How to Make Your Small Apartment Pet-Friendly

Whether you’re moving to a small apartment or bringing a new pet into your home, you should keep a few tips in mind. If you have a dog, consider creating a doggy door so you’re not constantly getting up and opening the door to let them out. For felines, keep in mind that your guests don’t want to smell its litter box, so you might want to find creative ways to hide it. Keep reading for our pet-friendly

4 Ways to Create a Pet-Friendly Small Apartment

Create a Doggy Door

It may seem like your canine enjoys having you get up, open the door, and sit down, especially when you need to get up, open the door, and let your dog back in again. You can break this vicious cycle by installing a doggy door on a ground-floor apartment. Here’s how you do it.

Measure your dog to determine which size door best suits them. When your dog is standing on all four legs, measure the height from the top of the back down to the floor. Add an inch or two to the number so they don’t have to bend to get through the door. Trace a rectangle on your real door according to the pet door measurements.

If you’re confident in your cutting abilities, leave the door on its hinges and cut the hole. Otherwise, remove it. Be sure to sand the opening so it’s safe for your pup. You don’t want your dog to get cut from any wooden splinters. Install the pet door per the manufacturer’s instructions.

If installing a DIY doggie door flap, rubber is the best option, and you can make your own using a mud flap or floor mat from an old car. You can paint the piece of rubber whatever color you’d like. Use a strong adhesive to attach the flap above the hole on the inside. The rubber shouldn’t reach past the bottom of the hole, otherwise, your dog might have a difficult time pushing it in and out.

Tip: Since you live in an apartment, you should check with your landlord to see if you can cut holes in the door to avoid facing a fine or losing your security deposit. Creating a pet-friendly small apartment is one thing, but following property regulations is important.

Establish a Litter Box Area

Part of having a pet-friendly small apartment with cats is dealing with the litter box. In general, you should place litter boxes in a private spot far away from areas where you eat. You don’t want the boxes to feel too isolated, though, otherwise, your feline might not want to use them. You should also have the same number of boxes as the number of cats, plus one extra. Scatter the boxes throughout the apartment, if possible.

When you have guests over, the last thing you want is to draw attention to your cat’s litter box. Get creative and find hidden spots for the boxes. You can turn an old toy box or storage chest into a litter box area. Cut out a hole on the side, so your cat can come and go. You can also convert a plastic storage tub into a litter box hideaway. Whatever option you choose, make sure there’s enough ventilation.

Tip: The boxes might be out of sight, but don’t forget to clean them regularly. Cat behavior specialist Pam Johnson-Bennett recommends scooping out the litter boxes twice daily.

Eliminate Pet Odors

Admit it: sometimes when you visit a friend’s house you can immediately detect that distinctive pet odor. And then you wonder if your friends feel the same about your apartment. If you have pet urine on the carpet, use a carpet steamer and enzymatic cleaners. For urine on tile or grout, use a scrub brush and hydrogen peroxide. Avoid using bleach or ammonia to clean up the smell or mess.

Examine Your Flooring Choices

Although it may seem like people are especially hard on their floors, pets can treat the floors even harder, particularly if your pet has claws. When looking for or remodeling a pet-friendly small apartment, consider the flooring options to accommodate your furry creature. Take the time to weigh your options. When remodeling, it’s easy to select the cheapest choice. However, you might end up replacing the flooring shortly due to your pet ruining it.

Carpet

For pet owners, carpet is the worst option because pets damage it very easily. Even though it’s a cost-effective choice, carpet experiences normal wear and tear even without pets. If you have no other option than carpet, select one without loops. Pet nails have a tendency to snag on the loops and unravel part of the carpet. Also, look for a carpet that matches your pet’s coloring since it will mask pet hair.

Laminate

Another popular choice is laminate. Pets, particularly dogs, have difficulty on this type of flooring because they tend to slip as they walk or run in the home. If you insist on laminate, choose one with a textured finish or place rugs throughout the home. A benefit of this type of flooring is that it doesn’t show scratches as easily as hardwood does.

Tile

Porcelain or ceramic tile is a scratch-resistant choice with minimal wear and tear. It’s easy to clean up if your pet has an accident, and urine will not ruin its condition. Add rugs to the floor so your pet can lie comfortably since tile’s surface is a bit hard for your pet.

The Bottom Line

Your pet is a member of your family, so take the time to consider the options to make sure you have a truly pet-friendly small apartment. At the end of the day, who doesn’t love to have a dog wagging its tail happily or cat purring its contentment?