Are you considering bringing in a pet to live with you in your apartment in Carroll Gardens?
When it comes to owning a pet, people who live in homes with fenced-in yards definitely have it the easiest. When you have a backyard, exercising your pet can be as simple as throwing the ball around, and you don’t have to stand outside in the cold to let them relieve themselves. However, just because you live in an apartment, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the happiness that pet ownership brings to your life. In fact, there are lots of things you can do to make the entire experience easier on both you and your pet. In Part 1 of this step-by-step guide to living in an apartment with a pet, we went over the importance of talking with your landlord, finding the right breed and pet-proofing your apartment. Keep reading to learn about the next couple steps:
Step 4. Make sure that there is plenty of room in your schedule.
When you have a backyard with a doggy door that allows your pet to come and go as they please, it’s less important that you are able to make it home every few hours to let them out, but it’s still essential that you give them plenty of love and attention. However, when you live in an apartment, it’s much more important that there is room in your schedule to come home and take care of your pet at regular intervals during the day, especially if you have a dog. And, while older, properly trained dogs may be able to hold it for long periods of time, that doesn’t mean that they should have to. Just like in people, dogs can develop health issues, including urinary stones and urinary tract infections, when they are made to hold it too long too often.
Although cats are known for being independent, solidarity animals, they are more social than you might realize. Your cat’s litter box may eliminate any physical need for you to make special trips home in the middle of the day, but on an emotional level, cats still need plenty of cuddles and affection.
Step 5. Keep your pet properly entertained.
Typically, dogs sleep anywhere from 12 to 14 hours per day; cats sleep anywhere from 12 to 16 hours per day, and for puppies and kittens, it’s more like 20 hours. However, all of that time spent sleeping does not mean that your pet is immune to boredom. And, a bored pet is often a mischievous pet, and it could lead to the development of bad habits, like chewing up your shoes, destroying your furniture, constant barking, whining, getting into the trash can and a whole host of other, not-so-nice behaviors. Preventing your pet from getting lonely and bored is one of the reasons why it’s so important that you make sure there is enough room in your schedule to actually take care of a pet before you get one. In addition, you can also make it a point to provide your pet with plenty of toys to keep them entertained while you are gone. And, a stringent exercise routine every day will help to drain a lot of that excess energy.
We just have a couple more steps to go over to help you master apartment living with your new furry friend, and as always, if you have questions or concerns about the information provided, or about how to care for your new pet, please don’t hesitate to contact us. As your neighborhood veterinary clinic in Carroll Gardens, your pet’s health is our number one priority!