German apartment lease - Clause about Pets

Ok - to anyone who wants to take a crack at this...

I am getting ready to sign a lease for a new apartment, but there is one clause that is causing me a little trouble in translation:

"Halten und Inpflegenahme von Haustieren ist nach Zustimmung des Vermieters für das jeweilige Tier gestattet. Die Zustimmung zur Tierhaltung und Inpflegenahme kann der Mieter nur verlangen, wenn hierdurch keine Lärm- und Geruchsbelästigungen und keine Gefahren für die Mitbewohner oder den Vermieter entstehen. Nicht zustimmungspflichtig ist eine Tierhaltung und Inpflegenahme, die das Verhältnis Mieter/Vermieter und der Mitbewohner untereinander nicht berührt (z.B. Zierfische)."

Now, to my horribly bad German, that says that for all animals in the apartment, you need agreement from the landlord first, that no animals that make excessive noise or smell are allowed, and that there needs to be a ratio of tenants to animals (excluding fish).

My native-speaking German advisor believes that in translation it means "If you want to have an animal that makes noise or has a smell, you need to get permission from the landlord..."

On Monday, I will get clarification from my potential landlord, but does anyone have legal experience that might explain this phrase in the interim? The animal, in this case, is a cat.

Any thoughts?

I interpret the first sentens as saying that pets are allowed only after the landlord agrees. Of course I could be totally wrong, as I am not a native german speaker.

Fairly standard actually.
It means that you are responsible for your animal. Behavior and shots.
The landlord may agree, but if the other tenents complain, the descision may be reversed.
You cannot be a little old lady with 20 cats, but you can have 20 goldfish.

This was in all our contracts and basically it is for rotweilers, dobermans, etc...
Kampfhund! Or the beagle that barks at the moon all night or the dog/cat that craps and pisses on the neighbors door/garten area/or walkways.

You may keep pets only after talking to your landlord. Your landlord is not obliged to agree if its an animal that makes noise or stinks. If its an animal that absolutely no one outside your apartment would notice (e.g. a fish) you don't have to ask.
dog: ask
rabbit: ask
cat:ask
fish: fine
reptiles: fine

[post deleted due to personal phobia coming to the fore]

This is what is not written in and you have to be aware of. The other renters wishes that comes down to a few things that are in the laws, but not specifically stated on this contract. And it only takes one neighbor to complain!
This all comes under the heading of keeping and maintaining pets.

They include:
Being to loud-dogs barking/cats in heat
Stinking which is highly subjective-to bad this can't be applied to some people!
Care-this is your responsibility and covers all things from cleanliness to health of the animal. Yes, a neighbor can say that they are afraid of your animal because it has not had its shots.
Kampfhund-older people are extremely afraid of big bad dogs and will complain.
Many are also afraid of odd pets like rats, reptiles, etc. and are also likely to complain.
Friendly animals not on a leash-your friendly little dog jumps on a neighbor and knocks them down is frowned upon and can result in legalities and bye bye pet.

Get insurance for your pet. Doesn't cost a whole lot and protects you.

The more that you are prepared, the less likely a neighbor will complain and in the event one does, you have the paperwork to prove you are responsibly maintaining your pet.

The landlord will say yes or no up front depending on how he/she thinks the neighbors will react.

"A friend" used to have a dog that didn't, couldn't, bark, so you would be okay with that. Until it tore the throat out of one of your neighbours or the postman of course.