Being able to rent a nice apartment is an accomplishment, but being able to have a pet with you is something that’s becoming less and less common. Pet-friendly apartments are hard to come by, considering that most landlords are uncomfortable about the risk that cats, dogs, and exotic animals pose.
However, if your landlord does allow for this, it’s best to spend the time and money to ensure your pet’s life in their new home will be safe, secure, and suitable for them. Consider a few of the tips below when you’re planning for an apartment refresh for your pet.
1. Know Your Pet
If you’re moving in with your pet, you will have to take their physical and social needs into account. If you’re in Australia, consider yourself fortunate to have Southbank apartments for rent that offer pet-friendly features. However, not all buildings are designed to cater to your pet’s unique personality, diet, and underlying conditions.
If you have a cat with an anxiety disorder, you will need to design your apartment in a way that doesn’t overload their senses. Whichever the case, everything you do with your living space has to accommodate the psychological and biological situation of your pet.
2. Pet-Proof Your Space
Accidents and injuries are inevitable if you’re unable to contain your pet’s energy. Decluttering is crucial, and so is keeping deadly chemicals and appliances out of your pet’s reach. You can do this by swapping floor tiles with thick carpet and hiding exposed cables. Some pets, especially puppies and kittens, are prone to wandering the space, so you will need to keep them out of areas like the balcony and the kitchen.
Even if your pet isn’t energetic, you will have to consider improving the safety of your space. This could mean adding accessibility features if you have a pet that has a physical disability or a cognitive decline caused by old age. Consider storing high-risk items such as chemicals and appliances in secure cabinets and covering outlets. You may also need to secure cables and other wiring using tape.
3. Select the Right Plants
Plants provide visual relief and create a relaxing atmosphere on top of providing ample cooling and filtering out impurities in the indoor air. However, not all plants benefit your pet. Some are toxic, even to the point of causing digestive problems. For example, cats are highly sensitive to common apartment plants like aloe vera and edible ones like chives, both of which are known to cause vomiting and weakness.
Instead, you might want to choose alternatives that won’t cause a wide range of problems when ingested. This will depend on the kind of pet you have and its health condition. Dogs love the scent of lavender and rosemary, so you may want to try these out if you’re looking to elevate the interior layout and eliminate strong odors.
4. A Dynamic and Stress-Free Space
Ample natural light can do wonders for cats and dogs, but if your apartment lacks a large window, you might want to consider adding ambient warm lights that will create a cozy environment. Keeping your pets at ease also means filling your apartment with relaxing music. Install a surround sound system that plays classical, easy listening, or ambient music.
It’s also important for your pets to have plenty of things to do so they spend all their pent-up energy. Choose an area within your apartment that will serve as their play pen and grooming station. Especially if you have a female pet that’s pregnant, you will want a space that’s totally secluded and far from foot traffic and noise. This should also consist of a bed or padded flooring to help keep your pet at ease when they go into labor.
5. Comfort and Cleanliness
Giving your pets a cozy space also comes with a need for constant maintenance. Expect hair on the living room sofa and furballs on the expensive carpet you just bought. While you want your pet to feel at ease while they stay indoors, cleaning up after them can be time-consuming and costly.
Quality polyester works well against hair and debris, so you might want to use this for sofas and couches. If that’s not possible, you can cover vulnerable furniture with a waterproof material. This should protect these pieces from urine, vomit, and wet waste.
If you have seats made from leather, pet stains can significantly wear down the material, so you will have to spray it with a quality leather conditioner. While you can’t stop your pet from sleeping on seats where they feel most comfortable, proper maintenance goes a long way in keeping furniture fresh.
Endnote
When it comes to caring for your pet, your apartment might have everything it needs to live comfortably. If you want to go the extra mile to keep them safe, secure, and healthy, consider these essential tips.