So, you’re considering getting a pet for your new apartment. That’s a big step! Whether you’ve grown up with pets or it’s your first time, having a pet of your own and being the responsible one is, in fact, a lot of work. You’re no longer only responsible for yourself, but you’re responsible for another life. Be sure you are able to financially provide for the animal and that you get the right animal for your lifestyle. Taking care of your new pet should be a top priority once you bring your new little friend home. Keep in mind that the healthiest lifestyle habits for your pet can ensure it lives a longer, healthier, happier life. Here are five healthy apartment lifestyle habits you should have for living with your new pet:
1. Pick Better Food
Getting the cheap stuff is, well…cheaper. And as a broke college student, it’s most likely become a habit of yours. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay for your pet. Your pet should also have good nutrition because poor diet could also lead to many other issues such as diabetes, especially in cats. Be sure to check the labels. If chicken, beef, or fish isn’t the first ingredient, then it will most likely not provide sufficient enough nutrition for your friend to live healthier. Chicken meat is often the first ingredient, but corn meal is also often listed first because it is a cheap way to feed animals. A lot of industrial farms use a form of corn meal to feed the livestock, which makes them fatter. Definitely don’t want that for your little pet as it could lead to many health risks in the future.
Simply put, if you invest a little more in healthier food for your pet, the more likely you won’t have to spend as much in the future on health care for your pet. And you’ll likely have them around longer!
2. Be Careful with Cleaning Products
It’s super easy to grab that $1.99 bottle of bleach and just bleach your whole apartment down. But most cleaning products are incredibly harmful to pets, and let’s face it, dogs tend to get into just about anything, including garbage where you store paper towels after using cleaning products. Be sure to use cleaning products that are safe for animals, preferably organic cleaning products.
3. Create a Routine and Stick to It!
Your body likes a routine, and so do animals. Having a routine may be difficult in college, but since your animal’s life has become a priority of yours, try to make as much of a routine for them as possible. This means, if you feed your pup or kitty at 8:00 or 9:00am during the week, you’ll want to try to stick to that on Saturday and Sunday morning, which can be tough after your night…of studying for finals, of course. Your pet won’t understand why it’s not being fed at it’s usual time which not only makes them hungry but can stress them out as well.
4. Avoid the Noise
You may be super excited about having a new pet and all your friends want to meet him/her, which is totally fine to do, but throwing a party in your apartment is not the best option when having a pet. Not only can your pet be afraid of the amount of people and noise, but it could get hurt or incredibly stressed out. Just because you know how to act around an animal, doesn’t mean everyone does, so be cautious!
5. Exercise Your Animal
Cats can be lazy, but they are also supposed to sleep most of the time. It’s in their nature! However, that doesn’t mean exercise is impossible. Playing with your cat will encourage it to run around, so get some toys on strings like feathers to play “chase.” Dogs, on the other hand, need exercise. Be sure to go for regular walks or even runs with your pup. Just like with humans, animals need to have good cardiovascular health! Dogs who live in apartments tend to get less exercise than dogs who live in homes, particularly due to the lack of outdoor space, therefore regular walks or trips to the dog park will help it stay healthy and happy!
Did you know some apartment communities even have their own dog parks with obstacle courses? Check out ForRent.com for such pet-friendly apartment communities.