1. An Appropriately Sized Crate
A crate is essential for keeping your pet safe and happy and for minimizing damage while you’re out of the apartment. Before you buy the first one you see at the pet store, though, you should read the crate size recommendations from the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. The recommendations will help you choose a crate that’s appropriately sized for your pet.
2. A Go Bag for Walks
Image via Flickr by benjgibbs Dogs, cats, and other animals need daily exercise to stay healthy. It’s relatively easy for pets to get exercise when they have access to large back yards. If you live in an apartment, though, you’ll need to take your furry friend for daily walks. Your “go bag” for walks should include a leash, harness, and waste pick-up bags. You may also want to carry treats to reward good behavior and a collapsible water bowl for hydration. Remember that pets can get hot quickly because they don’t have many sweat glands to keep them cool. If you’re looking for pet-friendly apartments in Houston, keep your eyes open for places that already have some pet-friendly features. Access to a patio or lawn will make it easy for you to give pets short breaks in the outdoors.
3. A Lint Roller
Unless you have a pet reptile or bird, you’re going to need a lint roller that’s strong enough to remove fur from your furniture. Assuming that you like to snuggle with your pet on the couch, you will need to use a good lint roller often. Depending on how much your pet sheds, you might also want to get a FURemover Broom to keep your floors clean.
4. A Good Grooming Kit
It also helps to have a good grooming kit that will remove excess hair from your pets. Regular grooming will prevent fur from accumulating throughout your house. Plus, it’s useful bonding time for you and your pet. Some favorite options include the FURemover Duo and Kong ZoomGroom. Both of these products will remove excess fur while stimulating your pet’s skin, which increases blood flow and promotes a healthy, shiny coat.
5. Furniture Protectant
House training your pet will take some time. You even have to teach cats why the litter box is there. Even after you finish training, though, accidents can happen. Don’t let a slip-up stain your favorite chair. As long as you apply a furniture protectant like Scotchgard, small messes shouldn’t leave long-lasting stains. Even with the protectant, though, you have to clean up the mess quickly. The sooner you clean it, the less likely it is to damage your furniture. You may also need bitter apple spray to prevent dogs from chewing on furniture. If your dog has a penchant for chewing on expensive wood and upholstery, you definitely need a bitter spray to stop that behavior.
6. A Fashionable Bed
If you don’t want your pets hopping on the furniture, you should give them their own beds so they can stay comfortable on the floor. Since you want the bed to look nice in your apartment, choose a fashionable option that matches your home’s aesthetics.
7. Plenty of Toys
Toys will keep your pets entertained so they don’t spend all day barking at every sound they hear. A barking dog will make you unpopular with your neighbors, so give your pet plenty of things to play with. Dogs usually like toys they can chew on, which is good because chewing helps keep their teeth clean. Cats, on the other hand, prefer to swat at toys. A feather hanging from a stick can keep a cat entertained for hours. You should also get a scratching post. Cats will scratch. It’s up to you whether they scratch a post or your furniture. Living in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have an animal companion. You just need the right products to make them feel at home. Featured photo credit: Image by Ben J Gibbs via flickr.com
