If you are a pet lover living in an apartment, there is good news for you. From fish to cats, there are several types of companion animals you can easily nurture in a compact apartment.
However, make sure your pet does not disturb the neighbors or damage your home. Here are the top apartment-friendly pets that you can opt for:
Dogs
Dogs can actually live quite easily in a small place as long as you select the right breed. Even large dogs can do well in apartments if you make sure their daily exercise needs are fulfilled. However, make sure you consider the breed’s tendency to bark and disturb other people in the building.
If you don’t have the time to take your dog for a walk every day or hire a dog walker, go for a smaller dog, such as a pug or a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. However, if you really want a larger pet, you can choose a greyhound as they love to laze around all day.
Before adopting a pet, make sure you first check with your apartment or condominium management company. This is because some place restrictions on dog breed and size and may require a larger deposit or extra insurance.
Cats
Cats make perfectly apartment-friendly pets as they spend a lot of time curled up in cozy spots. You don’t need to take them out on walks and they can stay satisfied indoors.
Cats require their owner’s attention, so make sure to brush their cat, cuddle with them or play with them.
However, you need to take the breed into consideration when thinking about adopting a pet cat. For instance, Siamese cats are rather vocal and can disturb the neighbors by howling. Keep a pair if your routine involves staying away from home during most of the day.
You can give your cat toys to play with while you are away from home, such as a cat tower or cat-safe window perch. These offer interesting ways for your pet to kill time. If you are away for long, you can even hire a pet sitter to take care of the cat.
Guinea Pigs
If you are looking for a small and furry friend, consider adopting a guinea pig. They are friendly, curious, and easy to take care of.
In order to keep a guinea pig, you will require an 8-feet square cage, bedding, and food and water dishes. However, remember that these pets need fresh food and clean water every day.
Moreover, you will also need to remove their droppings and change the bedding on a daily basis. Guinea pigs do require some time out of the cage to play around. Make sure you provide them with this opportunity in a safe place inside your apartment. A guinea pig can survive up to 8 years with proper care.
Fish
Fish are apartment-friendly pets and can live silently in a tank. Other than a splashing sound now and then, you aren’t likely to hear much from these pets.
A small fish tank can fit even in rather small apartments. Fish require food once a day so they are low-maintenance pets. You only need to get fish tanks cleaned once every two weeks.
Keeping fish is known to be good for health. Watching them swim can lower your blood pressure and induce a therapeutic effect. Fish can also help Alzheimer’s patients, as research has proven that they exhibit less aggressive behavior with fish nearby.
Birds
Birds can be conveniently kept in an apartment. However, some birds, such as certain varieties of parrots, are social animals that require stimulation and interaction to stay happy.
If you are away from home for longer hours during the day, your bird may get stressed out and scream, which may irritate the neighbors. For small spaces, it is best to keep birds like finches, cockatiel, lovebirds, and canaries.
Make sure you take good care of your birds. Not only do you have to feed them and clean their cage daily, but also take their behavioral needs into account. It is important to interact with your pets and provide them with toys and other types of mental stimulation. Also, keep in mind that some parrot species like spending time out of their cages every day.
Ferrets
There are certain negative myths surrounding ferrets, but the truth is that they can be quite apartment-friendly pets. They are generally small and like to sleep happily inside their cages for long periods.
Ferrets enjoy interacting with humans. Considering their playfulness, it is best to keep them in a large cage. While they are quiet animals, they love to hide and act mischievously. As ferrets like to interact outside their cages, provide them with toys like balls, rattles, or dangling toys with strings.
Before adopting a ferret, make sure your apartment is ferret-proofed so that the creatures are unable to escape or hide in unsafe places like the oven.
Ferrets have a fast metabolism, making it important to provide them with fresh food and clean water regularly. Make sure you give them a diet that is high in protein.
Final Thoughts
When thinking about adopting an apartment-friendly pet, make sure you decide the cage size wisely if the pet of your choice is not a cat or dog. However, keep in mind that many pets require physical exercise and social interaction outside their cages as well.
It is necessary to analyze your lifestyle. If you are a workaholic who spends much of their time outside your place, don’t opt for a high-maintenance pet like a dog.
Alternatively, you can hire a pet sitter to take care of the animal while you are away. It is also important to check with your property manager or apartment management company to confirm if you can keep certain pets.
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