Your pet can be your best friend but unlike your human friends, they rarely ask advice, and rely on you for a lot more than just the occasional meet-up. Pets can make life more rewarding and fun, but if you’re looking for a new place to live it having fur babies can limit your options. Many rental units do not allow pets or restrict the type of pets you can have.
Fortunately, there are places like The Lofts that welcome animals and understand the important role they play in our lives. But apartment living does bring its own challenges for renters as opposed to homeowners. Worry not, this article will help you map out a plan for you and your furry friend in your new apartment.
Here are 4 areas you need to focus on to make sure your pet stays entertained, healthy, and
happy in your apartment:
- Maximize Your Pet’s Living Space. Cats can be hit or miss when it comes to where they choose to lay their head at night. Many times, a bed will be ignored for a comfy pillow, spot on the couch, or kitchen chair. Cats do however love heights so try to invest in some cat posts. This multi-purpose investment will also help you to keep your cat from scratching at the carpet and the furniture. Even if your have scratch resistant floors it’s always better to give your kitty a carefully selected alternative to sharpen its claws on. Finally, offer a resting area for your pet, and even provide a place to play and hide treats and toys in when your cat is feeling bored. Dogs can benefit from a bit more structure in their sleeping arrangements. Early on, you should teach your dog to sleep only in specified areas. Your dog will push the boundaries, if you let them. But be firm and consistent. Many dog owners will practice crating their dogs when they’re not home, others will try and designate specified sleeping areas with bedding placement. Depending on your preference, you can place your dog’s crate or bed anywhere that makes sense in your apartment. But remember, dogs are pack animals and like to sleep near their beloved humans so most pet owners will place beds either in their bedroom or living room areas.
- Food Storage and Placement. When deciding where to place your pet’s food storage containers, bowls, and trays, you’ll want to consider a few things before just plopping them down. Does your apartment have carpeting or laminate floors? If your apartment has carpeting, try to find a space within your apartment that hasn’t been carpeted, like the kitchen, to make liquid or food spills a little easier to clean up. Keep your floors free of pet food crumbs by investing in a large storage container for dry foods. If you have laminate floors, you can be a little more selective of your food bowl and tray placement. Just be sure to make your decision and stick with it to avoid confusing your pet.
- Litter boxes and house breaking. This is a particular challenge for pet owners in an apartment. It’s best that you keep your cat litter box in an area that’s well ventilated, is away from where you eat or store food, and is easily accessible by your cat. But in an apartment, attics and basements are off the table. In those cases many owners find it helpful to place a litter box in a closet or in the bathroom. If you have a dog, make sure to scout around your area for dog-friendly spots. Dogs tend to prefer places that are quiet and not distracting with plenty of grass for them to use. Living in an apartment or complex means you may not have an exclusive yard. But your dog will inevitably find a few favorite places to “mark” on the premises. Try to visit those spots whenever you walk your pooch.
- Pet-proof Restricted Areas. Section off any places in your apartment that might be unsuitable for small animals. Specifically, unsafe areas where a dog or cat might enter and eat or come into contact with something that could be harmful to them. A simple and cheap solution is to buy a small pet fence to keep your pet out of areas you don’t want them exploring – cats may require a little more effort because they’re able to leap over obstacles. Be sure to close your room doors where you don’t want your cat exploring, particularly when you’re not home.You may wish to keep your pets away from specific areas like living room rugs and couches but hair, dirt, and dander are inevitably going to end up everywhere. Invest in some pet cleaning supplies such as lint brushes, scrubbers, and a wet vacuum cleaner. You will be happy you did when both you and your guest can enjoy a spotless and beautiful townhouse apartment.
- Invest in Some Toys and Treats
Even in large townhouse style apartments, your dog will still long for wide open spaces. To keep your companion happy, you’ll need to get creative. Fortunately for you and your pup, there are tons of places to find toys and treats for entertaining your pet during those long days inside the apartment. Both cats and dogs tend to run amuck when they’re unstimulated for long periods of time. Carpets, couches, and beds fall victim to chewing and clawing from your bored pets. When you keep treats and toys at home, your pet will have something to do other than the destructive behaviors they to revert to when they’re bored. Treats are also effective for apartment training your pet, try some positive reinforcement when your dog or cat obeys commands or performs desired actions. - Get your dog outside! Taking your dog for a walk a few times a day is great for both you and your pet! Dogs love socializing and walking around the neighborhood lets you see your neighbors, and lets your dog make his own friends. Letting your dog run around the dog park at Lofts at Saratoga is a great way for you to relax with your neighbors while your dog plays with others!
Keeping pets happy in an apartment is no easy task and will require creativity, research, and determination. Every pet is different, you will have to become familiar with your individual pet’s specific needs. But, like anything else, the more consistent you are the easier things will be and sooner or later those actions will become routine habits for you and your pets. Just be sure that you for my our plan and stick to it, in the end you will be happy you did and your pets will appreciate you for it as well.