much cat hair it picked up compared to my old vacuum. My typical routine is to dust, sweep the hardwood, then use a dust mop in the hardwood and finally vacuum the rugs, drapes and furniture. It's a never ending battle. As far as deep cleaning the carpet, I would find a service to clean them. Their equipment runs at a much higher temperature than the stuff you can rent. They will do a better job and the chance of mildew is greatly reduced. Another thing I have to do on a regular basis is trim the rug where the cats have pulled up the rug. A good pair of scissors does the trick.

If you want to go all natural...

Carpet Stain Remover:
1 part borax
10 parts warm water
Combine in spray bottle. Spray on stain, wait 5 minutes, blot with clean rag.

Carpet Deodorizer:
Baking soda
10 drops of essential oil (optional)
Mix together then sprinkle generously on carpet, wait 15 minutes and vacuum.
(find more here: http://adesignstory.com/green-clean-all-natural-homemade-cleaners/)

I did a post on all natural cleaners... good luck! We just got a kitten 2 weeks ago and the trouble we are having is making our dog and him best friends ;)

Lindsay
www.adesignstory.com

A slighter cheaper, but very good vacuum is the hoover U6485-900. You can find it for $200 at buy.com (don't order it from amazon, they apparently don't pack it well). Consumer Reports gave it a very good rating, but it is loud and heavy. I'm afraid the shag rug may have to go. I've ditch my white shag rug because it was too hard to get clean, although this was before I had a good vacuum.

The roomba is great for daily maintenance. I have 3 other vacuums for different purposes: Dyson for deep cleaning; Shark handheld for quick pick ups and dirt devil miniature for picking up breadcrumbs and stuff in the kitchen. It's pretty critical that the vacuum has a beater brush that can pick up animal hair. I like the Dyson for the low maintenance (washable filters) and ease of handling.

I also have 2 cats and a large dog. My whole apt is fortunately hardwood with some area rugs that can be cleaned annually. I've had a few pet accidents but fortunately only on the less expensive rug.

For furniture, i recommend buying a slipcover or some nice fabric and having a slipcover made that fits the contours of the sofa. That way, you can wash it routinely.

Oh, in addition to vacuuming, you have to mop the floors and clean the upholstery regularly to get rid of the animal hair.

It's not like you're going to get rid of your cats or something, and I understand that you have a connection with them and you're doing something good for them by having them, but there's a reason your landlord said no pets, and it probably isn't just because he/she didn't want to clean the carpet on the stairs. As you're finding out, pet dander... sticks. What happens if the next tennant is throat-closingly allergic to cats? Not your problem (but inconsiderate, nonetheless). What if something in the apartment hurts one of your cats (loose electrical wire, etc.)? Not your landlord's problem.
Cats are something I just get so angry about. It's not against you or people that like them, but I don't understand why people just *have* to have them. I guess pets in general. It's against the rules and now you're having a hard time cleaning up after them? ARG!

One thing I learned after raising four cats is sure you can spend a few hours every weekend vacuuming tumbleweed size dust bunnies of cat fur that build up everywhere but just brushing your cat daily cuts down on it so much. Just take a couple minutes while they're curled up on your lap and brush them. I keep the cat brush in the remote holder on the couch and whenever I get the chance just brush them. If you start while they're young they'll tolerate it much better. I would definitely recommend a Dyson vac though if you can afford it, even when I thought our rug was clean I was amazed how much cat hair was embedded in there.

As other posters have suggested, invest in a good vacuum and get a FURminator de-shedding tool to use on your cats. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PU31MY/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000FSFNVI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09QND8PF8C8AQPJZAYSF
I have a Maine Coon cat and this little tool really helps with the seasonal hair shed and also reduces the amount of hairballs.

Off topic slightly... What kind (brand) of laminate floor do you have? We're looking to install some but we have lots of cats and were very concerned about their claws on the floor. Sorry and thank you!

@alysaaria, although I agree what you said partially, but how is your comment going to help Kristen?

Lots of people "have to" have pets because they're social and need the company. Cats aren't really "pets" as much as roommates anyways. (roommates that you can shut in the bathroom when they piss you off, makes them better than some people I think)

Furminator Dyson deep cleaning from a service once in a great while (It's a huge pain in the ass). You'll still need to do another final clean before your landlord does a walk-through but it'll help.

Dyson's are expensive but I've never purchased an appliance I felt was so worth the cost. I'd also check out the other brand someone suggested. If you have pets, a good vacuum is worth it's weight in gold.

Why do people have to have cats? Seriously? Might as well ask why people have to be snarky on the internet.

my bissel cleanview with its rotating brush works fine on my area rugs.

shag probably won't do so well. you'll have to shake it outside every few days.

as for renting with pets - technically here in ontario (that's canada) it's illegal for a landlord to forbid pets.

I wonder if an air purifier would help with the dander.

Alysaaria: Pets have been such an amazingly positive experience in my life. Debilitating depression has run in my family for a very long time. I have a little Beagle and her companionship has enabled me to forgo additional prescription medications. :-)

We have two cats and I have horrible allergies...

We use a HEPA vaccuum on floors and rugs (weekly) - half hour

Steam clean (we have HAAN) floors and rugs (weekly) - half hour

Steam clean upholstered furniture with hand held steamer - also HAAN (chairs, sofa) - this literally takes 5 minutes to do...really!

Roomba - daily

Above works great together as a multi-prong defense against cat hair, dander, etc. and has helped my allergies greatly.

Also - we have one of the IQ air filters...HUGE thing, but works great too!

As someone with 4 cats in an apt, I can only say that a good vacuum is what you really need. Until we bit it and spent more on a vacuum, I was convinced nothing worked. You don't have to get as pricey with a Dyson. I am very happy with my Hoover bagless-Windtunnel with pet hair attachment. I use the attchment with the hose on the sofa and drapes. A good hand-vac is helpful for the in between days to just quick pick up. I like the Dustbuster Cylonic Action 16v. A swiffer doesn't hurt, but I prefer the vacuum on the hardwood too.

I don't have a shag rug, so can't help with that.

p.s. those kittens are adorable! I'm glad I have cats, keeps me from being angry and bitter.

to:alysaaria

Should I change the sign outside my house then: for sale, but watch out there were cats here! If your allergic, you can't but a house either, as you won't know there weé cats in there before. Really limitts your options to only renting of landlords who don't allow pets....

To Kristen: we have 2 cats in a small apartment and as said before a good vacuum is a must, we've got a miele pet special, but I don't know if they sell that in the U.S.
Also dettol, If it smells, use dettol it makes all smells really disappear. And: get rid of as many soft floorings as you can. I know it may seem a bit bleak at first, but you can get used to it. And only buy pillows and blankets that you can wash.

Oh, now I rememder, When I used to live in Finland we used to wash the carpets, and I did thid 4 times to our last carpet before the cat's trult ruined it.
Just put a big plastic on a lawn/pavement and place your mat on top of it. spray it wet. get on your hands and knees (I recommend warm weather) and get scrubbing with an envitonmentally friendly soap. (we osed ox-gall soap). Rinse thourougly on both sides. And hang someweher to dry (the washing is best done when a few dry days are predicted)

Alysaaria, I agree.

I just don't have any sympathy for the person who wrote this. It is not like cats are necessary and you have discovered the reason perhaps they are not allowed by your lease. If you really want to have a cat, find a place that allows them.

Did you just see the post by your DC colleague? How timely.

I don't think that Kristen should have adopted these pets in violation of her rental agreement. She stands not only to lose her apartment, but sets a bad precedent for other renters. Also, she may be given the option of giving up her pets, which she may do, but which I consider to be cruel to those pets that have become emotionally attached to their care-giver.

This post, and an earlier post about leaving plants on fire escapes, I find quite irresponsible.

@alyssaaria and nhvb, I'm not sure how your comments help those who've decided to have cats.

I have three savages in a loft. I vacuum a lot.
Gratefully I own the loft and the floors are concrete, but nice rugs are kept folded up unless I'm using them.

I say vacuum and use the natural deordorizers mentioned above. A friend, also in a loft with three sweet savages, has a Roomba she loves.

It also helps to brush your cat daily to reduce the hair that needs to be vacuumed. The best one I found was from a farm supply store and is intended for horses. It has four loops of metal zig-zag teeth. I also put a blanket in the spot where my cat likes to sleep, and wash the blanket once a week.

If your cat sheds a lot or smells bad, you might consider changing food. When I switched to a raw food after my cat started having health issue, I noticed there was a lot less waste in the litter box and the box does not stink.

Alysaaria, pets are not allowed in my apartment complex. They are only allowed by special permission. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I went through two years of treatments and surgeries. I have no family in this state so I was a little bit lonely. I asked my landlord if I could have a dog and they said yes. I am so happy that they did, because I truly believe part of my healing had to do with the calmness of my new pet.

Dyson vacs are great, particularly the pet attachment (for carpets and furniture not the animal!). And sticky rollers (though not very green) are good on cushions and clothes.

This post should be titled more truthfully. Maybe "Help! Any suggestions how I can further violate the rental agreement I signed" or "Help me hide my dishonesty!"

Maybe there should be a separate area on the site for ways to violate the rules of rental agreements (lie) and get away with it.

BrieBrie, you appear to have the common sense to own your place with concrete floors, so you are free to keep lots of cats. However, the poster here lacks common sense and is really inconsiderate of her landlord and future tenants. And, not to mention the cats, in case she has to find a new home for them suddenly. Taking on pets is a huge responsibility, as you no doubt know. Also, so is signing a lease...

For all the "I like to pass judgements and repeat the same point that doesn't answer the question" posters:

A good number of folks I know who have cats have no-pets leases...and the funny thing is that they're more concerned about keeping their apartments clean than some of the slovenly pet-free folks I've met. (Trust me, you don't want to know what that shag carpet would look like with those people.)

Why not have a clause that no slobs can live in apartment rentals? I've seen some nice apt damage done by pure housekeeping negligence. Or kids - everyone knows they're messy.

I have had cats in apts where they weren't allowed before, and if I was asked to leave, I would gladly have done so...with my cat. Most of the times management turns a blind eye to this kind of stuff anyway. And any landlord would be having the apartment cleaned before it's rented out again so the idea that cat dander would linger on after a move out and cleanings is a little insane. I've never been asked to pay for damages when leaving an apt due to cat activity.

Regardless, you guys aren't answering her question at all, or deterring anyone who is going to have cats from having cats, lease-approved or not - so I'm not sure what you're expecting to gain, considering the point has already been made once or twice already. And I'm pretty sure she's is not feeling guilty nor getting rid of her cats (I wouldn't!).

*****

For the Original Poster:

I don't have any additional advice to add to the previous vaccuuming advice for carpeting. I'm lucky enough to have hardwood floors throughout and when I did have carpeting, the awesome no-pets landlord gave us industrial carpeting remnants that were fairly easy to clean (but disgusting pieces of crap, against his promise - talk about upholding lease parameters!).

What you might be able to do is lay a more sturdy room-size rug over the shag - like a sisal or some of the woven ones Urban Outfitters has to avoid contact. (What kind of a landlord installs shag carpets anyway?)

The Furminator cat brush works miracles at getting the dander off the cat before it gets on your carpet. I recently moved into a carpeted apartment and purchased the Eureka Pet Lover 439AZ (HEPA filter capable). It's about $60 (Amazon) and has a rotating brush and "pet paw" for furniture. Using of both of these seems to keep my apartment cat hair free.

It really bothers me how often I see posts on AT these days that advocate violating your rental agreement. Number one rule of apartment living: Don't sign it if you can't abide by it.

wow people! relax about the lease clause issues! So she's not supposed to have animals. I also wasn't supposed to have "overnight visitors" in my dorm in college.... LOL yeah right! I wonder if the people on here harping on about lease violations do things like speed while driving... that would be breaking the law, now wouldn't it? ;)
Anyways!

We have 3 cats and 2 dogs. Animals totally do a number on your stuff, and your surroundings. I vaccum every day, and brush my dogs every day outside, too. The cats, well, the don't really DO much damage. They pee where they're supposed to, they don't claw at anything other than a piece of 2x4 under the basement stairs.
Make sure your cats have something to scratch at- if they tend to do that. My cats always liked just a piece of wood with bark on it, nailed to a wall somewhere.
As for carpets- I got a Bissell PEtBot. It's a mini steam cleaner, specially designed for pet "messes". I also have 2 kids and this thing cleans up like a champ! 3 cats, 2 dogs (Labs) and 2 kids under 8. (insane, glutton for punishment, I know!).
I also bought a roomba. the pet version. it keeps on top of daily maintenance on the carpet, and it works AWESOME on laminate. Then every 3rd day I bust out my actual vaccum and do a once over of the whole house.

Make sure you use an enzymatic cleaner on carpet messes. And, if the cats tear up carpet, trim it back. Then buy yourself some pet repellant spray at the pet store.

Lastly, for the person on here from ONtario, Canada- that's where I am, too. Just last week the courts overturned the "not allowed denying pets" rule. So, now landlords are once again allowed to legally deny pets. :(

I can't believe all these people on here saying what about "future tenants with allergy problems". WHO CARES ABOUT FUTURE TENANTS? When you sell your car, does it come with a warning?: WARNING, MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAD A PET GOLDFISH IN HERE ONCE. Goldfish Allergy sufferers beware.
Ditto for when you sell your house.
GET REAL !

If people are that sensitive to animals, then they (the people) need to be locked in a 4X4 closet with padded walls for the rest of their lives. Problem solved.

I'll take an animal over most people anyday.

I would recommend a better vacuum cleaner or hiring a professional cleaner once a year.
If you don't like either option, you may consider buying a few area rugs to help reduce the amount of cat hair that enters the carpets.

Carpet Cleaning

@alysaaria - I think you need some happiness in your life. Pet haters have to be the most miserable people in the world. Seriously. Just shut up.

Brushing your cat every day definitely helps. It's a little labor intensive, but I find rubbing area rugs with a rubber glove on in a circular motion "gathers" the fur... if your hoover isn't up to the job.

when you have kittens in your house than you need to cut their nails. Because they can dig nails in your carpet and its not good when you clean such carpet.

Best Regards,
Carpet Cleaners Portland