In Ontario, Canada, landlords can reject your rental application if you have pets but they can't kick you out so I always just lie and say I don't have pets :)
Can confirm. Plastic on couch armrests and carpets rolled and stuffed in a corner to prevent cats from destroying them and that's about it, thankfully.
Wear and tear on the carpet is normal, you are depriving yourself comfort. Fluffy rugs can work. If sofas aren't yours then that's fair, I plonk scratching posts on the corner and redirect energy.
Ah, I see what you mean. Fair enough. And I've got my own rugs, yeah, place was too empty without. And yeah, got scratching posts and alternatives around, ofc.
In my country, an landlord owner can not forbid pets in a house unless there are specific rules that completely prevents it (like an HOA imposition, where no animals at all are allowed in an apartment building); it was ruled by our Supreme Court having a pet is an unwaivable right the individual has.
(Yes, most people ignore this and just outright ban animals.)
However, the owner of a house can demand certain conditions to be fullfilled, in order for an animal to be housed there, like the animal being registered (ID chip), licensed (paid annually), vaccinated, properly kept (cages, terrariums or whatever necessary to accomodate, safely, the animal(s)), behaviour (a dog can not spend their time barking their head off, a cat yowlling, birds screeching) and for the guardian to assume full responsability for any and all damages the animal causes.
This part is legal and most people would run for the hills if they found such a clause on a leasing agreement, as for the moment they sign it, they are legally binded by it and failling to observe any condition is legal ground for breach of contract.
Insurance on the property is usually why certain breeds of pets aren't allowed (i.e. "aggressive" dog breeds, exotic animals). It's not just landlords being landlords.