Apartment living certainly has its advantages, such as not having to mow the lawn or take care of a myriad other home maintenance projects that might be needed if you owned your home. According to a 2014 National Realtor’s Survey (1), 39% of those polled do or would prefer to live in an apartment as opposed to a single family home.
The downside to this for pet lovers is that certain pets simply aren’t allowed, and others are too large, too active, too noisy, or just plain unsuitable for a small living environment. We all want our pets to be healthy and content, and an apartment may not always provide for that. So, what’s an apartment-dwelling prospective pet owner to do?
In the case of any pet, it’s imperative that you check the lease before you decide, as even pets quite suitable for apartments still may not be allowed for any number of reasons. If you are looking to move into a pet friendly building, an internet search for “pet friendly apartments” and your zip code should reveal potential apartments where your future animal companion will be welcome.
Cats Rule
When it comes to pets, cats are king. They make for a perfect apartment-bound pet. They don’t need to be walked and they groom themselves, not to mention the 15 hours the average cat will sleep each day. Most of this down-time will likely be while an owner is at work at a nine-to-five job or running errands, as cats tend to be most active at dusk and dawn.
Dogs - Size Matters, But Not Always
If you’re a dog person, there’s no reason to despair. Many breeds will be perfectly happy and healthy in an apartment. Small breeds such as the Pug, Shih Tzu, King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Bichon Frise, and Boston and Yorkshire Terriers will all flourish in your one or two bedroom walkup. Even large breeds like Great Danes and Greyhounds, believe it or not, are known as the couch potatoes of the dog world, and many do indeed live well in an apartment setting—though they may be considered furniture as much as a pet. Small dogs may take up less space, but some can be quite noisy, so make sure you have tolerant neighbors.
Whatever the size of the breed, having a yard (such as a courtyard) or a place to exercise is the best option. Some quality time in a safe and clean dog park on a regular basis can also build these canine social skills.
Fish - Good for Mental Health
For adults, just watching fish swim around in an aquarium has been shown to lower blood pressure and stress. For the kids, doing the same has been shown to improve hyperactivity disorders. Perhaps the most startling of all, Alzheimer’s patients who watched aquariums had improved appetites, required less medication, and had reduced violent outbursts.
While an aquarium might seem like the perfect setup for an apartment, there are some things to consider. A beginning aquarist might opt for one of the many all-in-one micro, mini, or even nano aquariums. These generally hold between one and five gallons and come complete with a ready-made plug in filter, heater, and other needed items. The downside of these setups is that such a small environment is easily disrupted. Even the addition of a single fish, plant, or decorative piece of coral can throw things off balance. So, you will need to check pH, ammonia and nitrite/nitrate levels, water hardness, and alkalinity pretty regularly. The water will also need to be changed often, as a single overfeeding can cause quite a mess.
Birds
Domesticated birds can be something of a slippery slope, whether finch, parakeet, lovebird, cockatiel, or conure. All birds are noisy to some degree, whether in the form of pleasant chirps or the all out squawk of a happy or distressed parrot. Being friendly with your neighbors can help, but landlords will tend to side with those complaining about the racket, even if such pets are permitted in your lease. Like it or not, the responsibility for curbing your bird’s level of noise is up to you.
Parrots and macaws are extremely intelligent and need constant interaction with an experienced bird family. Bigger birds usually are costly, noisy, and need advanced care, but they can be your family’s friend for 50+ years.
by David F. Kramer on Pet MD