Tips For Cat Owners When Choosing An Apartment

As a cat owner, it can sometimes be difficult to find the perfect home – especially if you plan to rent an apartment. Fortunately, there are many complexes out there that allow pets, cats in particular. The following tips can help you choose the perfect rental unit for you and your furry friend.

Tip #1: Consider first floor rentals

If you have an active cat, a first floor rental is the simplest way to avoid issues with the neighbors. Cats can make a lot of noise tearing around an apartment or chasing a toy, and many cats tend to indulge in this behavior in the middle of the night. A small cat can sound like a herd of elephants to anyone that lives in the unit below you. A first floor unit resolves this possible issue.

Tip #2: Look for interior hallways

Apartments come in two main building styles – those that have their own separate outside entrance door, and those that have a main community entrance with unit doors inside. The second type offers more security, and it is also the best for cat owners. This way if your cat ever bolts out the door, they are still inside and you can quickly scoop them up and return them to your unit. Exterior access means they can quickly get away from you.

Tip #3: Ask about claw alternatives

Some apartments require that cats are declawed, but you may be hesitant to have this painful and sometimes crippling procedure performed. An alternative that is sometimes accepted is to have the claws capped. These are small caps that your vet glues over your cat's claws. They don't hurt the cat, but they do prevent their scratching from causing any damage. They do need replaced when your ct sheds their claws. Your vet may even be willing to write a note about how these caps work that you could show potential landlords. Another alternative is to see if the landlord would accept a higher deposit in lieu of declawing.

Tip #4: Check for cat-specific problem solvers

Every cat is different. For example, if you have a cat that tends to climb screens, look for an apartment with steel window screens or windows that open from the top down. If your cat destroys mini-blinds, look for units with curtains or that will allow you to hang curtains so you can leave the blinds pulled up and out of your cat's reach. Does your cat sometime have accidents? Rent an apartment with hard flooring instead of carpet. Keeping these considerations in mind can help you avoid damage so you can get your deposit back when you do move out.

For apartments for rent, contact a business such as Kimball Real Estate


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