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What to Consider When Living in an Apartment with Your Pet

Posted on November 25, 2020

Since sharing your space with a furry friend can really brighten your day, it’s no wonder why over 70% of people live in apartments with their pets. However, there is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a pet owner, especially when living together in a smaller space that doesn’t belong to you. Take a look at what you should consider before moving into an apartment with your pet.

Make Sure Your Apartment Accommodates Animals

When searching for an apartment after getting your pet, make sure first and foremost that the complex allows animals. Sneaking in your pet to a place that doesn’t accommodate animals will not only be bad for your pet, but your relationship with your landlord as well. If you and your pet get discovered, you might put yourself in a serious bind. When you do find an apartment that works for you and your furry companion, tell your landlord immediately to make sure you understand their requirements. That way you will start off your relationship on the right foot.

Consider Which Pet Works Best

In the instance your dog moves in with you, keep in mind that not every canine will enjoy living in an apartment. The smaller space can make it difficult for a large dog to stretch their legs and roam around. Nobody is happy with being cramped in a small space. This can especially be true for your dogs. Consider their size so they won’t be uncomfortable in their own home. If you have a large dog such as a husky that requires more room, you might want to reconsider for the time being. Smaller dogs such as the ones listed below might work better in apartments:

  • Pugs
  • Dachshunds
  • Chihuahuas
  • Boston and Yorkshire Terriers
  • French Bulldogs
  • Malteses
  • Pekineses
  • Pomeranians
  • Corgis

If you are not interested in having a dog as a pet, you can also have small animals such as cats, guinea pigs, bunnies, hamsters, and more. Keep in mind that when you put down a pet deposit, this is typically for cats and dogs. Not tiny animals.

Provide Plenty of Exercise

If your pet is not able to roam around as often as they should in your apartment, they will need to get their exercise elsewhere. Make sure you take your active pooches for a walk at the dog park as much as possible so they won’t feel so cooped up. Sometimes when they don’t get their energy out, they could take it out by getting overly playful and potentially destroying items in your home.

Cats Need Height

When living with a cat, keep in mind that they enjoy exploring high places. Luckily it’s easy to accommodate their needs by simply purchasing items such as multi-level cat towers. Just make sure that your apartment is secure so that when they roam areas such as your window sill they don’t escape.

Keep Your Pets Happy

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to not only make sure your pets are healthy, but happy as well. They are probably incredibly bored and unhappy being left in your apartment while you are away at work. When you do return home, make up the time they spend tucked away by playing with them. Like with anyone else, they don’t like being lonely. Soak up as much time with them as you can to get those tails wagging. You can also consider having your pet go to day cares so they won’t be so lonely while you are away. Instead they can play with several others animals all day long rather than being kept in your apartment.

House Training is Necessary

If your pet is going to be left in your apartment for a long period of time, make sure they are house trained so you don’t come home to a stinky accident. For a dog, house training depends on their age. Puppies are trained to use the bathroom on a mat until they get older and have outside routines. Cats learn from an early age to use the litter box so this shouldn’t be a major hassle. Regardless, having your animal trained is mandatory to keep your space clean. If not, you could risk being evicted if things get too messy.

Think About Your Neighbors

You are not the only one that lives in an apartment complex. You share the place with several other people who have their own lives. A dog that barks constantly or a cat that knocks over objects frequently could be considered a disturbance to your neighbors. Avoid the possibility of receiving complaints by making sure your pet’s temperament is not going to be a problem.


If you are looking to move into a place that accepts pets, come to Vintage Burkitt Station! We not only have plenty of room for you and your pet in our complexes, but we also have a large pet park for your pet to explore. For more information on leasing with us, give us a call at 615-663-9400 today. We’d be happy to have you.