Are you looking for the perfect pets for your apartment? We’ve got you covered!
Have you ever considered a dog or cat?
Do you live in an apartment? Here’s a list of small pets and cool pets that are easy to take care of are great options that will fit well into any home.
The Cat
If you’re looking for a furry friend who loves attention, cuddles, and treats, then a cat might be just what you need. Cats are independent creatures, so they require space to roam around and explore. They also love to play with toys, so make sure you provide them with opportunities to do so.
Cats belong at the top of the list as perfect pets for apartment living. They are loyal like dogs, but quiet making them good candidates for living in close quarters.
Cats are good apartment pets that are cuddly and loyal.
Types of Popular Cats
Maine Coon: This popular American cat received its name from the State of Maine, who recognized it as a separate, distinct cat breed. According to Cat Fanciers Association, they are very large, firm, dutiful cats that have evolved into a very “sturdy” breed in part due to the cold, harsh weather, and overall challenging environment of Maine. Having a Maine Coon cat in your home means sharing it with a true gentle giant of the cat world. They are impressive in size with a lovable demeanor.
Persian: These cats have long-hair and round shaped face with short nose. The lineage traces back to the 1600s making them one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds.
Persian Long hair: With notable long hair and shedding, these cats enjoy curling up on the couch. These laid-back cats are sometimes aloof (but most cats are at times). Persian long-hair owners must have the patience to clean-up cat hair that finds its way into and onto anything and everything that comes near these wonderful kitties.
Persian Short hair: Like the long-hair version, these cats have developed to have short-hair while retaining the primary characteristics of the traditional Persian cat breed. Sometimes called Exotic Short-hair cats, they make great cats for fanciers who would enjoy Persian cats but don’t want the maintenance and hair clean-up that accompanies the longer haired variety.
American Shorthair: The traditional cat of the United States this breed accompanied the first European settlers to the Americas. These cats are diligent workers who are on the look-out for prey like mice and rats. When most American picture a domestic cat in their mind, they are thinking of the American Shorthair, or their non-pedigreed variety of the run-of-the-mill domestic cats and kittens. These cats are light shedders and are among the best small pets for anxiety.
British Shorthair: The British pedigreed cat variety like the American Shorthair. This breed sheds frequently. They come in a variety of colors, but in America the blue colored British Shorthairs are pretty poplar. If you see one, you may recall wispy smoke floating up from a campfire in the early morning filled with fog and low hanging dew.
Siamese: These worthy companions are unmistakable with deep brown face and ears, lighter brown body, with mahogany brown paws and tail. Hailing from Asia, the Siamese breed has a wide following around the world and is quite popular in the United States as well. They are very intelligent, social, and have similarities to dogs based on their affinity for human affection according to Daily Paws.
Sphynx: This hairless cat stands out in the pet landscape. This variety began as a genetic mutation but have had no hair in the past 4 or 5 decades via selective breeding programs. For pet owners who have allergies to cat hair, the Sphynx is a great option for consideration. There is no shedding to wrestle with. Being hairless, these cats and kitten need protection for extreme temperatures.
Exotic Cats
Toyger: A hybrid cat resulting from crossing a Bengal cat with a striped domestic shorthair. Although exotic looking with stipes like a wild animal, they are popular family pets, but on the expensive side cost-wise.
Savannah: Hybrids derived from a Serval; a medium sized African wildcat crossed with a domestic cat. They are distinctive looking cats similar in coloration to cheetahs. They are quite rare compared typical house cats you see in the United States but based on breeding programs and promotion are becoming more widely available. Again, these hybrids can be quite expensive.
The Dog
There’s no question that cats are more popular than dogs. According to the American Pet Products Association, there were approximately seventy-eight million households with at least one dog in 2016, while only sixty-six million households had at least one cat. However, when it comes to popularity among millennials, things are changing. A recent survey by the National Aquarium found that half (48 percent) of millennials would rather adopt a cat than a dog.
Types of Popular Dogs
Pugs: With low exercise requirements, pugs are among the best perfect pets for apartment living, particularly if you are looking for a small dog. Pugs are happiest spending time with their owners indoors. But like any dog, they do need outdoor time for walks, play time, and informal exercise to maintain their health. Compared to sporting and pointing breeds these requirements are quite low for Pugs.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: This dog breed resulted from selective breeding of the Spanish Spaniel we know today as the Cocker Spaniel. The Cavalier is a smaller, royal looking dog developed by King Charles II. They are friendly towards others and the perfect size for small living spaces. They need more exercise than other dogs on our list. Few owners even use them for bird and rabbit hunting, so they are at home indoors as well as outdoors.
Bulldog: A British breed, bulldogs are friendly, calm, and willful at times. They are prone to becoming overweight and to breathing issues at times, like other dog breeds with short nose features. With a thick build, with a large barrel chest, they have a squared appearance when viewed from the front. The Bulldog is a house dog and does not do well outdoors for extended periods.
French Bulldog: French, as the name implies, developed the breed by crossing the English bull dogs with local varieties. Many famous celebrities have French Bulldogs. With the increased popularity, prices for puppies have increased significantly in the past decade. They are quite easy going, friendly, and lively dogs with a social disposition making them nearly perfect pets for apartment living.
Boston Terrier: Their reputation as family pets looms large over the breed. They developed from English bull dogs and English terriers. Boston Terrier dogs are sensitive hot weather, and like bulldogs and other short-nosed breeds, they tire easily.
The Fish
If you’re thinking about getting a fish as a pet, here are tips to help you choose the right fish for your home.
Fish provide a good option as pets for apartments that don’t allow pets. They don’t bark, bite, scratch, pee, or poop in public spaces.
Although possible for new aquarists, fish keeping requires diligence and constant maintenance and monitoring of water conditions. Humans’ breath the air and fish live in water. If humans’ breath bad air long enough, it become healthy. Fish will likewise struggle to live in poor water conditions.
A single fish, as opposed to a school of fish living in a group, should stand alone as a pet. In the wild most fish live in schools, or shoals, but there are species that work well as single fish pets.
Types of Popular Fish
Oscars: These fish command attention. They interact with their owners. Large and in charge, they will eat anything that fits in their mouth, which limits suitable tank mates. Aquarists usually keep Oscars as single fish in a tank fifty-five gallons or larger.
Two Oscars in a tank need one larger than 75 gallons at a minimum, and preferably 110 gallons or more. They can grow up to fourteen inches in good conditions and reach the width of a small dinner plate when full grown.
Oscars are susceptible to Hole in the Head (HITH) disease that results from poor water conditions, but all fish will develop illnesses if the water is unhealthy, and parameters maintained at low levels of ammonia, nitrate, nitrites, Ph, and phosphates.
Green Terrors: Smaller than Oscars, they wreak havoc on community fish, and are aggressive. Their blue green coloration and activity levels make them interesting to watch.
They work well as singles because they have a high propensity to fight other fish. They usually grow to 6 or 7 inches in size and often reside in a 55-gallon tank, if kept with other fish they will need a seventy-five gallon at minimum and ideally something much larger to keep fighting and territorial disputes reduced.
Jack Dempseys: Their temperament can be like Green Terrors – feisty and as their name implies, rambunctious fighters who like to pester weaker fish. They are also susceptible to HITH disease.
These wet pets are among the best small pets that are easy to take care of.
The Hamster
A hamster is an ideal pet for people who live alone because they require little space and no food. Read our article about hamsters for more details about why hamster may be the perfect pet for apartment living.
The Guinea Pig
If you’re interested in getting a guinea pig as a pet, there are things you should consider before deciding.
- First, guinea pigs need attention. You’ll need to spend at least one hour per day with them.
- Second, they require daily exercise.
- Third, they need a large cage.
- Fourth, they need a diet rich in fiber.
- Fifth, they need a place where they can hide when they feel threatened.
- Finally, they need a vet who specializes in guinea pigs.
Learn more from our article about guinea pigs and other pets you can cuddle. They just may be the perfect pets for apartment living.
Conclusion
Although this list of perfect pets for apartment living is not an end-all-be-all encyclopedia, it aims to provide suggestions of viable, and popular, apartment pets.
You may also want to consider various reptiles, birds, and even rabbits for your pet needs. We have drafted other articles exploring those in greater detail.
