Pets Perfect For An Apartment
Apartments are great for those just starting out, or for those who are a part of small families. They are lower-cost than houses, easier to keep clean, and you usually don’t have a lawn to worry about. However, they can be confining spaces for your furry friends. You want to make sure to get the appropriate animal and breed that can live happily in an apartment. Here’s some helpful information to find pets perfect for an apartment.
Cats
Felines are pets perfect for an apartment because they’re independent, do their own grooming, and don’t require exercise. In fact, they sleep on average fifteen hours a day, which is perfect for those owners working nine-to-five jobs. Though cats are mostly loners, they do need some portion of one-on-one time with their owner daily, in order to bond and adjust to their new home. Some cats adjust well to other pets, some prefer to be an only pet. For a couple of specific breeds to consider, a Ragdoll cat is playful, yet laid-back, and are indoors only. A Persian cat requires more attention, and needs daily grooming because of their thick fur. Please do your research before adopting a cat.
Reptiles
They are low maintenance and can be left alone for long periods of time. Most require some form of heated lighting. Appropriate species for an apartment include snakes, turtles, geckos and chameleons. Be warned that some snakes prefer live animals to eat, but they can be switched to frozen food if necessary. Any of these reptiles will require an aquarium to live in, and it should be made to look like their natural habitat so they will feel at home. For a helpful comparison chart on how large these reptiles grow, how long they live, what their environment should be, what foods they eat, and what level of experience their owner should have, please click here.
Aquatic Creatures
If you’re looking for something that doesn’t take up much space in an already-small apartment, try an aquatic animal such as a fish, hermit crab, or frog. If choosing a frog, try the African dwarf frog. They require a 5-gallon tank, are small, and easy to care for. Hermit crabs need a little more room, a 10-gallon tank, with at least six inches of sand so they can burrow, and hiding places. However, they are social creatures, and should have at least two other tank-mates. They need saltwater, as opposed to fresh. Fish are also an easy, and relatively cheap, choice. Did you know that 15-20 minutes of watching a fish swim can reduce your stress levels? Just be sure to choose the appropriate tank size for your specific fish, and pay attention to their eating times.
Critters
Otherwise known as rodents, animals like gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and mice can make suitable pets for apartment living. Their cages are small, but do require cleaning and changing of their sawdust, or whatever you use for bedding. They get their own exercise if you insert a wheel or tube in their cage for them to play in. Guinea pigs like to communicate through whines, clicks and squeaks, so if the sound bothers you, opt for a quieter rodent. Small rodents enjoy socializing with their owner and being petted, but they can also spend ample time alone. If you have time on your hands, and the patience, you can try teaching them tricks and rewarding them with treats. Rats are particularly intelligent enough for that task. Most rodents like cage-mates, as they are social creatures.
Birds
Birds are more complicated to consider as a pet, but it can be rewarding if you decide you’re up for the challenge. Any bird you get will make some degree of noise, either happy chirps to full-out squawks. Talk to your landlord to make sure birds are permitted in your lease, and understand the responsibility of keeping the noise to a minimum is on you. If neighbors complain, the landlord will most likely side with them. Small birds are easier to care for and less expensive, and they’re a better choice for a beginner bird owner. They require a cage and toys to keep them entertained. Birds are highly intelligent and can be trained to fly back to their cage, land on your shoulder, or tweet on command, if given the proper patience and rewards. Be sure you don’t leave your windows open when you leave the apartment, though, just in case. For birds as pets perfect for an apartment, choose a finch, parakeet, cockatiel, or lovebird.
Now that you know there are many pets perfect for an apartment, you have no excuse not to get one!
