Some cat litter boxes are one heck of a lot more suited to apartment life than others. Store and/or access information on a device. I’m scared that when I go out to work (4 hours a day) he’s going to be meowing at the door like he is if I put him in my bedroom and leave. And do you have any advice (other than the above!) If you’ve got carpeting in your flat/apartment, cat hair is not likely to be as much of an issue for you as it would be if you had hardwood or laminate flooring. That one single door to a single bedroom makes a LOT of difference. One of the keys is environmental enrichment, meaning that they have adequate stimulation to provide a happy indoor life. Would be greatly appreciated! To be honest, it’s not enough. I am planning on DIY-ing a lot of stuff (a little short on money right now) like beds and vertical space with shelves, I’ve got a lot of ideas for little kitty chilling spots if all goes to plan. Just the same way you can use a cat cube to create an instant spot for your cat to sleep and hang out in, you can also use a variety of different cat furniture to do the same. All windows for the most part have insect screens on them, and my cat is the type to never really scratch or push past the screens considering we discouraged that behaviour early on, just after adopting him. Especially in a small apartment. Back in Canada, this was an easy issue to ignore seeing as how we never really had to deal with it. I accidentally found that modern shutters across my windows work well with open windows to keep cats in. Try large charcoal room deodorizers, they should really help in this respect. It can be really hard to engage some cats, however. But when you’re in a flat and there isn’t much furniture to begin with, it can be pretty rough watching the one couch you loved enough to buy be completely destroyed by kitty claws. Of course your cat will also want a bowl of water and maybe some cat food, if she’s the snacking type. Of course you have, we’re all human. I’ve also bought him a harness so I can take him to the park daily. If you make it easy for your cat to climb high into enough spots throughout your apartment, your cat will be happy in even the smallest of apartment spaces. Chatty cats like a Siamese can make it almost impossible for you to have any peace and quiet. Living in a small area or apartment may be so difficult and impossible to give everything cats need. There’s a fix. May 19, 2017 by Elise Xavier | Updated: November 23, 2020 - 20 Comments. You can also grab a self-warming cat bed like the Petmate Aspen Round Bed and move it to different spots in the same way you could do with a window seat. But playtime still has to happen, no matter how difficult it can be to get started. Cornell Feline Health Center, Actively scan device characteristics for identification. See more of them on my personal blog, E&T. Sure, humans care: we can’t jump onto mantelpieces to hang out for a while; but cats can. Our feline friends are hunters by nature, meaning a happy cat is an active one with lots of mental stimulation. Some examples? British Shorthair – Quiet and laid back, with a friendly personality that makes him perfect if you’re looking for a cat to cuddle up with at the end of the day. Quiet and friendly with its owner, this hardy breed is also a good fit for first-time cat owners. Figured I might as well blog about 'em. So if we give off happy vibes your Cat will feel happy too! I have a slew scattered around the house, so when my cats get bored, even if I’m busy or not even home, my furries are able to actively play. If anyone has any cost-effective suggestions, please let me know. In the small space of an apartment, this hair and dirt can quickly turn your home into a unwelcoming environment. Some things you probably already do or had in mind, but I’m hoping you find at least a few new ideas you can implement to help make your kitty’s apartment life happier. and overall give me some peace of mind that I can leave lights on at night with the window open and not have to worry about attracting so many bugs! The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 9. Join me & my furries in our little corner of the feline-obsessed world. Need something more heavy/sturdy, but just as pretty/sleek? Hence this may be a balanced delicate affair more so if you have multiple cats in the studio apartment. This is important for every house cat owner to do, but especially important for those of us who live in small spaces, seeing as how there’s likely to be a lot less for kitty to get up to in a smaller home (less bugs to hunt, less windows to switch back and forth peering out from, all that jazz). Great way to build that connection and make them happy “It’s not about the size of the space. Create a personalised content profile. Don’t like the idea of drilling a cat tree into your ceiling? For the noise of them at night time, I drain their energy as much as physically possible during the day, playing with them intensively and keeping them awake by offering them little snacks (or setting an automatic feeder, if I can’t be home to feed the snacks) at different parts of the daytime so they’re tuckered out and sleep through the night when it finally rolls around. Cats and many dogs continually shed hair. No one likes living in a smelly house, and while you may think this is something you’d have to live with having a house cat in a small apartment, that’s just plain untrue. Develop and improve products. Try investing in inexpensive cat trees or cardboard cat scratchers. The easiest fix? Perfect for students who have the summer off from school but are eager to make some dough. Or if you need to go somewhere for the day? Hands-Off Ways to Keep an Indoor Cat Entertained, cat climber condos you can attach drill-free to your doors. Facts about cats, training tips, odd behaviours, pet care advice - I talk as much as I can about it all here! ; Persian – Known as the quietest, most laid back of all the cat breeds, your Persian will probably be perfectly happy to chill out in the apartment while you’re out at work. Have you ever lived with an indoor cat or two in a small apartment before? Try a walnut based cat litter. Hi, I'm Elise! A lots of cat toys is also key to cat happiness for cats living in small apartments. Small cat-sized spaces interspersed throughout the apartment can really help prevent kitty from getting bored and feeling life has gotten to be a bit too redundant. Keeping a cat happy in a small environment can be achieved with a little diligence. Loads of options these days! Not interested in changing litter boxes? These are great tips, and will be really useful when I move my cats from the UK to Canada (where they will have to be indoors more often). Sure, humans care: we can’t jump onto mantelpieces to hang out for a while; but cats can. The British Shorthair is particularly known for its ability to adapt well to apartment life. If they do make screens, they might also have a “pet screen” option. A real wood cat tree or scratching post may do the trick here. Here’s My Current One. I’ve broken this article down into different sections to make it easier for you to browse. Modko Modkat Sleek Minimalist Top Entry Litter Box – Amazon / eBay. However, sometimes we need to ensure our cat is happy and comfortable so they can be well adjusted to living in a flat. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Now, this isn’t something that every apartment pet parent can do, I know, but if it’s possible for you to do in your flat, you might want to give it a try. However, access is very important, so you need your cat to get in and out. Select basic ads. Take for instance a cat perch/window seat. They also bring dirt in from the outside and produce other forms of grime. Taking some of my own cat exercise tricks as well as some ideas I had for keeping Avery mentally stimulated during the day and implementing them in a daily routine I started up for him. Hint: It’s Probably Not What You Think, Daily Food & Fitness Routine for a House Cat? Besides that: try not to stress TOO much, because it sounds like you’re doing a fantastic job planning things out already. Hi! The best toys for this type of thing? Franny is an award-winning freelance writer who has been writing about cats since 1997. The windows don’t open very far, but I thought maybe if I change the litter often that should prevent it? If living in tight quarters with a cat is something you’re worried about as it’s not something you’ve done before – don’t worry it’s actually not as bad as you might think, even if you’re in a studio apartment like we are. Yes. (The lower the pH, the more acidic the urine.) If you had the CHOICE to spend that with your cat, I can understand why that would be relaxing. Hands-Off Ways to Keep an Indoor Cat Entertained. Even paper shopping bags are great free toys for cats, who love to burrow in them like nests. Have four pet cats, Avery, Bjorn, Cleo & Athos whom I love to bits. The biggest challenge is feeling like I have a space to myself. Fond of my fluffies? But keeping a cat happy in a tiny apartment is tricky. There’s nothing like a large living space to spread out the insane volume of cat hair shed to the point where you barely notice it. That means a minimum of half an hour of aerobic exercise each day, the kind of gets-the-heart-pumping activity that comes with running or a game of fetch. There are many small cat trees you can do this with as well – some with perches, hammocks, even play places! A pH above this range can lead to the growth of struvites (magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals). Keeping a cat happy and healthy in a small apartment is different from keeping a dog. Seriously works great, especially for claw snags and scratches. Need some help making daily playtime happen without too much fuss? But I definitely advise you strongly to stack furniture in ways they can climb, and if you can, grab a narrow cat tree, so even if they can’t run, they can jump to get exercise. Litter box odor is controlled by three conditions: If you clean the litter box regularly, it is unlikely your cat will go outside the box. Drape a blanket over a chair before you leave so that your cat can use the bottom section for a cat nap. I’ve been using it myself for years, and considering it lasts so long with me (a 6kg bag lasts me about a month with my single cat), I don’t feel its too expensive. In case you’re thinking of making a switch, based on reviews I’ve read, these seem to be some the best litter mats for tracking reduction currently available. So, if you still need to know whether a cat can live in an apartment, the answer is yes. Picture from post Home Tour: Our Flat is Practically an Ikea Showroom. For times when you won't be home with your cat, several play-alone toys will help keep it from feeling lonely when you are not home. If I want to be alone, I have to sit in my bathroom with the door closed. There’s a lot you can do to reduce smells – here are a slew of tips in that department. Want a quick and easy temporary tent to keep your cat entertained while you’re out for part of the day? In Canada, we have similar if not identical windows to your own, with space to pop in a fly screen which is ever so perfect, but here in the UK most of us have these stupid things for windows, with nowhere you can really affix a pet screen and windows that open out so you can’t even slap dash a fix by adding an ugly covering-the-entire-window mesh screen on the outside of the window frame. If you live in a small apartment or condo, your kitty can adapt to your digs and thrive in cozy living quarters. That’s a great idea for an article – thank you for suggesting it! You can also regularly brush your cat with a deshedding tool or get hold of a pet hair remover glove and pat down your cat frequently. Cats tend to reserve their energy for short, controlled bursts. What should I doOoOOoOo?? Even if your cat is happy and content in a small apartment, it might cause problems for you if it is noisy. For extra security (high floor buildings), before you pop the screen into the outside window frame, you can put a light bead of silicone in each corner, just in case your cat does happen to lean on the screen. Thanks x. I live in a bachelor apartment with 2 cats that I’ve had for about 7 years. Nov 5, 2020 - Explore Happy City Cat's board "Cats In Small Apartments", followed by 271 people on Pinterest. Can a Cat Live in a Small Apartment? One of my concerns is for some shelters they like to do house checks, and I worry if maybe they will say my flat is too small. Please don't fall for the "fresh air and sunshine" fallacy. Here in the UK, and in many countries in Europe things are a lot tougher. They’re excellent for reducing tracking as well, so you won’t end up with too much mess to clean up after each and every kitty loo visit. Since cats are hunting animals and have a high prey drive, it’s very important that at least once or twice a day, they are able to get their hunting game on and actively engage in play. Cats can sense when we’re stressed and this can cause them to be stressed. The why comes down to a lot of factors. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD), Meowing or crying while in the litter box. All they do is stare at me, like they’re waiting for my next move. An indoor cat can lead a very happy life. Indeed, keeping a dog or a cat in an apartment is a bit challenging. There are also a lot of products on the market nowadays that can help you prevent and even cover up cat scratch damage on furniture. In my opinion, these are currently some of the best, though realistically, any top entry litter box, hidden litter box, or automatic self-cleaning litter box is typically better than your run-of-the-mill litter pan or covered litter box. It’s incredibly frustrating. Some of the most frequent questions asked by people who are thinking of getting a cat have to do with the size of their homes. The pH of cat food has a direct relationship here. Some cats can become loving siblings when introduced properly. Just fill in the form below and hit "Subscribe"! Cats are territorial creatures. The amount of love and positive attention your cat receives is much more important than the square footage of your apartment. You got this! The only big downside to that is you now need to make your own frame to roll the screen into with vinyl, which is not an easy task without a supplier. Have any suggestions for other pet owners who are about to move into a small apartment with their pet, or about to adopt a pet while living in a small apartment? There are no quick and easy answers. Cats are happy to live in apartments. Great list, glad I’ve checked a bunch of these off already , Your email address will not be published. In return for providing comfortable and safe surroundings, cat owners are rewarded with those little purrs and body rubs that are cat’s ways of showing love and affection. They can be very happy in small spaces if they have everything they need. prevent and even cover up cat scratch damage on furniture, massive safety, hygiene, and quality-of-life improvement, all my advice on reducing cat litter smells here, small apartment litter box recommendations article, these seem to be some the best litter mats for tracking reduction, toys like these that allow cats to play by themselves, Toys Cats Can Play With On Their Own: Ideal for When Kitty’s Home Alone, For Small Spaces & Apartment Life: Narrow Cat Trees, Thin & Tall. Can cats be left alone while at work; How to keep an indoor cat happy- A bored cat solutions; How to entertain a cat in a small apartment/ how to keep a cat entertained in an apartment; My cat is bored should i get another cat – This includes how you can make a decision whether to bring a another cat. My cat is free to roam all over my average-size one-bedroom apartment and seems to spend about 15 hours a day in one specific spot in the living room, right by the front door. If you’d like, you can read my thoughts about World’s Best here. Considering this post would go on for way too long if I included all my tips/suggestions for keeping indoor/house cats entertained, if you’re interested in reading through more of my ideas on the topic, please check out this article here: Bored Kitty? Filed Under: Health, Pet Care, Stress & Anxiety, Training. They have toys and a cat tree, but I guess I’m more entertaining to them. Make a number of kitty-sized nooks and crannies for your cat to nap in. They don’t really have issues being home alone so long as you make their environment rich and interesting. How can I keep my cat in my yard? Check out all the other blogs I pen & photograph. Our circumstances were unconventional; I had grown up with him at my Pennsylvania home, but my mom had never been a fan of cats, and my stepdad was slightly allergic. You'll get notified each time there's a new post on the blog. There are some things you should always be mindful of, plenty of tips and tricks you can implement to keep a house cat happy and entertained, but all in all, while it may be a tad more difficult to keep an indoor cat happy inside a smaller living space – it’s completely doable with some planning and not much effort besides. It isn't surprising that urinary tract problems are a very common cause of cats being taken to the veterinarian. But, more cats isn’t always doable. There's a lot you need to know to make things go smoothly with your new friend. Hate seeing ugly cat products clustered around your small apartment, but really want to increase the scratching surfaces for your cat? The cats feel my frustrated energy, and then they get even more curious. Of course you have to do your very best to provide a fun and stimulating space for your cat. You'll need 3 litter boxes, though (1 1/2 for each cat — that’s what my vet advised me when I had 2 cats). Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Don’t let litter stink up your garbage bins, grab a litter dispenser system like the Litter Genie Plus to lock in litter odours until it’s ready to be taken out. I’ve moved several times with them, and this is the smallest apartment so far. Best Litter Boxes for Even the Smallest Apartments, here’s a full article I have on where to keep litter boxes in small apartments, here are a slew of tips in that department, Raccoon-Proof Cat Doors: Protecting Cat Shelters & Your Home, Why Do Cats Lick & Groom Each Other? Only issue is when you have a troublemaker cat who figures out how to open them haha. Curious about the potential of switching litter boxes, but want to make sure you get one that’s right for you? It sounds to me like there is an instantly successful business opportunity in the UK…custom window screens. Once your cat seems to be getting bored of it, you can move it around, changing it to another height on the same window, or to another window altogether. Check out all my advice on reducing cat litter smells here. Having many cats in a house can be easier as it is ground floor and has access to a garden, so you may be happy to have more cats because you know they have more space to play with. I’m a little nervous because I’ve never owned a cat before, and I am obsessively researching how to take care of cats regarding diet, furniture, litter boxes, toys etc. 13. Still, that doesn’t mean you do not have the chance to do that. Obviously, you don’t need to switch litter boxes, but if you’re even remotely near interested in optimizing that aspect of indoor cat ownership life, know that it doesn’t have to be expensive to do. Not every piece of furniture in your home has to be kitty approved, but if you’re fine with your cat jumping onto a specific dresser or two, re-arrange so it’s easy for your cat to take advantage! Also, cats find safety and contentment in more enclosed spaces. Here are 10 cat breeds that are suitable for apartment living. Dig KittyClysm? Almost any dog, regardless of size, can be happy anywhere if the owner is willing to satisfy the animal’s need for exercise.
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