If you search on the internet for "rent with animals in Tbilisi", almost everything you find are daily rentals for tourists with a dog for the weekend. Almost no one writes about long-term rentals with a pet for months and years, although hundreds of people face this: moving with a cat or dog — and encountering that half of the listings do not specify whether pets are allowed.
How landlords really feel about animals
Definitely the worst are large dogs. Many landlords agree to cats almost without hesitation, slightly more cautious — to small dogs, and much less often — to large ones. It's not about dislike for animals: most often, the landlord worries about furniture, floors, and walls of the rental apartment, especially if the renovation is recent.
The simple conclusion: if you have a large dog, allocate more time for searching and be ready to discuss conditions separately, rather than relying on the first appealing listing.
What to write to the landlord or agent
One message greatly increases the chance of a positive response if it immediately addresses typical concerns:
- Breed and size — not "I have a dog", but "I have a Jack Russell, 8 kg, calm character".
- Pet photos — reduces half of the worry remotely.
- Willingness for an additional deposit — offer this yourself right away, without waiting for a question.
- Vaccinations and sterilization — if done, it’s worth mentioning.
- Experience renting with this pet — "lived for a year and a half in the previous apartment, no complaints" works better than any assurances.
Send this immediately with the first message, not after the landlord has promised a viewing — so you save time for both yourself and him.
Deposit for the pet
An additional deposit for a pet is common practice, not rare. The range is large and depends on the specific landlord and pet: some set a fixed amount above the standard deposit, others a percentage of it. Discuss this upfront and record it in the rental agreement as a separate clause — this makes it easier to claim a full refund upon move-out if the apartment is undamaged.
How to search specifically on Qiralo
The site has a filter "pets allowed" — check this box in the search form, and only listings where the landlord explicitly permits pets will appear. This saves dozens of messages asking "can I bring a cat?", to which some landlords do not respond at all.
If a listing is not marked with this filter, it does not always mean rejection — often the landlord simply did not specify the condition explicitly when posting. It makes sense to write and clarify using the tips above.
In brief
- Cats — almost always yes, for large dogs — search in advance and be patient.
- The first message immediately addresses concerns: breed, photos, deposit, experience.
- Record the pet deposit in the contract as a separate clause.
- Use the "pets allowed" filter on Qiralo to avoid wasting time on those who will definitely refuse.