San Jose, CA — In an unconventional rental arrangement, a California landlord is leasing a backyard studio apartment to two feline tenants for $1,500 a month.
David Callisch, the homeowner, told local CBS affiliate KPIX that he never expected to rent out the unit behind his San Jose residence to cats named Tina and Louise. But when his friend Troy Good needed a solution for his daughter’s pets, Callisch agreed to help.
“It’s quirky, isn’t it? People love their pets—they’re part of the family,” Callisch said. “I wanted to help out my buddy.”
A Temporary Fix for Feline Roommates
Good’s daughter, Victoria Amith, is away at college, leaving her two cats in need of housing. The pets didn’t get along with his fiancée’s dog, prompting the unusual rental agreement. The studio comes fully equipped—including an Apple TV—and costs less than the area’s average rent of nearly $2,000, The Mercury News reported.
Amith, a self-described “cat lady,” clarified that the arrangement isn’t taking away housing from humans. “It’s not in a public space; it’s in someone’s backyard,” she told CBS. “There’s obviously a huge housing issue here, and I don’t want people to think this is making it worse.”
The setup is temporary, lasting only until Amith finishes her school year and finds her own place.
A ‘Weird’ But Well-Intentioned Deal
Though Callisch admits feeling guilty about dedicating a living space to pets, he sees it as a one-time favor. “It was just a weird thing that happened,” he said.
For now, Tina and Louise are enjoying their luxe digs—proving that in Silicon Valley’s tight rental market, even cats need a place to call home.
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