Is this Cat too scary looking to leave in the house for showings?

I know it is recommended that I remove any pets for a showing.  However, I just can't stomach the idea of leaving her anywhere - especially since I don't know how long it will take to sell our home.  My Realtor suggested the cat looks a little scary - in a nice way.  What do you think?  Can she really turn people off enough to prevent them from buying my home?  FYI - She's really sweet.

I love animals and I won't say she's scary looking, she looks tired though ;-). However, what I can say is that there are many buyers who are turned off by animals - no matter how cute (or scary). Cultural beliefs about "living with animals" as dirty, allergies and just fears in general may turn off many buyers. I recently wrote a blog about this you can check out. But ideally she should be removed for her safety. A few years ago our family found a cat who had been let out by an exterminator and been lost for over 2 weeks. We had seen signs of the lost cat and were able to locate the owners who were most grateful. The cat was 12 years old and a house cat all his life - he had lost about 10 lbs and other than that was no worse for the wear, but he was lucky!

If you cannot remove your pet, try crating or keeping her in one room (not a highly trafficked room though) with a sign on the door and maybe a photo of the room she's in so buyer's have an idea of what it looks like. Good luck!

That is one scary cat! I am not a realtor but if the house looks nice and I am interested the cat wouldn’t bother me.

 Thanks

 This cat looks just like a cat my past seller's owned. I never got a comment about the cat being scary (or a comment period about the cat)! Most cats hide during showings. :-)

 As a stager, I recommend no having pets in the home.  It's not that it looks scary (I think it's kinda cute, maybe a litle attitude, but cute) but think of it as allergies for potential buyers and possible odors.  You might be used to it and most people that don't have pets can smell things right when they enter the front door and you don't want that to be the first impression.  Don't start off the tour with a negative thought or reaction.  Good luck.

This cat is pretty funny.  I wouldn't leave it in the house, however.  Although I might get a quick kick out of it, I'd immediately start trying to smell a hairy animal.  This could be a distraction so strong that it would make me prefer another house over this one.

Some people could be allergic. And some people are afraid of cats no matter what they look like. It is always better to remove any pets when showing a house. You never know what issues potential buyers may have with pets.

I used to tell my clients to send the animals away (relatives, friends, wherever).  Not only are not all home buyers animal lovers, but getting rid of all evidence that the pet exist before a showing is just one more thing you'll have to do before you welcome people into your home.

My wife and both daughters are allergic to cats. I always had a cat when I was a kid, but now I realize that a cat house (he he he, not the classical definition) will require a lot of cleaning before my girls will be comfortable living in it.

My youngest daughter has always loved cats and wants one of her own.. until she went to spend the night with a friend. After nuzzling their cat, her upper lip swelled up and her eyes swelled closed. My wife can tell if a house has a cat living in it the minute she walks in the door, as her eyes well up and she gets a scratchy throat.

So while we love cats, their presence in a house is a deal-breaker. 

I recommend that you remove any animals and have the house thoroughly cleaned by an expert in animal dander removal, before showing it; unless you are willing to throw away a sizable chunk of the market. 

I have been excited about a house before, only to have my wife veto it due to cat dander. The last two houses we bought were brand new, solely because we couldn't find an otherwise dander-free house.

Personally, I think she looks adorable and cuddly.  I'm not allergic though either.

Scary or not, cats are not great sales reps.  in 2009 GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media did a study that revealed 15% of adults dislike cats a lot, and 11% dislike cats a little.  10% are ambivalent .  The majority actually like cats.

However, even if they like them, they may be allergic.  Cats are more prone to causing allergic reactions than dogs.  I could not find stats on how many people would be allergic but some comments suggested around 15 percent.

Also, if you are marketing to young families be advised that cats carry a bacteria that is harmful to pregnant women. Many women even get rid of their own cats when they get pregnant.

Even if people like cats and are not allergic and not pregnant, you do not want them thinking about how cute your cat is.  You are selling a house, not the cat, I presume.  The cat is a distraction.

I am in the 10% take them or leave them group when it comes to cat loving.  My personal reaction is that this poor guy has runny eyes that look like he has some kind of medical problem and I would be using my hand sanitizer thoroughly after leaving your house - not a promising reaction if you had thought I might buy it.

If you are going to keep the cat in the home, make sure you stay on top of your animal. Clean-up after it daily and make sure the house smells fresh rather than like cat. I have two dogs and a cat, it would be difficult removing them during showings, I agree. During open houses though make sure to have a designated area for the animal so its not roaming the home, making a mess or scaring of potential buyers.