Remodeling Doesn't Have To Be Hard

It's not always easy to find an apartment that allows pets, so when many apartment hunters find a pet-friendly apartment, they lease it quickly without giving too many other factors a second thought. Unfortunately, just because an apartment allows pets does not mean it's the best choice for your kitty's health and well-being. Before leasing an apartment as a cat owner, you should ensure it offer these three elements:

At least one room you can close off with doors.

Open floor plans are becoming more popular, but they aren't so friendly for cat owners. There are bound to be times when you need to lock your cat in one space. It comes in handy to be able to close your cat in one room when bringing large furniture into the apartment; you don't want your cat to run out the door. You may also want to lock your cat up while you prepare dinner, when a friend's dog comes to visit, or after he or she has had a surgical procedure. A bathroom might do in a pinch, but they tend to lack comfortable spaces for cats to curl up. It's best to find an apartment with at least a closing, latching door on the bedroom, if not another room, too.

A closet or cubby where you can store the litter box.

No one wants to see the litter box sitting in the living room or even on the bathroom floor. Unfortunately, in many apartments, this is your only choice. If at all possible, try to find an apartment with at least a hall closet or little corner area where you can keep the litter box out of sight.

Double doors.

If there is only one solid door on your apartment, it's far too easy to arrive home, open the door, and accidentally let the cat out because you didn't know he or she was waiting on the other side of the door. You can avoid this problem by finding an apartment in which you first enter a main door to the building, and then enter the door to the apartment. This way, if your cat sneaks out your apartment door, he or she will still be contained in the building.

Another option is an apartment where there is an outside screen door in addition to the heavier front door. When you open the second door, the screen door will shut behind you, preventing the cat from running out.

If you're like most people, you have cats because you enjoy their company and interesting personalities. By choosing an apartment that caters to their needs and your own, you can make cat ownership even more enjoyable.

For more information, contact The Village at Mission Farms or a similar organization.