If you live in a small apartment or small house, you already know the challenges that come with it. There’s less storage space and natural sunlight, your home is smaller and can feel cramped fast.
What do you do when you love animals but also like to have your own personal space? Buy a small apartment pet that doesn’t take much space!
Why Buy a Small Apartment Pet?
- Pets provide unconditional love.
- Pets provide companionship.
- Pets help reduce stress levels.
- Pets make us healthier.
- Pets teach kids responsibility.
- Pets reduce depression symptoms.
- Pets enrich our lives.
- Pets teach children compassion.
- Pets teach children how to care for animals.
- Pets teach children empathy.
- Pets are fun.
- Pets help us get more exercise.
Pets are not a one-size-fits-all solution, however. Some pets might create and cause more stress than relief and more displeasure than fun. Not all pets are low maintenance pets.
For example, a dog that barks all day while you are away at work resulting in notices from the landlord and complaints from neighbors creates stress. And, if pets are purchased with an understanding that kids will bear primary responsibility for their care and then the kids lose interest in the pets, and you end up constantly bickering with the kids about the lack of care, the kids may associate pets with angry parents.
On the other hand, small birds are often great to help calm anxiety. And rabbits gauge humans and often respond positively when their human families are calm and “chill”, so families mediate commotion to spend more time with their furry friends.
But these potential negatives are easily resolved up front, before purchasing new pets, by researching and understanding the responsibilities required. Pet sitting for a friend or family member a few times or bringing a dog home overnight for a weekend or two will provide valuable insights into what type of pet, if any, will fit well with your lifestyle.
Best Small Apartment Pets
Smaller pets are perfect for small apartments because they require less food, water, and general maintenance than larger animals like dogs or cats. If you’re a small-space-loving animal lover looking to adopt one of these small apartment pets, keep on reading for more information.
Smaller animals make fantastic pets because they generally require less care than their larger counterparts. So, if you’re ready to adopt one of these pint-sized pals, read on for more information. Get the best apartment pet that is right for you!
Fish make great pets for apartments that don’t allow pets and betta fish specifically are small apartment pets that are easy to take care of.
Why You Should Get a Small Apartment Pet
If you’re looking for a pet and happen to live in a small apartment, you might be asking yourself if you’re even allowed to have an animal in your living situation. The truth is that every city has different pet rules and regulations, so you’ll want to contact your landlord to make sure pet ownership is allowed.
Even if you live in a home with plenty of room and your city allows pets, you’ll still want to consider getting a small apartment pet because they require less space and food than larger animals like dogs and cats.
If you’re concerned about your pet taking up too much space in your small apartment or house, smaller pets are a great option.
Smaller animals require less food, water, and general maintenance than larger animals like dogs and cats. Plus, smaller animals can often live well in smaller spaces like apartments, making them a great fit for city living.
Small Breed Dogs for Apartments
Dogs make fantastic pets, but you’ll want to make sure you get a small breed if you live in a small apartment.
Certain large dog breeds, such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles, are some of the best apartment dogs but these breeds are the exception. It also varies from dog to dog and owner to owner because larger dogs need more time outdoors, more walks, more playtime, and more attention on a daily basis.
Many small breed dogs are hypoallergenic, making them a great option if you’re allergic to dogs.
Small breed dogs generally weigh between 10 and 25 pounds, making them a great option for apartment living.
Dogs need a daily walk, so make sure you have access to a walkway where you can walk your dog. Dogs also require regular grooming, so you’ll want to make sure you have the space for frequent brushing and baths.
Small Breed Cats
Cats are fantastic pets and make great apartment animals, provided that you get a small-breed cat.
Large-breed cats, like the Persian and Siamese, need a house with a decent amount of space to move around in.
Small-breed cats weigh between 6 and 12 pounds, making them a great option for apartment living. If you’re looking to adopt a cat, you’ll want to make sure to visit an animal shelter.
Cats regularly get overlooked in favor of dogs, given that they’re a less popular pet choice. Domestic house cats are among the best pets for cuddling.
One of the great things about cats is their independence. Most cats are self-sufficient and are able to provide their own daily care, including grooming and feeding.
Short-haired Rats and Mice as Small Apartment Pets
If you’re interested in a small, furry animal, rats and mice are a great option.
Both rats and mice are generally short-haired, making them a great option if you’re allergic to long-haired fur. They can some of the best choices for small pets that are easy to take care of.
Well socialized rats and mice are surprisingly good cuddlers.
Rats and mice need less food than larger animals, making them perfect for small apartments. Both rats and mice are social animals and thrive with regular interaction, making them a great fit for apartment life if you’re willing to provide stimulation and attention.
Terrific Turtles
Another option for a small apartment pet is a small turtle. The best options for pet turtles generally grow around one foot in length and can live for up to 40 years. Note: Sulcata turtles do not fall into this category. Sulcatas grow to 25 inches (and more).
Turtles are easy to take care of, but you’ll want to regularly clean their habitat and make sure they have access to fresh water.
Turtle food can be purchased at most pet stores and comes in a wide variety of options to suit your turtle’s dietary needs. Plus, turtles make great companions for kids.
For a small apartment and no access to outdoor living space, like a patio or small yard, an aquatic turtle might be a good choice.
If you’ve got a ground floor apartment with small backyard, a tortoise might be a good choice for you. They love being outdoors in good weather.
Never leave your small pet turtle unsupervised outdoors. They don’t move that fast, but they love to dig. You might be surprised how quickly they make a run for it!
Be sure to check local regulations that pertain to keeping turtles as pets before making a purchase. Not all species of tortoises or aquatic turtles are authorized as pets in all jurisdictions.
Carefully Consider Your Pet Choices
Not all pets are appropriate for apartments. Just because a pet is small today doesn’t mean it will remain small.
Saint Benard, Great Pyrenees, and Newfoundland dogs start small as puppies but grow to 100 pounds or more very fast. Large breed dogs are among the best family pets, but wear and tear they create on house furniture is often overlooked. Can you imagine the extra strain on your sofa when a 140-pound Newfoundland jumps on it? Over several years that extra wear takes a toll.
Macaw parrots are small when young but grow larger than 3 feet beak to tail when adults and require a very large cage. Compared to a Saint Benard’s, parrots are on the smaller side, but don’t let their size fool you – both large and small parrots can be very loud.
Oscar fish start out small and are often kept in a 40-gallon, or even smaller, aquarium. A healthy Oscar fish may grow to 12 inches or more and need a 75-gallon tank for a single fish to prosper. A large pair may need a tank of at least 110-gallons with excellent water filtration.
New fish keepers quickly learn that the regular maintenance fish tanks require for charcoal filters, water treatments, medications, and equipment have an unforeseen impact on the family budget. As fish go, it’s difficult to beat a betta fish.
Some caveats:
Fish are deceptively difficult. Keeping a fish in a tank and doing a few water changes seems easy but keeping water parameters steady become difficult as fish grow, and the filter media ages.
Guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters don’t always like to be seen. They spend time hiding out and burrowing in their bedding to escape the hustle and bustle. They are often active at night when their roommates are trying to sleep.
Let’s consider another popular example – pigs as pets.
Miniature Pigs
A few decades ago, potbellied pigs were considered pet worthy. And a few years ago, miniature pigs became popular pets as well. Many times, these pigs were given to potbellied pig rescue organizations because they outgrew their surroundings or were no longer desired by their owners.
Pet pig rescues soon had more pigs than they could handle.
Miniature pigs are a relatively new to the pet scene, but they’re quickly becoming popular options as pets. I’ve seen online advertisements marketing pigs as miniature pets. You might be wondering if a pig is an appropriate small apartment pet.
Pigs weigh upwards of 200 pounds, or more, and can grow to be very large, so you’ll want to make sure to get a small pig breed if you’re considering one as an apartment pet. Depending on the breed, some individuals may weigh close to 300 pounds as adults!
Miniature pigs are often fed a restricted diet to keep them small. And, like young children, when pigs become hungry, they will vocalize their desire for food. A screaming pig might not be popular with the next-door neighbors for very long.
Miniature pigs can be potty-trained like a dog, and some are trained to walk on a leash. But just because you purchase a tiny pig, doesn’t mean it won’t or can’t grow quite large.
Rather than keeping a pet pig indoors, the better option is to keep them in a separate garage or shed where they can root around and act like pigs do. They enjoy nosing around in the dirt and use water to keep cool. Pigs often coat themselves in mud to protect themselves from sunburn and heat as well.
Pets need access to fresh water at all times. No matter how well-mannered a pet pig may be, they will spill the water and they will root around, whether it’s the trash can, laundry, or something else pet pigs may not be able to help themselves.
List of Small Pets Good for Apartments
If you live in a small apartment, you’ll want to consider getting a smaller animal since they typically require less space and food compared to larger animals.
- small breed dogs
- cats
- small birds
- short-haired rats
- short-haired mice
- betta fish
- guppies
- hamsters
- gerbils
- guinea pigs
- hermit crabs
