Um…cats have no smell outside of their feces and urine. Dogs do, not cats. Veterinarian here…just sayin…
I am glad you have a home that is pet free!
You are a Perfect Host! Stay this way and have a good Sunday. 
Stephanie, i am happy that your home is pet free! Guest must like your accommodations.
I know Hotels that accommodate people with pets have a huge issue with the Odor.
If every home was pet free Vet’s would be out of business, wont they?
Wilburforce, precisely!
I just had the same thing hapened to me with my last guest. He gave me 5* on everything, only 4 on value,which is totally ridiculous as at the time he booked there was not a single room priced lower than mine. And overall experience 4*.
And with all the extras I did for them.,his wife got very sick the last few days. I gave her meds, non stop tea with lemon and honey. I drove them to their next stay. My husband once drove them to casino, which is 5 min.drive but still it saved them 10$ on taxi., And after all 4*. If he gave me 5* I wold make super host this time.
I really don’t understand why people have a need to put a low rating. I traveled for 5 years through Airbnb, and stayed in places who were not even close to ow I keep my house in cleanliness and other issues. Once I stayed in Ireland in a place where host smoked, hot water only lasted for 7 minutes, toilet initially clean was getting dirtier by the hour. I gave him all 5* star based only on value, as it was so cheap. I appriaciated the value so much that other things though were not very comfortable didnt really matter to me.
With my last guest: the cost of room was twice cheaper than the most low rated hotel In a neighborhood. Plus my house is very pretty, modern and very clean. The room is big with king size bed and private bathroom. And still his overal experience was 4*.
Mariposa, I don’t think your responce was terrible. If I read it I could see through words that you are obviously a caring host who did warned the guest about cats, and house rules did say if she wants breakfast ask for it.
What I do have problem with is the fact that the last part sounds a bit defensive and reference to previous reviews is irrelevant and unnessesary . Other reviews can’t change the experience of this particular guest, and by mentioning other reviews you sort of disregard the opinion of the guest in question.
The good part was that you took action to get rid of the smell and wrote about it.
I do have a strong opinion about renting out a room when there are pretty serious issues that need correction, like AC issue, noise, location, bug/ mice/ rat problems and pet smell. I stayed in a house with roaches, hardly working AC and pets smell and honestly I struggled through my stays to the point that I didnt want to come back at night to that place. Once I took a glass of wine into my room and never finished it only to discover In a morning it was full of dead roaches.
After these experiences I have a very firm opinion that hosts with issues like these should not rent their room in a first place. Of course this particular guest could have told you about cat smell, but what you wold have done? These 2 new kittens probably were marking their territory because it was a new place for them.
I don’t think you should worry too much about your review though. Again, no Airbnb host is a hospitality specialist who was trained in how to respond to reviews in professional manner.
oooooboy… It’s our first natural reaction to get defensive when criticized. Unfortunately there is no remedy to removing or editing your response. I only know this personally because I have BTDT. The irony is, that only the first few lines of her review will appear along with a “Read More” button. So if you had just left it, it would have read fine! But because you responded, the review AND your response in its entirety will appear!!! Gaccck!!
A good rule of thumb is to wait 24 hours before responding so you can think it over…and consider the idea of not responding at all because your response only draws more attention to it. If you DO respond, word it CAREFULLY… Acknowledge, apologize and do it without emotion. Don’t address future guests, even though they are reading this… As one person here pointed out, future guests want to see what your reaction is to a complaint (sounds like a legitimate one!) and will move right along and book another place if you sound like trouble or will beat them up if they have an issue.
Here’s another tip… if you get a smackdown in the future, your guest has 48 hours to edit. You can grovel with the guest and beg for the review to be toned down. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t…but it is worth a try. I’ve had this work before with guests who spanked me for things that I’ve made crazy clear in the description. That is so unfair. They’ve agreed and changed. Other times they don’t respond to my pathetic pleas.
The only other thing you can do is wait for the whole ugly mess to scroll down off the main page. Lesson learned.
Yana, I could be wrong but if you EVER find any vermin in a place, report it to Air and they will instantly refund you. Some places in the tropics, like mine… well we have the famous Hawaii “Palmetto Bugs” (also known as the B52 roaches) but they should mostly stay outside if guests keep the doors closed. I make sure I have a tray of D-con under the sink because rats or mice are simply NOT acceptable in any way shape or form.
Sad… you did all that for them and they still smacked you with a 4. Same thing happened to me when I went out of my way for guests who couldn’t find a car at any price during sold out Ironman. They were oh so grateful for my help (said this in the review) but then found it in their hearts to spank me over too many mosquitos and things they found lacking in some of my bonus (unadvertised) features. Guests are just not trustworthy and will take and take… and one reason why I get so exhausted and burned out at this business. Just don’t go out of my way to do any extra… because the ones who seem needy are the same ones who love to smack you.
Wondering what you mean… ? Cats have no sense of smell? Curious what you mean, doc. 
I have three big dogs. Yet, yes, I have super host status and people do like my home. What gave you the impression my house was pet free? I simply stated the fact that cats have no odor beyond that of their feces and urine. Which is absolutely true. I am, however, extremely overboard on screening people to stay with me. My listing label says “near the beach. Must love dogs.” So much of the complaints we receive are about perception.
ummm, cs… I disagree. I think they would be put off by that response unfortunately… because it does more than sound defensive, it makes the host sound difficult and the place potentially chaotic. How would I know another roommate will be moving out or in when I book? She should not have brought it up!
No, it was postulated that catty smell and cat smell are completely different.not true.cats have no odor beyond their feces and urine. Unlike dogs.
Interesting. You are quite right. Although my outdoor alpha male bully cat sometimes smells like the dust he is always covered in! 
Grooming is not his strong suit. He’s more fight club than GQ.
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Wilbur, they have 48 hours to change it. Perhaps grovel and ask them to change it? Worth a try? Otherwise, don’t worry too much. I will never ever have SH status, and I’ve been at this five years. SH status is overrated. Only hosts care or know what it is. Guests don’t book based on it. It might be a small factor but no more of one than say a silly trip advisor badge.
We have those palmetto bugs too. They can’t live inside anyway, so it’s never a problem.
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ewww. That’s well… just… ewww
Mariposa, You also got some very good advice here. Don’t let one person with a blunt style run you off.
Catty smell to me only means one thing! And it’s a thing I dislike intensely. Which is one reason why a forlorn kitten who used to be allowed house privileges is now sitting at my door crying because he’s been banished to the outside forever after unloading a bladder on both my Calvin Klein down quilt and a laundry basket full of my best clothes. OUTSIDE FOREVER!
Hehe, I keep on remembering things I did for them, like when I drove them to a new place, husband asked me to stop at the store for a can of Chicken soup for his wife, and disappeared for at least half an hour. I finally told his wife who stayed In a car to call him because I can’t wait that long, I had a hair appointment. When he finally showed up he was carrying like a week worth of shopping. He apologized, said, there was a long line, it took me more than an hour with driving, waiting, plus gas. He left us in a car with 95F outside for half an hour, I had to keep AC running.
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