The Best Pets to Own in an Apartment

Although many people think that when you live in an apartment, you options for pets is pretty slim to none, well that's really not the case. There are many animals that can live happily in apartments, just as long as you know how to properly care for them.

I mean, you can even keep dogs in apartments, just as long as you still give them the proper exercise that some breeds require.

The main thing that you want to make sure is that you check with your apartment to make sure that pets are allowed, and if so what pets are not allowed in the apartments. Some complexes allow pets, but may restrictions as to what exactly you can have.

I had a friend, who had to have the apartment manager see all of his pets to decide whether or not he could keep them in the apartment or not because she wasn't sure what some of them were. So keep this in mind before bringing an animal into your apartment to find that it is not allowed and you have to find another home. This really can stress out a pet.

You also want to make sure that you can afford the initial pet deposit plus the typical monthly pet fee that are generally associated with having a pet in an apartment.

Below, is an incomplete listing as to pets that you can keep in apartments, if you have anything that you want to add, please feel free to add your opinions and thoughts in the comment box at the bottom of the page. I'm sure there will be a number of animals that I will forget and leave out.

I'm going to start with simple upkeep and move my way up the ladder to the more complicated pet.

Fish are simple, and you typically don't have to pay a pet deposit, unless maybe you want to start a really big fish tank and the complex is worried about a leak. You just want to ask the apartment manager first.

The options of what types of fish you want are pretty much endless as long as you make sure that whatever fish you choose get along. IE you don't want to have aggressive fish housed with community fish.

For a tropical freshwater tank, check out this List of Tropical Fish for Freshwater Aquariums in order to make sure that you get fish in your tank that all get along.

You can opt for a freshwater aquarium or a saltwater aquarium. I, personally, wouldn't go for a saltwater aquarium unless you have freshwater aquarium experience. If you don't and you really want a saltwater tank, I'd go small.

You can opt for a number of different reptiles and amphibians from small to large. Either way, most apartments will allow reptiles. You just really want to check with your apartment manager before bringing something like a Burmese Python or whatnot into the apartment.

You may want to consider the following small to medium sized reptiles and amphibians for your apartment to get yourself started:

• Frogs or toads
• Anoles
• Leopard Geckos
• Crested Geckos
• African Fat Tail Geckos
• Gargoyle Geckos
• Bearded Dragons
• Blue Tongued Skink
• Uromastyx
• Ball Python
• Corn snake
• Kingsnake
• Milk snake
• Turtles
• Tortoises

If you are interested in a pet reptile, I have a few caresheets and help tips that I've written, so check out Help Caring for Pet Reptiles to see if the reptile that you're interested in is there.

When it comes to birds, you want to make sure that you get a smaller bird that doesn't make a lot of noise, meaning a huge parrot or macaw probably isn't the best bird to have in an apartment.

Remember that the walls in apartments are thin, and you don't want complaints from a loud squawking bird.

Some of the birds you may want to consider, can include:

• Finches
• Canaries
• African Grays (chatty but not loud)
• Senagals
• Meyers
• Pionus
• Brownheads

Moderately loud and loud birds can include:

• Alexandrines
• Hawkheads
• Amazons
• Ringnecks
• Lories
• Eclectus parrots
• Lovebirds
• Cockatiels
• Quakers
• Budgies
• Parrotlets
• Cockatoos
• Macaws
• Conures

The small animal pets can be a little bit more to take care of when compared to fish or reptiles, but small animals can be a great apartment pet. There are a few that you can choose from, you just want to make sure that whatever exotic pet that you are considering, is legal in your state.

Some pets that you may want to consider include:

• Hamsters and gerbils
• Rabbits
• Guinea pigs
• Mice
• Rats

Pets that may be illegal can include:

• Ferrets
• Chinchillas
• Degus
• Hedgehogs
• Sugar Gliders
• Skunks

Remember to always do research before you purchase a pet. I have information that should help you get started. Caring for Small Animals: Hamsters, Mice, Rats, & Chinchillas

Cats are a great apartment pet. They don't require a lot of extra care in terms of training. Just as long as you can keep them from scratching up the furnature and whatnot.

Cats are relatively small and they do not require a lot of extra space. You can easily keep two cats in a small apartment; because remember cats love company.

Check out the following hubs about feeding, grooming, and caring for your pet cat.

• Grooming Pet Cats
• Feeding Pet Cats: Cat Food, Diet, and Scheduling
• What is Feline Leukemia? What are the Signs and is There Treatment?

There are actually a number of dogs that work well in apartments, and where you may think that's only small dogs can live happily in an apartment, you're actually wrong.

You can check out a few dog breeds: Information About Dog Breeds.

Besides small breeds, here are a few other dog breeds that you can consider living in an apartment can include:

• Basset Hound
• Boxer
• Bulldog
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Corgi
• Greyhounds
• Poodles
• Standard Schnauzer

Just remember that when living in an apartment with a dog, you want to make sure that you still keep up regular exercise, walking, and care.