How to Create a Pet-Friendly Space in Small Apartments
Pets can live in all different types of home. Sure, larger pets benefit from having a little more room, but that doesn’t mean they can’t thrive in an apartment. A compact living space can certainly meet a pet’s needs, and a little creativity goes a long way to promoting both physical and mental wellness.
Love Lives Here
Pet owners must be realistic when it comes to a pet’s living conditions. Apartments can be a little boxy for some pets and, without a private, enclosed yard to call their own, challenging in the bathroom department (especially in the middle of the night). This doesn’t mean, however, that sharing an apartment with a pet can’t be done successfully.
Smaller Pets
Pocket pets and exotic pets have surged in popularity, due in part to their minimal spatial requirements. Always check with landlords or property managers before bringing home a pet, or review the lease for any pet deposits or related fees.
Safety First
Ground floor apartments provide easier access for a dog’s bathroom needs. While attractive to pet owners, be sure that the windows and doors are safe and secure at all times. Install certain safety products, like alarms, gates, and locks. For many pets, especially cats, an indoor-only lifestyle may be the safest option.
Upper floor units might have great views but can be dicey when it comes to mitigating escapes and possible falls. Routinely check windows screens, deck railings, and doorways to promote pet safety.
Entertaining Pets in Small Spaces
Establishing and maintaining your pet’s zones can go a long way toward a peaceful cohabitation. Keep their meal zones clean, create inviting snooze spaces, and reinforce the concept that you have your own space, too (if applicable). A consistent routine is vitally important.
Crate training may be of abundant use in a small space. When a pet recognizes their crate as their very own room or den they are more likely to use and enjoy it every day. Make it cozy and enticing, rotate bedding and toys, and reward them with tasty treats when they enter their crate.
More Than Just Floor
Cats love to climb and naturally seek out the highest vantage points. Maximizing the vertical space in an apartment allows cats to explore and enhance their agility and balance skills. Cat trees, climbing structures, perches, and platforms add value to small spaces.
Pet Enrichment
Daily exercise times and bathroom breaks are essential to pet health. Remember, a tired pet is generally a much happier one. Keep them trained, toned, and tuckered out by providing two 45-minute walks every day. This can be substituted with other vigorous workouts, such as hiking, games or fetch, etc. and supplemented with the following:
- Interactive games and toys
- Food puzzles or treat dispensing toys
- Visits to new places
- Regular intervals of stimulating play time
A Pet-Friendly Space
Living in a small space doesn’t mean owners have to sacrifice their pet’s mental and physical well-being. With a little extra care and consideration, pets and their people can thrive in compact homes.
Let us know if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s lifestyle and home environment at (260) 637-7676. Our veterinarians and staff are always happy to help you at Dupont Veterinary Clinic.