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Having a pet in your life adds a lot of enjoyment all around. However, there are a few essential points to consider, especially if you live in an apartment building.
Making your apartment pet-friendly increases your pet’s enjoyment and helps follow the building management’s rules on pets.
After all, apartment owners are legally permitted to forbid or restrict pets, including some dog breeds. Landlords are only required to make accommodations for service dogs and may only allow emotional support animals in some states, like California.
Taking steps to make your home as pet-friendly as possible means happier pets and owners. Read on to learn more about what you can do to make your apartment more pet-friendly.
Tip #1: Protect Your Living Area
When you have dogs or cats, you’re likely to find yourself facing a constant battle against pet hair all over your couches and other furniture. Sofa covers that you can easily wash as needed will help you keep the fur problems under control.
Having distinct sleeping, eating, and toilet areas for your pet will help you avoid a lot of accidents, which is crucial in an apartment setting. Starting housebreaking the first day your pet is at home will help give you a necessary head start.
One thing you can do to minimize the effects of pet hair is to select furniture covers that match your pet’s coat, if possible. Even though you’ll still need to vacuum and maintain the area, the pet hair won’t be as noticeable, and you won’t have such a rush to vacuum before company arrives if you can’t see the hair as much.
If you have cats or kittens, their attempts to sharpen their claws on your furniture can cause a lot of unsightly damage. Consider investing in a scratching post or cat tree so your furniture won’t be fair game.
Tip #2: Prevent Disasters That Could Harm Your Pet
If you have blinds with cords, you’ll want to make sure your pet can’t get its head caught in the loop. A dog or cat could accidentally strangle itself when owners are not careful with cords.
If your furniture has sharp edges, you may benefit from covering them to blunt any impact. To help avoid injury to older dogs having trouble navigating steps, you may want to consider having steps or a ramp next to your couch or bed.
Electrical cords should ideally be out of sight of curious pets. Puppies and kittens often chew on cords, not understanding that these items could seriously injure them. Investing in cord protectors makes it more difficult for curious pets to cause damage or injure themselves.
Household cleaners and medications are dangerous to dogs and cats, often resulting in poisoning cases. Small objects that a pet could easily swallow are also possible issues of concern. If a pet could try to eat an object, there’s a good chance that it will.
Keeping medications and cleaners locked up will minimize the chances of your pet ingesting these types of substances.
You can also reduce the chances of your pet getting poisoned by avoiding these house plants:
- Castor bean
- Jasmine
- Lantana
- Philodendron
- Poinsettia
Tip #3: Keep Fish and Birds in Mind
Fish tanks should not be in areas where they are in direct sunlight because sunlight contributes to algae that can harm fish. Whenever using chemicals for pest management, cleaning, or when using paint, you’ll want to make sure these substances aren’t used too close to the tank.
Regular electrical equipment checks on filters and lights will keep your fish safe and comfortable. Keeping sources of loud noise away from the aquarium will also keep your fish healthier.
Bird cages should also be kept away from the windows. Although birds enjoy seeing activity taking place outdoors, exposure to drafts from windows can have a negative effect on their health.
Tip #4: Choose Your Living Area and Bedroom Fabrics Wisely
Despite the unique look that fabrics like chintz, velvet, and silk offer, these fabrics are poor choices for couch or chair material in apartments with pets. Some examples of materials that are excellent choices for chairs and couches include:
- Leather, which is durable and only subject to scratches
- Pleather (if you prefer to stay away from animal-based materials)
- Ultrasuede, which has a suede-like feel but is machine-washable
- Crypton, a durable fabric that is virtually indestructible
When pets sleep on your bed, it’s essential to help protect your bed against accidents that can be common with pets, like cats having hairballs or small dogs having trouble controlling their bladders.
A thick mattress pad will be your first line of defense against pet-related messes. If your sheets are cotton, they will be much easier to keep clean. Examples of bedspreads that resist messes and are easy to clean include matelassé coverlets and duvet-style covers.
Tip #5: Keep Your Pet Clean, Especially After Trips Outside
You can use a small area near your entrance door or the door to your balcony or patio as a type of mudroom for your dog. Keeping some towels at hand to dry your dog off after a trip outside in the rain will keep your apartment cleaner and everyone happier, including management.
Keeping your pet brushed and bathed as needed helps cut down on loose hair and pet odors. If you keep your pet’s nails trimmed, there will also be less potential floor damage.
Summary
The steps you need to take for your apartment to become more pet-friendly are relatively easy but essential. On the other hand, your pet should also find it enjoyable to stay in the apartment.
You cannot predict what your pet may do when you are not at home, like the gang from “The Secret Life of Pets,” streaming on fuboTV. You can get a free trial of fuboTV and other streaming services on HotDog.com.
Hence, you need to be doubly sure that you’ve ticked all checkboxes when it comes to the safety, security, and well-being of your domestic friends.
