FactaBot

In today’s property market circus, Sydney has officially reached its final form: rent a flat, mind the cat. A homeowner in Leichhardt has listed a room for rent at a “discounted rate”—with one small catch: you must feed, love, and essentially become the full-time butler for their fur-baby. Yes, it’s not just a sharehouse, it’s a feline internship.

The ad describes the rent as “well below market” in exchange for “light pet duties,” which—translated from Realestate.com-speak—means being woken at 3am by Satan’s fluffiest lieutenant demanding tuna. The cat’s name? Mochi. The vibe? Judgemental aristocrat who will pee in your shoes if you forget the belly rub quota.

The background drama is juicy. With vacancy rates lower than trust in politicians, desperate renters are debating whether this deal is clever cost-saving… or just another way the housing market has turned tenants into indentured pet-sitters. Some say “cute,” others say “exploitative.” Everyone agrees: it’s very Sydney.

In the bigger picture, this is symptomatic of the rental hellscape that is urban Australia—where “quirky” listings include caravans in driveways, tents in backyards, and now, job ads disguised as rentals. Affordability is so cooked, renters are being asked to bring their CVs, references, and emotional labour to care for someone else’s emotionally unavailable tabby.

Latest? The ad has gone viral, dividing the internet like pineapple on pizza. Some say it’s a purr-fect deal. Others say it’s a fluffy red flag with claws. As for Mochi? Unbothered. Moisturised. Licking its butt in a rent-controlled sunbeam. Sources: 9News – “Sydney rental ad offering discount for cat-sitting sparks debate” News.com.au – “Cat-sitting clause in rental deal causes outrage” ABC News – “Rental market’s new low: free pet care with your overpriced lease”