Pets in apartments: how to keep everyone happy

By Charlotte Stiles

For many of us, having a pet is the key to feeling happy and comfortable in our homes, and they wouldn’t be the same without them! So, whether you’ve downsized to an apartment, or you’re considering having an apartment pet for the first time, we’ve created an article to guide you.

In this article, we’ll explain how to choose a suitable pet for apartment life, how to prepare your apartment for your new arrival, and give some more general tips regarding living with pets in apartments.

Choosing your pet

We’ve listed some things to consider when choosing your apartment pet below:

• Pet lifespan, species, breed, and size – is the animal in question going to be comfortable for the entirety of its life in the apartment? Will it grow to be too big? Will you be able to meet all its needs in terms of exercise, play, and socialization in the apartment? It’s always good to do some research on the above before choosing your pet.
• Noise – Will your pet be comfortable with nearby sounds associated with apartment or city life? If you’re thinking of getting a pet that could be potentially noisy, are you prepared for the consequences if it disrupts your neighbours (we’ll talk more about how to avoid this later)?
• Budget – Do you need to pay an extra deposit, or rent supplement because of your pet and are these costs feasible for the duration of its life? Will having your pet in the apartment increase the cost of your utility bills? For example, heating a reptile cage, or using air conditioning.
• Playing by the rules - Is the specific animal allowed in the building? For example, some landlords allow cats, but not dogs or reptiles. It’s always best to check, to avoid problems later on.

Preparing your apartment

Now we’ve looked at what to consider in terms of choosing your pet, let’s see what you can consider when preparing your apartment:

• Outdoor areas – You might want to consider netting (cats) or a fence (dogs) if your pet has access to outdoor areas such as a balcony or terrace in your apartment. The same also applies to windows.
• Meeting all your pet’s needs – Some pets, such as cats, might have gotten used to constant access to plants, so it could be good to think about how you can supplement this in an apartment setting without a garden. The same goes for viewing areas which means you might want to get a perch or a cat tree. It’s always a good idea to ensure your pet has access to a dedicated space in the apartment for them.
• Stairs – If your apartment has stairs you might want to consider putting a mat or ramp to make them easier to use. If you don’t want your pet to use the stairs, you can use a stairgate.
• Climate control – Do you know how to time or adjust your heating or air-conditioning to ensure your pet is comfortable even when you’re not there? It’s good to think about this beforehand.
• No-go zones – No-one likes coming home to a bin that’s been emptied and explored all over the floor. You might want to consider pet-proofing bins and food supply areas to prevent this. There’s also the option of using locks or special doors that pets can’t open.
• Out-of-reach – Are all potentially edible, or breakable objects out of the reach of your pet? Similarly, have you considered ‘proofing’ hazardous or sharp furniture which may harm your pet?

General tips

In this section, we’ll explain some extra tips which help you, your pet, and your neighbours comfortable.

If you have a dog, then it’s good to consider whether there is an easily accessible area for them to ‘relieve themselves’ nearby, no matter the weather! This means you might want to check out if there are any ‘dog parks’ in your area.

Similarly, since living in an apartment means your pet won’t have constant access to a garden, you’ll probably want to walk them more frequently and maybe for a bit longer than usual.

This coupled with living in an apartment near others means you might want to consider dog walking or pet-sitting services. It’s always preferable to have a good relationship with your neighbours, but sometimes having a dog who barks or cat who meows whilst you’re away can make this a little difficult.

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If you must leave your pet alone in the apartment, you might also want to consider getting a radio which may also help them feel calm during the day and help them to feel less anxious.

If you’re thinking of getting or moving a cat to an apartment, it’s also good to consider that you might want to empty their litterbox more frequently as bad smells accumulate faster in a smaller area. The same applies to pet hair, so you may find it important to clean more often or to establish a grooming routine.

A well-trained pet is easier to manage whether you live in an apartment or not. If possible, it’s good to train your pet to live comfortably in an apartment and to remain consistent with the behaviour you expect from them.

This usually means ‘house-training’ them, so that they don’t defecate or urinate inside your flat. It can also mean, crate training or training them not to bark or meow, so that they don’t disturb neighbours whilst you’re away.

It's also a good idea to check whether any apartment-related insurance policies you have cover damages or accidents associated with your pet.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article about how you can live in an apartment with your pet and comfortably meet all their needs.